Serum zinc and magnesium in Type-2 Diabetic Patients

To assess serum zinc and magnesium level in type-2 diabetic patients and the effect of age, gender, glycemic control and duration of diabetes on these trace elements in comparison with those of control subjects. Non-interventional case control study. Department of Medicine, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Hyderabad, from October 2007 to March 2008. There were 42 diabetic patients and 42 age matched non-diabetic [control] subjects included in this study. Serum zinc, serum magnesium and fasting blood sugar measured among the diabetic and control groups and association of both trace elements were assessed with glycemic status, age, gender and duration of diabetes using SPSS version 16.0 for analysis. Serum zinc level was significantly lower [mean 2.03+0.39 mg/dL] in diabetic patients as compared to control subjects [4.84 +/- 4.217 mg/dL, p = < 0.001]. No significant difference was found in serum magnesium level with mean of 22.67 +/- 24.5 mg/dL in diabetic patients as compared to controls [18.3 +/- 3.4 mg/dL, p = 0.26]. Serum zinc level was significantly lower in type-2 diabetics, whereas no significant difference was found in serum magnesium level when compared with control subjects. There was no association of age, gender, glycemic status and duration of diabetes on the serum concentration of these trace elements in type-2 diabetic patients

Frequency of thyroid disorders during interferon and ribavirin therapy in chronic hepatitis C infection

The objective of this study was to assess the frequency of thyroid dysfunction in response to combination of interferon and ribavirin therapy in chronic hepatitis C [CHC] patients and HCV outcome. Descriptive study. This study was conducted at Outpatient Department of Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Hyderabad from September 2005 to September 2007. One hundred cases of CHC, proven by anti-HCV and HCV RNA-positive with baseline TSH, FT[4] and FT[3] within the normal reference range, who were treated with interferon alpha-2b [3 million unit subcutaneously three times per week] and oral ribavirin [1000-1200 mg per day] were included in this study. All patients were assessed for TSH, FT[4], FT[3] levels at 12 weeks and 24 weeks during therapy. Among the 100 patients, overt thyroid disease developed in 13 [13%] and sub-clinical thyroid disease in 5 [5%]. Out of 13 patients of overt thyroid disorders, 11 [84.6%] had hypothyroidism and 02 [15.3%] hyperthyroidism. Four [80%] patients were of sub-clinical hypothyroidism and 01 [20%] patient was of sub-clinical hyperthyroidism. Overall, thyroid disorders developed in 18 [18%] both as overt and sub-clinical thyroid disorders. Ninety one [91%] patients became negative by HCV RNA. Treatment of HCV with IFN-alpha and ribavirin can be safely continued in patients with over and sub clinical hypothyroidism because thyroid disease responds well to treatment