Prevalence of Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease in School Children of Bharateswari Homes of Bangladesh.

Background: Rheumatic fever (RF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) continue to affect millions of people around the world, including Bangladesh. Children and adolescents are especially susceptible to this disease. Classical risk factors, i.e. poverty, overcrowding, ignorance and insufficient health care services are responsible for the high incidence and prevalence of these diseases. To assess the prevalence of RF and RHD among children, a school survey was conducted in Bharateswari Homes, in the district of Tangail, Bangladesh. Methods: A total of 947 students were examined. Revised Jones’ criteria (1992), and clinical examination were used for the diagnosis of RF and RHD. Results: Four cases of RF/RHD were found giving the prevalence of 4.22/1000. This is lower than the prevalence reported in eighties, but is consistent with those found in nineties. Conclusion: Among the school children, there is a declining trend in the prevalence of RF/RHD.

Ruptured uterus: an ongoing tragedy of motherhood.

This study aimed to determine the frequency of ruptured uterus, possible aetiologic factors, foetomaternal out come and changes in obstetric care proposed to reduce this catastrophy. From September 1994 to September 1999 in Dhaka Medical College Hospital 39,782 deliveries occurred. All delivery records were reviewed and rupture uterus cases were identified. The result was compared with studies carried out in home and abroad. During the five years period among 39,782 deliveries 424 cases were of rupture uterus with a frequency of 1/93 deliveries. Eighty three percent rupture occurred in intact uterus and 17% occurred in uteri scarred by caesarian section. Common contributing factors were -prolonged/obstructed labour, grand multiparity, injudicious use of uterine stimulants, mismanaged labour by traditional birth attendant, delayed referral to well equipped centre, poor communication, poverty and ignorance.

Pentavalent antimonial nephrotoxicity in the rat

Estudou-se a funcao renal de ratos tratados com Glucantime (Antimoniato de Meglumine, Rhodia) e Pentostam (estibogloconato de Sodio, Wellcome) na dose de 30 mg de "Sb POT v" por 100g de peso por dia, durante 30 dias. Observou-se um disturbio na concentracao urinaria, que foi reversivel 7 dias apos cessada a administracao das drogas. O estudo histopatologico do rim, por meio da microscopia optica, nao evidenciou alteracoes significativas. Por outro lado, ratos tratados com altas doses dos antimoniais (220mg de "Sb POT v" por 100g de peso por dia) mostraram alteracoes funcionais e histopatologicas renais compativeis com necrose tubular aguda