ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine if low birth weight is associated with hypovitaminosis D and periodontal disease among a sample of Pakistani women residing in district Jhelum, Punjab. Study Design: Cross-sectional study nested in a large community-based longitudinal study. Place and Duration of Study: Tehsil Pind Dadan Khan, District Jhelum, Pakistan from August 2012 to October 2015
Methodology: Women during 12-16th week of pregnancy were selected. Dental examination was performed. Probing depth >3 mm was labeled as periodontal disease, whereas serum level 2500 g] babies. Odds ratio was applied to measure the strength of association of low birth weight with maternal hypovitaminosis D and also for maternal periodontal disease
Results: There were 62 participants in the study. The mean age of mothers was 26.7 +/- 4.5 years. It was alarming to observe that 53 [85%] participants had vitamin D deficiency. However, periodontal disease was only seen in four participants [6%]. Out of the 62 mothers, eighteen [29%] gave birth to low birth weight babies. None of the variables were found to be associated with the low birth weight
Conclusion: The present study did not find any significant association of low birth weight with hypovitaminosis D or maternal periodontal disease in the studied sample
ABSTRACT
Objective/Background: the characterization of tuberculosis [TB] patients as slow or fast responders post anti-TB treatment has always been a matter of tremendous interest as slow responders are most likely to relapse and/or develop complications. Pulmonary tissue healing as assessed with radiology is the only available tool for tissue recovery but is not predictive at intake. The objective of the current study was to assess biomarkers associated with fast and slow recovery in TB patients at recruitment
Methods: pulmonary TB patients [N = 15] were assessed for radiological recovery serially in parallel with clinical signs and symptoms, hematological parameters, and plasma cytokines at O months, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months. On the basis of differential radiological healing, patients were characterized into slow [>12 months], intermediate [<12 months], and fast [<6 months] responders
Results: baseline plasma cytokines [interleukin [IL]-2, -4, -6, -10, tumor necrosis factor-ex, and interferon-y] were determined using cytometric bead array. IL-2 and -4 were able to accurately differentiate slow and fast responders into two distinct clusters using hierarchal clustering analysis. Compared with fast responders, slow responders showed significantly high IL-2 and -4 at baseline [p = .001 Mann-Whitney U test]
Conclusion: in-depth analysis of cytokines and its association with radiological recovery in TB patients may be useful in monitoring TB patients postchemotherapy for both clinicians and TB control program
ABSTRACT
Sepsis remains a leading cause of death across the world, carrying a mortality rate of 20-50%. Women have been reported to be less likely to suffer from sepsis and to have a lower risk of mortality from sepsis compared to men. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between gender and mortality in sepsis, and compare cytokine profiles of male and female patients. This was a prospective case series on 97 patients admitted with sepsis. Clinical and microbiological data was gathered, blood samples were collected for cytokine [IL-10, IL-6 and TNFalpha] levels and patients were followed up for clinical outcome. There were 54% males and 46% females, with no significant difference of age or comorbids between genders. Respiratory tract infection was the commonest source of sepsis, and was more common in females [60%] compared to males [39%] [p=0.034]. Males had a higher mortality [p=0.048, RR 1.73] and plasma IL-6 level [p=0.040] compared to females. Mean IL-6 plasma level was significantly [p<0.01] higher in patients who died vs. who recovered. Our study shows that males with sepsis have a 70% greater mortality rate, and mortality is associated with a higher IL-6 plasma level