Frequency of gestational diabetes mellitus and associated risk factors amongst women attending antenatal clinic at a tertiary care hospital of West Bengal, India

Background: Women with gestational diabetes are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. This study was conducted to evaluate prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus and associated risk factors amongst women attending antenatal clinic of a tertiary care hospital of west Bengal, India. Methods: Universal screening for gestational diabetes mellitus was done in 215 women with estimated gestational age between 24 weeks to 28 weeks. They were requested to drink 75 gram of glucose dissolved 300 ml of water irrespective of their last meal. Gestational diabetes mellitus was diagnosed if 2 hour plasma glucose value was ≥ 140 mg/dl. Relevant history was taken and associations with risk factors like age, parity, pregnancy body-mass index, bad obstetric history, family history of diabetes and history of previous macrosomia were analysed statistically. Results: This study found that prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus was 14.9%.Statistically significant association was found between glucose tolerance in pregnancy and maternal age, pregnancy body-mass-index, bad obstetric history, family history of diabetes and history of previous macrosomia. Conclusions: Prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus was 14.9% which can be considered alarming and its associations with risk factors were statistically significant

A study of peripheral neuropathy in cases of type-II diabetes mellitus patients with or without hypothyroidism

Background: Type 2 diabetic patients have a higher prevalence of thyroid disorders, particularly hypothyroidism.  Peripheral neuropathy is a common and disabling complication of diabetes mellitus. Peripheral nervous system involvement in hypothyroidism is also a well-documented fact. Nerve conduction studies are generally considered to be the most sensitive and reproducible in the assessment of peripheral neuropathies. This study helped to determine the prevalence of peripheral neuropathy in diabetic hypothyroid patients as well as to compare it in diabetic patients with or without hypothyroidism. It compared the onset latency, amplitude, conduction velocity and F- wave latency of some nerves in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with or without hypothyroidism.Methods: With RMS, EMG, EP MARK-II, nerve conduction studies are done in 30 cases (type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with hypothyroidism) and 30 controls (type 2 diabetes mellitus patients of diabetes without hypothyroidism) respectively, attending the Diabetic Clinic and Biochemistry Laboratory of North Bengal Medical College.Results: Data were treated with Unpaired t-Test. The study reveals that type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with hypothyroidism have higher prevalence of peripheral neuropathy. There is statistically significant (p<0.00) decrease in motor nerve conduction study in both right and left median nerves in diabetic patients with hypothyroidism than in diabetic patients without hypothyroidism.Conclusions: All diabetic patients should be screened for early detection of hypothyroidism as type 2 diabetic patients with hypothyroidism have higher prevalence of peripheral neuropathy. The nerve conduction study remains the most reliable, accurate, and sensitive method to evaluate peripheral nerve function

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF OXIDATIVE STRESS PARAMETERS IN HEPATITIS B VIRUS INFECTION & ALCOHOLIC HEPATITIS

Abstract The liver has a critical role in metabolism, digestion, detoxification and elimination of substances from the body. Hence in diseased conditions, the products of free radicals from the liver increase which results in further damage to the vital organs. This study is done to compare the oxidative stress parameters in hepatitis B virus infected patients and alcoholic hepatitis patients. The study included 150 individuals (39 females) aged 25-75years of which the Group A included   normal healthy volunteers; Group B consisted of alcoholic hepatitis patients and Group C included hepatitis B patients. When compared to control, Erythrocyte MDA was significantly high and erythrocyte GSH was significantly low in both Group B and Group C where as Plasma Ascorbic Acid level &amp; Serum α-Tocopherol were low in both the groups.  When group B and Group C were compared, MDA and GSH showed no significant difference (p&gt;0.05) while α-Tocopherol and ascorbic acid levels varied significantly (p&lt; 0.005).The liver enzymes were also significantly raised in both forms of Hepatitis, when compared to the control. The AST/ALT ratio was reversed (&gt;1) in Group B (Alcoholic Hepatitis) as compared to Group C (Hepatitis B) and normal individuals (&lt;1).  It is suggested that GSH, MDA in erythrocyte, Plasma Ascorbic Acid &amp; Serum α-Tocopherol can be made an effective tool in assessing the progression of the liver disease for timely intervention.   Key words: Alcoholic Hepatitis, Ascorbic Acid, α-Tocopherol, Glutathione (GSH), Hepatitis B virus infection, Malondialdehyde (MDA)

ASSOCIATION BETWEEN GAMMA GLUTAMYL TRANSFERASE AND METABOLIC SYNDROME IN YOUNG ADULTS IN EASTERN INDIA: AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Introduction: Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) are the principal hepatic enzymes in clinical laboratory setup. ALT and AST are elevated in various types of hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatic neoplasia. GGT is usually elevated in alcoholism. Recently, in some studies, the elevation of GGT has been observed in metabolic syndrome. Objective: To study the relationship of gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) with Metabolic Syndrome (MS) in a population. Materials and Methods: 91 MS patients and 94 age and sex matched control individuals were recruited into the study, after obtaining their voluntary informed consent. Serum GGT levels along with other biochemical parameters of all the participants were compared statistically Results: Serum GGT level was significantly higher in MS group than in non MS group (p = 0.007).Conclusion: MS contributed towards higher GGT level in our study population.Key words: Metabolic Syndrome (MS), Gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)