Population based study of quality of diabetes care in southern India.

OBJECTIVES: To analyse and compare the clinical profile and glycaemic outcome in known diabetic cases in South Indian urban and periurban populations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Details of known type 2 diabetic cases identified in a population survey of diabetes in Chennai city, Kanchipuram town and Periurban Villages (PUV) of Panruti in Tamil Nadu were analyzed (n=524, M:F, 256:268). Glycaemic outcome, prevalence of hypertension, dyslipidaemia and obesity, and treatment details were studied and compared between the areas. RESULTS: Mean age at diagnosis was 45.3 +/- 10.1 years, prevalence of hypertension was 57.4% (32% known), 48% were obese and a larger percentage (63.3%) had abdominal obesity Dyslipidaemia was present in nearly 50%. Abnormalities were more in urban areas than in PUV. Glycaemic target (post prandial glucose < or =160 mg/dl) was met by 28.8% only; better results were seen in PUV. In PUV 46% were not taking any diabetic treatment. As expected, majority of patients in all areas were treated with oral drugs. CONCLUSIONS: This population-based data indicated that the clinical outcome in known diabetic cases was far from satisfactory even in the city, where specialized diabetes care was available.

Disseminated cutaneous rhinosporidiosis in a HIV sero--positive patient.

Rhinosporidiosis is a chronic disease, classically involving the nose and nasopharynx, clinically presenting as polypii. However,disseminated rhinosporidiosis, involving various other sites including lips, conjunctiva, uvula, vagina, larynx. trachea. scalp and skin is also known to occur. A case of rhinosporidiosis, with nasal, oropharyngeal and multiple cutaneous lesions, in a patient who is sero--positive for HIV is reported.

Administration of the plasticizer di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate alters glycoconjugate profile.

This study was undertaken to evaluate the level of glycoproteins and sialic acid in rats fed di (2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP) in the diet for 24 weeks. Protein-bound hexose, hexosamine and sialic acid were increased in plasma and liver of rats treated with DEHP, whereas the erythrocyte membrane showed a reduction following DEHP administration. Evaluation of glycoproteins is a useful indicator of the carcinogenic process. It is suggested that profound alterations in membrane components observed in the present study may be related to the carcinogenic potential of DEHP.