Prevalence of coronary artery diseases in type 2 diabetic women

Background: There was increasing evidence that gender differences are important in epidemiology, treatment and outcomes of many diseases, relevant for non-communicable diseases.Methods: Study was conducted in Department of General Medicine, GSL Medical College. Patients who were admitted with type 2 diabetes were recruited in the study. Each patient was interviewed to obtain detailed history and examined thoroughly as per predetermined protocol, national diabetes data group and WHO diagnostic criteria was used. Myocardial infarction was diagnosed by convex ST segment elevation in corresponding leads (early) or QS complexes or abnormal Q waves i.e. Q waves of 0.04 seconds or more in width (or) 25% or more of the voltage of the R wave in the same lead or both in the corresponding leads (late) or T wave inversion in the corresponding leads (late). Statistical analyses were done by using SPSS software version 21.0. Chi-square test was used to assess the association between different categorical variables; p<0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: Out of 250 participants, 97 were diagnosed as coronary artery disease (CAD), maximum between 51-60 years age group; the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). The association between dyslipidemia and CAD was statistically significant (p<0.05). Out of 188 post-menopausal cases, CAD was diagnosed in 86 cases; out of the 62 non post-menopausal cases, CAD was diagnosed in 11 cases; The difference was statistically significant (p<0.05).Conclusions: In premenopausal women, the prevalence of CHDs are significantly higher when compared to postmenopausal women.

A prospective study of comparison between transvaginal sonogram and histopathological examination in perimenopausal women with abnormal uterine bleeding

Background: Abnormal uterine bleeding is one of the most frequently encountered conditions in gynaecology practice and forms about 10% of all gynaecological admissions, the main concern in perimenopausal bleeding is that the bleeding could be the only external manifestation of many hidden serious pathologies of uterine-cavity. The objective of this study was to compare the results of transvaginal sonography (TVS) and drug and cosmetic (D and C) with histopathological examination (HPE) report of hysterectomy specimen in perimenopausal women with AUB.Methods: A prospective comparative study where 100 perimenopausal women with AUB were subjected to TVS then D and C and then the results were compared with histopathological report of the hysterectomized specimen.Results: With an endometrial thickness less than or equal to 15 mm the histopathology report is normal endometrium. When the endometrial thickness more than or equal to 15 mm the histopathology report is hyperplasia or carcinoma. Findings of TVS correlated well with histopathological report after hysterectomy. 14 cases of adenomyosis, 16 cases of myomatous polyp, and 6 cases of endometrial polyp missed by dilatation and curettage.Conclusions: TVS is a simple, non-invasive test to indirectly visualize the endometrial cavity and is useful as a first step diagnostic procedure in the evaluation of perimenopausal bleeding. Dilatation and curettage lags in detecting adenomyosis, endometrial and myomatous polyps, When TVS combined with dilatation and curettage, it can supplement the shortcomings of dilatation and curettage.

Diagnostic Significance of Uric Acid, C Reactive Protein, Magnesium in Acute Myocardial Infarction

Introduction: Study was undertaken to note the levels of highsensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), serum uric acid, serummagnesium levels in acute myocardial infarction (MI).Material and methods: This study was conducted in GSLMedical College, study was approved by institutional ethicalcommittee. Participants were recruited by folloing inclusionand exclusion criteria. After getting detailed history ofpatient’s blood samples were taken for hemoglobin, bloodurea, serum creatinine, uric acid, serum electrolytes, hs CRP,serum uric acid, serum Magnesium. All the participants weresubjected to ECG and ECHO cardiography. Fischer’s exactChi square test was to find statistical analysis, P<0.05 wasconsidered as statistically significant.Results: Of the 100 study participants, 39% participants’hs CRP levels were ≤3mg/dl; statistically the differencewas significant. When serum ureic acid considered, 46%patients with uric acid levels were ≤7mg/dl 66% participants’magnesium levels were > 1.4mg/dl; The difference wasstatistically significant.Conclusion: The above findings showed a positive correlationof elevated hs CRP and uric acid; and low magnesium withvarious risk factors of MI.

An investigation on the diversity of mosquitocidal bacteria and its relationship with incidence of vector borne diseases

Control of mosquitoes is the most important aspect of public health, as mosquitoes transmit many human diseases, including the fatal infection, Japanese encephalitis. This paper addresses the isolation of new mosquitocidal bacteria from soil samples in the Union Territory of Pondicherry, India, where, no clinical cases of vector borne infections have been reported. Bacterial isolates from soil samples were screened for potential mosquitocidal strains and bioassays against mosquito vectors (Culex quinquefasciatus, Anopheles stephensi and Aedes aegypti) were carried out. Genomic DNA of potential mosquitocidal isolates was amplified and species identification was carried out using BLASTn program (NCBI). Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA sequences of mosquitocidal bacteria revealed seven potential isolates. SDS-PAGE results have shown that there was considerable difference in the protein profiles. Numerical analysis revealed 4 distinct groups at similarity level 25%. The relationship between VBDs and prevalence of soil mosquitocidal bacteria in the study sites has elicited considerable interest in the diversity of mosquitocidal bacteria and their application for mosquito borne diseases control.

Isolation of mosquitocidal bacteria (Bacillus thuringiensis, B.sphaericus and B.cereus) from excreta of arid birds.

Mosquitocidal bacteria are environmentally friendly alternatives to chemical insecticides for controlling mosquitoes and therefore, there have been tremendous world-wide efforts to identify novel mosquitocidal bacteria from natural environment. In the present study, excreta from arid-birds were analyzed for identifying mosquitocidal bacteria. The selection of sample for bacterial screening is significant, because, arid-birds are the unique living species and gathering the foods from variety of sources from environment. Out of 1000 samples examined, twelve bacterial strains were identified as mosquitocidal and the 16S rRNA gene sequence alignment depicted that these isolates belonged to Bacillus species (Bacillus thuringiensis, B.sphaericus and B.cereus). Toxicity assay against mosquito vectors have shown that these isolates are potential. The B. sphaericus VCRC-B547 (NCBI: JN377789) has shown a higher toxicity against Cx. quinquefasciatus, An. stephensi, and Aed. aegypti. Result from SDS-PAGE has shown that there was considerable difference in the protein profiles among the new bacterial isolates. Phylogenetic tree with branch length 0.05 revealed three distinct groups with homology among the closely related Bacillus strains. This study therefore throws considerable interest on the diversity of microbial organisms from arid birds and its application in mosquito control.

Biochemical studies in relation to glutamate dehydrogenase in piper nigrum (L.).

Black pepper, the king of spices, the most important and widely used spice in the world is the dried mature berries of P. nigrum L. Inorganic nitrogen is assimilated into amino acids glutamine, glutamate, asparagines and aspartate which serve as important nitrogen carriers in plants. The enzymes glutamine synthetase (GS) EC. 6.3.1.2, glutamate synthase (GOGAT) E.C. 1.4.1.14, glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) E.C.1.4.1.4, aspartate aminotransferase and asparagine synthetase are responsible for biosynthesis of these amino acids. Although extensive studies have been carried out on the epidemiology of the diseases and agronomical aspects of P. nigrum, very few studies have been made on the enzymological aspects especially that associated with the nitrogen assimilation. A better understanding of the various properties of the enzyme will be valuable in the future studies concerned with Nitrogen metabolism in P. nigrum. Main objective of present study was to standardize the extraction and study the properties of GDH from P. nigrum L. Effect of additives and its optimum concentration were determined, standardized homogenizing medium was formulated, standardized assay system formulated, different properties like pH optimum, Substrate saturation and km value determined; it’s all in agreement with the previously reported values, result indicate NADP+/NADPH is the better substrate i.e. the enzyme activity is contributed by chloroplastic form of GDH than by the mitochondrial form.

Validation of Cancer Institute Quality of Life Questionnaire Version II for cancer patients in India.

Background: The Quality of Life (QOL) questionnaire version I consisted of 38 items that were validated using 392 patients. The experiences gained through the interaction with the patients during the administration of the questionnaire provided a lot of inputs for the improvization of the tool. Aim: The current study is aimed at certain modifications of the QOL questionnaire version I and standardization of the same. Materials and Methods: The modifications of version I QOL scale included the change of verbatim, splitting, deleting, and adding of new items. Finally, version II included 42 items. It was administered to 183 cancer patients irrespective of their demographic details for further standardization. Statistics: The principal component method with varimax rotation was used. Spearman's product moment correlation and Cronbach's alpha coefficient were used for reliability analysis. Results: The data were subjected to factor analysis to explore the factors. Eleven factors emerged with the eigenvalue ranging from 8.03 to 1.10 and accounted for 66.7% variance. The first factor contributed maximally, 19.5%, and the remaining 10 factors contributed a total of 46.2% variance on QOL. They are general well-being, physical well-being, psychological well-being, familial relationship, sexual and personal ability, cognitive well-being, optimism and belief, economical well-being, information support, patient-physician relationship, and body image. The Cronbach alpha of 0.90 and split-half reliability of 0.80 indicated a high reliability of the tool. Conclusion: The factor structure showed that QOL is a multidimensional concept having different aspects. The Cancer Institute QOL Questionnaire version II for cancer patients is found to be a valid and reliable tool and feasible to administer at the clinical settings.

Coping preferences of head and neck cancer patients - Indian context.

BACKGROUND: Cancer is a major health-related stress and demands adequate coping. Patients with head and neck carcinoma (HNC) often face exhaustive and debilitating treatment as well as physical and functional residual effects such as disfigurement, compromised speech, dry mouth and difficulty in swallowing. Understanding how patients cope with these challenges is important in comprehensive care of patients with HNC. OBJECTIVE: To assess and evaluate the coping preferences of head and neck cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Towards this goal, a prospective study was conducted at the Cancer Institute (WIA), Chennai. 176 HNC patients participated in the study. The age group ranged from 19 to 87 years. The questionnaire used for assessing coping preferences was Jalowiec coping preference scale containing 40 items, with responses ranging on a 5-point scale. The variables chosen were treatment, site, education, survival, age and gender. Statistical analysis used: SPSS 9.0 version was used for both descriptive and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: No significant difference was observed in the preference of Emotion-Oriented Coping (EOC) in relation to age, treatment, site, education and survival. Treatment, site, education and gender showed significant differences in the preference of Problem-Oriented Coping (POC). There was, however, no difference in the preference of POC among the patients with different survival periods and age. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, HNC patients adapt both EOC and POC during the course of the illness. Literates, males and patients subjected to different modalities of treatment preferred more of POC compared to other groups.