Subclinical right ventricular dysfunction in patients with asymptomatic type 2 diabetes mellitus: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Diabetic cardiomyopathy, which involves both the right and left ventricles, progresses from a preclinical stage to overt heart failure. Detection of this entity at a preclinical stage could be crucial in intervening to halt its progression to overt heart failure. There is a paucity of literature on subclinical RV dysfunction in diabetic patients, and it is even rarer in the Indian literature. Our study intended to study this clinical entity through an echocardiographic assessment of asymptomatic patients.

OBJECTIVES

This was a cross-sectional observational analytic study, comparing subclinical RV dysfunction in diabetic and non-diabetic subjects by using echocardiography as a primary objective, while the secondary objective of the study was to find out the correlation between RV dysfunction and the duration of diabetes mellitus and HbA1C levels.

METHODS

Conventional echocardiography with tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) was used to measure nine different echocardiographic parameters in the diabetic and non-diabetic groups. All probable causes of RV dysfunction were excluded before enrolling the patients in the study. Unpaired t-test was used to compare the parameters between the two groups, and multivariate regression analysis was done taking into consideration age, duration of diabetes, and HbA1C levels as the independent variables, and echocardiographic parameters as the dependent variables.

RESULTS

Out of the nine different echocardiographic parameters, Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), RV end diastolic diameter (RVEDD), Tricuspid peak late diastolic velocity (A), E/A ratio, RV basal segment peak myocardial systolic velocity (Sm), RV basal segment peak early diastolic velocity (Em), RV basal segment peak late diastolic velocity (Am), and E/Em ratio showed statistically significant differences between the two groups. These results show the presence of subclinical RV dysfunction in diabetic patients. TAPSE and E/A ratio showed a significant correlation with the duration of diabetes, while Em showed a significant correlation with HbA1C.

CONCLUSION

Diabetes mellitus is associated with subclinical systolic as well as diastolic RV dysfunction. In addition to helping identify people at high risk, the early recognition of RV dysfunction gives us a window of opportunity to take action and slow down the disease's course. This study emphasizes that the early identification of RV diastolic as well as systolic dysfunction in asymptomatic Type 2 diabetic patients can be a helpful tool in halting the progression of disease from subclinical to frank clinical cases, thereby preventing the morbidity and mortality associated with heart failure. Hence, it adds value to the pre-existing literature.

Predictability of Nailfold Capillaroscopic Score in Diagnosing Retinopathy in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and its Utility as a Non-Invasive Tool for Differentiating from those Not Having Retinopathy: A Pilot Observational Cross-Sectional Analytical Study

Background

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic hyperglycaemic state associated with microvascular structural alterations. Nailfold capillaroscopy (NFC) is an in vivo study of microvascular circulation.

Aims and Objectives

This study aimed to investigate the diameters of capillary loops and morpho-structural changes using a handheld dermatoscope in patients with type 2 DM (T2DM) with and without diabetic retinopathy (DR) and to establish nailfold capillary changes and NFC score as a non-invasive method to identify microvascular complication in T2DM patients.

Material and Methods

A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in AIIMS Rishikesh for 6 months from August 2022 to February 2023. Our study participants were 100 adults more than 18 years of age diagnosed with T2DM, based on the American Diabetes Association (ADA) criteria. All patients were evaluated thoroughly for the presence of microvascular complications in the form of retinopathy. Based on this, they were divided into two groups-group 1 (T2DM with retinopathy) and group 2 (T2DM without retinopathy). Both groups were further subdivided into three subgroups based on haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c): the first group with HbA1c <7%, the second group with HbA1c 7-8.9% and the third group with HbA1c >=9%. For all the study participants, a detailed NFC was done for all 8 fingernails (excluding the thumb), using a handheld dermatoscope. Abnormal capillary shapes (ACS) were recorded by semi-quantitative score (NFC score).

Results

A significant association was seen in capillary density (loops/mm) (5.83 ± 0.72 in the DR group and 6.3 ± 0.89 in the no-DR group) (P value = 0.005), capillary density (loops/3 mm) (P value = 0.005), total number of microhaemorrhages/3 mm (P value < .0001), total number of giant capillaries/3 mm (P value = 0.0004), total number of avascular areas/3 mm (P value = 0.0005), enlarged capillaries/3 mm (P value = 0.002), tortuous capillaries/3 mm (P value < .0001), abrogated/bushy capillaries/3 mm (P value = 0.004), number of fingers involved excluding the thumb (P value < .0001) and total nailfold capillaroscopic score (P value < .0001) between the two groups, one with DR and another without DR. Furthermore, the proportion of patients with abnormal nailfold capillaroscopic findings, abnormal NFC score, was significantly higher in patients with DR as compared to patients without DR (51.85% vs 4.35%, respectively) (P value < 0.0001).

Conclusion

Our results suggest that NFC could possibly be used as an adjunctive tool in diabetics for diagnosing or monitoring microvascular complications with total NFC score being the significant predictor of DR at a cut-off point of >0 with the area under the curve (AUC) of 0.745 for correctly predicting DR.

Clinical outcome of testosterone supplementation assessed by andropausal male symptom scores in type 2 diabetes testosterone-deficient patients receiving testosterone compared to those not receiving testosterone: A nested case-control study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

This study aimed to explore the proportion of andropause in male patients with type 2 diabetes using an aging male symptoms scale and assess the clinical outcome of testosterone supplementation in patients with deficient testosterone levels at a tertiary care hospital.

METHODS

Male patients with diabetes and total serum testosterone levels (≤12 nmol/L) were included in the study. Patients with testosterone supplementation, the standard of care among testosterone-deficient male patients, were included in the study (n = 35). Those not exposed to testosterone supplementation were considered controls (n = 35) and reassessed over 14 weeks for aging male symptom scores (AMS).

RESULTS

The prevalence of andropause among the participants was 11% (117/1057). Data was analyzed as per protocol analysis. Exposure group had a frequency of 25.80%, and 19.35% in moderate and severe symptoms of AMS scores. Non-exposure group had frequency of 26.66% and 23.34% in moderate and severe symptoms of AMS scores. A significant mean difference (t = -2.93, P-value <0.05) was noted between exposure and non-exposure to testosterone supplementation.

CONCLUSION

Results concluded that andropause is prevalent in patients with type 2 diabetes and low testosterone levels. Testosterone therapy affects aging andropausal symptoms such as the feeling of general well-being, joint pain and muscular ache, sleep problems, anxiety, and libido among patients with type 2 diabetes.

Hypoglycemia: Elucidating its circadian propensity and recovery time based on clinical parameters

BACKGROUND

Hypoglycemia is frequently associated with insulin therapy in diabetic patients; it leads to many short and long-term complications and even death if not addressed in time. This study was undertaken to observe the circadian propensity of hypoglycemia and its recovery time based on type 2 diabetes mellitus patients' clinical parameters.

METHODS

We included type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) hospitalized patients with the exclusion of patients suffering from critical illness. Data were collected for a period of three months (September to November 2019).

RESULTS

A total of 120 patients were included, comprising 60% males and 40% females. Approximately 55% of patients had hypoglycemic episodes at around 12 am- 6 am. The most common comorbidity present in these patients was hypertension (43.3%, P=0.931). Anemia (OR-3.765, CI-1.350-5.500, P=0.011), retinopathy (OR 6.066, CI-2.031-8.113, P=0.001), and duration of DM (OR-6.266, CI-2.209-7.774, P=0.001) were significantly associated with the recovery time of hypoglycemia, around 50±14.14min in the elderly population of age 60-70. People with BMI 22.5- 27.5 Kg/m2 took around 45.66 ± 19.37 min to recover after treatment.

CONCLUSION

Time taken to recover from hypoglycemic episodes vary with age and BMI. Associated comorbidities such as anemia, retinopathy, and DM duration had a significant bearing on the time taken to recover from hypoglycemia. Recovery time was directly proportional to BMI, a new finding that needs further molecular level evaluation. Circadian propensity of hypoglycemia in these patients have been identified in the early morning hours of the day.

Role of sequential chemical peel in cutaneous amyloidosis: a pilot case series

Cutaneous amyloidosis can be a part of a systemic disease or can result from a localized process limited to the skin. It usually presents as pruritic hyperpigmented macules, papules or nodules, which are notoriously resistant to treatment. We performed a hospital-based pilot case series to assess the efficacy and safety of sequential salicylic acid (SA) and glycolic acid (GA) chemical peels. Patients underwent sequential chemical peel therapy with SA 20% and GA 35% used alternately each week for a total of 6 weeks. At subsequent follow-up visits, good clinical outcome and long-term maintenance was observed. This study highlights the promising role of chemical peels in this difficult and distressing disorder.

Mycosis Fungoides: Uncommon Presentation

Mycoses fungoides is a common cutaneous T cell lymphoma. Tumor and ulcerative stages are advanced lymphoma. We report a case of mycosis fungoides that presented with ulcerated plaques and nodules over the body and infraorbital region, he was being treated as leprosy without improvement of the lesions. Diagnosis was established with clinical presentation and histopathology of the lesion.

Prevalence and predictors of depression in type 2 diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is a multifactorial disease and can be described as a noncommunicable disease of epidemic magnitude. Little is known about the predictors of depression in this population, especially among the Indian population. This study explores the predictors for depression in patients with type 2 DM.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study was performed for a period of 7 months during 2018-2019. The data were collected from 250 subjects at the diabetic clinic and psychiatry outpatient department of a tertiary care teaching hospital. T2DM with an age group of 18-60 years were included. Exclusion criteria were clinical evidence of any significant Axis I psychiatric disorder according to the International Classification of Diseases-10 Diagnostic Criteria for Research other than depression and substance use disorders. Data were analyzed with multiple linear regression analysis using SPSS-23 version.

RESULTS

Male and female patients were 127 (50.80%) and 123 (49.20%), respectively. The prevalence of depression was 49.20% among 250 patients with T2DM. Female patients had higher depression than male patients. We found age (P = 0.013), female gender (P = 0.041), locality of the patient (P = 0.021), body mass index (BMI) (P = 0.018), and fasting blood sugar (FBS) (P = 0.045) as significant predictors of depression among T2DM patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The study concludes that females and elderly patients were more affected by depression. The predictors of depression were age, gender, locality, BMI, and FBS among diabetic patients. The findings indicate to screen the patients of T2DM for depression, predominantly female and elderly patients, at regular intervals as per clinical demand.

Autologous non-cultured keratinocyte cell suspension in non-healing diabetic ulcers: A preliminary study

Background:

Diabetic ulcers are a common morbidity associated with poorly controlled glycemic status. Most patients often have neuropathy and vasculopathy as the etiology behind such ulcers. These factors not only lead to poor wound healing but also nonhealing ulcers. Nonhealing ulcers pose therapeutic challenges as they are usually not amenable to be treated with simple wound care and hence require newer modalities to effectively cure this condition that leads to a plethora of poor health outcomes. This study was conducted to see the effect of autologous noncultured keratinocyte cell suspension in chronic nonhealing diabetic ulcers that failed to normal wound care.

Material and Methods:

It was an observational pilot study. A total of 05 patients with nonhealing ulcers, attending the tertiary care teaching hospital in North India, were included in the study. Inclusion criteria was type 2 DM with more than 5 years duration of diabetes mellitus and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) <9 g%. History was taken in detail; name, age, sex, address, duration of disease and various other treatments taken from outside were noted; and size of ulcer was recorded as per Proforma.

Results:

A total of 5 patients were enrolled in the study, three (60%) and two (40%) patients were male and female, respectively. Three (60%) patients were habitual for tobacco use. Mean age of patients was 45 ± 6.51 years. Mean duration of ulcers was 4.8 ± 1.48 months. Area of ulcers ranged from 31.2 to 122.2 cm². Majority of cases, three (60%) of diabetic foot ulcers, were improved at 9–12 weeks and remaining two cases with large size of ulcer were healed at 13–16 weeks and 17–20 weeks, respectively. Majority (80%) of patients revealed >50% reduction in the size of ulcer within 2 weeks.

Conclusion:

Noncultured keratinocytes are useful in healing of nonhealing diabetic ulcer.

Study of self-generated magnetic fields in laser produced plasmas using a three-channel polaro-interferometer

Self-generated magnetic fields produced in laser plasmas at moderate laser intensities have been measured using a three-channel polaro-interferometer. The main elements of this device are two birefringent calcite wedges placed between two crossed polarizers. Using this device, the spatial profiles of (a) the rotation angle (polarometry), (b) the electron density (interferometry), and (c) the transmitted probe beam intensity (shadowgraphy) are recorded simultaneously using a digital camera with a large format CCD in a single laser shot. Magnetic fields of 2-4 MG had been estimated in aluminum plasma at laser intensities ~10(13) W/cm(2). It is also possible to use this device in other configurations to get time resolved information.

Effect of autologous epidermal cell suspension transplantation in chronic nonhealing wounds: a pilot study

BACKGROUND

Chronic nonhealing wounds are difficult to manage. Various substances are being used to heal these wounds. We sought to observe the effects of autologous epidermal cell suspension dressings on chronic nonhealing ulcers.

METHODS

We enrolled patients of the wound clinic at University Hospital, Varanasi, India, with nonhealing wounds of more than 6 weeks' duration. We treated the wound beds with sterile dressings and antibiotics until the swab cultures became sterile. We prepared autologous epidermal cell suspensions from skin grafts and used them on the ulcer beds along with Vaseline gauze dressings. Follow-up visits with patients occurred weekly for assessment of wound healing and other changes.

RESULTS

Fifteen patients enrolled in our study. Of these, 6 patients had completely healed at 12 weeks, 1 patient at 16 weeks and 2 patients at 20 weeks after treatment. We observed a slow healing response in 6 patients, of whom 1 patient had healed completely at 32 weeks and another at 48 weeks. One patient needed skin grafting, and 3 patients were lost to follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Autologous noncultured epidermal cell suspension transplantation seems to be an effective, simple and time-saving method to treat chronic nonhealing wounds.