Coping Strategies and Help Seeking Behavior among Women with Symptoms Of Postpartum Depression in Selangor

@#Introduction: Most women with postpartum depression (PPD) remain undiagnosed and untreated, despite the adverse effects known to be felt by women and children. The aim of this study was to examine the coping strategies and help seeking behavior used by women having symptoms of postpartum depression. Methods: Using a mixed-method study design, the researcher used the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), Brief COPE and General Help Seeking Behavior (GHSQ) inventories for the quantitative approach, while the qualitative approach was conducted by a semi-structured interview based on the topics listed. A total of 30 respondents participated in the quantitative study while seven respondents were chosen for the qualitative study. Results: Data analyses identified coping strategies with domains of emotion-focused and religion-focused subscales as the main coping styles, while help seeking behavior identified that families were the main groups of people that were sought by them. Conclusion: Women with symptoms of postpartum depression tended to cope with their mental health issues by strengthening their spiritual bonds and with help and support from their family members.

Prothrombin G20210A mutation in women with preeclampsia in Alexandria

The etiology and pathogenesis of preeclampsia remain unknown but it has been proposed that genetic predisposition to coagulation abnormalities contributes to the development of preeclampsia by increasing the thrombotic tendency. This study was conducted to estimate one of the thrombosis variant, prothrombin G20210A mutation, as a risk factor for preeclampsia. One hundred and seventeen preeclamptic women and 102 normal control group were included in this study, both groups were in the 3[rd] trimester of pregnancy. A positive association was found between maternal age over 35 years [OR = 8; Cl: 1.54-44.23], previous preeclampsia [OR = 6.34; Cl: 2.16-19.96], positive family history of hypertension [OR 3.44; Cl: 1.28-9.60], diabetes mellitus [OR = 10.14; Cl: 1.24-221.181, history of recurrent abortions [OR = 24.05; Cl: 1.39-416.94], intrauterine fetal death [OR = 19.50; Cl: 1.11-342.65], and fetal anomalies [OR 8.42; Cl: 1.06-180.0] and preeclampsia. The frequency of heterozygous carriers of the prothrombin G20210A mutation in preeclamptic women [6.8%] was higher than that in controls [2.9%], but the difference was statistically non-significant. However, the frequency of prothrombin mutation was statistically higher in severe preeclamptic women [14.7%] compared to women with mild preeclampisa [3.6%] [P<0.05]. This indicated that prothrombin mutation is associated with severe preeclampsia and worsens the prognosis of the disease

Hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin and genetic heterogeneity in Alexandria, Egypt

Fetal hemoglobin [HbF] production in normal adults varies over a 20-fold range and is under genetic control. To estimate and assess the mode of inheritance of hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin [HPFH], 1009 apparently healthy preparatory school students were included in this study. Fetal hemoglobin and other hematological indices were determined in these subjects. Four hundred and twenty four subjects had HbF representing 42.4%. The levels of HbF ranged from 0.4%-39.5%. The frequency distribution of HbF showed 2 groups, low [9.5% for F1, > 5% for F2]. The hemoglobin [Hb] content showed a positive correlation with HbF level which may indicate the increased HbF in mildly anemic adults. Mathematics of population genetic on families of 66 subjects with elevated HbF showed that autosomal dominant inheritance was the possible mode in 18 families [X[2] = 9.68]. In other families, the value of heritability for the first degree relatives was 91% suggesting the multifactorial inheritance. In conclusion, this form of HPFH is heterogenous and the mode of inheritance is different in different families

Cytogenetic abnormalities among children with genetic disorders attending the genetic clinic in Alexandria

A total of 316 children referred to the Genetics clinic, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria, were assessed to classify and estimate the proportion of cytogenetic abnormalities. It was found that 184 patients [58%] had genetic disorders, 65 of whom [35.3%] had chromosomal abnormalities. Abnormalities of autosomes represented 95.4% [62/65] while those of sex chromosomes were 4.6% [3/65]. The chromosomal numerical abnormalities were trisomies [trisomy 21, trisomy 18, trisomy 13 and trisomy 10 in 27.6%, 9.2%, 6.15% and 1.5% of cases respectively] and supernumerary marker chromosomes in 9.2% of cases. In structural chromosomal aberrations of autosomes, deletions and inversions each represented 10.8%, translocations 6.2%, duplications 4.6%, multiple breaks 4.6%, centromere separation 3%, and ring chromosome 1.54%. Sex chromosome anomalies included one case of polysomy X, one of monosomy X and one case had ring X chromosome. The non chromosomal groups [64.7%] were in the form of single gene disorders [40.2%], multifactorial [4.9%], sporadic cases [16.3%] and teratogenic agents [3.3%] respectively. These findings suggest that cytogenetic analysis is useful in the investigation of children with genetic disorders and to permit for proper genetic counseling

Serum prolactin in neonatal respiratory distress syndrome

This work was carried out to address the relationship between serum levels of prolactin and the development of respiratory distress syndrome as well as its relation to duration of mechanical ventilation. The study divided 50 neonates into two groups. Group I included 30 neonates suffering from respiratory distress syndrome [RDS] who were mechanically ventilated; their mean gestational age was 32.1 +/- 2.2 weeks and their mean birth weight was 1.7 +/- 0.6 kg and group II included 20 healthy neonates free from RDS taken as controls; their mean gestational age was 35.3 +/- 2.4 weeks and their mean birth weight was 2.4 +/- 0.5 kg. All neonates were subjected to full medical history taking and full clinical examination. Neonates with RDS were subjected to plain X-ray chest, blood gases and C reactive protein [CRP] measurement. Serum prolactin [RRL] estimation was done using ELISA technique on the 1st day of life for both patients and controls. Follow up values on the 7th day of life were obtained for patients only. It was concluded that PRL hormone is important in the neonatal period, the deficiency of which is closely related to the development of RDS. These findings greatly raised the possibility of the role of PRL in fetal lung maturation and perhaps surfactant synthesis. Also, it confirmed the strong association between low serum PRL and prolonged respiratory disease in neonates with RDS resulting in prolonged duration of mechanical ventilation

Results of pulsed sequential combined chemo-radiotherapy in patients with advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma

Twenty cases of advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma were set on precise courses of pulsed multiple chemotherapeutic regimens alternating with 3 short courses of radiotherapy. The drugs used were methotrexate with leucovorine rescue, vincristine and bleomycin. The dose of radiotherapy was 180 cGy daily for five successive days per week given every other week alternative with chemotherapy. The overall dose was 2700 cGy. Seventeen patients completed the therapy. One patient died at the end of the course due to severe uncontrollable bleeding. The outcome of the remaining 16 cases was complete response in 7, partial response in another 7 and no response in 2. This indicate that there is a significant potential for pulsed sequential combined chemo-radiotherapy as primary treatment for advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma where curative treatment is not possible

Re-evaluation of the hypotensive effect of diazoxide

To evaluate further the effectiveness and some of the factors that might influence the hypotensive action of diazoxide, the drug was given [300 mg] by rapid i.v. injection as a single bolus to 28 patients with hypertensive emergencies. Twenty measurements of BP were made in each patient over 24-hours period. The reduction in the mean arterial pressure [MAP] ranged from 13 to 102 mm [Hg] and the duration of the duration of the hypotensive action ranged from one minute to 24-hours. A [hypotension index] derived by multiplying the fall in MAP by the duration of hypotensive action was used to judge effectiveness. Patients with an index of 60 mm Hg. Hours or greater were classified as responders, those of less than 60 mm Hg. Hours were non-responders. Fifteen patients [54%] were responders with an effective single diazoxide injection. Heart failure, ECC-LVH and papilledema were more frequent in non-responders. The drug was equally effective in patients with and without impaired renal function. Effectiveness was not improved by the addition of frusemide i.v. prior to diazoxide injection