Placental histology in diet and insulin treated gestational diabetics

To observe and compare placental histology for hypoxic changes in diet plus exercise alone versus dietplus exercise and insulin treatment in patients with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus [GDM]. Comparative / analytic study. The study was conducted in Lyari General Hospital and Mamji Hospital after approval from the Institutional Review Board [1KB] and Ethical Committee of Dow University of Health Sciences from Jan 2010- Jan 2011. After written informed consent, 30 patients were diagnosed to have GDM with RBS between 126-129 mg/dl were given diet control plus exercise therapy [Group A]. 39 GDM patients with RBS greater than 130 mg/dl were kept on diet plus exercise and insulin [Group B]. After delivery placentae were collected from 25 patients in each group. Histological slides of placentae were prepared and parameters of hypoxia such as villous immaturity, villous fibrinoid necrosis, syncytial knots, chorangiosis, calcification etc. were observed and compared between the two groups using light microscope. Results were evaluated by SPSS 16 using student t- test and chisquare test. Statistically non-significant results were obtained for the hypoxic parameters. However numerically more calcification was found in Group A while villous immaturity, villous fibrinoid necrosis and syncytial knots were present more in Group B. Histological examination of placentae showed presence of hypoxic features in both Group A and Group B patients with more propensities in diet plus exercise and insulin treated GDM group

Assessment of risk factors for gestational diabetes mellitus

Background: Gestational diabetes is a condition due to glucose intolerance that occurs in the few of the mothers during gestation. The pathophysiology originates as a result of increased placental hormones which have strong diabetogenic effect. It is strongly associated with multiple problems in mother and the baby and can even leads to unexplained fetal deaths in the end trimesters. So it is important to diagnose and treat females who are at greater risk than the others for developing gestational diabetes mellitus

Objective: To access the high risk factors associated with the development of gestational diabetes mellitus in 75 GDM diagnosed females

Methods: After screening and diagnoses 75 GDM patients [Diabetic, Group B] and 25 normal healthy patients [Control, Group A] in Lyari General and Mamji Hospital were enrolled in the study. Their detailed history was taken regarding occupation, parity, history of abortions, still births, preterm births and family history of diabetes. Parameters including age, weight, fasting and random blood sugar level and glycated hemoglobin were recorded in a predesigned data form. The results were evaluated using SPSS 16

Results: Statistically significant difference was found between the mothers of diabetic and normal control group as regards the weight, age [p-value=0.01 and p=0.03] and family history of diabetes [p-value=0.00]. Non-significant differences were found in the maternal occupation, parity, abortions, still births and pre-term births between the two groups

Conclusion: Advance maternal age, weight and familial association of diabetes are the risk factors associated with the development of gestational diabetes

Association between serum total testosterone and body mass index in middle aged healthy men

To determine correlation of serum total testosterone with body mass index [BMI] and waist hip ratio [WHR] in healthy adult males. A cross sectional study was conducted on 200 nonsmoker healthy males [aged 30-50 years] university employees. They were selected by convenience sampling technique after a detailed medical history and clinical examination including BMI and Waist Hip Ratio [WHR] calculation. Blood sampling was carried out to measure serum total testosterone [TT] using facilities of Chemiluminescence assay [CLIA] technique in Dow Chemical Laboratory. Independent sample T test was used for mean comparisons of BMI and WHR in between low and normal testosterone groups. [Subjects having < 9.7 nmol/L of total testosterone in blood were placed in low testosterone group and subjects having = 9.7 nmol/L of total testosterone in blood were placed in normal testosterone group]. Correlation of testosterone with BMI and WHR was analyzed by Pearson Correlation. Mean [ +/- SD] age of the subjects included in this study was 38.7 [ +/- 6.563] years mean [ +/- SD] total testosterone was 15.92 [ +/- 6.322]nmol/L. The mean [ +/- SD] BMI, and WHR were 24.95 [ +/- 3.828] kg/m[2] and 0.946 [ +/- 0.0474] respectively. Statistically significant differences were observed in the mean values of BMI and WHR for the two groups of testosterone. Significant inverse correlation of serum total testosterone with BMI[r = -0.311, p = 0.000] was recorded in this study. However testosterone was not significantly correlated with waist/hip ratio. [r = -0.126, p = 0.076] Middle age men working at DUHS who have low level of serum total testosterone are more obese than individuals with normal total testosterone level

Relationship of testosterone with hemoglobin in healthy fertile males

To establish a probable relationship of serum total testosterone with hemoglobin under normal physiological conditions in Pakistani population. Cross sectional study. This study was carried out at the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Department of Physiology, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi from September 2010 to September 2011. 200 apparently healthy, non-smoker and adult males of age group 30 - 50 years were selected by convenient sampling. Early morning samples of serum total testosterone and hemoglobin were obtained by venipuncture after detailed medical history and thorough physical examination. All the tests were done on the same day and results were calculated. The mean [ +/- SD] total testosterone was 15.92 [ +/- 6.32] nmol/L. The frequency of low serum total testosterone was 13.5%. The frequency of anemia was 4.0%. Hemoglobin and MCHC directly correlated with total testosterone [p < 0.05] while PCV, RBC count and MCH did not show significant correlation [p > 0.05]. Low testosterone is prevalent in Pakistani apparently healthy males in the age group 30-50 years. Significant direct relationship of testosterone with hemoglobin showed that physiological variations in testosterone can modulate hemoglobin status in middle age apparently healthy sedentary Pakistani men

Comparative study on neem leaf extract and nimolicin [NC] on gastric mucosa of albino rats

Compare the anti ulcer effect of Methanolic Neem [Azadirachta indica, A Juss, Meliaceae] Leaf Extract [NLE] and Neem compound Nimolicin on gastric mucosa of albino rats. Azadiradione also called Nimolicine coded as NC has been studied for its anti insect effect but anti ulcer effect has never been studied. Experimental study. This study was carried out at the Pharmacy and Physiology Department of Baqai Medical College for duration of two years. Gastric ulcers in albino rats were induced in group-1 [check group] by a single oral dose of 1 ml 100% ethanol. After 24 hours the treatment was started. Group-2 was treated with oral administration of pea nut oil 1 ml/day for 5 days [control of the treated group]. Group-3 was treated with NLE [1 ml/day for 5 days] and Group-4 with NC 1% [1 ml/day for 5 days]. The healing effects of neem were compared to oral administration of anti ulcer drugs ranitidine [50mg/kg daily for 5 days] and omeperazole [2.5 mg/kg daily for 10 days]. Histopathology of the stomach was performed to confirm the presence or healing of ulcers. Ulcers were scored and indexed on the basis of histopathology. Ranitidine had the highest ulcer inhibition of 84%. NLE proved to be better than omeperazole by showing an ulcer inhibition of 82 % compared to 73% ulcer inhibition of omeperazole. NC showed least anti ulcer activity with an ulcer inhibition of only 69%. HPLC was performed to show the tissue concentration of NC, omeparazole and ranitidine showing their retention time, area and concentration compared to their controls. It is concluded that NLE proved to be better anti ulcer agent as compared to NC and can be used as an anti ulcer drug after clinical trials