ABSTRACT
Background: Dermatoglyphics, the ridged skin covering our palms and sole, are not only found on human beings. All primates have ridged skin, and it can also be found on the paws of certain mammals and on the tails of some monkey species. Palmar creases develop during the 2nd and 3rd month of intrauterine life and are not influenced by movement of hand in utero. They are of considerable clinical interest because they are affected by certain abnormalities of early development including genetic disorders. Aim: The present study is carried out to correlate the dermatoglyphic patterns in patients of bronchial asthma. Methods: Dermatoglyphic prints were obtained from both hands of 100 patients of bronchial asthma among Afro-Trinidadian and Indo-Trinidadian. Hundred normal healthy individuals, without family history of bronchial asthma, were selected as control group. The qualitative parameters like whorls, loops and arches were studied in the above mentioned study groups. Results: Presence of whorls loops and arches showed significant difference, p<0.01in III and IV digits in Afro-Trinidadian group and only in III digit in Indo-Trinidadian group when compared to the controls. The intergroup comparisons also showed significant changes in the percentage of all the finger print patterns in the II & III digit in Afro-Trinidadian bronchial asthma patient when compared with Indo-Trinidadian bronchial asthma patients. Conclusion: Presence of whorls, loops and arches on both the III digit can be used as one of the diagnostic criterion for patients with bronchial asthma.
ABSTRACT
In 2003, academic staff members at The University of the West Indies Faculty of Medical Sciences St Augustine Trinidad and Tobago combined their expertise to make strides in Alzheimers and Dementia research in Trinidad and Tobago. Dr. Nelleen Baboolal, Dr. Gershwin Davis and Professor Amanda McRae began developing a project that has produced significant results by examining not only the epidemiology of dementia, but the associated risk factors; caregiver burden and ultimately establishing biomarkers for the disease. This review is an account of our results from a decade of dementia research and how they are contributing toward mitigating the dementia tsunami in Trinidad and Tobago.
Em 2003, os membros da equipe acadêmica da Faculdade de Ciências Médicas St Augustine, da Universidade de West Indies, Trinidad e Tobago, combinaram seus conhecimentos para promover avanços nas pesquisas sobre doença de Alzheimer e demência em Trinidad e Tobago. Dr. Nelleen Baboolal, Dr. Gershwin Davis e Professora Amanda McRae começaram a desenvolver um projeto que tem produzido resultados significativos através da análise não só da epidemiologia da demência, mas também dos fatores de risco associados, sobrecarga do cuidador e, ultimamente, estabelecendo biomarcadores para a doença. Esta avaliação representa um relato de nossos resultados de uma década de pesquisa demência e como eles estão contribuindo para mitigar o tsunami de demência em Trinidad e Tobago.