exudates and Vascular-Diseases

A study was conducted on a total of 100 women attending the Family Planning Clinic in Kuala Lumpur. 50 took combined low-dose estrogen and progesterone pills for a year or more and the other 50 used different methods of birth control. Platelet aggregation, ATP release, Thromboxane B2, and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1alpha estimations were made to evaluate the effect of oral contraceptives (OCs) on platelet function and prostanoid production. The results showed no significant differences in the parameters measured in the 2 groups investigated. These findings are comparable to those reported by other studies, suggesting relatively low risk, if any, of thrombosis in OC users.

Topics: Asia; Asia, Southeastern; Biology; Blood; Clinical Laboratory Techniques; Contraception; Contraceptives, Oral; Cross-Sectional Studies; Developing Countries; Diagnosis; Disease; Embolism; Family Planning Services; Malaysia; Physiology; Platelet Aggregation; Research; Research Design; Risk Factors; Thromboembolism; Vascular Diseases

Prolonged exposure to hand-arm vibration (HAV) at the workplace is associated with hand-arm vascular syndrome (HAVS). This study aimed to determine the prevalence and the factors associated with the vascular and neurological complications of HAVS among tire shop workers in Kelantan, Malaysia.. A cross-sectional study involving 200 tire shop workers from two districts in Kelantan was conducted. Data were collected at the field using Malay Translated HAVS questionnaire, and hand-arm vibration was measured. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine the associated factors.. The prevalence of vascular and neurological complications of HAVS among the tire shop workers was 12.5% (95% CI: 10.16, 14.84) and 37.0% (95% CI: 30.31, 43.69), respectively. From multiple logistic regression analysis, only A(8) of HAV exposure was significantly associated with the development of vascular complications and A(8) of HAV exposure, age. and body mass index were significantly associated with the development of neurological complications of HAVS.. This study has identified that HAVS is a significant problem among workers exposed to HAV in a warm environment. A(8) of HAV exposure is significantly associated with the development of both vascular and neurological complications. Therefore, there is a need for better control of vibration exposure in Malaysia.

Topics: Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome; Humans; Logistic Models; Malaysia; Male; Nervous System Diseases; Occupational Diseases; Occupational Exposure; Prevalence; Surveys and Questionnaires; Transportation; Vascular Diseases; Vibration; Workplace

Noncuffed catheters (NCC) are often used for incident hemodialysis (HD) patients without a functional vascular access. This, unfortunately results in frequent catheter-related complications such as infection, malfunction, vessel stenosis, and obstruction, leading to loss of permanent central venous access with superior vena cava obstruction. It is important to preserve central vein patency by reducing the number of internal jugular catheter insertions for incident HD patients with a functional vascular access. We sought to achieve this by introducing in-patient intermittent peritoneal dialysis (IPD) as bridging therapy while awaiting establishment of long-term vascular access for HD patients.. Incident HD patients without permanent vascular access encountered from January to December 2014 were included in this study. Patients were divided into 2 groups: Group 1 were encountered within 6 months prior to introduction of in-patient IPD bridging therapy in substitution of noncuffed catheter (NCC) insertion while awaiting maturation of permanent vascular access. Group 2 were encountered within 6 months after the introduction of this policy. The number of NCC and peritoneal dialysiscatheter insertion, along with catheter-related infections were evaluated during this period.. Approximately 450 patients were distributed in each group. We achieved 45% reduction in internal jugular catheter insertion from 322 to 180 catheters after policy change. This led to a significant drop in catheter-related blood stream infection (53%, P <0.001). On the other hand, 30% more peritoneal dialysiscatheter were inserted to accommodate our IPD bridging therapy.. The introduction of IPD as bridging therapy while awaiting maturation of permanent vascular access significantly reduced the utilization of NCC in incident HD patients and catherter-related blodstream infection. With this, it is our hope that it will contribute to the preservation of central vein patency.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Catheter-Related Infections; Catheterization, Central Venous; Female; Humans; Incidence; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Peritoneal Dialysis; Renal Dialysis; Time Factors; Vascular Diseases; Young Adult

Type II diabetes patients have increased risk of macrovascular complications compared with the general population. Arterial stiffness is considered as an independent predictor of macrovascular events. This study investigated arterial stiffness in newly diagnosed never treated diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) patients without any traditional cardiovascular diseases (CVD) risk factors. After preliminary screening of 1620 individuals, 30 diabetic and 30 IGT patients were recruited and compared with age- and sex-matched 30 normoglycaemic subjects. The subjects were newly diagnosed, never treated, normotensive, non-obese, non-hyperlipidaemic and non-smoker. Haemodynamic variables, pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (AI) were measured. The PWV was significantly higher in diabetic patients (10.37+/-2.64m/s vs. 8.70+/-1.29m/s; p=0.035) and was of borderline significant in IGT subjects (9.54+/-1.56m/s vs.8.70+/-1.29m/s, p=0.078) compared to normoglycaemic individuals. Augmentation index was higher of borderline significant in diabetic (134.53+/-17.32% vs. 129.17+/-11.18%, p=0.055) and IGT patients (132.02+/-16.11% vs. 129.17+/-11.18%, p=0.059) compared to normoglycaemic individuals. The study demonstrated that newly diagnosed never treated diabetic patients without any CV complications had early manifestation of macrovascular diseases as evident by increased arterial stiffness. The findings also revealed early manifestations of preclinical vasculopathy and potentially increased risk for development of macrovascular diseases at an early age in diabetic patients.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Blood Pressure; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Diabetic Angiopathies; Female; Glucose Intolerance; Glucose Tolerance Test; Heart Rate; Humans; Lipids; Malaysia; Male; Mass Screening; Middle Aged; Risk Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; Vascular Diseases

The nature of vascular trauma varies greatly between continents and across time. The aim of this study was to prospectively analyse the demographics, pathology, management and clinical outcomes of vascular injuries in two urban Malaysian hospitals and review of international literature on vascular trauma. From this information, preliminary management and preventive implications will be described.. Eighty-four consecutive cases of trauma requiring vascular surgery were prospectively analysed over three years at Hospital Kuala Lumpur and Hospital Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. Extensive patient demographic and injury data, including the mechanism of injury, associated injuries, angiographic findings, operative details and post-operative complications, were systematically gathered.. Most vascular injuries were incurred by males (76/84), with 37% (28/76) of them aged between 21 and 30 years. Malays were most frequently injured (n = 36) followed by Chinese and Indians. Road traffic accidents (n = 49) substantially outnumbered all other causes of injury. Lower limb injuries (n = 57) occurred more than twice as often as upper limb injuries (n = 27). Complete arterial transections (n = 43) and intimal injuries (n = 27) were more common than arterial lacerations (n = 10) and pseudoaneurysms (n = 4). The most frequently damaged vessels were the popliteal/tibioperoneal trunk (n = 33). All patients received urgent Doppler ultrasound assessment and, where possible, ankle-brachial systolic index measurement. Of all patients, 40 received an angiogram, haemodynamic instability making this investigation impractical in others. Primary arterial repair was the most frequently employed surgical procedure (n = 54) followed by autogenous reverse long saphenous vein (LSV) interposition graft (n = 14), embolectomy (n = 5) and PTFE interposition graft (n = 3). The most common post-operative complication was wound infection (n = 11). Amputation, as a last resort, was required in 13 cases following either primary or autogenous reverse LSV repair complicated by sepsis or critical ischaemia.. Vascular trauma, especially in conjunction with severe soft tissue, nerve or orthopaedic injury carries colossal physical, psychological, financial and social costs. Associated nerve and venous injury portended poor outcome in this study. Whilst orthopaedic trauma was a common association, the concurrence of occult vascular trauma and soft tissue injury without fracture emphasises the crucial importance of thorough and rapid clinical vascular assessment, investigation and surgical intervention. Fasciotomy, especially for the lower limb, is important for the prevention of compartment syndrome and its, limb-threatening sequelae. Primary preventive road safety promotion and interventions, with attention to high-risk groups (young males and motorcyclists), is urgently required.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Blood Vessels; Child; Female; Hospitals; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Vascular Diseases; Vascular Surgical Procedures

Long term use of low doses of combination oral contraceptives appears to increase plasminogen level, thereby increasing fibrinolytic activity and reducing the risk of thromboembolism. Blood levels of plasminogen, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI), were measured before and after stress (5 minutes of stair climbing) in a group of 30 women, 23-40 years old, who had taken 30 mcg of ethinyl estradiol with 150 mcg of desogestrel or levonorgestrel for at least 1 year. Similar measurements were taken from a control group of 30 women matched for age, height, and weight. Plasminogen and tPA levels in both groups increased significantly after exercise. The level of PAI did not change significantly with stress in either group. The level of plasminogen was significantly higher in the group taking contraceptives, whether before or after exercise, when compared to the control group. Levels of tPA and PAI, although slightly increased in the oral contraceptive group, were not significantly different between the two groups. The increase in plasminogen may be due to the estrogen component of the contraceptives. Stress seems to increase fibrinolytic response.

Topics: Asia; Asia, Southeastern; Biology; Blood; Blood Coagulation; Clinical Laboratory Techniques; Clinical Trials as Topic; Contraception; Contraceptive Agents; Contraceptive Agents, Female; Contraceptives, Oral; Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; Developing Countries; Diagnosis; Disease; Embolism; Family Planning Services; Fibrinolysis; Hematologic Tests; Levonorgestrel; Malaysia; Physiology; Research; Thromboembolism; Thrombosis; Vascular Diseases

Researchers compared the results of hematocrit and blood viscosity tests of 16 women using a combined oral contraceptive (COC) with 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol/150 mcg desogestrel (group 1), 11 women using a COC with 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol/150 mcg levonorgestrel (group 2), and 16 women who did not use any OCs (control group), all who attended the National Population and Family Development Clinic at the General Hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. They wanted to examine the effects of COCs on blood viscosity, which is inversely related to blood flow, and hematocrit. The women were matched for age. The hematocrit level of women who took the ethinyl estradiol/desogestrel COC was significantly higher than that of the control group (41.5% vs. 37.4%; p.001). On the other hand, the hematocrit level of women who took the ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel COC was close to that of the control group (38.5% vs. 37.4%). Even though the mean whole blood viscosity for group 2 was higher than that of group 1 and the control group (6.6 cps vs. 5.5 cps), the difference was insignificant. Yet whole blood viscosity of group 2 at the higher shear rates (46, 115, and 230 per second) was significantly higher than the control group (p.05). The whole blood viscosities of group 1 and the control group did not differ considerably. This supported the theory that hematocrit contributes to blood viscosity. Further these results agreed with those of another study which also showed increased blood viscosity and hematocrit in healthy women taking OCs. Thus thromboembolic events in women taking OCs could be a result of a drop in rate of blood flow which at the lower shear rates could increase red cell aggregation and clotting. In conclusion, health providers could use these indicators to monitor women who have used OCs over a considerable period for thrombotic risks to determine if OC use should continue.

Topics: Asia; Asia, Southeastern; Biology; Blood; Blood Coagulation; Case-Control Studies; Clinical Laboratory Techniques; Contraception; Contraceptive Agents; Contraceptive Agents, Female; Contraceptives, Oral; Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal; Cross-Sectional Studies; Desogestrel; Developing Countries; Diagnosis; Disease; Embolism; Ethinyl Estradiol; Family Planning Services; Hematocrit; Hematologic Tests; Levonorgestrel; Malaysia; Methods; Physiology; Research; Research Design; Thromboembolism; Thrombosis; Vascular Diseases

The effect of low-dose oral contraceptives (OCs) on hemorheology and fibrinolytic response was investigated in 107 women attending the Malaysia Maternity Hospital in Kuala Lumpur. The OC contained 0.03 mg estrogen and 0.15 mg progestagen. Study subjects were divided into 3 groups. The 30 women in Group 1 took the low-dose OC for 3-6 months, while the 27 subjects in Group 2 took the pill for a duration of 1-2 years. Group 3 was comprised of 49 controls. The 3 groups were comparable in terms of age, weight, height, and parity and included Malays, Chinese, and Indians. No significant differences were noted between the 3 groups in any of the parameters analyzed (platelet aggregate ratio, fibrinogen levels, red blood cell deformability index, euglobulin clot lysis time, and full blood count). Since the level of estrogen in the OC analyzed in this study did not cause significant alterations in any of these blood parameters, it is concluded that low-dose OCs do not confer a risk of thrombosis in their users.

Topics: Asia; Asia, Southeastern; Biology; Blood; Blood Coagulation; Cardiovascular System; Cerebrovascular Circulation; Contraception; Contraceptive Agents; Contraceptive Agents, Female; Contraceptives, Oral; Developing Countries; Disease; Embolism; Family Planning Services; Fibrinolysis; Malaysia; Physiology; Platelet Aggregation; Research; Risk Factors; Thromboembolism; Thrombosis; Vascular Diseases

The defendant, an obstetrician and gynaecologist, was accused of voluntarily causing a woman to miscarry, such miscarriage having been performed without good faith and an intention to save the woman's life. The Court upheld the conviction of the defendant, rejecting his argument, supported by an expert witness, that he had performed the abortion in order to avoid the possibility of pulmonary embolism, which might result because the woman had enlarged varicose veins. It held that the argument was not reasonable under the current law and that procuring an abortion was a serious matter to be done only as a last resort to save the life of a woman or to save her from becoming a mental "wreck."

Topics: Abortion, Induced; Abortion, Therapeutic; Asia; Asia, Southeastern; Crime; Delivery of Health Care; Developing Countries; Disease; Embolism; Family Planning Services; Health; Health Personnel; Jurisprudence; Legislation as Topic; Malaysia; Physicians; Pulmonary Embolism; Social Problems; Vascular Diseases