RESUMO
Background: Medical students are affected both psychologically and physically due to the change in environment for most from home to the hostel and the extensive undergraduate curriculum. This study was undertaken to assess psychological distress and measure surrogate markers of the physical health risk score in a medical college in South India. Methods: The study group included three batches of medical students, from first to third year. Along with anthropometric measurements and a questionnaire on personal history, the Indian Diabetic Risk Score (IDRS), and the Kessler's psychological distress scale based on K10 questions were applied and assessed for each participant. Results: There were gender differences in the association of IDRS with physical activity, Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist Hip Ratio (WHR), and sleep. More than one-third of medical students had various psychological distress grades (40%) and were at risk of developing diabetes (36.7%). There was a significant difference in the K10 scores (p = 0.000) among the three groups, with the first-year students showing maximum psychological distress. Conclusions: A large number of medical students undergo psychological distress and also are at risk for developing Diabetes Mellitus. Long-term cohort studies are needed to assess the effect of such stress on medical students.
RESUMO
Introduction. Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is a nonselective nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor associated with cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. ADMA plays an important role in the regulation of vascular tone by acting as an endogenous inhibitor of NO synthesis. Objectives. This study aimed to investigate ADMA with respect to diabetes and its clinical relevance as an independent predictor of CAD (Coronary Artery Disease). Methodology. The present case control study includes two hundred and forty patients selected randomly. Serum ADMA was analyzed by using enzyme immunoassay for the quantitative determination of endogenous ADMA, and serum nitric oxide was estimated by the method of Cortes. Results. Elevated NO level levels was a strong predictor and significantly (t: 9.86, P < 0.001) associated with occurrence of CAD. Increased ADMA level was found to be another strong predictor and associated significantly (t: 8.02, P < 0.001) with CAD. On intra group analysis, the relationship between ADMA and NO in diseased group, is significant negative correlation (r = -0.743). P (0.001) was found between ADMA and NO. Conclusion. ADMA level was found to be one of the strong predictors for CAD. ADMA is an emerging independent risk marker for future CVD (cardiovascular disease) events.