Evaluation of mean platelet volume and platelet distribution width in the diagnosis of Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Objectives: Bone marrow examination is the gold standard test in discriminating between hyper destructive thrombocytopenia and hypo productive thrombocytopenia. However, this procedure is invasive. Mean platelet volume [MPV] and platelet distribution width [PDW] arc simple, inexpensive and noninvasive methods that may be used in discriminating between these two types of thrombocytopenia

Aim of the study: The present study investigated the significance of the platelet indices, mean platelet volume and platelet distribution width in the diagnosis of ITP

Subjects and methods: The present study compared the mean platelet volume and platelet distribution width in 15 patients with hyper destructive thrombocytopenia and 15 patients with hypo productive thrombocytopenia. The sensitivity and specificity of these platelet indices to diagnose ITP were also measured

Results: The MPV showed a sensitivity of 93.3% and a specificity of 66.7% at cut off of 7.7 fL and the PDW showed a sensitivity of 86.7% and specificity of 73.3% at a cut off of 40.6%

Conclusions: The study concluded that although MPV and PDW can be used as an initial hint for predicting the type of thrombocytopenia, it has limited sensitivity and specificity

Prevalence of upper quadrant musculoskeletal disorders among dental students and professionals in Ajman, United Arab Emirates: an observational study

This study aims to find the prevalence of upper quadrant musculoskeletal problems among dental students and professionals. Across sectional study was carried out among dental professionals in Ajman. A self-reported questionnaire was distributed to 72 dental students and 30 dental care practitioners from the College of Dentistry at Gulf Medical University, Dental Department of Gulf Medical College Hospital and the College of Dentistry of Ajman Institute of technology. The frequent musculoskeletal problem sex experienced by dental professionals were pain in the upper back [30%], shoulder problems [24.5%], and pain in the wrist [20.6%]. The results of this study suggest that the dental professionals have a high prevalence of developing upper quadrant musculoskeletal disorders. As such, the dental profession will need to carefully consider preventive strategies to help minimize the impact of this important occupational health hazard on the next generation of dental professionals

Induction of labor with Prostaglandin E2 in women with previous cesarean section and unfavorable cervix

Background: Induction of labor is common in obstetric practice. According to the most current studies, the rate varies from 9.5 to 33.7 percent of all pregnancies annually. In the absence of a ripe or favorable cervix, a successful vaginal birth is less likely. Therefore, cervical ripening or preparedness for induction should be assessed before a regimen is selected. To objective is to study the pregnancy outcome of induction of labor with prostaglandin E2 [PGE2] in women with one previous lower segment cesarean section

Methods: A prospective study was conducted at Maternity and Children Hospital, Buraidah [Qassim], Saudi Arabia. The sample included 153 consecutive women with one previous cesarean section, of whom 75 underwent induction of labor [study group] and 78 were admitted with spontaneous onset of labor [control group]. Vaginal tablets of PGE2 were used for cervical ripening in the study group. Mode of delivery, neonatal outcome, indications for cesarean section, and rate of uterine rupture were compared between the groups

Results: There were no significant differences between the study and control groups in mean [_S.D.] maternal age [30:9 _ 4:7 years versus 31:2 _ 4:8 years, P 1/4 0:6], gestational age at delivery [39:2 _ 1:8 weeks versus 39:3 _ 1:6 weeks, P 1/4 0:36], overall rate of cesarean section [24% versus 20.5%, P 1/4 0:8], rates of low 5-min Apgar score [3.1% versus 3.7%, P 1/4 0:67] or cesarean section performed for non-reassuring fetal heart rate [9.3% versus 7.69%, P 1/4 0:1]. There were no cases of uterine rupture, in both groups

Conclusion: The findings suggest that induction of labor in women with one previous cesarean section does not increase the risk of cesarean section rate and does not adversely affect immediate neonatal outcome. We cautiously suggest that when there is no absolute indication for repeated cesarean section, induction of labor may be considered

Induction of labor with prostaglandin E2 in women with previous cesarean section and unfavorable cervix

Induction of labor is common in obstetric practice. According to the most current studies, the rate varies from 9.5 to 33.7 percent of all pregnancies annually. In the absence of a ripe or favorable cervix, a successful vaginal birth is less likely. Therefore, cervical ripening or preparedness for induction should be assessed before a regimen is selected. To objective is to study the pregnancy outcome of induction of labor with prostaglandin E2 [PGE2] in women with one previous lower segment cesarean section. A prospective study was conducted at Maternity and Children Hospital, Buraidah [Qassim], Saudi Arabia. The sample included 153 consecutive women with one previous cesarean section, of whom 75 underwent induction of labor [study group] and 78 were admitted with spontaneous onset of labor [control group]. Vaginal tablets of PGE2 were used for cervical ripening in the study group. Mode of delivery, neonatal outcome, indications for cesarean section, and rate of uterine rupture were compared between the groups. There were no significant differences between the study and control groups in mean [JS.D.] maternal age [30:9 - 4:7 years versus 31:2 - 4:8 years, P% 0:6], gestational age at delivery [39:2 - 1:8 weeks versus 39:3 - 1:6 weeks, P% 0:36], overall rate of cesarean section [24% versus 20.5%, P% 0:8], rates of low 5-min Apgar score [3.1% versus 3.7%, P% 0:67] or cesarean section performed for non-reassuring fetal heart rate [9.3% versus 7.69%, P% 0:1]. There were no cases of uterine rupture, in both groups. The findings suggest that induction of labor in women with one previous cesarean section does not increase the risk of cesarean section rate and does not adversely affect immediate neonatal outcome. We cautiously suggest that when there is no absolute indication for repeated cesarean section, induction of labor may be considered

Chlamydia trachomatis antigen detection in female infertility

Chlamydia trachomatis is a well recognized sexually transmitted pathogen. Besides its potential to produce genital tract infection, C. trachomatis is increasingly being associated with long-term complications like infertility. The present study was undertaken to assess the role of C. trachomatis in female infertility. Women of primary and secondary infertility [n= 150] and 20 healthy term pregnant women as control group were enrolled in the study. Detailed clinical history of each patient was recorded. Hysterosalpingography was performed in all patients. Endocervical swabs were collected for culture on cycloheximide treated McCoy cell line and for antigen detection by Blocking assay antibody technique. C. trachomatis was detected in 48 [32%] of the 150 infertile women while 3 [15%] in control group was positive for C. trachomatis. Among the total 48 [32%] infertile Chlamydia positive cases, C, trachomatis was detected by both cell culture and EIA, in 22 [45.8%], 14 cases [29.5%] were positive for C. trachomatis by cell culture alone and in 12 [25%] only antigen could be detected. Chlamydial positivity was seen in 22 [24.2%] women- with primary infertility and in 26 [44.l%] with secondary infertility. A significantly high rate of C. trachomatis infection was found in infertile women and more so in asymptomatic females and in secondary infertility cases. Lack of symptoms make clinical diagnosis of chlamydial infection difficult. Screening of infertile women for C. trachomatis is therefore recommended so far early therapeutic interventions

Lipid profiles and lipoprotein [Lp a] levels of marasmic children: the influence of short rehabilitation

The biochemical changes of lipid me tabolism in marasmic children before and after nutritional treatment were evaluated in thirty patients with age ranging from 6 to 24 months. All subjects were submitted to anthropometric measurements, liver and kidney function tests, lipid profiles, lipoproteins and lipoprotein [a] [Lp[a]] levels. All studied parameters were repeated one month after nutritional therapy. The results showed significant increase in weight, midarm and chest circumferences of cases after nutritional therapy. No significant differences were detected in serum total protein, albumin, AST, ALT, urea and creatinine. The laboratory results of lipid profiles after treatment showed significant decrease of mean serum levels of total lipids and triglycerides, meanwhile mean levels of total cholesterol [TC], and lipoproteins [HDL-c, LDL-c and Lp [a]] were significantly elevated. The risk ratios TC/HDL-c and LDL/HDL-c were not changed significantly after treatment. Our results indicated that improvement of the studied anthropometric measurements in marasmic children after short dietatic therapy is attributed mainly to changes in lipid profiles and that diet has some influence on Lp [a] levels in those children