ABSTRACT
Background. Bronchial asthma is a serious global health problem. Depression, the most common mood disorder, is often found to be higher among people with chronic health conditions like bronchial asthma. Methods. Patients with newly diagnosed to have bronchial asthma (n=100) who fulfilled the study criteria were evaluated for depression with Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) score. Severity and level of bronchial asthma control were determined as per Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines. Subjective asthma severity was assessed by Perceived Control of Asthma Questionnaire. Follow-up evaluation was done after three months of asthma management with the same study tools. Results. In our study population, 65% asthma patients showed depression on first visit (95% Confidence interval [CI] 55.65-74.35). Correlation coefficient between subjective asthma severity and severity of depression was –0.945 (p<0.001) while correlation coefficient between objective asthma severity and depression severity was 0.066 (p=0.515). In follow-up visit after asthma management 63% patients still had depression (95% CI 53.54-72.46). Correlation coefficient between objective asthma control and depression severity was 0.1 (p=0.320). Correlation coefficient between subjective asthma severity and severity of depression was –0.979 (p<0.001). Conclusions. Our observational study suggests that depression is highly prevalent in asthma patients. There is a high inverse correlation between depression and patient’s perception of asthma control. However, no significant correlation could be observed between objective measures of asthma severity and depression.
ABSTRACT
Background: There are several conflicting pictures found about blood lipid profile parameters in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Aim: The present study was conducted to evaluate the exact profile of lipid status in COPD and as inflammation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of COPD, is there any association between inflammatory chemokines and lipid profile. Methods: From February 2011 to May 2013 five hundred fifty two patients with COPD presented to Burdwan Medical College and Hospital and 521 subjects having no COPD as age and sex-matched control entered to the study. Diagnosis of COPD was confirmed according to clinical findings and pulmonary function test. Lipid parameters and IL8 in serum were measured in all subjects. Results: The mean level of TG was 148.32±12.18 mg/dl and 134.54±11.78 mg/dl in COPD patients and healthy control, respectively. (p<0.001). The mean level of TC was 186.46±22.91 mg/dl and 173.77±15.21 in COPD patients and healthy control respectively (p<0.001). LDL level mean value was 118.91±12.92 mg/dl and 118.91±12.92 mg/dl in COPD patients and control respectively (p<0.001). The mean value of HDL showed 33.46±4.69 mg/dl in COPD patients and 38.38±5.22 mg/dl in control (p = 0.034). Regression analysis was showed IL8 was statistically significantly correlated with TC (r = 0.785, p <0.001), TG (r = 0.871, p<0.001), LDL (r = 0.882, p<0.001), VLDL (r = 0.679, p=0.016) and HDL (r = -0.681, p=0.012), Conclusion: COPD patients showed significantly higher serum levels of TC, TG, LDL, IL8 and serum concentrations of HDL were also decreased significantly compared to controls. Moreover, lipid profile parameters were well correlated with serum IL8.
ABSTRACT
A 6 month old girl presented with generalized hyperkeratosis, most marked over the flexures since birth. On the basis of the clinical& histopathologic findings, she was diagnosed as a case of epidermolytic hyperkeratosis .She was treated with retinoid therapy. Epidermolytic hyperkeratosis (EHK) is an uncommon form childhood keratinizing disorder. Early in life it is associated with generalized blistering and erythroderma. Later on, it produces rippled type of hyperkeratosis. The purpose of this report is to highlight the features of this rare case.