Australasian Medical Journal
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Prevalence of Diabetes in Haryana
No full textBackgroundDiabetes will pose a severe burden on the already fragile and under resourced health care system in India. As there is limited data available regarding prevalence of diabetes in northern India, the present study was undertaken to estimate the prevalence of diabetes mellitus and to study the association of risk factors in an urban population of Rohtak.Method A cross-sectional survey of 1000 eligible persons. A pre-tested semi-structured interview schedule was deployed.ResultsThe prevalence of diabetes in the study population was 8.1% which was higher in females (9.8%) as compared to males (6.1%). Results of impaired fasting glucose showed prevalence of pre diabetics to be 10.3% which was again higher in females (13.3%) as against 6.7% in males. 67% of pre-diabetic and 49.4% of diabetic have family history of diabetes mellitus in first degree relationship while 1.8% of non-diabetic had a family history of diabetes. prevalence of diabetes increased with increasing age up to 70 years. Moreover the prevalence of diabetes was high in two extremes of socio economic classes, being more in low socioeconomic class.ConclusionWe conclude that prevalence of diabetes in urban Haryana is lower than other states. Also the prevalence of diabetes is higher in females. Prevalence is influenced by age, education, occupation, socioeconomic status and marital status
Designed in Brazil
Get PDFBackgroundHealth design in Brazil has been characterized historically by replacing imported products with others that are locally manufactured on a small scale. In January 2007, the Health Design Group was created at the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development, a partnership between professors and scholars from the University of Sao Paulo. Aiming at documenting some important experiences on the Brazilian scene to provide historical and methodological subsidies for research, a survey was conducted to find the pioneer experiences that, using the technology available at the time they were developed, paved the way for the current research. Method Interviews and surveys in newspapers and journals were conducted with selection of some Brazilian experiences in design for health from the end of the 1950s till the early 2000s, along with its researchers.ResultsSeveral examples of design for health and historical documentation in Brazil are shown concerning the Brazilian Foundation for the Development of Science Teaching (FUNBEC), the Department of Bioengineering of the Heart Institute (InCor) of the University of Sao Paulo (USP) Medical School, the medical equipment at Rede Sarah, the Laboratory of Design and Materials Selection (LdSM) of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) in the field of craniofacial Orthopedics and some experiences of design are shown in the field of Ophthalmology.ConclusionWe emphasize the cross-disciplinary integration of subjects such as medicine, bioengineering and design in all the previously cited experiences. Based on these experiences and looking forward to implementing new research methods, some members of the Health Design Group are involved in the development of solutions for low vision people: first a high-power-high-optical-quality magnifying glass and secondly an innovative reading stand associated with a magnifying glass that has already been successfully tested in accordance with ethical standards by low vision patients. This experience in design of medical equipment has occurred in an interdisciplinary work with the implementation of bioethics in research
First Time Anterior Shoulder Dislocators
Get PDFBackgroundThere are a multitude of international studies that have considered the rates of redislocation and instability of shoulders managed non-operatively vs. operatively after first time anterior dislocation. Initial management has included no treatment, internal rotation sling immobiliser, external rotation brace and early or late stabilisation. The majority of those managed in internal rotation or with no support initially have had poor long term results. There are several small trials of the use of the External Rotation Brace that have shown promising results comparable to acute surgical stabilisation. The use of the External Rotation brace for first time anterior dislocators in the 15-40 years age group was initiated to attempt to reduce the rates of redislocation and instability without requiring surgical intervention.Method Consecutive patients that fit the selection criteria were selected and followed over time. A physiotherapy program was initiated early in the management and regular clinic reviews undertaken. 2 years post first time anterior dislocation, patients were reviewed subjectively and a Quick DASH score performed. They were asked to give an estimate of their recovery and report any redislocations, instability or subluxation.ResultsThere was 1 redislocation (3%) during this period in the 32 patients. The majority were functioning at predislocation levels at review and no surgical intervention for instability was required. Quick-Dash results were excellent, with a vast majority scoring less than 2/100 level of disability. Estimated recovery scores supported these findings with the majority of patients reporting 90-95% recovery compared with the unaffected side.ConclusionThe external rotation brace has proven to be an excellent alternative to early shoulder stabilisation for first time anterior dislocators in the 15-40 years age group
Foetus Papyraceous
Get PDFFetus papyraceous or compress is the compressed, mummified, parchment-like remains of a dead twin which is retained in-utero after intrauterine death in the second trimester. It is an uncommon finding. The incidence of fetus papyraceous is reported as 1 in 17,000 to 1 in 20,000 pregnancies. Incidence of fetus papyraceous in twin pregnancy is 1 in 184 to 1 in 200 pregnancies. A case of fetus papyraceous which was discovered following expulsion of a Twin at 17 weeks and 1 day of gestation with low lying placenta in a monochorionic monoamniotic twin pregnancy is reported here
Insulin Sensitivity, Liver Disease and Hypertension
No full textBackgroundNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease is present in 15-25% of the general population. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between insulin resistance and non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in essential hypertensive patients, according to the circadian blood pressure rhythm. Method A prospective pilot study was conducted at the regional outpatient Diagnosis and Treatment Center Cluj-Napoca, Romania. The study included mild to moderate hypertensive patients who had never been previously treated. Patients were divided into two groups according to the circadian (blood pressure) rhythm. Group I included dipper and Group II included hypertensive non-dipper patients. All patients underwent 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure (ABPM) monitoring and abdominal ultrasound, for the diagnosis of fatty liver disease. Plasma insulin and HOMA index (homeostatic model assessment) and the prevalence of NAFLD were measured. Thirty three patients were enrolled in the study, 14 of them in the dipper group and 19 in the non-dipper group. ResultsThe nondipper hypertensive patients, showed a statistically higher plasma insulin and HOMA index (