Prevalence of microalbuminuria with relation to glycemic control in type-2 diabetic patients in Karachi

Diabetes is one of the most common endocrine disorders characterized by hyperglycaemia. Diabetic nephropathy is a consequence of long standing diabetes. The prevalence of microalbuminuria predicts progression to diabetic nephropathy. The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of microalbuminuria in relation to duration of diabetes, BMI, Serum Creatinine and HbA1c in an ethnic group of Type 2 diabetes mellitus residing in Karachi. This cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out in a community diabetic centre, located at Garden East Karachi from July to December 2007. One hundred known Type 2 diabetic patients with age 30- 70 years were included in the study. Informed consent and a structured questionnaire of each patient were recorded. Fasting venous blood and morning urine sample was collected for analysis of creatinine, HbA1c and microalbuminuria respectively. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 13.0. Pearson correlation was applied to observe association of microalbuminuria with different parameters. All p-values <0.05 were considered as statistically significant. Microalbuminuria had a highly significant correlation with duration of diabetes, serum creatinine [p<0.001], HbA1c [p<0.05] and BMI [p<0.024]. A strong correlation exists between age and serum creatinine [r=0.73]. The present study found an early onset of microalbuminuria in the selected community which could be due to poor glycaemic control [high HbA1c>7%] or heredity factors. Screening for microalbuminuria and HbA1c test should be done in both newly and already diagnosed Type 2 diabetic patients as an early marker of renal dysfunction and glycaemic control

Heroin addiction alters liver function in human subjects

Heroin addiction is a growing problem in our country. Studies were carried out on twenty-eight [28] street heroin injector addicts taking a fixed dose of 1.3 gm of heroin/day for at least eleven years. Blood concentrations of total bilirubin, conjugated bilirubn, Alanine transminase [ALT], Alkaline Phosphatase [ALP] and Gamma Glutamyl transferase [gGT] were measured using standard methods and results were compared with those of normal human subjects. Total bilirubin, Alanine tranaminase [ALT], Alkaline Phosphatase [ALP] and Gamma Glutamy transferase [gGT] were significantly elevated in heroin addicts but no significant changes was found in the level of conjugated bilirubin. It is concluded that viral infections leading to hepatitis in intravenous herion addicts results in altered Liver function

Heroin addiction results in altered activities of myocardial enzymes in human subjects

Drug addiction is increasing beyond imagination in our society and in our country the situation is rapidly deteriorating. Drugs commonly used in Pakistan are heroin, morphine, cocaine and cannabis. Studies were carried out on twenty-seven [27] street heroin injection taking a fixed dose of 1.3 gm of heroin par day for at least 11 years. Aspartate transminasc [AST], Lactate dehydrogease [LDH], Creatine Kinase [CK[and isoenzyme of creatine kinase [CK-MB] were estimated and results were compared with those of normal human subjects as control. The activity of LDH, AST and CK were significantly high but no significant change was observed in the level of CK-MB. It is concluded that alteration in the cardiac enzymes during heroin addiction is not only due to cardiac injury but other pathologic resulting from addiction are also rspnsible for the elevation of these enzymes