Urinary fibrin(-ogen) degradation products in pregnancy associated hypertension

The relationship between the urinary fibrin(-ogen) degradation products (FOP) and high blood pressure and other features like proteinuria and oedema were studied in 42 cases of pregnancy associated hypertension (PAH) and/or pre- eclampsia (PE). Urinary FOP were detected in 64.3 per cent of cases. All cases with systolic blood pressure> 180 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure> 100 mmHg showed FOP in urine in various concentrations. In 91 per cent of cases with protenuria more than 2+ urinary FOP was also detected. In some cases with no proteinuria FOP was found. There was no definite relationship between severity of oedema and urinary FOP level. When a patient is under treatment and responding well to that treatment urinary FOP level also becomes reduced or undetectable.

A study on knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS, their sexual practices and seroprevalence of syphilis/HIV among taxi-drivers in Yangon

Aim-To study a knowledge regarding HIV AIDS, sexual practices and sero-prevalences of syphilis/HIV among taxi-drivers. A cross sectional study on 120 respondants of taxi-drivers from Yangon Division Buses Control Committee was carried out by using the systematic random sampling method with self-administered questionnaire. Majority of taxi-drivers have better knowledge on mode of transmission and little knowledge on ways which do not transmit HIV. Most of them did not know proper use of condom. No case of HIV sero-positive were detected at the time of study.

The level of knowledge, attitude and practice in relation to malaria in Oo-do village, Myanmar.

A knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) study concerning the nature and prevention of malaria was carried out in a rural area of Myanmar. According to the findings, many (over 40%) people do not have a clear cut knowledge on the transmission of malaria. Only one fourth of them had chemoprophylaxis before going to the forest, but they do not have the proper knowledge of the chemoprophylaxis regarding the type and dosage. Although there is acceptable knowledge (about 80% of the subject knew that mosquito bite causes malaria) and positive attitude towards malaria (100% of respondents agreed that malaria was a serious health problem in this area and 97% of respondents agreed that they would like to participate in malaria control activities), it is necessary to increase the community awareness of the transmission of the disease, its consequences and ways and means to control the disease to a minimum, especially in endemic areas.

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.

Pathological study of coronary artery disease in Yangoon General Hospital

A descriptive, cross-sectional, histopathological study of coronary artery disease was conducted among 95 autopsied subjects (66 males, 29 females), with age ranging from 11 to 82 years. Fatty streaks and fibrous plaque were observed in the second and the third decade respectively. More severe atherosclerotic lesions were seen in males. The left anterior descending artery is the commonest artery to have coronary stenosis. The presence of significant stenosis was noted more in those who had myocardial infarction, hypertension, cerebrovascular diseases than those without these diseases. Likewise the weight of the heart was greater in those with coronary artery disease and hypertension. Sixty six percent of patients who died of tuberculosis, and 25 per cent of those who died of cirrhosis of liver were found to have coronary artery stenosis

Glutaraldehyde gelification time-a highly acceptable bedside tool in the assessment of children tuberculosis

Glutarldehyde gelification time (GGT) was determined three times in fifty-three children with the clinical diagnosis of tuberculosis supported by CxR evidence, once before the initiation of treatment (GGTO) and twice within six months of antituberculous treatment, at three months interval (GGT3 and GGT6 respectively). The values of GGTO are shortened in 46 cases (86.8 per cent). GGT3 and GGT6 revealed shorten in 27 cases (50.9 per cent) and 6 cases (11.3 per cent ) respectively. This significant change of GGT during treatment could be used as a supportive evidence to clinical judgment in the assessment of response to treatment in childhood tuberculosis.

Coagulation profile in common malignancies

The study of coagulation abnormalities in 55 cases of biopsy proven malignancies (21 cases of carcinoma cervix, 20 cases of carcinoma breast, and 14 cases of carcinoma lung) was undertaken at cancer ward of Yangon General Hospital. Tests included whole blood coagulation time, Quick's prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time, estimation of fibrinogen and FDP level and platelet count. Ninety-six per cent of these patients had one or more coagulation abnormalities. the commonest abnormalities were elevated fibrin degradation products and abnormal prothrombin time. Compared to thrombocytopenia the coagulation abnormalities were more commonly found in this study. the data illustrated that subclinical coagulopathy is relatively frequent in patients with malignancy. These coagulation disorders were not related to liver metastasis nor cancer therapy. there was no significant difference of abnormal coagulation tests results between different malignancies that have been studied. In relation to DIC, these patients were considered to be in a compensated state. Platelet count, thrombin time test, estimation of fibrinogen and FDP level are the most important coagulation tests for eveluating DIC. These tests are suggested to be done in all cancer patients for early detection of subclinical coagulopathy and for prevention of undesirable consequences of bleeding.

Serum fibrin (-ogen) degradation products (FDP) in toxaemia of pregnancy

The relationship between the levels of FDP in the serum, blood pressure and the severity of other features of toxaemia of pregnancy were studied in 42 patients with pregnancy-associated hypertension and/or pre-eclampsia (PE). Serum FDP levels were found to be elevated in 88 per cent of cases but not related to the severity of the clinical manifestations of toxaemia in pregnancy. It was elevated in cases with normal systolic blood pressure as well as in cases with no proteinuria. Subsequent serum FDP concentrations fell to normal along with the treatment in all cases. Serum FDP determination was suggested to include in investigation of severe cases of PE as a sensitive index for the diagnosis as well as for the assessment of response to treatment.

Establishment of staphylococcal clumping test and detection of normal level of fibrin(-ogen) degradation products in Myanmar (Staphylococcal clumping test and normal FDP level in Myanmar)

Staphylococcal clumping test was established using a coagulase positive strain of staphylococci. 10 mg/ml of bacterial cell suspension was used as the optimum concentration for detecting 2 ug/ml of fibrinogen reference solution. The sensitivity of our method is of 2 ug/ml of fibrinogen. Using the staphylococcal clumping test, 150 samples of healthy blood donors were tested. The normal fibrin(-ogen) degradation product levels of Myanmar ranged from zero to 10 ug/ml. The results obtained from the staphylococcal clumping test were comparable to those obtained from Thrombo-Welllco latex agglutination test (Wellcome Divagnostics).

Psychological management of the suicidal person

Suicide is differentiated from parasuicide. Psychodynamics of the suicidal person should be understood with accarate identification of the individual most likely to kill himself. The aim of the therapist is to restore and maintain the individual's narcissistic equilibrium. Schneidman (1975) recommends that the therapist should stand as an ally with repeated monitoring of suicidal potential. He also stressed the reduction of social isolation and withdrawal, with treatment of co-existing psychiatric disorders. Suicide prevention centers act as emergency psychosocial firs t-aid centres and are most helpful during interpersonal crisis.

The effects of climatic and environmental factors on the incidence of diarrhoeic disorders in Burma.IV. Data from the State Mental Hospital, Rangoon.

The incidence of diarrhoea amongst different categories of patients in a mental hospital have been examined over a 12 month period. Rainfall was negatively correlated with the incidence and the supply of mangoes directly related to the prevalence of diarrhoea. The floor space per patient in the ward area and the ward population were without effect. The number of admissions and transfers into a ward had a profound effect on the incidence of diarrhoea and largely accounted for the marked variation observed between the classes of patient-acute, subacute and chronic. The way in which these factors exerted their effect cannot be elucidated from the data. After all the effects of other factors have been removed there still remains a highly significant and unexplained variation in the incidence of diarrhea between the different wards of the hospital, and a smaller variation between the months of the year.