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Abstract: Background and Objectives: As Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy (CAN) in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus patients is implicated in arrhythmogenesis and sudden cardiac death; we aimed to determine the prevalence of Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy and to compare the mean CAN scores of those patients with and without electrocardiographic abnormalities. Methodology: After a detailed history and clinical examination, 100 diabetic patients were subjected to Ewing’s and Clark’s cardiac autonomic function tests. CAN scores were computed and their electrocardiograms (ECGs) were studied. Results: 72% had severe CAN (CAN score ≥ 5). 76% had abnormal ECGs with mean CAN scores being higher in those with abnormal ECGs (Mean=7.0 ± 1.7 vs 4.3 ± 1.2, p<0.001). Significant associations were found between CAN scores and age (p=0.013), peripheral neuropathy (p=0.04) and symptoms of dysautonomia (p=0.03). There was a significant difference between the mean CAN scores of those with Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) when compared to those without CAD (Mean 7.26 ± 0.57 vs 6.12 ± 1.93, p=0.012) and between those with longer compared to shorter duration of diabetes(Mean 6.9±1.8 Vs 5.7±1.9, p=0.002). Interpretation and Conclusions: Diabetics with abnormal ECGs, CAD and longer duration of diabetes had higher mean CAN scores. As this complex inter-relationship between Diabetes, CAN & CAD can cause abnormalities in heart rate control, a high index of suspicion for asymptomatic cardiovascular disease is needed in diabetics.
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Purpose: Staphylococcus epidermidis is a major commensal bacteria. Various strains of S. epidermidis are capable of forming biofilms by attaching to several surfaces. Biofilm-forming ability of this organism is found to be associated with many hospital-acquired infections and can even impair wound healing. S. epidermidis strains producing polysaccharide-biofilms possess the intercellular adhesion (ica) operon while strains forming the protein adhesion-mediated biofilms possess the accumulation associated protein (aap) gene. We screened for biofilm-forming S. epidermidis in the skin of healthy individuals in Tamil Nadu in order to determine the risk of acquiring S. epidermidis infections in hospital settings. Materials and Methods: Skin swabs were taken from seventy two subjects residing in Chennai with healthy skin who showed no visible signs of skin lesions or allergies. S. epidermidis was isolated from 58 samples out of the 72 collected. The presence of ica operon in S. epidermidis isolates was determined by PCR and biofilm production was examined using quantitative tissue culture plate assay. Results: Majority of the samples (47/72; 65.3%) showed pure S. epidermidis growth, (14/72; 19.4%) showed pure Staphylococcus aureus growth and the remainder (11/72; 15.3%) showed mixed growth. Biofilm-forming S. epidermidis were found in the majority of samples (53/58; 91.4%) and ica operon was detected in 19 samples out of 58 (32.8%) which is a significantly higher percentage when compared to other studies conducted at different parts of the globe ( P = 0.0003). Conclusion: We inferred that ica operon and biofilm-forming S. epidermidis are common in the healthy skin of individuals in Tamil Nadu. Measures have to be taken to reduce the risk of hospital-acquired S. epidermidis infections.
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A bioactive compound with antibacterial activity was isolated and purified from the extract of leaves of sunflower, Helianthus annuus. The bioactive compound was characterized using 1H and 13C NMR. The compound induced auxin, gibberellins and cytokinin in Oryza sativa and Phaseolus mungo. It also showed activity against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae.