ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Acquired and genetic thrombotic conditions, both organ and non organ specific, are associated with increased foetal wastage. This study was carried out to examine the placenta from women with abnormal pregnancies and a history of unexplained foetal loss, and to associate with maternal thrombophilia status. METHODS: Placentas from eight women with history of unexplained foetal loss were analyzed for histopathological characteristics. All the women were simultaneously screened for the common acquired and genetic thrombophilia markers i.e., lupus anticoagulants ( LA), IgG / IgM antibodies for anticardiolipin (ACA), beta2 glycoprotein 1 (beta2GPI) and annexin V, protein C (PC), protein S (PS), antithrombin III (AT III), factor V Leiden ( FVL) mutation, prothrombin (PT) gene G20210A, methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C 677T, endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) 23 bp insertion and plasminogen activator inhibitor ( PAI-1 4G/5G) polymorphisms RESULTS: Six of eight women were positive for one or more thrombophilia markers. The placenta in all the cases except one, showed the characteristic features of infarct fibrin deposition and calcification. Among two women who were negative for thrombophilia, one showed clear evidence of thrombus in the placental sections while the other did not show any characteristic infarcts in the placental sections. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Our findings showed that the histopathological examination of the placentas confirmed thrombophilia as the aetiological cause of thrombosis in 6 of the 8 women. The presence of thrombus in a negative thrombophilia woman suggests yet unidentified thrombophilia markers or probably non-haemostatic factors causing thrombosis.
Subject(s)
Abortion, Spontaneous/etiology , Annexin A5/blood , Antibodies, Anticardiolipin , Antigens, CD/genetics , Antithrombin III/analysis , Biomarkers , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Factor V/genetics , Female , Humans , Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor/analysis , Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)/genetics , Mutation/genetics , Placenta/blood supply , Placenta/pathology , Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1/genetics , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Pregnancy , Protein C/analysis , Protein S/analysis , Prothrombin/genetics , Receptors, Cell Surface/genetics , Thrombophilia/complications , Thrombophilia/pathology , beta 2-Glycoprotein I/bloodABSTRACT
A cross sectional study among 450 individuals selected by strafified random sampling was carried out in rural Goa to find out the prevalence of cysticercosis and taeniasis, as well as to study the role of various factors associated with this diseases. The study participants were administered a pre-tested structured questionnaire and subsequently blood and stool samples were examined. SPSS software was used to analyze the data statistically. The sero-prevalence of cysterosis was 22.4%, which increased with age. Prevalence of taeniasis was 9.7% by stool examination. Individuals with taeniasis were thrice more likely to have cysticercosis; however no association between sero-positivity for cysterosis and pork consumption as well as religion could be established. The study confirmed a high sero-prevalence of cysticercosis in Goa underscoring the need to general awareness about good cooking habits and sanitation.
Subject(s)
Aged , Animals , Antibodies, Helminth/blood , Blood/parasitology , Cysticercosis/epidemiology , Cysticercus/immunology , Feces/parasitology , Humans , India/epidemiology , Middle Aged , Parasite Egg Count , Prevalence , Surveys and Questionnaires , Risk Factors , Rural Population , Swine , Swine Diseases/epidemiology , Taenia solium/growth & development , Taeniasis/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Increased mucociliary activity has been observed with several modalities, including inhalation which seems to achieve faster drug delivery. In patients of chronic lung disease, the mucociliary activity is known to be impaired. The effect of steam inhalation on mucociliary transport time was studied in these patients. It was found that steam inhalation improved mucociliary activity significantly (p < 0.001) in both groups receiving either only bronchodilators, or bronchodilators as well as steroids.