ABSTRACT
Background: Alcoholism is a major threat to public health in both developed and developing countries. Alcohol has many effects on lipid profile, including inducing de novo fatty acid synthesis and inhibiting fatty acid oxidation in liver. Aim of this study was to study the effect of alcohol consumption on serum lipid profile in alcoholics and to compare with those of non-alcoholic controls.Methods: 100 cases and 100 age and sex matched controls were selected. These subjects were classified into, 1. Moderate alcoholics: Consuming ≤210 g per week 2. Heavy alcoholics: Consuming >210 g per week. Blood was taken in fasting state and lipids were estimated.Results: Among 200 subjects, 94% were male. 58.5% of the male and 83.3% of the female were heavy drinkers. Maximum number of alcoholics were seen in the age group of 41-50 years. The height correlated well with both control and study group. The moderate dose alcoholics had a higher weight when compared to control group and heavy dose alcoholics. The heavy dose alcoholics had a lower BMI when compared with the control group and moderate dose alcoholics. Heavy dose alcohol consumption was associated with a higher increase in triglyceride level. The total cholesterol level was significantly higher in the heavy dose alcoholics when compared with the control group. The HDL level was highest in the moderate dose alcoholics. The LDL level was highest in heavy dose alcoholics whereas, the moderate dose alcoholics had a lesser LDL level when compared with the control group. The VLDL level steadily increased with alcohol consumption.Conclusions: Patients with heavy alcohol consumption had significant increase in total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and VLDL. The moderate alcohol consumers had significantly increased HDL and decreased LDL. These protective effects declined after heavy alcohol consumption.
ABSTRACT
Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a condition characterized by a gradual loss of kidney function over a periodof time. Patients with CKD stages 1–3 (glomerular filtration rate [GFR] >30 mL/min/1.73 m²) are frequently asymptomatic;absence of symptoms associated with a reduction in GFR; without clinically evident disturbances in water or electrolytebalance or endocrine/metabolic derangements. In general, these disturbances become clinically manifest with CKD stages4–5 (GFR < 30 mL/min/1. 73 m²).Aim of the Study: The aim of the study was to analyze the symptoms, signs, and laboratory investigations of patients with CKD.Materials and Methods: Atotal of 178 consecutive patients of CKD were included in the study. The presenting clinical symptomsand signs were observed and analyzed. Related laboratory investigations were undertaken and analyzed for the benefit ofidentifying and correlating with the clinical spectrum of the disease.Observations Results: A total of 178 consecutive patients of CKD admitted in five medical units of a tertiary teaching hospital ofNorth Kerala state were included in the study. There were 106/72 males (59.55%) and 29/72 females (40.44%). The male to femalegender ratio was 1:1.47. Patients belonged to the age group between 18 and 78 years with a mean age of 51.35 ± 2.75 years.87/178 (48.87%) patients belonged to the age group of 39–58 years. Gastrointestinal tract related symptoms such as anorexiawere seen in 76/178 (42.69%), nausea in 52/178 (29.21%), and vomiting in 57/178 (32.02%) patients. Pallor due to anemia wasobserved in 91/178 (51.12%) patients and hypertension (HTN) (blood pressure >140/90 mmHg) was present in 54/178 (30.33%)patients. Edema was observed in 65/178 (36.51%) patients, left ventricular hypertrophy in 45/72 (25.28%) patients.Conclusions: Glomerulonephritis, HTN, and diabetes mellitus were the most common risk factors in causing CKD. The mostcommon clinical presentations were anemia, fatigue, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, dyspnea, hiccups, itching, HTN, and edema.As the clinical spectrum of CKD is diverse, further studies are needed to recognize the various presentations of this disease atan early stage in the local population. Early diagnosis and management of these conditions may prevent or delay the progressto end-stage renal disease.
ABSTRACT
Preweaning piglet mortality, mainly due to crushing is an important concern in pig production systems adversely affecting the profit from the farm and welfare of the animals. The present study compared three different systems of farrowing houses viz. conventional farrowing house with guard rail and one-third slated floor (T1), farrowing house with guard rail and floor level ventilation (T2), and farrowing houses with farrowing crates (T3) to identify the best system to minimize the farrowing house stress and mortality. There were no changes in average daily feed intake, serum cortisol levels and maternal behaviour of the sows in different groups. The litter size and litter weight at birth were more or less similar in all treatment groups, whereas litter size and litter weight at weaning was higher (P < 0.05) in T3 compared to other groups. There was significant reduction in piglet mortality in houses with farrowing crates (T3) compared to other two groups (P < 0.05). Cost of production per kilogram live weight of piglets on housing cost basis was also observed to be lower in system with farrowing crates. The payback period required to meet the housing cost for T3, T2 and T1were calculated as 1.63, 2.94 and 3.11 years, respectively. The results of present study identified that farrowing houses with farrowing crates significantly reduced piglet mortality, thereby increasing the profitability of swine husbandry without any adverse effect on the performance of sows