Blood Group Antigens Phenotype Frequencies among Pregnant Women in Sokoto State, Nigeria

Background: Blood group antigens have been used to evaluate ethnic diversity of human populations and had been related to predisposing individuals to some diseases or may protect individuals against some diseases. They also play the most important role in success of pregnancy and blood transfusion.Aim: The aim is to determine the frequencies of some blood group antigens phenotype among pregnant women.Materials and Methods: The study is a cross sectional study conducted in the department of obstetrics and gynaecology, antenatal clinic in Usmanu Danfodiyo Teaching Hospital Sokoto, from January 2020 to September 2020. This research included 1250 consecutively -recruited pregnant women on their first antenatal visit. The blood grouping were determined using standard tube techniques for ABO, MNSs, Duffy and Kidd antigens while column agglutination card was used for Rh C, E, c, e and Kell was utilized.Results:The sociodemographic characteristics revealed that the age range of the subject was 17-48 years .where majority were within the age between 21-30 years (61.3%).Majority of the pregnant women had their first antenatal visit during second trimester of their pregnancy (59.7%). The distribution of the ABO blood group revealed that 48.5% were group O, 27.3% were group B, 19.4% were group A and 4.8% were group AB. Out the subjects investigated, 93.1%, 30.2%, 24.6% and 90.2% were RhD, RhC, RhE, Rhc and Rhe positive respectively. The prevalence of M, S and s positive were 75.5%, 31.4% and 63.3% respectively. Among the subjects studied, 97.6% were Kell positive while 2.4% were kell negative. The prevalence of Duffy a and b antigen were 1.1% and 0.5% respectively and the prevalence of Kidd a and b phenotype positive were 15.9% and 21.7% respectively.Conclusion: The pattern of distribution of ABO, Rh, MSs, Duffy and Kidd blood groups antigens among pregnant women in Sokoto was in agreement with other populations while that of Kell blood group antigen is at variance with other population particularly among Caucasians. Data derived from this study will help policy makers make evidenced –based decisions on management of HDFN.

Caregiving strain is associated with cardiac autonomic imbalance in primary oncology caregivers: A cross-sectional analytical study

Objectives: Oncology caregivers often endure a significant amount of psychosocial stress while going through the experience of caregiving for their dependents. Exposure to chronic stress disrupts the cardiac autonomic balance and increases the risk of cardiovascular events. There is a paucity of research on the association between caregiving strain and cardiac autonomic status of primary oncology caregivers. This study aimed to assess the cardiac autonomic balance and its association with the levels of perceived strain and quality of life (QOL) of primary oncology caregivers. Materials and Methods: Forty-six individuals (30 males and 16 females) who have been primary caregivers of patients under the treatment for cancer at the Regional Cancer Centre over the past 3 months–1 year were recruited in this cross-sectional study. Cardiac autonomic status was assessed by heart rate variability (HRV) technique. The level of strain perceived and QOL of the study participants were assessed using the Modified Caregiver Strain Index (MCSI) and Caregiver QOL-Cancer (CQOL-C) questionnaires, respectively. Comparison of study parameters based on MCSI scores (low strain vs. moderate-high strain) was done using the Independent Student’s t-test. Spearman rank correlation coefficient test was performed to assess the correlation between sympathovagal balance (Low frequency [LF]/high frequency [HF]) and other study parameters. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to predict the LF/HF ratio with independent variables MCSI score and CQOL-C score. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Significantly high blood pressure, LF power, LF nu (LF normalised units) and LF/HF ratio were observed among caregivers with moderate-to-high caregiving strain as compared to those with low strain levels, while significantly low HF nu (HF normalised units) and CQOL-C scores were noted among the moderate-to-high caregiving strain subgroup as compared to the low caregiving strain subgroup. LF/HF ratio revealed a significant positive correlation with the level of caregiving strain (r = 0.563, P < 0.001) and a significant negative correlation with the QOL (r = ?0.489, P = 0.001) of caregivers. However, on regression analysis, the level of caregiving strain was found to be a significant predictor of autonomic dysfunction unlike the caregivers’ QOL. Conclusion: Increased caregiving strain is associated with cardiac autonomic imbalance in primary oncology caregivers.

Association between Psychological Status and Functional Outcome in Surgically Managed Fractures around Hip in Geriatric Patients - A Prospective Study

@#Introduction: Fractures around the hip in the geriatric population not only lead to functional but also psychological impairment. Psychiatric disturbances can be associated with poor participation in rehabilitation, increased risk of falling again, and higher rates of mortality. The present study was undertaken to assess the association between the psychological status and functional outcome of surgically managed elderly Indian patients who had sustained fractures around the hip. Materials and methods: The present study was a hospital based prospective, single centre study. One hundred and two geriatric patients who had sustained hip fracture and had been managed surgically, having no cognitive dysfunction, living independently, having unhindered walking capability before the fracture, were included in the study. They were called for follow-up at 3rd, 6th, and 12th month after the hip surgery. Psychological assessment was done by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and functional outcome by using the Harris hip score (HHS). Results: Our study did not show association between psychological status and functional outcome except in one sub-group. Significant correlation was observed between the psychological status and functional outcome in most of the patients in the extra-capsular group. We have identified improvement in the depression, anxiety and functional scores during the follow-up. Conclusion: We conclude that psychiatric disturbances in a geriatric patient after undergoing a surgery for hip fracture may lead to poor recovery. We recommend that all such geriatric patients should undergo a psychological assessment and proper therapy should be instituted to achieve good functional recovery

Biochemical analysis, pharmacological activity, antifungal activity and mineral analysis in methanolic extracts of Myrica esculenta and Syzygium cumini: the Indian traditional fruits growing in Uttarakhand Himalaya.

Myrica esculenta (Myricaceae) and Syzygium cumini(Myrtaceae), the Indian traditional fruits were studied for their biochemical assay, antifungal activity and mineral analysis. The biochemical assay in terms of total phenols, flavonols, ortho dihydroxy phenolic, ascorbic acid & phytic acid content and antioxidant activity revealed different quantitative make up in all the different samples. The in vitro antioxidant activity determined by reducing power assay, chelating power on Fe2+ ions and 2, 2-diphenylpicrylhydrazil (DPPH) radical scavenging activity were found to be good to moderate in a dose dependent manner in all the extracts. The extracts showed significant antinociceptive and antipyretic activity on mice. Methanolic extracts of both the fruits collected from different regions exhibited good antifungal activity against the three pathogenic fungi viz; Rhizoctonia solani, Sclerotium rolfsii, and Fusarium oxysporium. All the extracts studied for their mineral analysis through atomic absorption spectroscopy also revealed quantitative variation of N, P , K , S, Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn. Fe was found to be maximum in all the samples however Na was absent in all the samples.

Cytological diagnosis of bancroftian filariasis in lesions clinically anticipated as neoplastic.

Filariasis is a common disabling parasitic disease in this region and cytological diagnosis is often not required. Cytology has important role in diagnosis of sub-clinical filariasis. Most cases of cytologically diagnosed filariasis are clinically unanticipated. Microfilaria, ova and fragments of adult worm of Wuchereria bancrofti, in exfoliative as well as aspiration cytology have been reported and are useful in cytological detection of bancroftian filariasis. Microfilaria is frequently detected in association with neoplasm, although the role in tumorogenesis is controversial. The objective of the study was to investigate importance of cytology in diagnosis of filariasis in lesions clinically anticipated to be of neoplastic and to review the cytomorphology of bancroftian filaria and its association with neoplasm. This is a retrospective study carried out in cytology department of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital. 14 cases of cytological specimen out of 4291 (0.3%) showed microfilaria; 12 cases were from FNAC from different sites and 2 cases were from pleural fluid. 2 cases showed ova in addition to microfilaria and one of them in addition showed fragment of adult worm. Microfilaria in 4 cases of FNAC and one case ofpleural fluid were associated with malignant cells.

Diagnosis of subcutaneous cysticercosis in fine needle aspirates: a study of 10 cases.

The objective of this study is to document the value of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) in the diagnosis of subcutaneous cysticercosis. Aspirates smears of 10 cases of subcutaneous swellings were studied over a period of 1 year between January 2004 and January 2005. The subcutaneous swellings were presented at different sites like cheek, neck, forearm, arm, chest wall and abdominal wall. In none of these cases was cysticercosis considered as diagnostic possibility. The characteristic cytomorphological features of parasitic tegument, parenchymatous portion, presence of epithelioid cells, giant cells and inflammatory cells in cytological smears help diagnose the cases of subcutaneous cysticercosis. Biopsy confirmation was possible in 5 cases, of which, two cases showed parenchymatous portion of the parasite. FNAC provides safe and rapid tool for diagnosis of subcutaneous cysticercosis. In endemic areas, cysticercosis should be considered one of the differential diagnosis of the subcutaneous swellings.

Histopathological analysis of hysterectomy specimens.

This was a retrospective study carried out on all hysterectomy specimens sent to Department of Pathology of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal from 1st September 2005 to 28th February 2006, to study the histopathological findings of these specimens. All informations used in the study were obtained from the records of Department of Pathology of the hospital. Out of 221 hysterectomy specimens received during the study period, 139 (62.9%) were total abdominal and 82 (37.1%) were vaginal hysterectomy specimens. Mean age of the patient was 53.4 years for vaginal hysterectomy group where as it was 37.6 years for total abdominal hysterectomy with unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and 46.3 years for total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy group. Uterine prolapse was commonest indication of hysterectomy overall (37.1%) and accounted for 98.8% of vaginal hysterectomies. Other common indications of hysterectomy were uterine fibroid (24.9%), ovarian tumor (14.9%) and dysfunctional uterine bleeding (7.7%). Leimyoma was the most common pathology found in uterine corpus (27.1%). Chronic cervicitis in cervix, functional cysts in ovaries and paratubal cysts in fallopian tubes were most common histological findings. Ovarian neoplasms accounted for 18.3% of ovarian pathology. 38% specimens were unremarkable histopathologically. In Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, abdominal hysterectomies are more common than vaginal hysterectomies. Most vaginal hysterectomies are done for uterine prolapse and patients are older than those undergoing abdominal hysterectomies. Most abdominal hysterectomies are performed for uterine leiomyomas. Hysterectomy specimens may be unremarkable histopathologically, most of which are vaginal hysterectomies done for uterine prolapse.

Anthocyanin, bisabolol and phenylammonialyase activity in cell cultures of Populus deltoides.

Phenolics, anthocyanin and alpha-bisabolol production from poplar (Populus delotides) in tissue culture was determined. A number of phenolic acids were identified by HPLC. PAL activity in response to phytohormones, cells growth and anthocyanin production showed a positive correlation. A component, alpha-bisabolol, was identified using gas chromatography and UV spectroscopy. In vitro production of said metabolites was influenced by phytohormones.