ABSTRACT
Morning surge in blood pressure is an independent cardiovascular risk factor in the middleaged and the elderly. Whether such a surge occurs in young subjects is not known. Eighty normotensive subjects (age: 21.8 ± 1.3 yr) measured their own blood pressure (BP) using an automatic device (Omron HEM-7080,) on going to bed and on waking up, for 2 consecutive days. In contrast to large morning BP surges reported for older age groups, there was much smaller but significant (P<0.002) rise only in the DBP (1.9 ± 5 mm Hg) on waking up on day 2 in young subjects. The duration of sleep and the time the subjects slept influence the sleep-wake BP change.
ABSTRACT
To explore the reaction and attitude of preclinical lady students towards certain aspects of female reproduction, custom-made questionnaires were group-administered to two batches of Second MBBS students (mean age + or - SD: 20.3 + or - 0.5 yr; n=443) of Yangon Institutes of Medicine, and to the First and Second Year students (19.9 + or - 1.0 yr; n=114) of Yangon Institutes of Pharmacy and Paramedical Sciences. Menarche alarmed or upset about half (47.03
) of therespondents while 42.9
reported indifference. Almost 80
of the respondents hadprior knowledge about menarche. The proportion of respondents who accepted menstrual periods as natural (32.9
) was about the same as those distressed by the periods (32.7
). Those expressing positive attitudes towards marriage, childbearing and womanhood outnumbered those expressing negative ones (30
vs 12.2
, 43.6
vs 11.1
, 41.4
vs 20.8
respectively). Certain differences in the responses amongthese groups of Myanmar students and a group of Japanes students (n=28, exposed to the same question-naires) were highlighted and the implications discussed.
Subject(s)
Menstruation , Reproductive MedicineABSTRACT
To study the acute cardiovascular effects of coffee drinking, 37 apparently healthy Myanmar volunteers of both sexes (25-45 years) were administered a cup of coffee (after 5 day abstinence from caffeine-containing beverages) or a cup of milk (vehicle control) on two separate days. the order of administration was randomized. Coffee was freshly prepared by adding 2.5 g of instant Nescoffee (approximately equivalent to 2 teaspoonfuls) to a cup of milk (10 g milk powder + 8 g sugar in 150 ml of hot boiled water). The heart rate and rhythm (by 3 minute-auscultations and ECG recordings at various time points), supine brachial arterial bolld pressures (indirect sphygmomanometry) and the respiratory rate (by auscultation) were determined before and every 15 minutes for a total of 90 minutes after administering coffee or mild, Both the systolic and diastolic blood pressures rose progressively and significantly after drinking coffee (SBP: from 103.7 to 113.2 mmHg and DBP: 65.2 to 75.3 mmHg; mean values; p<0.001, Student's paired t test)but not after drinking milk (SBP: from 104.3 to 105.9 mmHg and DBP: 65.3 to 67.2 mmHg; NS). There were no significant changes in the heart rate, or the respiratory rate after drinking coffee or milk. Forty per cent of subjects gave the subjective feeling of palpitation after drinking coffee but none gave this complaint after drinking milk. It was concluded that with this dose of coffee, there was no apparent dysrhythmogenic effect, but the hypertensive effect was appreciable.
Subject(s)
Cardiovascular System , Coffee , MyanmarABSTRACT
The heart rate and arterial blood pressure responses to mental (Arithmetic test) and orthostatic (75 head-up tilt) stress were studied in apparently healthy young Myanmar male subjects (age 20-28 yrs). It was found that the heart rate responses (measured with computerized ECG system) to mental arithmetic and orthostatic stress in the group with family history of hypertension (FH + group) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those without the family history (FH - group). The blood pressure responses (indirect sphygmometry) to both stresses tended to be greater in the FH (+) group compared with those in the FH (_) group. It was concluded that the cardiac responses to mental and orthostatic stresses were greater in young Myanmar male subjects with family history of hypertension compared with those without.
Subject(s)
Hypertension , Blood Pressure , Heart Rate , Cardiovascular System , MyanmarABSTRACT
Respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA)-the variation of heart rate with respiratory activity-is claimed to be the simple and most sensitive measure for the assessment of the cardiac parasympathetic neural function. This study aimed to assess the age-related changes in the cardiac parasympathetic activity in apparently healthy Myanmar subjects. The RSA was measured in 2 different groups (Group 1: 19-25 years, Group 2: 44-60 years), each comprising 30 different of mixed sexes. Heart rate variation was assessed by using computerized Electrocardiograph with the subject seated and breathing 50 per cent of his own vital capacity by using Spirometer at a rate of 6 breaths/minute. The magnitude of RSA was significantly lower (p < 0.01) in the older age group. It is concluded that the parasympathetic cardiac activity decreases appreciable with age in Myanmar subjects.
Subject(s)
Parasympathetic Nervous System , Heart Rate , Arrhythmia, SinusABSTRACT
Although it has been stated that WHO-ORAL rehydration solution (ORS) can be used up to 24 hours after preparation, it is frequently observed that the solution becomes turbid or sour before 24 hours. This study has compared the sterility of EHO-ORAL (prepared with one litre of cooled boiled water) and that of coconut water (from two varieties of nut at four different stages of maturity) at 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7 and 24 hours after exposing to the environment. Contamination with faecal coliforms (counts determined by membrane filter method)was seen in ORS at the 6th hour while coconut water (stage 1 and 2) remained uncontaminated even at the 24th hour. If follows that WHO-ORS, once prepared, is fit for human consumption for the duration of six hours only. The rehydration fluid in terms of sterility, particularly in a community setting, are discussed.
Subject(s)
Fluid Therapy , Rehydration Solutions , CocosABSTRACT
34 male newborns over 2.5 kg admitted for watery diarrhoea were entered into a randomized, double-blind clinical trial of glycine-ORS versus standard-ORS (UNICEF). Babies on glycine-ORS were able to consume about 60 ml more than their counterparts on standard-ORS, and had less frequent diarrhoeal motions. The rate of recovery from dehydration (as demonstrated by reduction in haematocrits) were almost, identical. None died, and none needed intravenous rehydration.