Cross-sectional study of antioxidant status in normotensive and hypertensive pregnancy

Objectives: The study measured the concentrations of antioxidants in women during pregnancy and the Post Partum Period (PPP) with a view to investigating their role in the aetiology of pregnancy induced hypertension(PIH).Study Design: Informed consent was obtained from 105 women who were divided into three groups: 15 age and parity matched normotensive non-pregnant (control group), 45 normotensive and 45 hypertensive pregnant women. The two groups of pregnant women were divided into three groups of 15 each and studied in the second and third trimesters and PPP respectively. Venous blood was obtained from all the participants for measurements of some antioxidants (uric acid, albumin, catalase and vitamin C). Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods.Results: The results show that the mean concentrations of catalase, albumin, vitamin C and uric acid for the control were 3.1 ± 0.18 ì/l, 46.6 ± 6.6 g/l, 0.38 ± 0.01 mg/dl and 0.16 ± 0.03 mmol/l respectively. The meanconcentration of all antioxidants except uric acid were significantly lower during pregnancy when compared with controls (t= 2.06; p<0.01). In the normotensive group of pregnant women, vitamin C was the only antioxidant that showed significant higher concentration when the second trimester concentration and third trimester concentration were compared (t=2.06; p<0.05). Uric acid levels were significantly higher (t=2.06; p<0.05) and catalase and vitamin C levels were significantly lower in the hypertensive group during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters (t=2.06; p<0.05). There was a tendency for all antioxidant concentrations to return to normal values during the PPP in the normotensive group; however in the hypertensive group, uric acid levels remained significantly higher(t=2.06; p<0.05).Conclusion: In conclusion this study showed that pregnancy generally reduced the concentration of antioxidants but vitamin C levels were higher in late pregnancy of normotensive women. Therefore higher levels of vitamin C may protect against PIH.Keywords: Antioxidants, Normal Pregnancy, Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH)

The relationship between water, sanitation and schistosomiasis : a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Access to "safe" water and "adequate" sanitation are emphasized as important measures for schistosomiasis control. Indeed, the schistosomes' lifecycles suggest that their transmission may be reduced through safe water and adequate sanitation. However, the evidence has not previously been compiled in a systematic review. METHODOLOGY: We carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies reporting schistosome infection rates in people who do or do not have access to safe water and adequate sanitation. PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched from inception to 31 December 2013, without restrictions on year of publication or language. Studies' titles and abstracts were screened by two independent assessors. Papers deemed of interest were read in full and appropriate studies included in the meta-analysis. Publication bias was assessed through the visual inspection of funnel plots and through Egger's test. Heterogeneity of datasets within the meta-analysis was quantified using Higgins' I2. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Safe water supplies were associated with significantly lower odds of schistosomiasis (odds ratio (OR) = 0.53, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.47-0.61). Adequate sanitation was associated with lower odds of Schistosoma mansoni, (OR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.47-0.73) and Schistosoma haematobium (OR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.57-0.84). Included studies were mainly cross-sectional and quality was largely poor. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our systematic review and meta-analysis suggests that increasing access to safe water and adequate sanitation are important measures to reduce the odds of schistosome infection. However, most of the studies were observational and quality was poor. Hence, there is a pressing need for adequately powered cluster randomized trials comparing schistosome infection risk with access to safe water and adequate sanitation, more studies which rigorously define water and sanitation, and new research on the relationships between water, sanitation, hygiene, human behavior, and schistosome transmissio