A prospective and observational study on the variation in Hemoglobin A1c levels among asthmatic children using inhaled corticosteroids

Background: The studies in children regarding the effects of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) on the carbohydrate metabolism are scant in India. This study was undertaken to determine if there is any effect of inhaled steroids on the glycemic control. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to analyze the pattern of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in children with persistent asthma, before and after using prophylactic doses of ICS and to evaluate and compare HbA1c levels separately in those taking budesonide and in those taking fluticasone or other steroids. Materials and Methods: It was a prospective and observational study, based on a study proforma. Children of 2–12 years of age, diagnosed with mild-to-moderate persistent asthma, attending the Asthma Clinic at Paediatrics Department of SAT Hospital, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram were included in the study. The diagnosis of asthma and the severity was recorded according to Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines. The sample size was calculated to be 40. Type, dose, and frequency of administration of ICS and other coprescribed drugs were recorded on an asthma diary and entered into the study proforma. HbA1c levels were measured in children before they were started on ICS, on the same day of visit using high perfusion liquid chromatography technique and repeated after 6 months. Student’s t-test was used to compare mean values between two groups. Results: Mean age of patients is 5.75. About 62.5% of patients were males. About 72.5% of the patients had a diagnosis of moderate persistent asthma. The mean HbA1c before the treatment with ICS was 5.36 and after the treatment is 5.37 and the difference was not significant. Conclusions: There was no significant change in HbA1c levels with the use of ICS.

Olfactory tract transection in neonatal rats: Evidence for Mitral cell regeneration and restoration of functional connectivity with its targets.

Central Nervous System (CNS) regeneration and repair mechanism are two important aspects of functional recovery in the adult central nervous system following brain and spinal cord injury. Following olfactory tract transection in neonatal rats, functional connectivity between the olfactory bulb and the piriform cortex gets re-established by 120 days. The recovery of the dendritic morphology was associated with the synchronized oscillatory activity between olfactory bulb and piriform cortex. Mitral cells which were regenerated after the transection showed profuse branching, indicative of their undifferentiated state. However, normal dendritic morphology could be seen by 120 days after olfactory tract transection. These results thus provide a supportive evidence for the restoration of the functional connections between the olfactory bulb and the piriform cortex at 120 days.