Malnutrition is associated with childhood diseases such as diarrhea or other severe illness. Children who suffer from repeated episodes of diarrhea are more likely to suffer from malnutrition. In addition, the source of drinking water is a very important factor affecting the nutritional status. The objective of this study was to find out the prevalence of malnutrition condition among children aged 3 to 5 years old and the factors associated with it. A cross sectional study using simple random sampling was conducted among 220 children aged 3 to 5 years old from four kindergartens in Baghdad city, Iraq. Nutritional assessment was carried out using the indicator weight-for-age z-score based on World Health Organization cut off points. Acute malnutrition was found in 18.2 % of the respondents. In this study 65 % of the respondents used tap water to drink as compared to 35 % who used sterilized bottles as source of drinking water. The environmental factors mainly the source of drinking water was significantly associated with child nutritional status (p=0.034). The prevalence of diarrhea and admissions to the hospital due to diarrhea were also significantly associated with malnutrition (p < 0.01, p <0.01) respectively. In conclusion, the effect of diarrhea on child nutritional status is very important and till now considered the major cause of child malnutrition. Shortage of safe drinking water in Iraq can lead to an increase in diarrhea cases and eventually leading to child malnutrition.

Pregnancy-related deaths in four published perioperative mortality review reports were analysed. The aim is to look at the quality of surgical and anaesthetic services along with the perioperative care provided. The audit identified shortfalls in the logistic and support services and recommended remedial strategies. The review was conducted by a committee consisting of practising anaesthetists, surgeons and obstetricians who analysed the questionnaires collectively. A consensus was reached to categorise the death. There were 280 pregnancy-related deaths. Post-partum haemorrhage accounted for 31.8%, followed by hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (20.0% obstetric embolism (16.1%), sepsis (10.7%) and associated medical conditions (21.4%). In brief, there were comings in preoperative, intra-operative and post-operative care in some of the cases. Increased consultant input, clinical audit, improvements in monitoring and expansion of critical care facilities were the integral issues recommended.
Pregnancy ; Review [Publication Type] ; Aspects of mortality statistics ; seconds ; Sepsis

Children who are born in a community with insufficient micronutrients, particularly iodine in remote rural areas are associated with low intellectual functions and mental retardation. The aim of this cross-sectional study is to determine the mental performance of the schoolchildren in Bario, a highland settlement of the Kelabit people in the district of Baram, Sarawak and to determine its correlation with the availability of iodine in the environment, as well as other micronutrients such as selenium, copper and manganese. A total of 25 schoolchildren in Bario age ranging from 7 to 12 years old participated in the study. Mental performance of the schoolchildren were tested using TONI-2 (Test of Nonverbal Intelligence--second edition), a cognitive ability measures with a response format which eliminates language and reduces motoric and cultural factors. The iodine levels from several wells, soils and salt found in Bario were determined using HPLC (software version 3.05.01) whilst serum levels of selenium, copper and manganese were measured using Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (GFAAS). The results showed that the median and mode scores of intelligence quotient for Bario were 82 and 75, respectively, whilst median and mode scores of intelligence percentile were 11.0 and 5.0, respectively. The maximum score achieved were at the average level with the quotient score between 90-110. It was found that salt produced from one of the wells in Bario contained high quantity of iodine. Based on standards established by the Trace Elements Laboratory, Roben Institute, University of Surrey, United Kingdom, schoolchildren in Bario are having sufficient blood levels of copper and a high selenium and manganese levels. Despite the remoteness of the study area, the schoolchildren in Bario, Sarawak showed higher mental performance compared to other isolated areas. This is probably correlated with the high micronutrients availability, particularly iodine, found naturally in Bario.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Iodine/*blood ; Malaysia ; *Mental Processes ; Micronutrients/*blood ; Soil/*analysis ; Water/*analysis

Background: Obesity and overweight are strong independent risk factors for chronic kidney disease (CKD). Using serum creatinine-based estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) equations in these subjects may be inaccurate. On the other hand, cystatin C–based eGFR equations may overestimate CKD prevalence as recent findings suggest an association of cystatin C with obesity. The objective of this study was to assess the accuracy of a cystatin C–based eGFR equation compared to two creatinine –based eGFR equations in overweight and obese subjects. Methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional study which recruited healthy volunteers aged 18-55 years with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 23kg/m² (Asia Pacific Guidelines). Their renal profiles, serum cystatin C and 99m technetium diethylene triamine pentacetic acid (⁹⁹mTc-DTPA) scans were performed on the same day. The correlations and accuracy of the creatinine-based and cystatin C-based eGFR equations with the ⁹⁹mTc-DTPA GFR were determined. Results: One hundred and one subjects with a median age of 30.0 (27.0-43.5) years and mean BMI of 28.7 ± 4.5 kg/m2 were recruited. The cystatin C-based eGFR equation showed the best correlation with the ⁹⁹mTc-DTPA GFR (r=0.526, p=0.001) and was more accurate in measuring abnormal GFR compared to the creatinine-based eGFR equations. Conclusion: Our study showed that the cystatin C-based eGFR equation was more accurate, sensitive and specific in overweight and obese subjects compared to the creatininebased eGFR equations.