Left atrial function by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography in patients with severe rheumatic mitral stenosis and pulmonary hypertension

We studied left atrial (LA) function in severe rheumatic mitral stenosis (MS) patients using twodimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (STE). Eighty patients with isolated severe MS in sinus rhythm and 40 controls underwent comprehensive echocardiography including STE derived LA strain [reservoir strain (LASr), conduit strain (LAScd) and contractile strain (LASct)]. The mean MVA was 0.93 ± 0.21 cm2 . The mean values of LASr (14.73 ± 8.59%), LAScd (±7.61 ± 4.47%) and LASct (±7.16 ± 5.15%) in patients were significantly lower (p < 0.001) vs. controls 44.11 ± 10.44%, ±32.45 ± 7.63%, -11.85 ± 6.77% respectively and showed decreasing trend with increasing MS severity and higher NYHA class. In conclusion, LA dysfunction is prevalent in severe MS irrespective of NYHA functional class.

Fast food consumption pattern amongst undergraduates of various disciplines of private colleges in Pune

Background: The consumption of various types of fast food is increasingly germinating in all components of the world, each in developed and developing countries.Methods: A cross sectional study was done to explore the perception and knowledge regarding fast food consumption from March 2019 to June 2019 amongst the 300 undergraduate students within the ages of 18 to 20 of three established private colleges of different disciplines in Pune. Paperless data was collected by a predesigned, pretested questionnaire with the help of google forms and statistical analysis was done.Results: The prevalence of consumption of fast food was found to be maximum in the undergraduates belonging to the high-income group (socio-economic class I). Around 85% of the undergraduates consumed fast foods and out of 85% nearly 17% consumed once a day. The undergraduates from all disciplines were also perceived as fast food consumption is measure of one’s socio-economic status, 76% for medical and the lowest for engineering undergraduates (55%). A significant difference between medical, engineering and architecture undergraduates was reported regarding the perception that fast food consumption has no harmful effect on body (40, 26 and 57, p<0.001). About 37% of the students had very poor knowledge, 40% of the students had poor knowledge,13% had average and only 10% had good knowledge regarding fast food consumption leading to non-communicable diseases.Conclusions: The consequences of this study propose that a requirement for health education programs that stimulate healthy eating habits and lifestyle for undergraduate college students.