Incidence and associated risk factors of low birth weight babies born in Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayad Al-Nayan Hospital Muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir

Background and Objective: Birth weight is the most important factor that affects infant and child mortality. The most common cause of low birth is malnutrition before and during the pregnancy period. The present study was conducted to explore the associated risk factors of low birth weight which will be helpful to undertake effective measures to reduce the incidence of the low birth weight babies

Methods: The study was conducted at Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayad Al-Nayan Hospital Muzaffarabad. A sample size of 1603 live births over a period of five months were analyzed. The pregnant women were recruited in the last trimester of their pregnancy and followed up till their delivery. Information regarding maternal age, parity, income of family, gestational age, maternal occupation, degree of illiteracy, birth interval was collected. The birth weight was recorded within 24 hours of delivery. Data analysis was done using Graph Pad Prism version 6.0

Results: Data of 1863 birth out of which 1603 were live births and among these live births, 1442 were normal birth weight babies and 161 number of low birth weight [LBW] were analyzed. The incidence of LBW in this study was [10.04%]. LBW was more common in female [n=84] than in male [n=77] babies. However, this difference was statistically insignificant. Among different risk factors maternal age [p<0.05], parity [P = 0.0167], income of family [P = 0.0190], has a statically significant association with incidence of LBW. The gestational age of mother, maternal occupation, degree of illiteracy was found to affect the incidence of LBW babies, however the difference was found to be statistically insignificant for LBW. Birth interval less than three years and low hemoglobin level [P<0.0260] was found to have a significant association with LBW babies

Conclusion: LBW a common problem in Pakistan is an important factor for perinatal mortality and morbidity. Among different risk factors maternal age, parity, income of family, gestational age of mother, maternal occupation, degree of illiteracy, birth interval less than three years were found to be the important risk factors contributing to LBW babies born in Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayad Al- Nayan Hospital Muzaffarabad

Effect of gonadotrophins, oestradiol and insulin on cumulus expansion of Nili Ravi buffalo oocytes

The objective of the present study was to investigate the cumulus expansions of Nili Ravi buffalo oocytes during cultured in TCM -199 supplemented with 2 micro g/ml oestradiol [E[2]], 0.05 IU/ml recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone [rhFSH], 2IU/ml human chorionic gonadotrophin [hCG], and 0.12 IU/ml insulin [I]. The cumulus oocytes complexes [COCs] were collected from 2-8mm follicles from local abattoir ovaries. Supplementation of medium with single hormones showed significant [P<0.0001] increase in mean diameter of COCs with rhFSH except E[2], hCG and insulin after 24 hours compared to the increase in the mean diameter of COCs matured in TCM-199 without any hormonal supplementation. With rhFSH even at 8th hour, significant increase [P<0.001] in cumulus expansion was observed. In combination of hormones the significant [P<0.0001] cumulus expansion was achieved in E[2]+rhFSH treatment group. The non significant [P>0.05] cumulus expansion was observed in treatment groups viz. E[2]+hCG, E[2]+Insulin, rhFSH+hCG, rhFSH+Insulin, hCG+Insulin, E[2]+rhFSH+hCG and E[2]+rhFSH+hCG+Insulin after 24 hours. In conclusion, supplementation of rhFSH alone and in combination with E2in TCM-199 has highly significant effect on cumulus expansion

Risk factors of ischemic heart diseases in Peshawar

To highlight various predictive, relative and contributory risk factors in the causation of ischemic heart diseases. A retrospective study was conducted in which about 150 diagnosed cases were studied in rural population at Budhney, Peshawar between April 1997 and July 1998. The patients were interviewed for specific period, filling the questionnaires prepared for this purpose. The questions included in the proforma were mostly about the educational status, economical background, personal and environmental life style, frequency of consumption of vital foods, fresh fruits and vegetables, family history of ischemic heart diseases, exercise entertainments, social set up and tense and serious moods. The survey comprised of about 78 males and 72 females respondents. 36% of the respondents were between the age of 30 - 40 years. 63% of the total cases were above the age of 40 years. 65% males and 72% females were totally illiterate and hence devoid of all knowledge of preventive aspect of cardiovascular disorder. 84% of the respondents belonged to upper social class and that is why most of them had to pay for their life style in the form of crippled manpower and economical loss. A positive history of hypertension and chronic smoking was noted in 13% and 4% cases respectively. The investigative profile revealed a raised blood cholesterol level and fasting sugar level in 10% and 5% of the respondents respectively. The survey unveiled a chain of multifactor causation, which is not usually taken into account in our cultural setup like excessive consumption of fatty food, Type A personality, sedentary life style, lack of regular exercise and competitive stressful and ambitious life conditions