Publications by authors named "Rifat Ashraf"

Background: Low birth weight is a major public health problem in Pakistan. So there is a need for identification of its modifiable risk factors like periodontitis which will reduce its burden on the society. The objectives of the study were to find out the association between maternal periodontitis and low birth weight in new-borns of all gestational ages delivered in a tertiary care hospital of Abbottabad as well as to see the frequency of periodontitis severity in these subjects.

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Malnutrition is common among children aged 6-24 months in developing countries. It increases the risk of mortality. Interventions to improve infant-feeding hold the promise of reducing malnutrition among these children.

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Evidence suggests that risk of chronic diseases may be programmed during the foetal and early life of the infant. With high rates of low birthweight coupled with a rapid nutritional transition, low-income countries are facing an epidemic of chronic diseases. Follow-up of a cohort of adults born during 1964-1978 in an urban slum in Lahore, Pakistan, is presented in this paper.

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Although intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) is a major risk factor for increased neonatal mortality and morbidity, the mechanisms behind it are not clear. We analyzed cytokine gene expression and gene polymorphisms in infants with and without IUGR in Pakistan, where IUGR is very common. 45 IUGR and 55 control mother/infant pairs were studied.

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Background: Substantial evidence exists linking small size at birth to later-life susceptibility to chronic disease. Evidence is also emerging that some components of immune function may be programmed in early life. However, this evidence is limited and requires confirmation.

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