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Accurate diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis is largely based on sputum smear microscopy, culture, and GeneXpert MTB/RIF tests; culture being the gold standard. All these diagnostic tests require sputum sample to be positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, while many active TB patients often do not present with M. tuberculosis positive sputum. Biochemical markers play an important role in early diagnosis, disease prevention, and drug response in tuberculosis. This study aims to find the association of serum adenosine deaminase (a biomarker) with the various microbiological parameters like sputum smear microscopy, culture and CBNAAT in pulmonary tuberculosis patients. A total of 40 cases were collected from November 2019 to October 2021, and the presumptive cases of pulmonary tuberculosis diagnosed by Ziehl-Neelsen staining for acid fast bacilli and/or CBNAAT were recruited. Serum adenosine deaminase levels were estimated.The following variables were significantly associated (p < 0.05) with serum adenosine deaminase levels: age, sputum smear microscopy findings, time to culture positivity, CBNAAT category and Ct value (Mean).This study does witness few significant correlations between serum adenosine deaminase levels and various microbiological parameters used in diagnosis of TB, which can be further explored and utilised in diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis.
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AIM: The second wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic adversely affected an individual's physical and psychological well-being. Events such as nationwide lockdown, isolation, social distancing, loss of jobs, and mortality among close contacts and the neighborhood had a dreadful impact on the psychological well-being of the population. At the time of conducting the present study, limited literature was available on the psychosocial manifestations of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in the Indian population. Hence, the present study was conducted to find out the association between depression, anxiety, stress, and quality of life with inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), D-dimer, serum ferritin, procalcitonin (PCT) in SARS-CoV-2 patients during admission and follow-up in a tertiary care hospital. METHODS: This was an observational analytical study conducted during the second wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic at a designated COVID-19 tertiary care hospital in New Delhi, India. Guidelines provided by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; the Government of India, were used for deciding hospital admissions. Sixty patients, confirmed positive by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for SARS-CoV-2, aged 18-60 years, were recruited for this study. All study subjects were screened by a rating scale for which the Hindi version of the 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) questionnaire was employed, and the Hindi version of the 26-item World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) was used to assess the quality of life. Special investigations like CRP, IL-6, D-dimer, serum ferritin, and PCT were sent on day one of admission. RESULTS: The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress was 63.3%, 85%, and 26.7%, respectively. The mean D-dimer level was found to be 957.32 ± 650.91 ng/ml, mean pro-calcitonin level was 1.04 ± 1.47 ng/ml, mean serum ferritin level was 722.24 ± 486.75 µg/L, mean CRP level was 65.36 ± 35.12 mg/L, and mean IL-6 level was 62.79 ± 49.05 pg/ml. The average score for the physical domain of the WHOQOL-BREF on days 7, 14, and 28 were 66.23, 77.43, and 82.18, respectively. The average score for the psychological domain on days 7, 14, and 28 were 73.93, 78.33, and 86.21, respectively. The average score for social domain on days 7, 14, and 28 were 82.63, 86.38, and 89.73, respectively. The average score for the environmental domain on days 7, 14, and 28 were 78.33, 88.78, and 90.98, respectively. The prevalence and severity of depression were significantly associated with D-dimer, CRP, ferritin, PCT, and Interleukin-6 (p<0.05). The prevalence and severity of anxiety were significantly associated with PCT, IL-6, and CRP (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: SARS-CoV-2 infection adversely affected our study population's mental well-being. An increased prevalence of psychosocial manifestations like depression, anxiety, and stress was noted in participants. We also concluded that increased levels of inflammatory markers (CRP, IL-6, PCT, D-dimer, and serum ferritin) were associated with increased prevalence of psychiatric manifestations like depression.
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AIM: Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a global public health problem. Physicians fail to clearly interpret cycle threshold (Ct) values as a measure of mycobacterial burden due to the paucity of literature correlating Ct values with the clinical scoring. This study aims to correlate the clinical scoring parameters (Bandim TB score and Karnofsky Performance score (KPS)) with Ct values obtained by Cartridge-Based Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (CBNAAT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study spanned from November 2019 to October 2021, during which a total of 40 cases were recruited. These cases were identified as pulmonary TB patients based on Ziehl-Neelsen staining for acid-fast bacilli and/or the GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay. Bandim TB scores and KPSs were recorded using standardized questionnaires. RESULTS: There was a strong negative correlation between Bandim TB score and Ct value (mean), and this correlation was statistically significant (rho = -0.82, p < 0.001). There was a moderate positive correlation between KPS and Ct value (mean), and this correlation was statistically significant (rho = 0.57, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: No literature has compared Bandim TB score and KPS with the Ct values obtained by CBNAAT for pulmonary TB. Thus, the knowledge on the proper utilization of CBNAAT cycle threshold values and its correlation with clinical scoring parameters will help clinicians in the early identification and prompt initiation of appropriate treatment.
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Background: With the impending threat of future COVID-19 waves, it is imperative that teaching hospitals develop, implement, and evaluate a systematic training program to render HCW elastic in delivering COVID-19 related services. We present our experience in developing, implementing, and evaluating a sustainable and scalable COVID-19 patient management training package for healthcare workers. Materials and Methods: A mixed-methods study design was used. Rapid assessment to understand the need of the trainees and identify the available resources was done followed by planning of the training module and its implementation. The program was evaluated for effectiveness and sustainability. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics and qualitative data generated from open-ended questions in the feedback forms and the discussions were analyzed using rapid content analysis. Results: A total of 66.8% of the doctors and 18.9% of the nurses were trained by online synchronous mode while 55.0% of the nursing officers and 47.1% of the nursing orderlies and paramedical staff were trained in onsite skill development sessions. Need assessment identified that healthcare workers were ill-prepared to use medical devices such as Bipap machines, ventilators, and oxygen delivery devices. The participants mentioned that the multidisciplinary approach and video-based demonstrations facilitated their online learning while the incremental learning approach, easy-to-understand terminology and hands-on experience facilitated their onsite skill development sessions. Conclusion: The COVID-19 training package developed was multidisciplinary, effective, sustainable, and scalable in a resource-limited setting. We suggest that this model can be adapted by healthcare organizations to develop and implement such training packages for their healthcare workers.
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Our was an observational follow-up study where the aim was to assess the baseline high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels in 50 smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients in association with socio-clinico-radiological profile and microbiological conversion. Smear and culture conversion of sputum samples at the end of intensive phase of anti-tubercular treatment were recorded. Baseline serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein estimation was done by ELISA. Mean high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels at baseline, smear/culture converted and delayed converters were 68.1 ± 22.2 mg/l, 66.7 ± 22.0 mg/l and 91.6 ± 6.7 mg/l, respectively; high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels were significantly higher in delayed converters as compared to sputum converters. Significantly higher baseline high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels were seen in patients with bilateral chest X-ray lesions, cavitations, evening rise of temperature, haemoptysis and dyspnoea as compared to those without these features. high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, being a non-specific inflammatory marker could be an adjunct tool for TB prognosis.
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Mycobacterium tuberculosis , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary , Antitubercular Agents/therapeutic use , C-Reactive Protein , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Sputum/microbiology , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/diagnostic imaging , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/drug therapyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare inflammatory biomarkers (high-sensitivity {hs} C-reactive protein, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio) and psychological morbidity in suicide attempt survivors. METHODS: One hundred ninety-eight poisoning cases screened, 40 age-matched suicide attempt survivors (SAS), 40 healthy controls (HC) between the age of 18 years and 60 years were included. Complete hemogram, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), hsCRP values obtained, compared with Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), suicide intent scale, presumptive stressful life events scale (PSLES), general health questionnaire 12-item (GHQ-12) (Hindi version), and Hindi Mental State Examination (HMSE). RESULTS: A statistically significant difference was observed in hsCRP (p=0.016) and NLR (p=0.029) of depressed-suicidal participants vs healthy controls. hsCRP values of anxious-suicidal subjects vs healthy controls showed a statistically significant difference (p=0.001). There was a statistically significant difference between patients, healthy controls in HADS anxiety and HADS depression mean scores (p<0.001). The PSLES items were ranked according to the mean stress scores of all the items (mean±SD), highest four were excessive alcohol use by the family member 47.50 (±27.03), conflicts with in-laws 50 (±27.73), family conflict 50 (±29.42), marital conflict 50.63 (±32.76). There was a statistically significant difference in hemoglobin (p<0.001), red blood cells count (p<0.001), hematocrit (p<0.001) between suicide attempt survivors and healthy controls. CONCLUSION: Both hsCRP and NLR have emerged as potential inflammatory biomarkers for depressive patients with suicidal attempts. Additionally, there may be a link between anemia and suicide risk in patients with depression.
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BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology. IL-10 stimulates B cell survival and is involved in antibody isotype switching. The serum IL-10 levels are increased in RA patients. Ethnicity influences polymorphisms in cytokine genes. Therefore, this study was designed to explore possible association, if any, between polymorphism of IL10-1082 A/G, serum cytokine levels, inflammatory markers and gene expression in RA patients of North India. METHODOLOGY: A total of 187 RA patients classified according to American college of rheumatology 2010 criteria and 214 controls were included in the study. Levels of serum IL-10 and inflammatory markers were estimated by ELISA. PCR-RFLP was used to analyze IL10-1082 A/G polymorphism. Quantitative real time PCR was used to measure the mRNA expression of IL-10 gene. RESULTS: The serum inflammatory markers were significantly higher in RA patients. Circulating IL-10 levels were positively and significantly correlated with RF (râ¯=â¯0.28), anti-CCP (râ¯=â¯0.26), CRP (râ¯=â¯0.17) and mRNA expression levels (râ¯=â¯0.59) among RA patients. Homozygous mutant variant (GG) and heterozygous mutant variant (AG) were associated with patients of RA (ORâ¯=â¯2.87 and 1.55, pâ¯<â¯0.05) as compared to controls. The association still persisted when the heterozygous and homozygous mutants (AGâ¯+â¯GG) were clubbed together (ORâ¯=â¯1.67, pâ¯<â¯0.05). The mRNA expression of IL-10 was found to be 3.63 folds higher (housekeeping gene, ß-actin) and 2.42 folds higher (housekeeping gene, 18S rRNA) in RA patients as compared to controls. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that IL10-1082 A/G polymorphism is associated with genetic susceptibility/predisposition to RA in North Indian population.
Subject(s)
Arthritis, Rheumatoid , Gene Expression Regulation , Gene Frequency , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Interleukin-10 , Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length , RNA, Messenger , Adult , Arthritis, Rheumatoid/genetics , Arthritis, Rheumatoid/metabolism , Female , Humans , India , Interleukin-10/biosynthesis , Interleukin-10/genetics , Male , Middle Aged , RNA, Messenger/biosynthesis , RNA, Messenger/genetics , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain ReactionABSTRACT
The proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1beta (IL-1ß) is a key mediator of inflammation which affects cell proliferation and differentiation. IL-1ß is considered to contribute to the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Polymorphisms in cytokine genes are highly influenced by ethnicity. Hence, in this study polymorphism of the IL1B-511(C/T) within promoter region was analyzed by using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in 187 RA patients and 214 controls. The prevalence of different genotypes and allelic frequency distribution was compared in RA patients and controls. Levels of inflammatory markers and serum levels of IL-1ß were estimated by ELISA The serum inflammatory markers levels were significantly higher in RA patients as compared to controls (RF=127.3±21.3U/mL, Anti-CCP=17.8±8.3U/mL, CRP=17.86±7.1mg/L and IL-1ß=21.25±4.19pg/mL in RA patients p<0.01). The frequency of heterozygous mutant (C/T) and homozygous mutant (T/T) variants were significantly higher in RA patients as compared to controls and the odds ratios by logistic regression were (OR=2.2, p<0.001) and (OR=3.21, p<0.01) respectively. The association persisted on combining the heterozygous mutant and homozygous mutant (CT+TT) together as compared to controls (OR=2.39; p<0.001). Positive and significant (p<0.05) correlation of circulating IL-1ß levels with RF (r=0.232), anti-CCP (r=0.207) and CRP (r=0.166) among RA patients were found. The levels of anti-CCP were significantly higher in homozygous mutant variants (TT) as well as the heterozygous mutant variants (C/T) in comparison to the wild variants (CC) (p<0.01). The results of this study reveal that mutant allele (T) of IL1B-511 promoter SNP tends to be associated with elevated anti-CCP and IL-1ß levels as observed in RA patients and hence disease susceptibility.
Subject(s)
Anti-Citrullinated Protein Antibodies/blood , Arthritis, Rheumatoid/genetics , Genetic Predisposition to Disease/genetics , Interleukin-1beta/blood , Interleukin-1beta/genetics , Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics , Adult , Autoantibodies/blood , Biomarkers/blood , Case-Control Studies , Female , Gene Frequency/genetics , Humans , India , Inflammation/genetics , Interleukin-1beta/metabolism , Male , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length , Polymorphism, Single NucleotideABSTRACT
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a severely disabling chronic autoimmune disorder that leads to progressive inflammation of the joints and surrounding tissues. TNF-α, a potent proinflammatory cytokine, plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of RA. The endogenous formation of TNF-α may be influenced by TNF-α promoter polymorphisms. Hence, the present study was designed to explore any possible association between genetic polymorphism of TNF-α -308 G/A, messenger RNA (mRNA) expression, serum levels of TNF-α, and inflammatory markers in North Indian RA patients. A total of 214 controls and 187 RA patients were recruited according to the revised American College of Rheumatology 2010 criteria. TNF-α -308 G/A genetic polymorphism within promoter region was analyzed by using PCR-RFLP. Levels of inflammatory markers and serum TNF-α were estimated by ELISA. The mRNA expression of TNF-α gene was measured by quantitative real-time PCR. Higher levels of autoantibodies (RF and anti-CCP) were present in RA patients as compared to controls. We found a positive and significant correlation of circulating TNF-α levels with RF (r = 0.18), anti-CCP (r = 0.16), and mRNA expression of TNF-α gene (r = 0.57) in RA patients. The mRNA expression levels of TNF-α was 4.5-fold higher in patients with RA as compared to controls. The heterozygous mutant variants (G/A) and homozygous mutant variants (A/A) were found to be significantly associated with RA as compared to control (OR = 1.52 and 3.02, respectively). Our observations illustrated a significant association of allele -308 A TNF-α with progression of RA. Significant and positive correlation of TNF-α levels with mRNA expression and inflammatory marker levels suggests that serum TNF-α may be a susceptibility marker for RA.
Subject(s)
Arthritis, Rheumatoid/genetics , Polymorphism, Genetic , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/blood , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/genetics , Adult , Alleles , Autoantibodies/blood , Biomarkers/blood , Case-Control Studies , Cytokines/blood , Female , Genetic Markers , Genotype , Humans , India , Inflammation , Male , Middle Aged , Odds Ratio , Promoter Regions, Genetic , RNA, Messenger/blood , RNA, Messenger/geneticsABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Until newer, rapid, economical tools are introduced for diagnosis of Pulmonary Tuberculosis in resource limited settings, optimization of sputum smear examination for increasing case detection remains of utmost priority. The aim of the study was to detect presumptive TB patients using Front Loading sputum microscopy and compare it with Standard method. METHODS: Three sputum specimens (Spot 1- on spot at the time of first visit, Spot 2- one hour after Spot 1 and early morning-next day early morning sample) from 552 TB suspect cases were collected. Zeihl Neelsen staining (spot 1, spot 2 and early morning respectively) and microscopy by Front Loading (spot 1, spot 2) and Standard method (spot 1, early morning) of sputum microscopy were done. RESULTS: Culture on LJ media being the gold standard, the sensitivity and specificity of the Front Loading and the Standard method of sputum microscopy were 68.65%, 94.43% and 70.14%, 93.6% respectively. The difference between two methods was not statistically significant. 91.1% patients gave preference for same day sampling process. CONCLUSION: The sensitivity and specificity of sputum microscopy using an early morning sample followed by another sputum one hour later from the same day appears not to be inferior to using two early morning samples on subsequent days. The Front Loading sputum microscopy can be implemented in DOTS clinic on the day of first visit of patients to health care center to increase compliance of patients with diagnostic procedure and decrease drop-outs.
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INTRODUCTION: Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are endocrinal disruptors that tend to accumulate in adipose tissue and have been found to be associated with Metabolic Syndrome (MS). AIM AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To measure serum OCP levels in patients of MS and control subjects, 2. To identify differences, if any, in serum OCP levels, in patients with MS and control subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study was conducted in the Departments of Medicine and Biochemistry at University College of Medical Sciences (UCMS) and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital (GTBH), Delhi. Nine OCPs [α-HCH (Hexachlorocyclohexane), ß-HCH, g-HCH, α-endosulfan, ß-endosulfan, aldrin, dieldrin, p, p'-DDT (Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloro-ethane), and p, p'-DDE (Dichloro-diphenyl-dichloro-ethylene)] were studied. Fifty subjects ≥18 years with MS (study group) and 50 age and sex-matched controls were included in the study. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: (1) Persons having chronic occupational exposure to OCPs such as workers of pesticide factories, (2) Recent exposure to OCPs within 4 weeks. RESULTS: Levels of all nine OCPs were higher in cases as compared to controls. However, only the mean value of ß-HCH in cases (8.40 ± 8.64 ng/ml) was significantly (P < 0.001) higher as compared to controls (2.58 ± 2.34 ng/ml). After adjustment of confounding factors like age, sex, smoking, alcohol, and body mass index (BMI), only ß-HCH and aldrin levels were positively and significantly associated with the risk of having MS. Adjusted Odds Ratio (OR) was 1.34 [CI = 1.14-1.57 (P < 0.001)] and 1.23 [CI = 1.01-1.50 (P = 0.045)], respectively. CONCLUSION: There was a significant association of ß- HCH and aldrin levels with MS.
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INTRODUCTION: The conventionally used oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) has been the mainstay for diagnosis of diabetes and prediabetes. However, recent studies have indicated that a continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS) could detect impaired glycemia much earlier than OGTT, especially in certain groups. We aimed to study the 24-h glucose profile of high-risk obese first-degree relatives of type 2 diabetes patients by CGMS and ascertain if it was better than OGTT for early detection of type 2 diabetes. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: CGMS data of 20 subjects each in normal glucose tolerance (NGT), impaired fasting glucose (IFG), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and newly detected diabetes mellitus (NDDM) groups were obtained. We considered minimum, maximum, mean, and range of glucose levels as well as number, duration, and area under the curve (AUC) for excursions. RESULTS: We found three (15%) NGT, seven (35%) IFG, and eight (40%) IGT subjects showed excursions in the diabetes range, whereas 18 (90%) NGT and 17 (85%) pure IFG subjects showed excursions in the IGT range. The maximum glucose values for NGT and IFG subjects were 176.0±41.4 mg/dL and 186.5±39.3 mg/dL, respectively, which is much above the present 2-h OGTT cutoff limit of 140 mg/dL. However, the average number of excursions and AUC of excursions did not differ significantly among the NGT, IFG, and IGT groups. The differences in the duration of excursion between NGT subjects with IFG values and NGT subjects with IGT values were statistically significant for an excursion limit of 140 mg/dL. However, this did not differ significantly between the IFG and IGT groups. CONCLUSIONS: CGMS indicated the presence of significant dysglycemia in first-degree relatives of diabetes patients without diabetes who were centrally obese. Hence it could be useful for early identification of individuals at greater risk of diabetes. A deranged glycemic profile may precede onset of overt diabetes by a long time, which may partly explain why some patients with new-onset type 2 diabetes or even prediabetes present with vascular complications at the outset.
Subject(s)
Blood Glucose/metabolism , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/blood , Family , Glucose Intolerance/diagnosis , Monitoring, Physiologic/methods , Obesity/blood , Prediabetic State/blood , Analysis of Variance , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/epidemiology , Disease Susceptibility , Early Diagnosis , Female , Glucose Tolerance Test/methods , Humans , India/epidemiology , Insulin Resistance , Male , Obesity/epidemiology , Prediabetic State/epidemiology , Risk Assessment , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring provides a more reliable assessment of actual BP than office BP and is a more sensitive risk predictor of clinical cardiovascular outcomes. Recent international guidelines for hypertension have emphasised the usefulness of ambulatory BP for diagnosis and management of hypertension. We used ambulatory blood pressure monitoring to monitor the effect of the pharmacological treatment in patients with stage 1 or 2 hypertension. This was a multicentric randomised controlled trial having 360 subjects with 180 in each treatment arm. The duration of study was 6 months. The patients were randomly selected to receive atenolol or losartan as initial therapy. The dose of atenolol or losartan was 50 mg once daily at 8 am in the morning. Ambulatory BP assessment was done in a subgroup of subjects using Schiller BR-102 plus machine. One hundred and thirty patients were recruited for the study using ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. There were 66 patients in atenolol arm and 64 patients in the losartan arm. A significant white coat hypertension was noticed in both the arms. Out of 130 subjects in the ambulatory group, 41.53% had a white coat hypertension. Statistically significant reduction of office BP was observed with both atenolol and losartan; however, no significant difference in efficacy of the two drugs was found in reducing office BP. However, when using ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, the reduction with either drug was not significant. The dipper status was better in the atenolol group than the losartan group. Neither of the drugs prevent morning surge of BP when administered once daily in the morning. There was high prevalence of white coat hypertension in patients with stage 1 and stage 2 hypertension. There was similar reduction of systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure by the 2 study drugs. Atenolol scores over losartan in converting non-dipper to dipper but its' impact on clinical outcome is not known. Morning surge of BP was unaffected by either of the study drugs.
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Antihypertensive Agents/therapeutic use , Atenolol/therapeutic use , Hypertension/drug therapy , Losartan/therapeutic use , Adult , Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory , Double-Blind Method , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , White Coat Hypertension/epidemiologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Slum-resettlement communities are increasingly adopting urban lifestyles. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and identify correlates of hypertension among residents aged 20-59 years of a slum-resettlement colony. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was done from 2010 to 2012 in NandNagri, a slum-resettlement area in east Delhi. 310 participants aged 20-59 years were enrolled through multistage systematic random sampling. Each study subject was interviewed and examined for raised blood pressure; data on risk factors including smoking, alcohol intake, physical activity and salt consumption were also collected. Data were analysed by use of univariate and multivariate regression. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of hypertension was 17.4% and 35% participants were prehypertensive. On multiple logistic regression, age 40-49 years (P = 0.020) and 50-59 years (P = 0.012), clerical/professional occupation (P = 0.004), abnormal waist circumference (≥90 cm in males and ≥ 80 cm in females; P = 0.001), positive family history of hypertension in both parents (P = 0.013) and above-average daily salt intake (P = 0.000) were significantly associated with hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that hypertension is a significant health problem in the study population. Many study participants diagnosed with prehypertension are at risk of developing hypertension, thus immediate public-health interventions are indicated.
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BACKGROUND: There has been an alarming rise in the incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in India especially involving the age group of less than 45 years. In recent past, various studies focused on hemostatic aspects of CAD, but could not determine the significance of thrombophilic molecular marker in combination. The study was undertaken to investigate the association of thrombophilia related molecular markers in young patients with CAD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty diagnosed patients with CAD of either sex under 40 years were included. Thirty healthy age and sex matched control subjects without evidence of CAD formed the control group. Detailed history and clinical examination findings were recorded. In addition to routine investigations, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based molecular analysis for Factor V Leiden (FVL), methyltetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene, tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 (TNFR2) gene, and prothrombin gene mutation were carried out. RESULTS: The mean age (± SD) was 36.86 ± 3.90 years in the patients. Smoking was the most prevalent risk factor. FVL, MTHFR and TNFR2 gene mutation were seen in nine (30%) patient. Three patients had presence of more than one mutation. FVL, MTHFR and TNFR2 gene mutation was found in 4 (13.3%), 3 (10%), and 5 (16.6%) patients respectively. Prothrombin gene mutation was not seen in any of the subjects. There was no significant difference in lipid profile, fibrinogen levels and CRP among the patients with mutation and patients without mutation. CONCLUSION: Almost one-third of the cases were positive for the various mutations in the study and the presence of at-least one or the other risk factor adds on to the risk of future thrombosis. There is a need to demonstrate or document these mutations in a larger group further based upon ethnicity and geographic distribution.