Visfatin and its relationship with the severity of coronary artery disease in Pakistani population

To determine plasma visfatin in patients with and without coronary artery disease and to correlate it with the coronary vessels blockage by using anagiography. Comparative Cross Sectional Study. This study was conducted at the Department of Biochemistry, Ziauddin University and Jinnah Medical and Dental College, Karachi from June 2009 to November 2010. The study includes 80 subjects [mean age 48.8 +/- 6.15; 40-55 years age range] who underwent coronary angiography for suspected coronary artery disease. Plasma visfatin levels were determined by using ELISA. Out of these 80 study subjects, 30 [37.5%] had single vessel CAD, 12 [15%] had two vessels CAD, 24 [30%] had three vessels CAD and 14 [17.5%] had non significant disease. Serum Visfatin levels were higher in three vessel disease [5.82 +/- 0.58] when compared with non significant [4.55 +/- 1.10] single vessel disease [4.86 +/- 0.93] and two vessels disease [5.53 +/- 0.79] respectively but these values were statistically nonsignificant in all four study groups. Serum Visfatin levels were high in all three study groups when compared with non significant disease group and positive correlation of serum visfatin with the extent of the coronary artery disease was observed

Presentation and precipitating factors of diabetic Ketoacidosis in children

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder caused by absolute or relative deficiency of insulin. It is the most common metabolic disorder of childhood and is caused by deficiency of insulin [type 1]. Its prevalence is 1 per 500-600 children. The incidence is 1.2-1.9 cases per 1000 children. The complications of diabetes are multiple and severe. Immediate complications include Diabetic Ketoacidosis [DKA] and Coma. 10-30% children present with DKA. The main contributing factor is relative lack of insulin. This occurs when there is increased requirement for insulin due to increased physiological stress as seen in infection, trauma, surgery and psychological stress, etc. [1] To identify the frequency of various presentations of DKA in children. [2] To identify the frequency of various precipitating factors of DKA in children. [3] To correlate the incidence of DKA with age and socioeconomic conditions. A cross-sectional study. JMDCH, January 2004 - October 2004. The convenient sample of 50 histories was collected from pediatric departments of various public and private sector hospitals of Karachi. Results were analyzed using MS Excel 2000. A total of 50 cases were analyzed out of which most of the cases were undiagnosed [64%] and belonged to low socioeconomic group [58%]. Mean age of male patients was significantly lower as compared to females [5.5 +/- 2.31 vs. 7.54 +/- 3.05, p<0.05], while status of hydrogen ion concentration [pH] was significantly lower in females [7.16 +/- 1.46 vs. 7.26 +/- 0.08, p<0.05]. Most frequent presenting complaints were vomiting, abdominal pain, dehydration and respiratory distress [34%]. The most frequent precipitating factor was fever in 17[34%] cases. More than half of the cases are undiagnosed and belong to low socioeconomic group. The level of awareness towards diagnosis of disease increases with the socioeconomic conditions. DKA affects both the genders equally; males being affected at an earlier age group. Most frequent presenting complaints are vomiting, abdominal pain, dehydration and respiratory distress while fever is the chief precipitating factor