Insulin infusion responses in diabetic ketoacidosis alone and with a mixed hypochloremic alkalosis.

AIMS: Although diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) commonly presents as a pure diabetic ketoacidosis (PDKA), up to 30% of cases may be associated with a mixed hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis (HMA). It is unknown whether there is a difference in treatment outcomes between these two entities. We evaluated an insulin infusion protocol (IIP), previously validated for hyperglycemia management in ICU's, for the management of PDKA and HMA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective case series/cohort study of 41 DKA admissions was further characterized as having PDKA or HMA. HMA was defined in those having an elevated delta-delta gradient (ΔAG-ΔHCO3) ≥ 5 mmol/L and base excess chloride (BECl) > 2.7 mmol/L. The main outcome measures were times to recovery of glucose levels to ≤250 mg/dL and of anion gap to ≤12 mmol/L. RESULTS: The initial serum glucose was 553 ±â€¯265 mg/dL, serum bicarbonate of 8.8 ±â€¯5.1 mmol/L, and venous pH 7.13 ±â€¯0.2). Recovery of glucose occurred in 5 h: 25 min (±3 h:39min), and for anion gap in 11 h:25 min (±6 h:56min). HMA compared with PDKA had a delayed recovery of serum glucose (7 h: 23min ±â€¯3 h: 35min vs. 4 h: 31min ±â€¯3:h:21min, p = 0.017), which was due to the higher initial level of glucose (p = 0.02) rather than level of BECl (p = 0.17). There was no difference in time to anion gap closure between the PDKA and HMA. CONCLUSIONS: Correction of hyperglycemia and acidosis in PDKA as well as in HMA was managed through the IIP. The simultaneous fluid and electrolyte management corrected the hypochloremic alkalosis.

Intra-articular Adjuvant Analgesics following Knee Arthroscopy: Comparison between Single and Double Dose Dexmedetomidine and Ropivacaine A Multicenter Prospective Double-blind Trial.

OBJECTIVE: Knee arthroscopy is a commonly performed orthopedic procedure. Post-operatively, adequate pain relief reduces the surgical stress response and patient's morbidity and facilitates rehabilitation. The analgesic effect of dexmedetomidine (2 µg/kg body weight) as an adjunct to ropivacaine in knee arthroscopic knee procedures was studied to determine whether this would achieve longer post-operative analgesia and whether the study dosage of dexmedetomidine was safe and free of adverse effects. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a multicenter prospective double blind trial of sixty patients undergoing knee arthroscopic procedures, patients were randomly assigned to three groups: Group R, receiving intra-articular ropivacaine (20 mL); Group D1 (18 mL ropivacaine, dexmedetomidine 1 µg/kg body weight); and Group D2 (18 mL ropivacaine, dexmedetomidine 2 µg/kg). RESULTS: Group D2 had significantly lower pain scores for the first 12 postoperative hours than Group D1 and Group R. Time to first analgesic requirement was longest in Group D2 (757.30 ± 207.68 min), followed by Group D1 (433.2 ± 54.3 min) and Group R (311.80 ± 61.56 min); these differences were significant (P < 0.05). Total analgesic requirement was significantly lower in Group D2 (82.50 ± 48.05 mg; P < 0.05). Intensity of pain was significantly less in Group D2 in the third (P < 0.01) and sixth hours (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Intra-articular dexmedetomidine (2 µg/kg) has superior analgesic efficacy, delayed the first postoperative requirement for analgesia and decreasing the need for postoperative analgesics with no major adverse effects.

Comparative study of ezetimibe and atorvastatin alone and in combination on lipid profile in rats.

INTRODUCTION: Coronary heart disease and hyperlipidemia is a global problem in today's world. A large number of people suffer from hypertension, atherosclerosis and all these has strong association with the hyperlipidemia. There are many drugs for the treatment of hyperlipidemia, but statins are most commonly used. But, with high dose of statins, the side effect is also there which restricts its use in high dose. Ezetimibe is a comparatively new drug for the treatment of hyperlipidemia having lesser adverse effect as compared to statin. This study has been planned to find out the comparative efficacy of Ezetimibe and Atorvastatin alone and in combination on the lipid profile in rats. METHODOLOGY: This study was conducted in SCB Medical College, Cuttack. 60 rats were fed on atherogenic diet. These were divided in six groups having ten rats in each group and followed for 12 weeks. Group I received only atherogenic diet. All other groups received drugs after four weeks. Group II received Ezetimibe 1mg/kg, Group III received Ezetimibe 2mg/kg, Group IV received Atorvastatin 4mg/kg, Group V received Atorvastatin 8mg/kg and Group VI received Atorvastatin 4mg/kg and Ezetimibe 1mg/kg. Blood lipid profile measured at zero week, four weeks and 12 weeks. RESULTS: All the lipid profile parameters improved significantly with treatment groups as compared with control group. There was no significant difference in the level of different lipid parameters between Group V (Atorvastatin 8mg/kg) and Group VI (Atorvastatin 4mg/kg and Ezetimibe 1mg/kg). CONCLUSION: High dose of Atorvastatin is associated with more adverse effect. The efficacy of high dose of Atorvastatin is comparable to combination of low dose Atorvastatin with Ezetimibe. This combination has lesser side effects. So, this can be a good alternative.