Maternal risk factors associated with low birth weight in Karachi: a case-control study

To evaluate maternal risk factors associated with low birth weight [LBW] among women aged 15-35 years, we carried out a hospital-based, case-control study on 262 cases [mothers of neonates weighing 2.5 kg]. Odds of delivering a low-birth-weight baby decreased with increase in maternal haemoglobin [odds ratio [OR]: 0.701; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.62-0.79]. Odds were greater among mothers not using iron supplements during pregnancy [OR: 2.88; 95% CI: 1.83-4.54]. Mothers of LBW babies had lower haemoglobin levels before delivery

Role of infection in bladder stone disease in children

The urine from 180 children with bladder stone disease [BSD] was cultured for evidence of urinary tract infection. Fifty eight [22.2%] BSD children had positive urine culture. E. Coli was the commonest organism [52%] followed by B. Proteus [31%]. There was a significant relationship [P < 0.001] between high urinary pH and growth of B. Proteus whereas E. Coli was positively correlated with lower urinary pH. On correlating urinary tract infection with surface constituents of analysed stones, uric acid was more commonly seen in sterile urine [P < 0.05]. On infrared spectroscopic analysis of calculi calcium phosphate occurred significantly more frequently [P < 0.01] in the group with infected urine

Analysis of urinary calculi by chemical methods

Two hundred twelve samples from 90 stones obtained from one hundred consecutive children with bladder stone disease [BSD] were analysed by qualitative and quantitative chemical methods. Majority [72%] of the stones were spherical in shape while 51% had mammilated surface. Children in older age group had heavier stones [P < 0.05]. The calculi were predominantly of mixed type [88.9%]. Calcium oxalate was the commonest [97.7%] compound detected by qualitative chemical method. The central portion of calculi showed a significantly higher [P < 0.02] occurrence of ammonium urate compared to the surface. Uric acid was present in surface layer in significantly higher [P < 0.05] number in patients with uninfected urine. On quantitative analysis calcium and oxalate occurred in significantly higher [P < 0.01] percentage in surface layers, while urate occurred more frequently [P < 0.05] in the central portion of calculi. On comparing the two chemical methods of stone analysis, a good agreement was seen in the detection of calcium, oxalate and urate but phosphate was missed in 39% samples by the qualitative method and in 10% samples by quantitative method