Role of nucleated red blood cells in umbilical cord blood as a marker of neonatal asphyxia with meconium stained amniotic fluid

Neonatal asphyxia is a major cause of neurologic morbidity and mortality. Recent studies suggest increased nucleated red blood cells in neonates with meconium aspiration syndrome, supporting that the pregnancy with meconium stained amniotic fluid is at high risk of fetal hypoxia. To evaluate the role of umbilical cord nucleated red blood cells as a marker of neonatal asphyxia with meconium stained amniotic fluid. This study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Nursery Department in AL-Kadhymia Teaching Hospital from April 2010 through April 2011 as prospective case controlled study. The study included one hundred pregnant women, who were admitted to the delivery ward, they were arranged into two groups. Group one included fifty women with meconium stained amniotic fluid, considered as study group and the other group included fifty women with clear amniotic fluid, considered as control group. This for determination of umbilical cord nucleated red blood cells and comparison between two groups. The percentage of abnormal nucleated red blood cells count [NRBCs] in the study group [30%] was significantly more than the control group [18%] [P value =0.002].The mean nucleated red blood cells count [NRBCs] difference was 3.69 units and it was significantly higher in the study group than the control group [P value =0.0002]. The nucleated red blood cells [NRBCs] count increase in cord blood of neonates with meconium stained amniotic fluid compared to neonates of clear amniotic fluid

Epidemiology of Paramphistomiasis in buffaloes under different managemental conditions at four districts of Punjab province, Pakistan

Epidemioiogical studies were undertaken at slaughter-houses, livestock farms, veterinary hospitals and on household buffaloes under climatic conditions of four different districts of Punjab province. Infection rate was 22.29, 28.33, 17.08 and 12,75%, respectively in slaughter-house buffaloes, livestock farm buffaloes, veterinary hospital buffaloes and household buffaloes. Overall the season wise the highest prevalence [28.33%] was recorded in buffaloes at livestock farms followed by slaughtered [22.29%] and veterinary hospital buffaloes [17.08%]. While the lowest [12.75%] prevalence was recorded in household buffaloes during spring. It was also observed that the higher infection rate was recorded in younger buffaloes [below two years of age] than older [above two years of age] where as sex wise the prevalence indicated that male buffaloes were more commonly affected than females. Snails belonging to genera Bulinus, Lymnaea and Planorbis were also observed which are responsible for the transmission of paramphistomiasis