Natl Med J India
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Background An increase in epicardial fat thickness (EFT) has been associated with increased cardiovascular risk and the development of atherosclerosis. Transthoracic echo-cardiography provides a reliable measurement of EFT. We evaluated the relationship of EFT with carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and ankle-brachial index (ABI), in patients with metabolic syndrome. ⋯ Interestingly, only 1 patient with an EFT <3 mm had a CIMT >0.9 mm. Conclusion We found that the EFT correlates with CIMT in patients with metabolic syndrome, which explains, at least in part, the higher risk of atherosclerosis in them. Measurement of EFT should be part of the cardiovascular risk evaluation in patients with metabolic syndrome.
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We report a patient with flagellate dermatitis (shiitake dermatitis) appearing 48 hours after consumption of shiitake mushrooms in a previously healthy 37-year-old man. The skin lesion resolved completely within a week following treatment with antihistamine and topical steroid cream (dexamethasone 0.1%).
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Background Estimation of stature is usually done by measurement of the long bones. Although hand and foot dimensions are useful in predicting stature, they are population-specific. Methods We compared the accuracy of predicting stature by hand and foot dimensions, with long bone (tibia and ulna) lengths, and developed a stature predictive regression formula from the parameters used for the sample population in Kolhapur. ⋯ Multiple linear regression analysis of hand and foot dimensions returned R2=62.96 and standard error of estimate 4.689 with comparable computed and experimental measurements. Conclusion The dimensions of the hand and foot can be used to predict stature. The formula derived from the multiple regression analysis incorporating hand and foot dimensions is a good fit to estimate stature in the study population.