Correlation of Serum Uric Acid and Lipid Profile in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes complication poses a new challenge in Nepal as the disease is becoming endemic. Identifying risk factor for diabetes can be an essential step in preventing complication related to diabetes. Abnormal Uric acid and lipid profile are the important risk indicators of diabetes mellitus complications, so the study was done to know the association between uric acid and lipid profile in type 2 diabetes. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was done from 118 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus visiting Nepal Medical College and Teaching Hospital. Three ml of venous blood was analyzed for fasting blood glucose, uric acid, and lipid profile. Correlational analysis was done between fasting blood glucose with triglycerides, high density lipoproteins and uric acid. RESULTS: A significant positive correlation between fasting blood glucose and triglyceride (r =.211, p = .022) was found in diabetic. There was significant negative correlation of fasting blood glucose with uric acid (r = -.196, p =.034) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (r = -.181, p = .049). Uric acid was also found to have significant positive correlation with triglyceride (r = .235, p = .010) and negative correlation with high density lipoprotein cholesterol (r = -.420, p = .000). CONCLUSIONS: Negative correlation of serum uric acid with fasting blood glucose and high-density lipoprotein and positive correlation with triglycerides suggests a possible connection of uric acid as a risk factor for diabetes.

Blood Lead Level among Children between 8-18 years of Age by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: Lead is naturally available toxic heavy metal which is one of the main causes of environmental pollution and produces detrimental effects on health, particularly young children. Lead toxicity has become an emerging global burden of disease varying with the age, socio-economic status, occupation, industrialization, social customs and behaviours. The objective of this study was to find out the baseline blood lead level among children between 8-18 years. METHODS: A descriptive study was conducted in Gokarneshwor Municipality, Kathmandu with a total of 160 children between 8-18 years of age from 2018 to 2019 after taking ethical approval from Research and Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: 17-074/075). Informed written consent was taken from the principal along with their respective parents and semi structured questionnaires were asked to students. Sample size was calculated and simple random sampling was done. The data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science version 16. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and descriptive statistics. RESULTS: The mean blood lead level of the children was 4.39±7.35 µg/dl. Mean hemoglobin being 12.63g/dl; out of 160 children 30 (18.75%) children had blood lead levels. Children with elevated blood lead level had mean haemoglobin level within normal range (13.05gm/dl), however out of 30 children, 8 (27%) had haemoglobin level below normal. CONCLUSIONS: Lead exposure in the children of urban area of Nepal is considerably high as compared to similar studies coducted in similar settings.

Product of serum calcium and phosphorus (Ca × PO4) as predictor of cardiovascular disease risk in predialysis patients.

OBJECTIVES: The mortality rate of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients is very high due to cardiovascular diseases (CVD) which cannot be fully justified by traditional CVD markers. Since, mineral bone disorder is common in CKD, product of serum calcium and phosphorus (Ca × PO4) can be a predictor of future CVD. So, our study aims to assess the utility of higher Ca × PO4 in prediction of CVD risk in predialysis CKD patients. DESIGN AND METHODS: 150 CKD patients defined by NKF-KDOQI guideline not undergoing dialysis were recruited. Anthropometric and electrocardiographic parameters were recorded. We evaluated CVD risk by: i) Biochemical CVD markers, ii) NCEP ATP III guideline postulated risk factors and iii) Framingham risk scores. RESULTS: Higher Ca × PO4 is associated with presence of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy, oxidative stress, microinflammation, hyperhomocysteinemia, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia and increased LDLc. Compared to cases with Ca × PO4 <55 mg2/dL2, cases with ≥55 mg2/dL2 had relative risk (RR) of 1.82 (95% CI 1.25-2.64) for CVD, 3.24 (95% CI 2.37-4.41) for stroke and 2.43 (95% CI 1.37-4.31) for coronary heart disease (CHD). Moreover, compared to lowest quartile of Ca x PO4, the highest quartile group had RR of 2.13 (95% CI 1.06-4.28) for CVD, 2.61(95% CI 1.80-3.75) for stroke and 2.84 (95% CI 1.15-7.0) for CHD. CONCLUSION: In predialysis patients, higher Ca × PO4 is independent predictor of CVD risk.