Indian J Med Res
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Hyperhomocysteinaemia (HCA) either due to mutation of MTHFR gene or deficiency of vitamin B 12 and folic acid, has been reported as a risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). The present study was aimed to determine plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels and to evaluate MTHFR C677T gene polymorphism as risk factors for CAD, and to study the role of Hcy in conjunction with a few other risk factors of CAD in young Indians. The effect of vitamin B12 and folic acid supplements on the raised plasma Hcy levels in patients of CAD was also assessed. ⋯ Our study showed significant correlation between hyperhomocysteinaemia and coronary artery disease. Multivariate analysis by logistic regression of the various risk factors of CAD, found high levels of Hcy, cholesterol, LDL and low levels of HDL and smoking as independent predictors of CAD when all other factors were controlled. Significant post-treatment decrease found in HCA was easily modifiable by vitamin intervention irrespective to their CT or TT genotype of C677T MTHFR gene. Further studies to look at the plasma levels of folate and cobalamines and their association with Hcy are required to be done.
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Cardiovascular risk factors clustering associated with blood pressure (BP) has not been studied in the Indian population. This study was aimed at assessing the clustering effect of cardiovascular risk factors with suboptimal BP in Indian population as also the impact of risk reduction interventions. ⋯ Our findings showed that cardiovascular risk factors clustered together with elevated blood pressure and a risk reduction programme significantly reduced the risk factors burden.
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In vitro assays are an important tool to assess baseline sensitivity and monitor the drug response of Plasmodium falciparum over time and place and, therefore, can provide background information for the development and evaluation of drug policies. This study was aimed at determining the in vitro sensitivity of P. falciparum isolates to antimalarials. ⋯ The Indian P. falciparum isolates showed a high degree of resistance to chloroquine followed by monodesethylamodiaquine. No resistance was recorded to mefloquine and dihydroartesunate.
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Intermittent cholera outbreaks are major problem in many of the states of India. It is essential to identify cholera at the earliest for timely mobilization of public health responses and to abort the outbreaks. The present study was a part of a diarrhoeal outbreak investigation in Secunderabad, India, during May 2009 where the usefulness of Crystal VC rapid dipstick kit was assessed for detecting the aetiologic agent of the outbreak. ⋯ Crystal VC kit had the potential to identify cholera cases in 10 min in field conditions without having good laboratory support. Therefore, dipstick kit may be considered as cholera detecting tool in diarrhoeal outbreak investigations. Specimens from clinically typical cholera cases, if negative by dipstick, should be reanalyzed by culture based methods.