ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN) is a common complication of diabetes. Existence of systemic co-morbidities in DPN patients has not been studied much, especially in Indian population. AIM: To evaluate glycaemic status, lipid profile, renal parameters and blood count to assess occurrence of co-morbidities as severity of DPN progresses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A case control study involving 104 DPN patients and 43 controls of age 31-70years were selected. Patients were categorized into stage 0, 1, 2 and 3 of severity as per Dyck system of classification. Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), Post Prandial Blood Sugar (PPBS), Glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), Lipid profile, Vitamin B12, Thyroid Stimulating Hormone, Urea, Creatinine and Complete blood counts were assessed along with baseline characteristics. RESULTS: Glycosylated haemoglobin was in uncontrolled range for DPN patients (9.03±2.09) FBS and PPBS were significantly more with progress of severity of DPN (p<0.001). HDL decreased (p<0.001) as severity progressed and Triglyceride increased in DPN cases. Mean urea values increased (p=0.008) while haemoglobin levels and RBC count decreased (p<0.001) as severity of DPN progressed. CONCLUSION: Abnormal lipid profile, increased urea and decreased RBC levels point to co-existence of cardiovascular and renal comorbidities as severity of DPN progressed.
ABSTRACT
AIMS: To compare the metabolic activity of peripheral neutrophils in patients diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with that of healthy, nonsmoking volunteers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Venous blood samples were taken from patients diagnosed with COPD as well as from healthy nonsmokers. Each sample was subjected to the nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) test in which neutrophils exhibiting elevated metabolic activity were detected by light microscopy. The test was repeated after stimulation with Escherichia coli (E. coli) endotoxin with fresh samples. Neutrophils showing dye uptake were then counted in each case. RESULTS: We found that the mean numbers of activated neutrophils without and with the addition of endotoxin were 19% and 23%, respectively, in the control group and 56% and 62%, respectively, in the test group. Two-sample t-test statistic revealed that there was a significant (P < 0.01) increase in neutrophilic metabolic activity in patients with COPD as compared to that in healthy volunteers. This significance remained even after stimulation using E. coli endotoxin. CONCLUSION: The results hint at a potentially relevant pathogenic mechanism in COPD related to the metabolic activity of neutrophils. By exhibiting enhanced metabolic activity, neutrophils in the COPD patients are more likely to be involved in damaging lung tissues.
