ABSTRACT
Introduction: Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) risk factors clustering has increases the morbidity and mortality of CAD. These factors are responsible for insulin resistance; it leads to the development of Metabolic Syndrome (MS), which later leads to the development of CAD. Endothelial dysfunction leads to CAD. EAT is the visceral adipose tissue (VAT) around the heart. It plays a major role in the development of MS. The aim of this study was to measure the EAT thickness through echocardiography in healthy adults and coronary artery disease patients and to determine its association with Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist circumference. Methodology: 156 diagnosed cases of CAD and age matched 157 asymptomatic individuals were recruited from Cardiology Department of Ziauddin Hospital for this case control study. Waist circumference and BMI were measured. Echocardiography was done for EAT thickness. Results: CAD group had significantly higher EAT thickness as compared to controls. There was no significant difference of EAT thickness with BMI. A weak positive association of EAT thickness with BMI was found. A significant difference of EAT thickness with waist circumference was found. There was weak association of EAT with waist circumference in CAD. Conclusion: The mean EAT thickness is significantly higher in CAD group of Karachi population. EAT thickness has weak positive association with BMI and waist circumference. Therefore, we can conclude that BMI and Waist Circumference are the indicators of generalized obesity while EAT thickness may be considered to be a true indicator of visceral obesity.
ABSTRACT
Aim: To provide the normal range of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in a subset of Karachi population by Spectralis OCT and to evaluate the effects of age and gender on it. Methodology: 300 eyes from 150 healthy subjects aged 40 years and above with no ocular pathologies were examined using standard protocols by a single examiner. Subjects with high myopia, history of diabetic or hypertensive retinopathy, raised intraocular pressure (> 21 mmHg) and previous intraocular or laser surgery were excluded from the study. The mean retinal nerve fiber layer thickness was calculated and was correlated with age and gender difference. Results: The mean global retinal nerve fiber layer thickness was found to be 99.02±9.08 μm in our set of population. Out of four quadrants the maximum RNFL thickness was found in inferior quadrant (126.45±16.23 μm) followed by the thickness of 121.50±15.03 μm in superior quadrant, 78.99±13.99 μm in nasal quadrant and 68.90±13.10 μm in temporal quadrant. We found strong negative correlation of RNFL thickness with age (P= 0.001) and not significant relation with gender (P= 0.8). Conclusions: Keeping in mind the variations in RNFL thickness with ethnic differences, this study provides the normal values of RNFL thickness according to our set of population. It is concluded that RNFL thickness decreases significantly with increasing age but gender had no significant effect on it.
ABSTRACT
Benign prostatic hyperplasia is the most common prostatic pathology and its incidence has accelerated recently [1]. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is diagnosed histologically as enlargement of mucosal and sub mucosal glands with the proliferation of prostatic stroma occurring within the prostatic transition zone [2]. BPH compresses the urethra resulting in anatomic benign prostatic obstruction and may present as lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). The prevalence of LUTS can be progressive in the aging male [3]. LUTS associated with BPH usually affects 45% of males in their 50s, and 80% of males are affected by LUTS in their 70s [4]. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia is not a life threatening condition, but has negative impact on a patient’s quality of life as evidenced in community and clinical studies [5]. Obstruction related LUTS that develops in BPH occurs as a result of dynamic and static components [6]. In order to evaluate the BPH\LUTS American Urology Association devised a scoring system called AUASI (American Urological Association Symptom Index) which consists of six questions and International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) is based on seven questions and their answers concerning urinary symptoms [7]. Data Selection: Literature published during 2008-2014 were selected for review from cross-sectional and cohort studies. Data Extraction: Data was collected and assembled from NCBI, Google Scholar, journals of Radiology and Urology. Conclusion: The accurate assessment of LUTS plays a pivotal role in the interpretation of benign prostatic hyperplasia therefore, the authenticity of symptom scores is crucially important. International prostatic symptom score is the paradigm questionnaire for subjective evaluation of symptoms of the lower urinary tract [8]. The IPSS and IPSS quality of life (QoL) questionnaire can be an important tool for the diagnosis of BPH.