Evaluation of one touch horizon - a highly affordable glucose monitor

Background and Objective: Despite the growing evidence on the benefits of self-monitoring in diabetes, the use of these meters has been low in developing countries, particularly India. Cost seems to be the major constraint. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the accuracy of One Touch HORIZON an affordable glucose meter with laboratory assessment of blood glucose. Methods: 100 subjects with diabetes over the age of 18 years were recruited from the MV Diabetes Specialities Centre, Chennai. All the study subjects had their fasting blood tested for glucose in One Touch HORIZON by finger prick. Fasting blood glucose was also assessed in YSI 2300 STATPLUS (Yellow Springs Instruments, Ohio, USA) glucose analyzer. The Parke's Error Grid model was used to assess the accuracy of the meter against YSI plasma glucose values. Results: Of the total 100 study subjects, 97 were Type 2 diabetic subjects and three were Type 1 diabetic subjects. 62% of the study subjects were males. 89% did not perform SMBG and only 2% of the diabetic subjects performed SMBG daily. The Parke's Error Grid analysis revealed 97% of results to be in Zone A when patient performed the test, 99 - 100% in Zone A when clinical staff performed the test indicating excellent accuracy and precision. Conclusion: One Touch HORIZON meter is an affordable meter with good accuracy and precision, specifically designed to cater to the needs of diabetic patients in developing countries

Effect of essentiale in diabetic subjects with non-alcoholic fatty liver

Nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) has been reported to be common among subjects with diabetes. However, there are not much therapeutic options for NAFL. In this open labeled clinical trial we studied the effect of Essentiale in diabetic subjects with NAFL. Twenty-eight type 2 diabetic patients attending the out-patient division of M.V. Diabetes Specialities Centre, Chennai and satisfying the inclusion criteria were recruited for the study. High resolution B mode ultrasonography was carried out for diagnosis of NAFL. Liver function markers [Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and Gamma Glutamyl transferase (GGT)] were measured. 22 out of the 28 patients (78.5%) were available for follow up. The mean age of the study subjects was 41±8 years and 50% were males. A significant reduction in all the liver enzymes were observed after Essentiale treatment (baseline vs. six months after treatment: ALT: 54.5± 29.6 IU/L vs. 37.1±18.7 IU/L, p< 0.05, AST: 38.0±18.0 IU/L vs. 27.6±12.4 IU/L, p< 0.05, GGT: 38.7±27.5 IU/L vs. 29.6±13.8 IU/L, p< 0.05). Ultrasound studies revealed that the hepatic echotexture improved after Essentiale treatment in 12/22 (54.5%) of the study subjects, while there was no change in 9/22 (40.9%), and it worsened in only one patient (4.5%). The study results suggest that Essentiale protects and improves liver function in diabetic subjects with NAFL. Prospective, blinded clinical trials are required to confirm these findings

Antioxidant Properties of Papayasayanam Extract of Carica papaya Stem Straw

Medicinal plants used in the traditional medicine are well-known significant sources of natural antioxidants. Antioxidants are compounds which inhibit the oxidation and in general prolong the life of the oxidizable matter. Majority of the diseases are predominantly linked to oxidative stress due to free radicals. The free radicals are species with very short half-life, high reactivity and damaging activity towards macromolecules like proteins, DNA and lipids. The present study was aimed to evaluate the antioxidant properties of Papayasayanam extract of Carica papaya stem straw. The results of the present research has showed that the Papayasayanam extract of Carica papaya stem straw has highest hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity and reducing power activity when compared to control Ascorbic acid. So, these results indicated that the Papayasayanam extract of Carica papaya stem straw exhibited free radical scavenging activity against hydrogen peroxide and reducing power. Therefore, the papayasayanam extract of Carica papaya stem straw could be a potential source of natural remediates that would have great importance as therapeutic agents. Keywords: Medicinal plants, Carica papaya, Therapeutic agents and Natural remediates

Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern of Uropathogenic Bacteria in RMMC Hospital of Chidambaram

Background: In every year millions of people were affected by the Urinary Tract Infection. It was creating a serious health issue. Aim: The present study was to analysis of the uropathogenic bacteria in patients were attended RMMC Hospital and their antibiotic resistance pattern, in vitro detection of haemolysis virulent factor of uropathogenic. Material and Methods: All urine samples were tested by the standard microbiological procedure. Kirby-Bauer method used for the Antibiotic Susceptibility Test according to the CLSI guidelines. Commercially available antibiotics were used. Blood Agar used for the detection of haemolysis. Results: A total of 261 urine samples were included in this study. We isolated a total of 103 positive cultures. 12% of Gram-positive, 83% of Gram-negative bacteria and 3% of Candida fungi. Escherichia coli was the most predominant bacteria (54%) followed by Klebsiella sp (15%), Staphylococcus aureus (12%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (12%), Proteus (1%) and fungi Candida (3%). Mostly female patients’ sample were analysed and the inpatient higher majority than the outpatients. Conclusion: Escherichia coli are the common bacteria to cause of UTI. Nowadays most of the uropathogens are to resistance to the overall antibiotics. This kind of reactions creating the life-threatening of humans. Keywords: Antibiotic, Antibiotic Susceptibility Test, Uropathogens, Resistance, Haemolysi

Cluster randomised controlled trial of a peer-led lifestyle intervention program: study protocol for the Kerala diabetes prevention program.

BACKGROUND: India currently has more than 60 million people with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and this is predicted to increase by nearly two-thirds by 2030. While management of those with T2DM is important, preventing or delaying the onset of the disease, especially in those individuals at 'high risk' of developing T2DM, is urgently needed, particularly in resource-constrained settings. This paper describes the protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial of a peer-led lifestyle intervention program to prevent diabetes in Kerala, India. METHODS/DESIGN: A total of 60 polling booths are randomised to the intervention arm or control arm in rural Kerala, India. Data collection is conducted in two steps. Step 1 (Home screening): Participants aged 30-60 years are administered a screening questionnaire. Those having no history of T2DM and other chronic illnesses with an Indian Diabetes Risk Score value of ≥60 are invited to attend a mobile clinic (Step 2). At the mobile clinic, participants complete questionnaires, undergo physical measurements, and provide blood samples for biochemical analysis. Participants identified with T2DM at Step 2 are excluded from further study participation. Participants in the control arm are provided with a health education booklet containing information on symptoms, complications, and risk factors of T2DM with the recommended levels for primary prevention. Participants in the intervention arm receive: (1) eleven peer-led small group sessions to motivate, guide and support in planning, initiation and maintenance of lifestyle changes; (2) two diabetes prevention education sessions led by experts to raise awareness on T2DM risk factors, prevention and management; (3) a participant handbook containing information primarily on peer support and its role in assisting with lifestyle modification; (4) a participant workbook to guide self-monitoring of lifestyle behaviours, goal setting and goal review; (5) the health education booklet that is given to the control arm. Follow-up assessments are conducted at 12 and 24 months. The primary outcome is incidence of T2DM. Secondary outcomes include behavioural, psychosocial, clinical, and biochemical measures. An economic evaluation is planned. DISCUSSION: Results from this trial will contribute to improved policy and practice regarding lifestyle intervention programs to prevent diabetes in India and other resource-constrained settings. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12611000262909

Webometrics benefitting from web mining? An investigation of methods and applications of two research fields

Webometrics and web mining are two fields where research is focused on quantitative analyses of the web. This literature review outlines definitions of the fields, and then focuses on their methods and applications. It also discusses the potential of closer contact and collaboration between them. A key difference between the fields is that webometrics has focused on exploratory studies, whereas web mining has been dominated by studies focusing on development of methods and algorithms. Differences in type of data can also be seen, with webometrics more focused on analyses of the structure of the web and web mining more focused on web content and usage, even though both fields have been embracing the possibilities of user generated content. It is concluded that research problems where big data is needed can benefit from collaboration between webometricians, with their tradition of exploratory studies, and web miners, with their tradition of developing methods and algorithms