ABSTRACT
Secondary sex ratio [SSR], i.e. the gender ratio of fetuses reaching viability has faced a declining trend in most societies in recent years. The aim of this study was to determine the contributing factors such as season of conception, type of pregnancy, housing conditions, monthly income and financial stress on SSR in Iran. In this cross-sectional study, 202 couples with children under one year old were studied. They were selected using two stage random sampling method from two healthcare centers in Tehran. Financial stress of parents was assessed based on a valid questionnaire. Data regarding other variables were gathered through a checklist. Uni-and multi-variate logistic regression tests were used to analyze the data [p<0.05]. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses showed a significant relationship between financial stress test score [OR=1.056, p=0.024] and rental housing [OR=1.89, p=0.029] and female newborns. Financial stress not only has physical and moral consequences, but also might play a major role in determining the sex ratio of future generations. Therefore, it is highly important that more effective guidelines be considered for improving welfare conditions and solving the housing problem
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Male , Fetal Viability , Cross-Sectional Studies , Pregnancy , Social Class , Housing , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Background: early detection of vertebro-basilar insufficiency is of paramount importance. Brain MRI was the only method of diagnosis for many years, but in addition to high cost and delay in report, it may not detect all brain stem lesions. In this study Blink reflex [BR] was evaluated as a complementary test to MRI
Methods: fifty-four patients were studied [27 anterior circulation stroke patients [ACSP] and 27 posterior circulation stroke patients [PCSP]]. MRI was performed within the first week after the onset of stroke. Nineteen age and sex matched healthy people enrolled as controls. BR was performed within the first 24 hours of the onset. Frequency of abnormal blink reflex in ACSP and PCSP was compared with MRI findings. Then abnormal responses in two groups were compared by chi-square test
Results: in both ACSP and PCSP, two patients had normal BR responses, and in 25 patients R1 or R2 components of blink responses were absent or prolonged [92.5%]. R1was absent or delayed in 16 PCSP, but it was abnormal in only two ACSP [P < 0.001]. Abnormal R2 responses were detected in 22 PCSP and 24 ACSP
Conclusion: BR abnormalities had high correlation with MRI findings in PCSP [92.5%] BR can be performed within the first 24 hours of onset of stroke, and its results is available immediately. This test is easy to perform and comfortable for the patient, has low cost, and is available every where. Therefore we introduced BR as a complementary [but not replacing] test to MRI in early detection of brainstem infarctions. Comparison of BR responses in ACSP and PCSP showed that abnormalities of R1 responses had high accuracy in differentiation between anterior and posterior circulation strokes. We concluded that BR responses not only can detect brainstem infarctions rapidly and readily in its early stages, but also can differentiate ACSP from PCSP with high accuracy
ABSTRACT
[III] infants attending Benha Teaching Hospital aged less than 6 months were subjected to this study. They were classified into 51 infants exclusively fed and 60 infants fed on animal fresh milk. All infants were subjected to good history taking, complete clinical examination and blood lead determination. Also we evaluated the blood lead level for the mothers breast fed infants. Infants of the two groups were matched thoroughly for age, sex and residence either rural of urban.Lead levels in maternal blood, breast milk and infants blood in rural areas were 21.13, 2.18, 14.21 ug/dl respectively in comparison to 25.63, 2.73, 18.86 ug/dl respectively in urban population with very highly significant difference. Lead level of fresh cow's milk was 3.03 ug/dl and that of buffalo's milk was 3.02 ug/dl and this difference was not significant and both values were higher than lead level of breast milk of rural [2.18 ug/dl] and urban [2.73 ug/dl] mothers. Blood lead level of urban artificially fed infants [19.13 ug/dl] was higher than that of the rural artificially fed infants [16.95 ug/dl] with significant difference and both were higher than lead level of breast fed babies [14.21 ug/dl rural and 18.86 ug/dl urban]. Blood lead level was significantly increasing with pollution and urbanization