A cross-sectional study was carried out to investigate relationship of birth weight with selected biochemical indices of nutritional status of mothers at delivery in poor urban population of Dhaka, Bangladesh. One hundred and fifty one pregnant women of known gestational length, aged 20-30 years, who attended a local maternity hospital for delivery participated in this study. All of them were free from any pregnancy complications or diseases, and delivered a singleton fullterm baby. Socio-economic and obstetric history were taken by interview. Anthropometric data and blood samples were collected on the same day. Twenty per cent of the participants were anaemic (Hb < 11.0 g dl-1), 49% had subnormal (< 4.0 g dl-1) serum albumin and 32.5% had serum vitamin A lower than adequate level (< 30.0 micrograms dl-1). Mothers who gave birth to low birth weight babies had lower levels of haemoglobin (P = 0.06), serum albumin (P = 0.02) and serum vitamin A (P = 0.05) at delivery compared with the mothers who gave birth to normal weight babies. After adjustment for various confounding factors, only serum albumin level remained significantly lower in the mothers of low birth weight babies. Using multiple regression analysis for birth weight, the overall F-ratio was calculated to be 12.5 and was highly significant (P = 0.0000). The adjusted R2 was 0.32. Gestational age, father's occupation, mother's body weight and serum albumin level were found to have significant independent effect on birth weight.

Background: Obesity is supposed to be a risk factor for patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) increasing risk of in-hospital mortality and postoperative morbidity. So, this study was conducted to evaluate the outcome of CABG in obese patients in Bangladesh.Methods: This prospective clinical trial was undertaken in the Department of Cardiac Surgery, National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Dhaka, Bangladesh from January 2015 to December 2016. A total of 60 consecutive patients were selected for CABG operation and their outcome measured against pre-set variables. Body mass index (BMI) 25kg/m2was considered as cut off value between obese and non-obese patients.Results: Mortality after CABG surgery was 9.5% in obese group and 10.3% in non-obese group (p= 0.976) showing no significant difference but average hospital stay was more in obese group (10.2 + 25 days) than non-obese group (8.3 +3.7 days), p=0.489. Sternal would infection (50.0% &8.69%) and conduit harvest site infection (35.7% &4.34%) is also more in obese group but not significant statistically (p= 0.064 & 0.084 respectively).Conclusion: Patients with a BMI higher than normal are not at greater risk of in-hospital mortality after CABG. But obese patients should be more cared in post operative period for sternal and conduit harvest site infection as infection is more in obese patients.Cardiovasc. j. 2018; 10(2): 150-157

Background: Heparin can cause thrombocytopenia but what is it's effect on platelet when used in solution forflushing indwelling arterial catheter is not clear. This study was designed to find out any effect of heparin on platelet count and to see the efficacy of normal solution as flushing solution. Method:Thiswas a prospective randomized comparative clinical trial in the Bangladesh during the period from july 2016 to june 2017. Total sixty patients who underwent single valve replacement surgery were divided into two groups and were evaluated for heparin effect and compared for arterial catheter patency rate. Results: Platelet count on third postoperative day is 226517+-60185/ml and 245957+-52826/ml in heparinized flush solution and normal saline flush solution group respectively. The difference of mean is not significant with p value 0.188. Arterial catheter patency rate was 50.0% in heparinized flush solution group and 43.3% in normal saline flush solution group on third postoperative day which signifies no difference between the groups with p value 0.607. Conclusion: The use of heparin in normal saline in continuous flushing devices for an arterial catheter does not significantly reduce platelet counts in cardiac valve surgery patients in comparison to normal saline. It seems that there is no difference in the use of heparinized and normal saline solutions to maintain indwelling arterial catheter patent.

Background: Preterm labor is one of the biggest health issues in the globe and is associated with high perinatal mortality and morbidity. A healthy pregnancy can turn into one that is at high risk for both the mother and the fetus in one of these clinical scenarios. Objective: The aim of the present study is to determine the risk factor and maternal and perinatal outcome of patients presenting with preterm labor and to evaluate the preventable causes of preterm labour. Methods: A Case control study conducted in the Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics Dhaka Medical College Hospital, during February 2010 to July 2010. Results: A total of 50 cases having preterm labour in between 28 - 36 weeks of gestation and 50 controls having 37-40 weeks pregnancy with lobour pain were screened and enrolled in the study. Several significant risk factors were associated with preterm labour and the following risk factors were identified. Low socio-economic class, rupture of membrane (OR = -2.45), previous history of abortion (OR = 2.25), Preterm delivery (OR -9.33), and Anaemia (OR = 8.31). Conclusions: As preterm labour is grave consequences for both the mother and the newborn of preterm labor should be aim and developing awareness of pregnant mother who are high risk for preterm labor.

Pre-eclampsia is one of the fatal complications in pregnancy. Zinc plays an important role in the course and eventual outcome of human pregnancy, and is essential for normal embryogenesis and fetal growth. Zinc deficiency in pregnancy is thought to be associated with pre-eclampsia. The aim of this study was, therefore, to investigate the scum zinc level in pre-eclampsia and to examine its association (if any) with pre-eclampsia. A case control study was done among 45 pre-eclamptic and 35 normotensive pregnants at their third trimester. Serum zinc concentration was determined by Atomic Absorption Flame Spectrophotometric method. Correlative analysis was made to find any correlation, of serum zinc with blood Pressure. Results showed identical Maternal and gestational age, and different gravida distribution for the patients and controls, and significantly (P<0.005) higher blood pressures (systolic and diastolic) for pre-eclampsia. Serum zinc concentration were estimated 0.65±0.09mg/L in pre-eclamsia and 0.60±0.08mg/L in pregnant controls, difference of which was insignificant (p=0.284). Correlative analysis wowed that there was a linear correlation between serum level and diastolic blood pressure, but it was found to be insignificant (r=0.158, p=0.330). It was suggested that changes in zinc status may not be an etiological or contributory factor in pre-eclamsia. Key words: Serum zinc; pre-eclampsia; diastolic blood pressure DOI: 10.3329/bmj.v39i1.6226 Bangladesh Medical Journal 2010; 39(1): 7-10