Effects of beta-thalassaemia trait on pregnancy and foetal outcomes

Ten cases of pregnant mothers with confirmed beta-thalassaemia trait were studied for any complications occurred during pregnancy and labour and after birth. All cases were found to have no complications during pregnancy and labour giving normal full-term vaginal delivery. All the newborns were also found to have normal birth weight and have no complications. These findings indicate that beta- thalassaemia trait has no deleterious effects on pregnancy and foetal outcomes. No active interventions are required during antenatal care throughout pregnancy in beta-thalassaemia trait.

Growth of thalassaemic children in Myanmar

The growth of thalassaemic children was studied at the Day-Care-Room in Yangon Children's Hospital. Most of these patients came to the Day-Care-Room for transfusion only, when their pretransfusion haemoglobin level became very low (range 3-8.2 g/dl, median 5.0 g/dl). Their spleens and livers were moderate to markedly enlarged. The percentage of children who had below median -2SD for weight and height for age were 68.8 percent and 72.9 percent respectively. There was no much difference between growth of boys and girls. The rising trend of percentage of children who had low weitht and height for age was found as they became loder. To get a better growth and a better quality of life, the pretransfusion haemoglobin level should be maintained at > 6 g/dl (probably 6-9 g/dl).

The effect of cobra (Naja naja) venom on blood coagulation/fibrinolysis system and on red blood cells

The effects of cobra (Naja naja) venom on blood coagulation , fibrinolysis and red blood cells were studied in vitro. Cobra venom had dose dependent inhibition effect on both intrinsic and extrinsic coagulation pathways. It also had inhibitive/ destructive effect on the individual clotting factors V, VII and X but on effect on the action of thrombin on fibrinogen. However, cobra venom had neither fibrinolytic nor fibrinogenolytic effect even at high venom concentration (10 mg/ ml). Furthemore, cobra venom had direct haemolytic effect shown by increased red cell fragility and raised plasma haemoglobin level.