ABSTRACT
@#Postpartum is recognized as a critical period in many cultures, when societies view mothers as vulnerable. A longitudinal qualitative study of pregnant women in the rural area of Kutai Kartanegara, East Kalimantan, Indonesia was conducted to explore cultural beliefs and practices during the postpartum period. Ethnography approach was performed and the data on the postpartum period are presented. Intensity sampling was used to select informants from Muara Kaman Ulu and Ilir villages, Muara Kaman Sub district, Kutai Kartanegara and in-depth interviews were conducted with 17 Kutai postpartum women, two midwives, and two traditional birth attendants. Data analyses were conducted using the thematic analysis method. The main health problem occurring in the postpartum period is called “kamboh”. It is a whole body ache with many symptoms, mainly fever, becoming skinny, with burning sensation that suddenly appears on the legs, itchiness and shivering. In order to prevent it women should undergo dietary and physical activity restrictions for 40 days. Certain foods were perceived as the possible causes of the itchy condition, delayed wound healing and hemorrhage. Following the traditional taboo, going outside the house and working hard were restricted. Close families andtraditional birth attendants play important roles to ensure compliance of postpartum women to these restrictions. Understanding of cultural beliefs during the postpartum period is critical to support women. Therefore, health promotion interventions with particular attention to diet and physical activity should be designed by taking into account the local practices.
ABSTRACT
Background and study aims: the single nucleotide polymorphism [SNP] of the vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] gene -634 G/C [rs2010963] influences the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC]. There have been no studies on the role of VEGF SNP -634 G/C in chronic liver disease [CLD]. The aim of the present study was to analyse the correlation between VEGF SNP -634 and the clinical severity of CLD and HCC
Patients and methods: a cross sectional study was conducted on 182 subjects [46 HCC, 39 liver cirrhotic/ LC, 38 chronic hepatitis/CH; and 57 healthy subjects]. The study was conducted from 2010 to 2014 at the Dr. Sardjito Hospital Yogyakarta, Indonesia. All subjects submitted blood serum for DNA sequencing examination using primer. The clinical data of CLD and HCC were assessed, and sVEGFR-2 was examined in 149 subjects. All data were analysed using STATA programme 11.0
Results: significant differences were observed in genotypic frequency [GG/GC/CC] between HCC, LC, CH and healthy subjects [p= 0.004], but though no significant differences were observed between the G>G and C>C genotypic frequencies [p = 0.337]. The frequency of genotype GG was significantly higher than genotype GC or CC in HCC and was associated with declining of clinical conditions [p < 0.05]. No significant difference in the distribution genotypes was observed with respect to the level of sVEGFR-2 in the serum. However, we observed a significant correlation between sVEGFR-2 and clinical characteristics in LC and CH [p < 0.05]
Conclusion: Genotype GG of the VEGF SNP -634 is the dominant genotype in severe CLD and HCC. sVEGFR-2 correlates with the disease severity but is not directly associated with the SNP -634 genotype
ABSTRACT
Background: Single nucleotide polymorphism [SNP] within tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-alpha] gene promoter [-308G/A TNFA] is associated with higher gene expression. The role of this SNP as a risk factor for spontaneous preterm birth has been assessed in some regions and the findings were significantly different between race and ethnic groups
Aim: To provide the scientific evidence whether allele A within SNP -308G/A TNFA promoter is a risk factor for spontaneous preterm birth among Acehnese ethnic or not
Subjects and methods: In this case-control study, the genotypes of SNP -308G/A TNFA among 40 patients with spontaneous preterm birth and 40 patients with term birth were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR]. The concentrations of TNF-alpha from blood were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]. The differences in genotype distributions, dominant and recessive models, and allele frequencies between case and control groups were analyzed with Chi-squared test. Deviation of genotype frequencies from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium [HWE] was assessed by Fisher's exact test
Results: This study found that the concentration of TNF-alpha between preterm and control groups was not statistically different, 5.5 +/- 2.9 mg/dL vs. 10.1 +/- 17.9 mg/dL, p = 0.112. The level of TNF-alpha had no strong association with either genotype distribution or allele frequency of SNP -308G/A TNFA. Furthermore, there was no association between mutant genotypes and spontaneous preterm birth [OR: 0.32; 95%CI: 0.08-1.33, p = 0.096] and between mutant allele and spontaneous preterm birth [OR: 0.35; 95%CI: 0.09-1.37, p = 0.105]
Conclusion: SNP -308G/A TNFA is not associated with spontaneous preterm birth in Acehnese ethnic group