RESUMO
Background:Telomere, the biological chronometer, has been found to be influenced by different parameters which are reprogrammed during fetal life.This study was designed to find out influence of education on relative telomere length (RTL) of the maternal and new born and to detect improvement in the genetic remodeling during the fetal life between low and high educational levels of mother.Methods:Pregnant females(18-37 years) and their newborns (n=250) were recruited from Karachi hospitals. In this cross-sectional study RTL (maternal and cord) was calculated by Quantitative real-time PCR. Statistical analysis used were chi square tests and Mann Whitney U test for variables with two categories and then Kruskal Wallis for variables with more than two categories to examine mean difference between relative telomere length(RTL) and maternal education. The relationship between predictor variable(education) and RTL was done by linearregression.Results: A significant association of education and RTL revealed shorter mean maternal RTL(base pair(bp)) 6380±1128 among females with low education and longer 6553±945 in high education females respectively (p=0.071) (B= 0.009 p= >0.05). Similarly, cord RTL were shorter 6600±1218 in low and longer 7154±1585 in high educationgroup(p=0.007)(B= 0.184 p = <0.05) at 95% confidence level.It was also found that newborn among high education with upper middle Socioeconomic status (SES) have significantly longest RTL 7262±1804(p=<0.05).Conclusion: Overall longer newborn RTL than mothers were observed among different levels of education in targeted population of Karachi where higher education have a shielding effect on telomere remodeling during the fetal development
RESUMO
To determine the frequency of HPV in eaters of Gutka [betel, areca, lime and tobacco concoction], presenting with oral lesions. A descriptive study. Ziauddin University Research Laboratory, from February to July 2010. Subjects munching Gutka fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Samples were collected in the form of 20 - 40 ml oral rinse from 262 subjects who were habitual eaters of Gutka after an informed consent. Gentle brushings from the lesion were taken from subjects with the help of a brush at the other end of dental floss and the oral rinse was stored at 4[degree sign] C until DNA extraction. DNA was extracted and PCR was performed using HPV consensus primers Gp5+/Gp6+. Oral cavity was examined for the presence of ulcer, trismus, sub-mucosal fibrosis, leukoplakia and/or warts. Out of 262 subjects, 42 were females and 220 males with an average age of 27 +/- 10 years. HPV was positive in 47 subjects [17.9%]. HPV frequency was 2.7% greater in chewers with more than 10 years of habit compared to less than 10 years. Examination of oral cavity showed 78% presenting with more than one complaint including oral ulcers [25%], rough mucosa [62%], sub-mucosal fibrosis [24%], leukoplakia [20%] and erythroplakia [10.6%]. Highest frequency of HPV was observed in erythroplakia [25%]. Association between presence of symptoms and HPV shows an ODDS RATIO: ad/bc= 4982/430=11.6. Oral lesions caused by constant exposure to Gutka are associated with high frequency of HPV infection, which may be a risk factor for squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity. People should be educated about the consequences of Gutka abuse