Maternal As exposure was positively associated with IgGmat but not IgGcord . Elevated IgGmat may have implications as regards maternal morbidity and the placental transfer of specific IgGs. Further studies are required to better understand how As may affect maternal and child health by modifying the humoral immune system.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is one of the commonest complications of pregnancy; but its pathophysiology is still not fully understood. Recently attention has been focused on the relation between iron metabolism and glucose intolerance in the genesis of GDM. The present study was conducted to investigate the association of body iron store with various covariates of metabolic syndrome. A total 100 subjects were included in this study: 43 were healthy nondiabetic and nonanemic pregnant women (Control group) and 57 were pregnant women having Diabetes Mellitus (GDM group). Glucose level was measured by using glucose-oxidase method, fasting serum C-peptide by chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay, Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) by using a modified high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method and insulin sensitivity (HOMA%S) and insulin secretory capacity (HOMA%B) were calculated by Homeostasis Model Assessment. Serum transferrin receptor (STfR) was measured by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay and serum ferritin level was assessed by Microparticle Enzyme Immunoassay. Serum iron concentration was measured by IRN method. The age of the study groups were found to be matched (p=0.522). Gestational weeks and parity of the study groups were significantly higher in GDM than Controls (p=0.004 and p=0.015 respectively). HbA1c level (%, M±SD) was significantly higher in GDM group (6.09±1.1) as compared to Control Among the marker of body iron status hemoglobin level showed no difference between GDM (11±1.25) and Control groups (10.6±0.8), but serum iron concentration [median (range)] was significantly lower in GDM group [6(2-19)] as compared to Control [12(2-36)].Serum Iron was strongly correlated with HOMA%B in univariate Spearman correlation analysis (r =0.347, P=0.008).On multivariate linear regression analysis also found Serum Iron associated (p=0.011) with HOMA% B in GDM group. GDM in Bangladeshi subjects does not seem to be associated with iron deficiency or elevated body iron store. GDM subjects may show lower serum iron, but this is probably related to chronic inflammatory state of diabetes rather than iron deficiency. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bmj.v40i3.18678 Bangladesh Medical Journal 2011 Vol.40(3):55-60

Objective: This study assessed the health status and explored the perception of health care management among those with cardiovascular conditions in rural counties in China where the ability to pay is dominant. Method:We performed a cluster random sampling to select patients (aged ≥50 years) at rural health infirmaries in eight villages from three countries in Guangdong province, China. Information on clinical parameters measured on-site and morbidity history from medical records were obtained. The presence of hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia were examined from clinically-diagnosed parameters (including triglycerides, ≥1.69 mmol/L; total cholesterol, ≥5.69 mmol/L; and lowdensity lipoprotein cholesterol, ≥3.62 mmol/L) according to clinical guidelines. A validated questionnaire to assess the perception of health care management (in a 10point Likert-type scale) was administered by trained researchers to study subjects. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to explore factors associated with the willingness to pay for health care management. Result:The study population (N = 4,670 out of 4,800) had an average age of 65.3 years (standard deviation 7.1). Nearly one-third of subjects (31.9%) were illiteracy. The most prevalent condition was hypertension (54.6%), followed by dyslipidemia (43.3%) and diabetes (25.3%). Two-thirds of patients had multiple chronic conditions, with an average score ≤2 (out of 10) on the perception of health care management. Single-living (p = 0.018), higher education level (p = 0.034), and higher income level (p = 0.001) were independently associated with higher willingness of participating in health care management among the study subjects. Conclusion:The prevalence of cardiovascular conditions was high among middleaged and older adults in China's rural health infirmary setting. The low-level perception of health care management might be explained by the unaffordablility of patients.Background: Pregnancy-Induced-Hypertension (PIH) is claimed to create greater risk of hypertension (HTN) and chronic-kidney-diseases (CKD) at later life of the women. Objective:To explore what proportion of women with history of PIH develop HTN and CKD in later stages after delivery and, to study the interrelation of HTN and CKD with socio-demographic, anthropometric and biochemical risk factors. Methods:Under an observational case-control design 133 women with previous history of PIH [PIH group; Age(yrs), Median(range) 31(25-45), and BMI [(kg/m 2 , (Mean ± SD)(25.2 ± 2.1)] were compared with 113 women without history of PIH (Non-PIH group), Age(yrs) Median(range) 34(25-45), and BMI [(kg/m 2 , Mean ± SD) (25.8 ± 2.9)] for the development of HTN (SBP > 130 mmHg; DBP > 90 mmHg; or MBP > 105 mmHg) and CKD [as measured by totalurinary-protein and elevated urinary-protein-creatinine ratio (UPCR)]. Clinical and anthropometric parameters were measured by standard techniques, lipids by enzymatic-colorimetric method, urinary total protein by pyrogallol-red method, urinary-protein by strip method and uri...

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