Objective: To determine the frequency and compare serum calcium levels amongst extremely preterm and very preterm neonates. Study Design: Comparative cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Combined Military Hospital, Multan Pakistan, from May to Oct 2018. Methodology: A total of 217 preterm neonates, born at Combined Military Hospital Multan up to the gestational age of 32 weeks completed from last menstrual period, were included in the study. They were divided in to two group’s i.e. very preterm and extremely preterm neonates. Those born between 28-32 weeks completed of gestation were categorized as severely preterm. Extremely preterm were those born between 24-28 weeks completed of gestation. Venous blood samples were acquired at approximately 36 hours after birth and total serum calcium levels were analyzed. Neonates having total serum calcium levels <7 mg/dL were declared as suffering from hypocalcaemia. Results: Out of 217 neonates, 117 (53.9%) were male while 100 (46.1%) were female. Mean gestational age was 30.98 ± 2.12 weeks while mean parity of the mothers was 2.82 ± 1.08 children. Mean birth weight was 1510.26 ± 142.38 grams. One hundred and seventeen (53.9%) of the preterm neonates suffered from hypocalcaemia with the mean total serum calcium level being 6.58 ± 0.86 mg/dL. Hypocalcaemia was more common in extremely preterm neonates compared to very preterm neonates (p<0.05). Conclusion: Hypocalcaemia is a frequent complication encountered in preterm neonates born between 24-32 weeks gestation. Within these neonates, the frequency of hypocalcaemia is higher in extremely preterm compared to severely preterm babies.
Objective: To determine the sexual dysfunction among the patients of rheumatoid arthritis and assess the relationship of various factors with presence of sexual dysfunction among the target population. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Rheumatology department, Pak Emirates Military Hospital Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Aug 2019 to Apr 2020. Methodology: The sample population comprised of 350 married female patients of rheumatoid arthritis between the age of 18 and 45 years, reporting for the routine follow-up at rheumatology department a tertiary care hospital. Sexual function was assessed using the female sexual function index (FSFI). Relationship of age, duration of rheumatoid arthritis, presence of comorbidities and polypharmacy was assessed with the sexual dysfunction among the target population. Results: Mean age of the study participants was 31.15 ± 4.22 years. Out of 350 women suffering from rheumatoid arthritis screened through female sexual function index, 172 (49.1%) had normal sexual function while 178 (50.9%) had sexual dysfunction. After applying the chi-square test, we found that polypharmacy and long duration of illness had significant association with the sexual dysfunction. Conclusion: High reporting of sexual dysfunction among the women suffering from rheumatoid arthritis indicates that this has been a neglected phenomenon by the physicians and researchers and may be added in routine screening. Women with long duration of illness and those managed with more than one drugs should be focused more while screening for sexual problems.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.