Assessment of gestational diabetes mellitus risk factors in local population

Background the gestational diabetes mellitus [GDM] is defined as any degree of glucose intolerance with onset or first recognition during pregnancy. Risk management of GDM should be done at first prenatal visit. As it is the most common metabolic complication of pregnancy, the present study was focused on finding out the risk factors of GDM in local population

Method we evaluated the risk factors of GDM in 200 females who were randomly tested for GDM with 75 g Oral glucose tolerance test [OGTT] at 24-28[th] weeks of pregnancy. A detailed questionnaire was administered in this cross sectional study

Results the most commonly observed risk factor was family history DM,117 patients [p<0.001and odd ratio as 40.4 [17.4 to 93.6]], obesity,113 patients [P< 0.001, odd ratio as 4.5[2.2 to 9.2]], pregnancy related stress in109 [P< 0.001, odd ratio as 4.8[2.4 to 9.5]], anemia in 88 females [P=0.003, odd ratio as 3.5[1.5 to 8.0]], history of abortions,76 [P< 0.001], odd ratio as 2.9[1.59 to 5.34]]. Furthermore, stress, hypertension, lack of exercise were significantly associated risk factors of GDM. Only 93 females who had fatigue during pregnancy [P=0.718 and odd ratio as 0.88[0.45 to 1.71]] had association with development of GDM that was statistically insignificant

Conclusion the most commonly occurring risk factor of GDM in our population were obesity, family history of diabetes, stress, hypertension and lack of exercise. Unusual association was observed between iron deficiency anemia and GDM

Effects on blood glucose, glutathione and lipid profile by murraya koeniigi in experimental animals [rabbits]

Background: Obesity is responsible for beta dysfunction and insulin resistance. This is main cause of type 2 diabetes and excess in glycosylated hemoglobin. The concentration of glycosylation is directly proportional to the amount of blood glucose. It is investigated that oxidative stress can play a major role in the destruction of tissue that directly link with diabetic complication. This condition also associated with elevated level of lipid peroxidation. Murraya leaves may cause hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects and thus reduce lipid peroxidation in experimental animals

Methodology: The animals [rabbits] were randomly divided into three groups of equal size; a control group that did not receive any sort of modification in diet throughout the study while the group 2 and 3 were orally administered 10gm of fructose and 6gm of butter in addition to normal animal chow. While a dietary modification by addition curry leaves, was made in group 3 and it received 10g curry leaves per day for the next 45 days. The blood levels of glucose, glutathione and lipid profile were measured

Results: After consumption of Murraya leaves concentration of blood glucose and LDL-C, TC, TG was significantly decreased and increased HDL-C. Glutathione evaluation was used as a parameter for the oxidative stress showed a mark decline

Conclusion: Murraya leaves acted as anti-diabetic because it is also responsible to decrease the absorption of the glucose from gastrointestinal tract and anti-hyperlipidemic effects

Determination of induced effect of pesticide chlopyrifos [organophosphate] on skin of Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis

Investigations were carried out on the effects of pesticide Chlorpyrifos [organophosphate] on skin of adult frogs of Euphlyctis cyanoplyctis. The effects of pesticide were observed on frog's skin during 90 days after the treatment. Study of skin cells was carried out by sectioning of fixed tissue by Paraffin Section Technique. The results obtained in the long-term experiment showed that under the effects of chlorpyrifos sections examined reveal skin covered fibrocollagenous tissue exhibiting areas of necrosis and aggregate of mild chronic inflammation, pigment containing basal keratinocytes were identified in epidermis. Variable size measured fibers with degenerated and regenerative changes also noted. A few fiber stain internalization took place in collection of chronic and non stapile inflammatory cells along with tissue necrosis. Chronic granulomatous inflamation is not identified. However, histolytic collision has been found. No evidence of malignancy was observed

Obesity: an independent risk factor for systemic oxidative stress

The role of obesity in diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, colon cancer, sudden death and other cardiovascular diseases has confirmed in many recent research studies. In present study, it is hypothesized that obesity can serve as an independent risk factor for the decreased activities of cytoprotective antioxidants in humans and for the associated systemic oxidative stress. 150 age matched, female subjects with no history of smoking or biochemical evidence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, renal or liver disease or cancer were included in the study and were divided into different grades of obesity according to their body mass index [BMI]. Hemoglobin and erythrocyte glutathione [GSH] concentrations were measured for each subject. The study suggests that increase BMI was found to be associated with a significant decrease in erythrocyte glutathione concentration. From these observations it is concluded that obesity even in the absence of smoking, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, renal or liver diseases can decrease the activities of body's protective antioxidants, and can enhance the systemic oxidative stress and should therefore receive the same attention as obesity with complications

Frequency of intestinal parasitic infestation in children of 5-12 years of age in Abbottabad

Worm infestation is a major problem in children from developing countries due to bad hygienic conditions. It produces nutritional deficiencies and anaemia in children, especially when hookworm infestation is present. This cross-sectional study deals with investigation of the frequency of intestinal parasitic infestation in children between the ages 5'12 years. A total of 283 subjects were tested and screened for different intestinal parasites at of Department of Physiology, Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad. Negative cases were re-examined and if found free of intestinal pathogenic parasites were labelled as negative. Of the 283 children examined, 230 tested positive for various intestinal parasites. The frequency of helminthic infestation was found to be above 81%. There were 8 different species of helminths and protozoa found in the specimens. By far the highest frequency of 48% was noted for Ascaris lumbricoides while 6.9% [16 cases] of the specimens examined had mixed infestation. The mean Haemoglobin [Hb] level was found to be 9.82 g/dl in males and 9.0 g/dl in females. Virtually no Hookworm infestation was found which may be the reason of not so low Hb level of the subjects. Conclusions: A very high percentage [81%] of children from suburbs of Abbottabad have intestinal worm infestation and majority of them [48% of positive cases] have Ascaris lumbricoides. Children were not very severely anaemic because of virtually no hook worm cases