A Mini Review of Gastrointestinal Pathology and Nutrition in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex, heterogenous group of neurodevelopmental disorders that result due to interaction of genes and environmental factors. ASD is associated with behavioural alterationsand deficits in social communication. Current research on pathophysiology has proposed a link between severity of symptoms of ASD and gastrointestinal disturbances. Intestinal inflammation, dysregulation of gut microbiome may affect intestinal permeability, mucosal immune function and subsequently cause GI symptoms. Studies have also proposed the role of metabolic activity of the gut microbiome and dietary components (food allergens/toxins) to be associated with behavioral alterations in neurodevelopmentalconditions including ASD. The present review aims to highlight the potential role of nutrients and dietary changes on gastrointestinal pathology and symptoms of ASD

Clinical challenges with excipients in insulin formulations and role of concentrated insulin

Most of the insulin formulations in clinical use contain phenol, meta-cresol or both as excipients. These excipients in insulin preparations provide stability and have antimicrobial properties. However, they are reported to be associated with undesirable side-effects especially localised allergic reactions. Amount of excipients injected per unit dose of insulin is a major determining factor in causation of these reactions. This review discusses the excipients in different insulin formulations available in India with potential of precipitating undesirable effects and the use of concentrated insulins to reduce these complications. To avoid the detrimental effects associated with excipients, removal of preservatives or use of insulin preparations devoid of excipients can be an option. Besides these approaches, one approach that can be considered is the use of concentrated insulin to reduce the volume of insulin dose and thereby the excipients. Concentrated insulins address the high insulin requirements of the growing population of patients with type 2 diabetes who require higher insulin doses. Concentrated insulins help in reduction of dose volume as well as amount of excipients injected per unit dose of insulin. U200 (concentrated r-DNA Human Insulin Premix 30/70-200 IU/ml) can be advantageous with better absorption from smaller quantity injected, lesser variability in absorption, lesser pain and discomfort due to smaller quantity, lesser chances of hypoglycaemia all of which can lead to better patient compliance. Thus, concentrated insulin U200 can be one of the alternatives to prevent/reduce clinical complications with excipients in insulins.

Patients characteristics associated with better glycemic response to teneligliptin and metformin therapy in type 2 diabetes: a retrospective study

Background: Plasma cell dyscrasia (PCD) is the term used to describe the disorders characterized by neoplastic proliferation of plasma cells with the abnormal production of immunoglobulins (Ig). Patients with multiple myeloma frequently have abnormal coagulation tests. Aim of the present study were to correlate prothrombin time (PT) and Activated Partial Thromboplastin time (aPTT) with Ig concentrations in patients with newly diagnosed with PCD and to compare PT and aPTT values in untreated and treated patients diagnosed with PCDMethods: This study was conducted in the department of clinical hematology of SKIMS, a tertiary care hospital in northern India from 2015 to 2016. Patients diagnosed with PCD were advised for coagulogram (PT, aPTT) as a base line investigation. A total of 72 patients were included in the study.Results: 37% of multiple myeloma cases (newly diagnosed) and 22% of light chain disease patients presented with prolonged PT whereas none of the patients in treated cases of PCD had prolonged PT. The mean Ig concentration was significantly higher in patients with prolonged PT and aPTT compared to that of patients with normal PT and aPTT values. In IgA myeloma, the mean immunoglobulin concentration was 3643 mg/dL with a mean PT and aPTT values of 18.8s and 36.6 (p value: 0.006). The mean free light chain concentration in kappa (k) light chain myeloma was 1727 mg/L with a mean PT value of 20.5 s, mean aPTT value of 37.4 s (p-value: 0.026).Conclusions: Patients with newly diagnosed myeloma presented with prolonged PT as compared to the treated cases. Also, mean Ig concentration was significantly higher in patients with prolonged PT and aPTT compared to that of patients with normal PT and aPTT values.

Clinical profile and complication of malaria hepatopathy

This study was designed to study the patient characteristics, presenting features and complications of malaria in patients with elevated liver enzymes and to compare these data to those of patients with normal liver enzymes. A convenient sample of 100 patients with malaria was selected from three tertiary care referral hospitals. Study subjects were divided into two groups: [1] patients [controls] with normal liver enzymes and [2] patients [cases] with >3 times the normal liver enzymes in the absence of an alternate explanation for such elevation. Patient characteristics, presenting features and complications of malaria in these two groups were studied. Data were collected using a semi-structured pretested proforma and were analyzed using the statistical analysis program SPSS, version 11.5 [SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL]. The mean ages were 38.12 years for the cases and 35.20 years for the controls with a non-significant p value of 0.289. Males composed 82% of the cases that were diagnosed with malarial hepatopathy; the remaining 18% were females. Falciparum malaria was present in 56% of the cases, compared to 12% of the controls. Icterus was present in 66% of cases of malarial hepatopathy, compared to 32% of the controls. Of the 66% of these cases, 18.18% had serum bilirubin >3 mg%, whereas out of the 32% of the controls presenting with icterus, only 5.55% had serum bilirubin >3 mg% [p = 0.003]. Of the cases with malarial hepatopathy, 38% suffered from hypoglycemia, compared to 0% of the controls [p < 0.001]; 84% of the cases presented with thrombocytopenia, compared to 70% of the controls [p < 0.001]; 12% of the cases suffered from renal failure with serum creatinine levels >2 mg%, compared to 2% of the controls [p = 0.060]. Plasmodium falciparum infection [either alone or along with P. vivax] is the leading cause of malarial hepatopathy. Jaundice is a common clinical manifestation among these patients. Patients with malarial hepatopathy have increased incidences of hypoglycemia and thrombocytopenia. Malarial hepatopathy occurs in relation to severe infection, most of which are treated with parenteral artesunate

Co-existent renal replacement lipomatosis and pyelitis glandularis.

A 50 year old female was found to have a lump on the right side of abdomen with discharging wound on the same side and was ultrasonographically diagnosed as renal cell carcinoma. On histopathology, it showed replacement of the kidney by mature adipose tissue renal replacement lipomatosis, along with pyelitis glandularis which is a rare condition.

Epithelioid sarcoma of the upper extremity with cerebral metastases.

A forty year old male patient presented with swollen, deformed right hand with multiple irregular ulcers. The axillary lymph nodes were enlarged, firm and tender. The biopsy of nodules present on the hand revealed areas of haemorrhage and necrosis. The histopathological examination confirmed the clinical diagnosis of epithelioid sarcoma. Following below-elbow amputation, patient failed to regain consciousness and expired. On autopsy, distant metastases were found in the regional lymph nodes, pleura, kidney and cerebrum.