Relationship between sialic acid and microvascular complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Serum total sialic acid is a marker of acute phase response. Elevated levels have also been associated with several risk factors for diabetic vascular disease. The objective of the study was to find out a relationship between sialic acid and metabolic variables in type 2 diabetic patients with and without microvascular complications. This study included 200 subjects of whom 50 were of diabetes mellitus with nephropathy, 50 patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus with retinopathy, 50 patients of type 2 diabetes without any complication and 50 healthy individuals without diabetes mellitus [control subjects]. The subjects aged 15 - 60 years were selected for study. Fasting venous blood samples were taken from all the 200 subjects. Simultaneously urine sample were also collected from each of them. All blood samples were analysed for fasting and postprandial glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride [TG], low density lipoprotein [LDL], high density lipoprotein [HDL], creatinine, HbAIc on fully automated analyser. Serum and urine sialic acid along with microalbumin levels were also estimated. Serum total sialic acid concentrations were significantly higher among all diabetic subjects with or without complications compared to control subjects. In diabetic patients there was a significantly increasing trend of serum and urinary sialic acid with severity f nephropathy [p < 0.001] and with the degree of urinary albumin excretion [p < 0.001]. Elevated serum sialic acid concentrations were also associated with severel risk factors. The main finding of this study is that elevated serum and urinary sialic acid and microalbumin concentration were strongly related to the presence of microvascular complications like diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy and cardiovascular risk factors in type 2 diabetic patients

To determine prevalence of pseudo exfoliation at a tertiary eye care centre: a hospital based study

To report the prevalence of pseudo exfoliation in association with Cataract and other ocular diseases at a tertiary eye care centre in Sindh, Pakistan. This was a hospital based study at Liaquat University Eye hospital, Hyderabad Sindh, Pakistan conducted from July, 2005 to November, 2006. A total of 1450 subjects of more than fifty years with senile cataract were registered who underwent a comprehensive ophthalmic evaluation. Visual acuity, refraction, Goldmann applanation tonometry, gonioscopy, slit lamp examination, and dilated pupil fundus examinations were performed. Pseudo exfoliation was diagnosed on slit lamp biomicroscopy by the presence of white dandruff-like material at papillary margin, on the anterior lens capsule, and trabecular meshwork, in one or both eyes. Out of 1450 patients, sixty five [4.48%] subjects was diagnosed having senile cataract with pseudo exfoliation. There was a significant increase in prevalence with age. Out of 65 cases, 15 cases [23.0%] were unilateral and 50 cases [76.9%] bilateral. Forty one eyes [63.0%] had raised intraocular pressure, in which four eyes [9.7%] had angle closure glaucoma, and 37 eyes [90.2%] had pseudo exfoliation [open angle] glaucoma. The prevalence of nuclear cataract was significantly higher [66.1%] in patients with pseudo exfoliation. It appears to be a common disorder in older individuals in the notified area. The association of pseudo exfoliation [PXF] with aging and cataract has public health implications