Taste dysfunction in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with autonomic neuropathy and its relation with HbA1C level and disease duration

Background:Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a multifactorial, complex disease associated with chronic hyperglycemia, resulting from the interplay of genetic, environmental, and epigenetic factors. T2DM can causes various disabling complications. Diabetic autonomicneuropathy (DAN) is one of the common complications in diabetes. The taste threshold affected by various factors such as age, ethnic backgrounds, drugs, local and systemic diseases, consumption of alcohol, smoking, and tobacco chewing.Method: The presentstudy is undertaken with the objectives to compare the taste dysfunction of four primary sensations in Type 2 DM with autonomic neuropathy and its relation with glycemic control. The 60 patients of T2DM with autonomic neuropathy and 60 healthy controls were taken for the study. Autonomic neuropathy was assessed clinically. Chemical taste test using four solutions of basic tastes (sweet, sour, salty, bitter) were done.Results: Taste dysfunction for sweet was significant in T2DM with uncontrolled hyperglycemia. The taste dysfunction in T2DM patients was not related to gender, disease duration, and type of treatment taken. The study found a significant correlation between taste dysfunction, HbA1C level and blood sugar fasting level in T2DM patients. Conclusions: The taste dysfunction was mainly for sweet. Sour and bitter did not show any difference in case groups compared to controls

Community based cross sectional study: to assess the prevalence of arthritic symptoms in an army garrison in large city of North India

Background: Arthritis affects almost 350 million people globally and is one of the leading causes of disability in the world. The prevalence in India is like that in developed countries. Symptoms of arthritis have been found to be influenced by alcohol intake, smoking, obesity and type of diet which lead to aggravation in pain, exacerbation in disease activity and deterioration in general health.Methods: Present community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in a large military station in North India over a period of one month. Armed Forces personnel and their family members aged 18 yrs and above residing in military station and consenting to the study were included. A sample of 1475 was studied.Results: The age of participants ranged from 18 to 70 yrs (median 32±7.4 yrs) with 20.54% females and 79.46% males. The prevalence of symptoms suggestive of Gout, RA, OA and Spondyloarthritis was 8.95% (95% CI, 7.54, 10.52), 3.25% (2.41, 4.29), 11.32% (9.75, 13.05) and 14.17% (12.43, 16.05), respectively. Symptoms suggestive of RA were found to be significantly associated with female gender, those of Gout and Spondyloarthritis with male gender, while OA did not have any gender predisposition.Conclusions: The population with symptoms of arthritis needs to be identified early by early symptomatic diagnosis and measures instituted for appropriate management to prevent future complications and associated morbidity.

Prevalence of Intestinal parasites at a Tertiary Care Centre at the Foothills of Himalayas, Srinagar, Uttarakhand, India: A six-year Observational Study

Intestinal parasitic infections is a serious public health problem in most of the regions of the world, especially in developing countries, and represents a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children and among high-risk groups. Aims: To find out the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in Garhwal region of Uttarakhand and compare and correlate it with gender, age group and area (rural or urban). Methods: The collected stool samples were subjected to routine stool investigations during the study, i.e. Macroscopic examination was carried out for the presence adult worms or their body segments and microscopic examination such as stool wet mounts (both saline and iodine mounts); modified acid-fast staining for Cryptosporidium and Isospora and ELISA for Cryptosporidium were done. Results: Out of total 3614 patients, 197 (5.45%) (excluding Cryptosporidium ) and 338(9.35%) (Including Cryptosporidium), while 141(3.90%)(only Cryptosporidium )had parasitic infection. Maximum numbers (average) of patients were enrolled in month of May (102, 16.94%) and June (87, 14.45%). Maximum number of patients were in the age group of 1-10yrs (949, 26.26%) whereas out of these110 patients were found positive (11.6%). On the other hand, out of 343 patients in 11-20yrs age group, 46 (13.4%) were found positive and least number of patients were from <1year age group. Mostly male patients were affected by parasitic infections (60.06%). Parasite most commonly isolated was Cryptosporidium 141(41.72%), followed by Giardia lamblia 74(21.89%) and hookworm 40(11.83%). One cases each of trematodes, Fasciola hepatica (both ova and adult) and Clonorchis (ova) whereas two cases of Isospora belli were also seen. Conclusion: Prevalence of intestinal parasites (9.35%) is low in Garhwal region of Uttarakhand.

Correlation between Yoga with Age, BMI in Diabetic Subjects

Diabetes is a serious health condition thataffects in all age groups and causes a big part of morbidity andmortality. People are greater risk of diabetes due to improperdietary practice, unhealthy life style, lack of physical exercise.The present study was conducted to assess the health statusthrough BMI in diabetic patients aged between 30- 50 years(All subjects had Type-2 diabetes) and correlate between yogawith age, BMI in diabetic subjects.Material and Methods: Multistage stratified samplingtechnique was used for selecting 50 samples and aninterviewed scheduled was evolved to collect informationregarding socio-economic profile, dietary pattern, Yoga etc.Statistical analysis was performed to find out the effect ofall factors on diabetes with the Cross tabulation was used toperform statistical calculation using SPSS.Result: As per result obtained Positive and insignificantcorrelations were observed between BMI with fasting bloodsugar level, before, after yoga and changes in the present study(p>0.05). Negative and significant correlation was observedbetween age with changes in fasting blood sugar level amongthe respondents.Conclusion: from the above observations, it can be concludedthat regular exercise (Yoga) may prevent new-onset of Type2-diabetes, especially in patients with high BMI and highglucose level

A Morphometric Study Of Body And Vertebral Canal Of Thoracic Vertebrae & Its Clinical Significance

Introduction: Accurate anatomical descriptions of the size, shape and orientation of the main structures of thehuman vertebrae and intervertebral discs are necessary for a variety of approaches and objectives such as theidentification of clinical situations that are related to the morphometry of the spine structures, such as theincidence of low-back pain related to the spinal canal size. So the present study was done to measure the variousmorphometric parameters of thoracic vertebral body and neural canal.Materials and Methods: Total 100 sets of dry human thoracic vertebra were obtained. These are of unknown ageand sex. All Morphometric parameters were measured by digital Vernier caliper of accuracy of 0.01mm. Anteriorheight of the body (VBAH), Posterior height of the body (VBPH), Antero-posterior Diameter of Vertebral body(VBAPD), Transverse Diameter of Vertebral body (VBTD), Anteroposterior diameter of Vertebral Canal (VCAPD) andTransverse diameter of Vertebral Canal (VCTD). All parameters were entered into excel sheet and analysis wasdone by SPSS.Results: Mean VBAH ranged from 13.17+1.35mm (T1) to 17.92+2.25mm (T12), mean VBPH from 15.01+1.27mm(T1) to 20.92+4.58mm (T12), mean VBAPD ranged from 11.62+1.96mm (T1) to 18.12+5.71mm (T12), mean VBTDfrom 24.28+5.68mm (T1) to 28.59+5.97mm (T12), mean VCAPD ranged from 12.46+1.30mm (T1) to 16.05+2.41mm(T12) and VCTD from 17.15+2.19mm (T1) to 20.11+3.74mm (T12).Conclusion: The results of the present study may help in designing implants and instrumentations; understandingspine pathologies; and management of spinal disorder

Identification and validation of a virus-inducible ta-siRNA-generating TAS4 locus in tomato.

Trans-acting small interfering RNAs (ta-siRNAs) are a class of endogenous small RNA, associated with posttranscriptional gene silencing. Their biogenesis requires an initial microRNA (miRNA)-mediated cleavage of precursor RNA. Around 20 different ta-siRNA-producing loci (TASs), whose sequences are conserved, are reported in plants. In tomato, two TAS gene families have been identified, which are found to target auxin response factor gene and bacterial spot disease resistance protein Bs4 gene. Using high-throughput computational and experimental approach, we identified a new locus-producing ta-siRNA in tomato. We have also identified the putative miRNA regulating the production of ta-siRNA from this locus. The ta-siRNAs generated from TAS4 were up-regulated upon infection with a DNA virus. The potential targets of ta-siRNAs were predicted to be variety of proteins including MYB transcription factors and cell cycle regulators for some of the ta-siRNAs produced.

Induced defence responses of contrasting bread wheat genotypes under differential salt stress imposition.

Plants, being sessile in nature, have developed mechanisms to cope with high salt concentrations in the soil. In this study, the effects of NaCl (50-200 mM) on expression of high-affinity potassium transporters (HKTs), antioxidant enzymes and their isozyme profiles were investigated in two contrasting bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes viz., HD2329 (salt-sensitive) and Kharchia65 (salt-tolerant). Kharchia65 can successfully grow in salt affected soils, while HD2329 cannot tolerate salt stress. Differential expression studies of two HKT genes (TaHKT2;1.1 and TaHKT2;3.1) revealed their up-regulated expression (~1.5-fold) in the salt-sensitive HD2329 and down-regulated (~5-fold) inducible expression in the salt-tolerant genotype (Kharchia65). Specific activity of antioxidant enzymes, viz. superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POX), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), catalase (CAT) and glutathione reductase (GR) was found to be higher in the salt-tolerant genotype. Isozyme profile of two (POX and GR) antioxidant enzymes showed polymorphism between salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive genotypes. A new gene TaHKT2;3.1 was also identified and its expression profile and role in salt stress tolerance in wheat was also studied. Partial sequences of the TaHKT2;1.1 and TaHKT2;3.1 genes from bread wheat were submitted to the EMBL GenBank database. Our findings indicated that defence responses to salt stress were induced differentially in contrasting bread wheat genotypes which provide evidences for functional correlation between salt stress tolerance and differential biochemical and molecular expression patterns in bread wheat.

Perception of RTIs/STDs among women of reproductive age group in a District of Uttar Pradesh.

A cross sectional study was conducted during May-June 2010 among woman of reproductive age group (15-45 years) in the urban and the rural areas of Bareilly District to asses the level of awareness regarding RTIs/STDs. The two stage cluster sampling technique was adopted. A structured questionnaire was used to interview the study participants during the house to house surveys. Each woman of reproductive age of selected household was interviewed in private about her reproductive history, current knowledge, source of information and modes of transmission of RTIs/STDs. Statistical analysis was done with Epi Info computer software. Standard Normal Variate (SNV) Test for comparison of two groups’ proportion was done; z and p were calculated to know the significance of the proportions of two groups for comparison. Most of the women were aware of RTIs/STDs (80.32%) in urban areas whereas only 27.41% in rural areas were aware of these diseases. The television and radio was the main source of information in both rural (41.17% & 32.94%) and urban areas (TV-90.36%, Radio-48.19%).