Association of mean platelet volume with glycemic control and macrovascular complications in type 2 diabetic patients.

Diabetes is a major global health problem. Vascular complications of diabetes include both macro-vascular and micro-vascular pathologies. Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) is an indicator of average size and activity of platelets. Platelet hyper-reactivity is a characteristic feature of diabetes and it plays a pivotal role in its overall prothrombotic state. A cross-sectional analytical study was carried out on 88 cases of type 2 diabetic patients presented to Yangon General Hospital and New Yangon General Hospital during 2013. Glycemic control was detected by HbA1C and MPV was measured. The subjects were interviewed and assessed for family history of diabetes, duration of diabetes, body mass index and presence of macro-vascular complications. Among the 88 patients in the study, majority of them were in the 60 - 69 years age group. Mean age was 64 years. Sex distribution was equal among the selected 88 patients. Macro-vascular complications such as cerebrovascular disease, ischaemic heart disease and peripheral vascular disease were found in 28.4%, 55.68% and 19.32% respectively. Mean MPV was 8.45 fl and it had a significant association with HbA1C (p = 0.0367). However, no signifi cant association was found between MPV and the presence of macro-vascular complications (p = 0.462).

Breast Feeding Problems in a Myanmar Community

To identify the maternal and infant problems associated with breast feeding, a random samply of 200 mothers (from Latha, Thaketa, South Okkalapa and Insein) with infants one year of age or less were interviewed. The highest percentage with maternal and infant problems were found among the following groups.(1) Maternal age 31-35 years, (2) College-educated group, (3) Government employees, (4) Ks. 1001-1500 income per head, (5) Parity 4 and 7 groups, (6) Those who had practised rigid feeding with previous infant, (7) Those who had maternal problems in the previous lactation, (8) Those who received antenatal care at hospital and private clinics, (9) Those with <=5 antenatal visits, (10) Those without advice on breast-feeding and diet, (11) Those who had received breast preparation, (12) Those delivered in Private clinics, (13) Those delivered instrumentally, (14) Those who had not received immediate mother-child contact, (15) Those who practised suckling after 30 mins. after delivery. 23.5 percent of mmothers interviewed had maternal problems such as cracked nipples, mastitis, breast abscess, low milk production, maternal illness and retracted nipple. 4.5 percent had various infant problems, twin delivery, neonatal jaundice, diarrhoea, pneumonia, oral thrush, acute respiratory infection and cyanosis.