Menstrual Perceptions and Preparation Among Female Adolescents

Seventy-four 8th- and 10th-grade students attending a private girls' school in Hawaii were queried about their perceptions of and preparation for menstruation using a questionnaire administered in a health education class. Eighty percent had already started menstruating. The most frequently cited perceptions by the respondents referred to both the inconveniences and the normalcy of menstruation. Many were first informed about menstruation by their mothers and stated that they also first informed their mothers when they started menstruating. Surprise, fear, and embarrassment were common initial reactions, while strong negative or positive emotions were more rare. Only 35% wanted boys and girls together during class discussion, but 89% stated that boys needed to be informed about menstruation. The most frequent reasons cited for noncoed settings were the girls' concern about their comfort in openly discussing menstruation. Thirty-eight percent thought parents should inform other siblings when they started menstruation, although almost half gave specific conditions the parents should consider. The majority thought the fifth to sixth grades were the best times to introduce menstruation content.     

Abdominal compartment syndrome--an old syndrome, a new perspective.

The abdominal compartment syndrome is a life threatening condition resulting from pathologic elevation of the intraabdominal pressure. Prompt diagnosis is required to avoid significant sequelae. Diagnosis of this syndrome is based on clinical findings and intra abdominal pressure monitoring. Treatment consists of decompressive laparotomy, which corrects the pathology. Various surgical techniques are described to manage the open abdomen. Despite considerable attention accorded to this disorder, it is still associated with high morbidity and mortality. This review article deals with the identification of risk factors, pathophysiology, diagnostic criteria and treatment of critically ill patients with the abdominal compartment syndrome.     

HP01METALS IN GALLBLADDER CARCINOGENESIS

Carcinoma gallbladder is the commonest malignancy in the Northern part of India. The heavy metals are known carcinogens while trace metals have protective effect. Aim The aim of the study is to estimate the heavy and trace metal (Lead, Zinc, Copper, Cadmium, Chromium, Manganese and Selenium) concentration in serum, bile, tissue and gallstone in patients with gallbladder diseases. Method This is a pilot study conducted in 45 cases (Group – I: 15 cases of carcinoma gallbladder, Group II: 15 patients of cholecystitis with cholelithiasis and Group – III: 15 patients of healthy control), to detect the relationship between the heavy and trace metal concentration and gall bladder carcinoma. Analysis of metal was done using Perkins‐Elmer model 2380 atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results The serum concentration of copper and nickel was significantly high in carcinoma gallbladder patients as compared to patients with cholecystitis while zinc and selenium is low in carcinoma gallbladder patients. Bile concentration of zinc, selenium and manganese was significantly low in carcinoma gallbladder patients (p < 0.05) as compared to patients of cholelithiasis while cadmium and nickel was high. Tissue concentration of manganese was significantly low in carcinoma gallbladder patients as compared to patients of cholelithiasis while chromium was high. Gallstone concentration of copper, manganese and lead was significantly low in carcinoma gallbladder patients as compared to patients of cholelithiasis. Conclusion The heavy metals are in higher concentration in carcinoma gallbladder while trace metals are in lower concentration indicating possible role of heavy metal in gallbladder carcinogenesis.     

Concurrent exposure to lead,manganese, and cadmium and their distribution to various brain regions,liver, kidney,and testis of growing rats

Growing rats were exposed to 5 mg/L Pb,ad libitum in drinking water, and administered low or high doses of Mn and Cd intraperitoneal (i.p.) for 30 days. Some groups of animals were also administered combinations of Pb + Mn and Pb + Cd in an identical manner. Analysis of Pb, Mn, and Cd in tissue samples showed the expected dose-dependent accumulation when the metal was administered singly. However, combined treatment produced different types of metal shift in different tissues. Enhanced accumulation of all three metals in the brain, Mn in liver, Pb in kidney and Cd in testis and kidney after combined exposure may make target organs vulnerable to the toxic effects of metals, even when encountered at low concentrations. Further, the decreased levels of blood Pb after combined treatment with Cd or Mn suggests that the significance of blood Pb level as a diagnostic aid for Pb toxicity in coexposed conditions may not be of much value. Changes in the metallic distribution within the tissues after coexposure may be the result of a competition between the administered metals for common binding sites.