Evaluation of dyslipidaemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients

Objective: This study is aimed to evaluate the correlation of raised levels of Non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [Non-HDL-C] in Type 2 Diabetic patients

Study design: Cross sectional study

Place and duration of study: Department of Chemical Pathology and Endocrinology, PNS SHIFA hospitalKarachi, from 20.5.2014 to 20.11.2014

Materials and Methods: Diabetic patients between 30-70 years age, of either gender and having diabetes for more than five years were included in the study. Patients with co-existing Hypothyroidism, Chronic renal failure, Nephrotic syndrome, Familial hypercholesterolaemic syndromes, already on lipid lowering drugs, anti-hypertensive drugs, using beta blockers or thiazide diuretics, obese patients with BMI greater than 30 and those using alcohol were excluded. Blood samples after overnight 10 hours fasting were taken for fasting plasma glucose, serum total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol

Results: The average age of the patients was 48.75 +/- 11.02 years. Out of 232 patients, there were 124[53.45%] males and 108[46.55%] females. Raised levels of non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [>3.33 mmol/L] in type 2diabetic patients was observed in 80.6% [187/232] cases

Conclusion: Raised level of non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in diabetes mellitus patients is reasonably high. Appropriate therapeutic interventions should be carried out on basis of simple test such as non-HDL-C in type2 diabetics to avoid risk of cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and renal disease complications, thereby reducing mortality and morbidity in these patients

Vitamin D status and diabetes mellitus

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is a worldwide epidemic, similarly low Vitamin D levels constitutes a largely unrecognized epidemic in many populations. There is no study in our country to document the association between these two common metabolic disorders

Objective: To assess the degree of correlation between vitamin D status and various categories of hyperglycaemia in a Pakistani population. Study Design: Descriptive cross sectional study. Place and Period of Study: Department of Pathology, PNS SHIFA Hospital, Karachi; Jan 2013 to Aug 2013. Glucose levels were measured in eight six patients divided on the basis of their 25- hydroxyvitamin D3 [25OHD] levels in three groups, normal [>31 ng/ml], insufficient [20-31ng/ml] and deficient [<20ng /ml]. 25OHD was measured by electrochemiluminescence using Roche Elecsys® Systems while glucose was estimated by routine methods on Roche Hitachi® Autoanalyser

Results: Vitamin D levels were inversely correlated with plasma glucose levels [r=0.38; p <0.01] with an Odd Ratio of 3.59 [95%confidence interval 1.29 to 8.70]. Fasting plasma glucose was significantly higher in vitamin D deficient patients as compared to patients with normal vitamin D status [p <0.05]

Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency is negatively associated with plasma glucose levels

Effect of cast immobilization on contractile characteristics of skeletal muscles of uromastix

Cast immobilized [Imb] mammalian skeletal muscles exhibits reduced tension generation ability with morphometric changes and atrophy. However, controversies still exist with respect to changes in muscle mechanics in different positions of immobilization [IMB]. In addition, reptilian muscles have been ignored generally, and for the effects of IMB, specially. This study was carried out to observe the effects of different positions of IMB on contraction parameters of Uromastix skeletal muscles. Left hind limb was Imb in stretched knee and flexed ankle position for 20 days, right being the control [Cont]. After 20 days Sartorius [Sar], Gastrocnemius [Gas]. Peroneus Longus [PL] and Peroneus Brevis [PB] muscles were isolated to record the isometric twitch and tetani for the measurements of tension, rate of rise of tension [dp/dt] and duration of active state [DAS]. After IMB, morphometric parameter does not change significantly in any muscle except the stretched and flexed lengths in Gas. The tensions however, reduced significantly in Imb Sar and Gas which were non-significantly greater in the Imb PL and PB. The dp/dt parameters and DAS reduced in Imb Sar, Gas and PL. It was however, significantly higher in Imb PB. Skeletal muscle mechanics differ for different positions of IMB in reptilian muscle model as well. The earlier reported controversies probably indicate differences in IMB induced stretch, dimensions and anatomy of individual muscle of different animal models

Evaluation of hyperpolarization potentials and nerve conduction parameters in axonal neuropathic patients

Neuropathies are diagnosed on the basis of some specific parameters of compound motor unit action potential [CMAP]. The slowing of conduction velocity along with relatively, preserved amplitude considered an indication of demyelination. While, amplitude reduction and slightly slowed conduction velocity, referred to axonal degeneration. Further, CMAP shape and distal latencies are also important for the diagnosis of neuropathies. Although, hyperpolarization is one of the important phase of CMAP but, it is mentioned only in the cases of nerve conduction block and never considered to identify other neuropathies. Therefore, in the present study the hyperpolarization phase of CMAP has been compared and evaluated in terms of its amplitude and duration and its occurrence in axonal neuropathy. The CMAP records of normal subjects and axonal neuropathic patients; randomly selected from OPD cases and evaluated for the occurrence of hyperpolarization, its amplitude, duration, latencies, CMAP amplitude and NCV. The recordings were obtained from the stimulation of median and tibial nerves [both distally and proximally] with recordings of CMAP from Abductor Pollicis Brevis and Abductor Hallucis muscles, respectively. The amplitude and duration of hyperpolarization and other parameters measured from both, median and tibial nerves were significantly lesser in neuropathic patients than the normal ones. Hyperpolarization reduces significantly in axonal neuropathy and this phase of CMAP may also be considered for the evaluation in other neuropathies. Further, criteria may be formulated for the diagnosis of various neuropathies using hyperpolarization phase of CMAP

study on Cat Flea, ctenocephalides felis, infestation in Karachi

To know the rate of the flea infestation, 20 pet cats were examined from different areas of Karachi. An overall collection of 1231 fleas was obtained from the skin of these cats. The maximum cat flea infestation was found in area 1 [500], followed by area 2 [358], area 3 [247], area 4 [110] and area 5 [16]. The cat owning families reported annoyance, itching and flea allergy dermatitis [FAD] among them. At an average, 27% members of all the families were found to be suffering from the flea allergy dermatitis. The percent age of the percent s suffering from FAD was highest in area 1 [35.0%], followed by area 3 [28.6%], are 2 [26.9%], area 4 [27.7%] and area [12.5%]. These fleas were identified as Ctenocephalids felis