11ß Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase - 1 activity in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a comparative study.

BACKGROUND: A comparative study of 11 ß HSD 1 activity in type 2 diabetes mellitus subjects with respect to fasting blood glucose and other metabolic parameters was conducted. METHODS: A case control experimental study was performed enrolling thirty type 2 diabetes mellitus patients and thirty age, gender and BMI matched controls using cortisone acetate test. RESULTS: The rise of serum cortisol after oral 25 mg cortisone acetate from baseline (dexamethasone suppressed level) is higher in subjects with type 2 diabetes and is associated with exercise, BMI, SGOT but not daily calorie intake, lipid parameters and thyroid status. Fasting blood glucose after overnight 1 mg oral dexamethasone is a strong predictor of 11HSD1 activity, irrespective of presence of type 2 diabetes. CONCLUSION: 11ß HSD 1 activity is higher in type 2 diabetes mellitus subjects, especially those who are lean. Future 11 ß HSD 1 inhibitors targeting metabolic syndrome, will be most useful in those with increased fasting blood glucose. The role of DHEAS and vitamin D status needs to be explored.

Prediction of PM2.5 along urban highway corridor under mixed traffic conditions using CALINE4 model.

The present study deals with spatial-temporal distribution of PM2.5 along a highly trafficked national highway corridor (NH-2) in Delhi, India. Population residing in areas near roads and highways of high vehicular activities are exposed to high levels of PM2.5 resulting in various health issues. The spatial extent of PM2.5 has been assessed with the help of CALINE4 model. Various input parameters of the model were estimated and used to predict PM2.5 concentration along the selected highway corridor. The results indicated that there are many factors involved which affects the prediction of PM2.5 concentration by CALINE4 model. In fact, these factors either not considered by model or have little influence on model's prediction capabilities. Therefore, in the present study CALINE4 model performance was observed to be unsatisfactory for prediction of PM2.5 concentration.

Tale of two rare diseases.

Idiopathic Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH) phenotype is variable &various genes have been decribed in association with IHH. We describe association of IHH with mosaic trisomy 13. A 20 year old male presented with lack of development of secondary sexual characters, normal height, micropenis, small testes, gynaecomastia, absence of axillary and pubic hairs, hyposmia, synkinesis, bilateral horizontal nystagmus and high arched palate. Investigations showed low gonadotropin, low total testosterone, LH after stimulation with 100 mcg tryptorelin sc was 11.42 mU/mL at 40 min. MRI of hypothalamo-pituitary region showed normal olfactory bulb and tract but shallow olfactory sulcus. Karyotype showed homologous Robertsonian translocation of chromosome 13. This case fits classical IHH except for LH rise on stimulation. Features of Patau syndrome which is associated with trisomy 13 are absent in our case. Mosaic trisomy 13, which can otherwise be rare incidental finding, has not been described in association with IHH. Causal association of novel mutation on chromosome 13 leading to aforementioned phenotype cannot be rule out.

A study of the association of micro-albuminuria and C-reactive protein (CRP) in normotensive diabetic and hypertensive diabetic patients.

Diabetes mellitus and hypentension are known to increase markers of inflammation, ie, C-reactive protein (CRP), especially when they develop micro-albuminuria. A total of 60 patients (23 males and 37 females), all having diabetes mellitus, according to ADA criteria and micro-albuminuria in morning spot urine sample were recruited in the study. They were randomised into 2 groups, each comprising 30 patients. Group A comprised hypertensive and Group B normotensive individuals. CRP level was assessed in all patients by routine assay. CRP value of >3 mg/l was observed in 56.66% patients of group A and 23.33% patients of group B (p=0.018). So diabetic patients with micro-albuminuria had more frequent association with increased marker of inflammation in the hypertensive group compared to those without hypertension.