Nutritional assessment with skinfold thickness and body- fat proportion in tribal and urban schoolchildren in Nashik district: A cross sectional study.

Context: Skinfold thickness (SFT) and body-fat (BF%) are infrequently used for childhood undernutrition. Aims: (a) Estimation of SFT at peripheral and truncal sites (b) Estimation of BF% from SFTs (c) Correlate SFT estimates with MUAC, BMI and Waist. (d) Compare rural/tribal SFTs with urban schoolchildren. Settings and Design: Ashram schools in rural/tribal settings and one urban school. Methods and Material: Using three stage sampling, four tribal schools were randomly selected and an urban school was added for comparison. A sub sample of 405 students in the age group of 7 to 15 years were included. Height, weight, MUAC and SFTs were measured BF% was estimated with Slaughter equation. Statistical Analysis: Using Excel, Epi Info 7.1 and R software, appropriate t tests were applied for comparisons, and correlation was estimated between the quantitative variables. Results: Average SFT among schoolchildren (405) was 6.64 mm. Girls (n = 215) had a BF% of 13.1%, while boys (n = 190) had BF at 11.5%. Average SFT for boys (6.69) and girls (6.48) had no statistically significant difference (t = 1.3, P = 0.1929). Boys had higher average peripheral SFT than truncal SFT while girls had higher truncal SFTs. In girls subscapular SFT was higher than triceps SFT. Median BF% in rural was lower than urban schoolchildren. BF% correlated strongly with BMI (0.56), Waist (0.63), Hip (0.61) and MUAC (0.59). Conclusion: SFT and BF % can be effectively used to detect undernutrition. Geographical and Gender differences are observed. SFT and BF% correlated well with BMI and MUAC.

Meta-analysis to Assess the Association of Lateral Location of Placenta on Ultrasound with Preeclampsia.

Introduction: Several studies have shown association between lateral placenta on ultrasound and preeclampsia (PE).This meta-analysis aims to review majority of the articles published between 1990 and 2020 and analyze the data extracted from them to find whether such an association really exists. Objective: To conduct a meta-analysis to determine the degree of the association of lateral placenta on ultrasound with preeclampsia. Methods: We searched electronic databases keeping filters for human studies and published in the English language, between the year 1990 and 2020. Studies were reviewed by reviewers and studies which were analytical in nature, having focused research question and where odds ratio could be derived were identified, and included in the metanalysis. Result: Out of 16 included studies, 15 studies showed positive association (OR > 1) out of which 13 were statistically significant and only one study showed negative association. Eight studies showed extremely significant statistical positive association. The meta-analysis points toward positive association with OR 3.48 and Mantel-Haenszel Chi square 325.82 with relatively narrow 95% confidence interval around OR as 3.03-3.99 which clearly indicates a positive association between laterally placed placenta and preeclampsia. The findings of the individual studies in terms of OR and 95% confidence interval were plotted as individual line for each study, one aggregate estimate with summary OR and its 95% confidence interval was plotted on the Forest Plot. Conclusion: The Forest plot revealed association between lateral placenta on ultrasound and preeclampsia (PE).Hence it can be concluded that there is an association between lateral placenta on ultrasound and preeclampsia.