Rheumatology in Pathein practice

It is a prospective descriptive study on patients with rheumatological diseases who attended Shin Pa Ku private specialist clinic (SPK) and Patein General Hospital (PGH) from Dec 1998 to July 1999. Spectrum of rheumatological diseases was recorded by using proforma. Among 162 rheumatological cases, there were 6 cases of SLE and 3 cases of Systemic scleros is, and all were females. Among the seronegative diseases, 3 patients were suffering from ankylosing spondylitis, and all were suffering from ankylosing spondylitis, and all were males. In 15 cases of reactive arthritis 47

were males and 53

females. But in 9 cases ofgout, there was male preponderance (78

).Osteoarthritis accounts for 53 cases, with male 36

and 23 cases of rheumatic fever, has also female dominance(79

). Filbromyalgia affected 14 patients and all were females. Among a total of 28 casesof Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) mean age was 48.18yr (SD=15.57), Male: Female=1:4. Average duration for morning stiffness was 72.81 min (SD=2.72) and visual anologue pain score (VAPS) was 61.29 (SD=21.13). Grip power of left hand was found to be 88.57mmHg (SD=77.92) and that of right hand was 99.64mmHg (SD=6.50).Only 5.6

had renal involvement. RA occurred in patients irrespective of any educational status and occupation. Most of them had no concomitant diseases at the time of enrollment. RA is the 2nd commonest rhematological disease in this study. Moreover, it especially occurs in working age group and also greatly affects the qualtiyof life.

Effect of food supplementation during the third trimester, on outcome of pregnancy

The effect of energy supplemention during pregnancy on outcome was assessed in a trial in Sanchaung Township, Yangon, Myanmar Women who were 26-28 weeks pregnant coming to the Sanchaung Health Centre for antenatal care were assigned to three study groups. Group I consisted of women who had normal weight-for-height according to gestational age. Group II and III consisted of women who were malnourished (< 80 percent weight-for height) pregnant women matched by age and parity. Group II was supplemented with 500 kcal/d during the third trimester, whereas Group III was unsupplemented. There was a positive correlation between socio-economic score and total caloric intake and protein intake per day. There was also a significant difference between supplemented and unsupplemented malnourished group. However, there was no significant difference between the normal and malnourished group with supplementation. Thus, energy supplementation for short duration, during the third trimester is sufficient of improve outcome of pregnancy as judged by birth weight, length and head circumference of infants.