ABSTRACT
Background: With no systematic national screening programme, the rates of cervical epithelial cell abnormalities as reported by various studies range from 1.32% to 25% in India. Majority are epithelial squamous cell abnormalities that include atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) and low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL). Worldwide incidence of adenocarcinoma and its precursors have increased over past few decades. Objectives were to study the clinical and cervical cytological profile among women attending camps in rural areas of Thrissur district of Kerala.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in 214 women in the 25-65 years age group who attended cancer screening camps in rural areas of Thrissur district. Papanicolaou (Pap) smear was done using standard technique and reported using latest Bethesda classification. Pap smear results were considered as abnormal when the report was ASCUS, atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance, LSIL, high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion or invasive lesion.Results: Of all the smears, 41.6% were negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy. Inflammatory smears (nonspecific and specific infection associated) were seen in 57%. Glandular cell abnormality was found in 1.4% and these women were in 31-50 years age group. Among patients with glandular cell abnormality most common symptom was discharge per vaginum.Conclusions: The results of this study may be a pointer to an increase in glandular cytological abnormalities in our population and needs further large-scale studies to confirm. Current screening methods of Pap smear alone may not be adequate to pick up these lesions.
ABSTRACT
Background: The true incidence of male subfertility is unknown due to great variability in the prevalence of subfertility. Artificial insemination with husband’s semen is the most widely used treatment for male infertility, usually presumed because of oligospermia, and for what is called ‘mucus hostility’ when there is failure of sperm penetration of cervical mucus despite normal seminal analysis.Methods: The study was conducted in 438 couples with male factor infertility at the ARTC (artificial reproductive technique centre) of Sri Ramakrishna Hospital, Coimbatore. Results of at least two seminograms (based on WHO norms) were used to primarily classify males into three categories-oligozoospermic, asthenozoo spermic and oligoasthenoteratospermic. The media used were the Earle’s Balanced Salt Solution (EBSS), Ham’s F10 and Medicult. EBSS and Ham’s F10 were obtained as “readymade” solutions from Sigma, USA. Medicult was imported from Denmark. EBSS and Ham’s F10 were supplemented with protein using FCS (Fetal cord Serum) or HEPES (4(2-hydroxyethyil)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid). Benzyl pencillin, 60mg per litre and Streptomycin, 50mg per litre were also to the media.Results: By the DMRT analysis of post wash count, the influence of the count below 5 million or above 20 million on the pregnancy rate was significant at all the levels of male factor.Conclusions: Considering the male factor, in cases of oligoasthenoteratospermia, IUI has a positive significant effect on the success rate of pregnancy at all three levels of the post wash sperm count.