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Biomedical subjects

A Bhansali

Publications and source records attributed to A Bhansali.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Cost of ambulatory care of diabetes mellitus: a study from north India.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic and potentially disabling disease that represents an important public health and clinical concern because of the economic burden it imposes on the person, family, and society. Despite this, data regarding cost of care of diabetes mellitus from developing countries are scarce. This study aimed to assess the cost of care of Indian patients with diabetes mellitus. METHODS: Cost of illness in 50 outpatients with diabetes mellitus (diagnosed according to WHO criteria, Expert Committee, 1997) was assessed over a six month period using a specially designed questionnaire, together with structured assessments of disability. RESULTS: Total annual cost of care was 14 508 rupees (263.78 euros). The largest proportion of the total cost was made up of direct costs (68%), followed by indirect costs (28.76%) and provider's costs (2.8%). Drug costs were high. Total treatment cost was significantly higher in those who were more educated, those who visited the hospital more often, and those receiving a greater number of drugs. CONCLUSION: From this study it can be concluded that diabetes mellitus is an expensive illness to treat even in developing countries. The main brunt of financial burden is borne by the family. Any efforts at cost reduction should, therefore, have the family as its focus, and relieving the family of this financial burden needs to be prioritised.

Adult↗

Acanthosis nigricans: relation with type 2 diabetes mellitus, anthropometric variables, and body mass in Indians.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of acanthosis nigricans (AN) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its correlation with various anthropometric measurements in Indians. METHODS: One hundred and fifty consecutive subjects with T2DM attending the diabetes clinic at a tertiary referral centre in North India were considered as cases and 150 age and sex matched healthy attendants of non-diabetic subjects as controls. All the cases and controls were screened for the presence of AN and its severity. Anthropometric measurements of all of them were measured in standard method. Regression analysis was done to determine the association of AN with T2DM and various anthropometric measurements. RESULTS: The prevalence of AN in subjects with diabetes and healthy controls was 62.6% and 40% respectively, and this difference was significant (p<0.05). Body mass index (BMI) between cases and controls was comparable by chance. There was a statistically significant correlation of increasing severity of AN with increasing BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-hip ratio, skinfold thickness, and body fat percentage in diabetic patients. However, in regression analysis after considering all the confounding factors there was a significant correlation of AN, only with diabetes mellitus and BMI. CONCLUSIONS: Indians have high prevalence of AN and it is an independent cutaneous marker of both T2DM and BMI.

Acanthosis Nigricans↗

Efficacy of once- or twice-daily extended release metformin compared with thrice-daily immediate release metformin in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: The extended-release formulation of metformin (MXR) prolongs drug absorption in the upper gastrointestinal tract and permits once-daily dosing in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This newer formulation may enhance patient compliance with oral therapy compared to conventional immediate-release metformin (MIR) in T2DM. OBJECTIVES: To analyse whether a switch from thrice daily MIR to once or twice daily MXR wouldachieve comparable degrees of glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: We conducted an open study of the efficacy and tolerability of MXR in 40 patients with T2DM who had achieved moderate or good glycemic control with MIR alone or in combination with other antihyperglycemic agents. After a lead in period of 3 months patients were switched over to a specific brand of MIR at baseline (Visit 0). Patients were subsequently followed for 4 more visits. These visits were done monthly, after taking MIR in a dose of 1-2 g/day (Visit 1); MXR as a single dose at dinner but 0.5 g less than baseline dose of MIR (Visit 2); MXR, 1-2 g/day as a single dose at bedtime, with strength same as that of baseline dose of MIR (Visit 3); and MXR, 1-2 g/day in two divided doses keeping dose same as baseline MIR (Visit 4). Glycemic control was assessed by a four-point glucose profile (fasting and three postprandial levels) at each visit. RESULTS: At visit 2, when patients had been on 500 mg lesser dose of MXR for 1 month, glucose profile worsened. However, glycemic control, at visit 3, returned to earlier levels when dose of MXR was increased back to original dose. Overall the MXR formulation was well tolerated with minor gastrointestinal adverse effects, reported by only 3 patients. CONCLUSION: Patients with T2DM who had been receiving thrice-daily MIR achieved comparable glycemic control when therapy was switched to once- or twice-daily MXR at the same total daily dose.

Adult↗

Pathophysiology of prediabetes.

Type 2 diabetic patients pass through a phase of impaired glucose tolerence and/or impaired fasting glucose known as 'prediabetic state'. Prediabetic state form a part of syndrome X, other components being obesity, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, hyperinsulinaemia and insulin resistance. The pathophysiology of prediabetes is similar to type 2 diabetes mellitus, two basic defects are insulin resistance and early beta cell failure. In prediabetes, the rapid oscillations of insulin secretion are lost and amplitude of large pulses are decreased. When insulin is delivered in a pulsatile fashion that mimics the normal rapid oscillation, its hypoglycaemic effects are greater. In prediabetes, the glycaemic excursions after each meal are high and early insulin responses to meals tend to be lower than normal but the second phase of insulin secretion is delayed and prolonged.

Blood Glucose↗

Idiopathic granulomatous hypophysitis presenting as non-functioning pituitary adenoma: description of six cases and review of literature.

The aim of this study was to analyse the complete profile and outcome of patients with idiopathic giant cell granulomatous hypophysitis. Six consecutive cases of idiopathic giant cell granulomatous hypophysitis were studied from 1993 to 2002. Headache and visual disturbances were the most frequent presenting symptoms. All patients had hypogonadism, four had hypoadrenalism and three were hypothyroid at presentation. None of them had diabetes insipidus preoperatively. A sellar mass with suprasellar extension on MRI with loss of the posterior pituitary 'bright spot' was a consistent observation in all patients. All patients underwent surgical excision of the mass lesion with histopathological confirmation of giant cell granulomatous hypophysitis. Other systemic granulomatous diseases were excluded by appropriate investigations. Postoperatively, all patients became hypothyroid and hypogonad, five patients had adrenal insufficiency, while two developed permanent diabetes insipidus. The clinical presentation of giant cell granulomatous hypophysitis is that of an expanding sellar mass lesion with a varying degree of endocrine dysfunction. Preoperative diagnosis of 'hypophysitis' is usually difficult; however, stalk thickening and loss of posterior pituitary 'bright spot' on MR imaging are clues to the diagnosis.

Adenoma↗

Radiation-induced brain disorders in patients with pituitary tumours.

Radiation-induced brain disorders (RIBD) are uncommon and they are grave sequelae of conventional radiotherapy. In the present report, we describe the clinical spectrum of RIBD in 11 patients who received post-surgery conventional megavoltage irradiation for residual pituitary tumours. Of these 11 patients (nine men, two women), seven had been treated for non-functioning pituitary tumours and four for somatotropinomas. At the time of irradiation the age of these patients ranged from 30 to 59 years (mean, 39.4 +/- 8.3; median, 36) with a follow-up period of 6-96 months (mean, 18.3 +/- 26.4; median, 11). The dose of radiation ranged from 45 to 90 Gy (mean, 51.3 +/- 13.4; median, 45), which was given in 15-30 fractions (mean, 18.6 +/- 5.0; median, 15) with 2.8 +/- 0.3 Gy (median, 3) per fraction. The biological effective dose calculated for late complications in these patients ranged from 78.7 to 180 Gy (mean, 99.1 +/- 27.5; median, 90). The lag time between tumour irradiation and the onset of symptoms ranged from 6 to 168 months (mean, 46.3 +/- 57.0; median, 57). The clinical spectrum of RIBD included new-onset visual abnormalities in five, cerebral radionecrosis in the form of altered sensorium in four, generalized seizures in four, cognitive dysfunction in five, dementia in three and motor deficits in two patients. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)/CT of the brain was suggestive of radionecrosis in eight, cerebral oedema in three, cerebral atrophy in two and second neoplasia in one patient. Associated hormone deficiencies at presentation were hypogonadism in eight, hypoadrenalism in six, hypothyroidism in four and diabetes insipidus in one patient. Autopsy in two patients showed primitive neuroectodermal tumour (PNET) and brainstem radionecrosis in one, and a cystic lesion in the left frontal lobe following radionecrosis in the other. We conclude that RIBD have distinctive but varying clinical and radiological presentations. Diabetes insipidus and PNET as a second neoplastic disorder in adults following pituitary irradiation have not been reported previously.

Adenoma↗

Presentation and outcome of rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis in patients with diabetes.

AIM: To report presentation and outcome of rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis (ROCM) exclusively in patients with diabetes mellitus. METHODS: Retrospective, non-comparative, interventional analysis of the medical records of 35 patients with ROCM among 22 316 patients with diabetes seen over the last 12 years. RESULTS: A cohort of 23 men and 12 women with a mean (SD) age of 47.3 (14.4) years (range 18-70 years) was studied. Five patients had type 1 diabetes mellitus, 29 had type 2 diabetes mellitus, and one had secondary diabetes. Nine patients had ROCM as the first clinical manifestation of diabetes. The mean (SD) blood glucose at presentation was 20.6 (8.3) mmol/l (range 10.0 to 53.3 mmol/l) and 17 patients had ketosis/ketoacidosis. Ophthalmic symptoms and signs were pronounced: external ophthalmoplegia (89%), proptosis (83%), visual loss (80%), chemosis (74%), and eye lid gangrene (14%). Non-ophthalmic manifestations included sinusitis (100%), nasal discharge/ulceration (74%), infranuclear VI nerve palsy (46%), palatal necrosis (29%), cerebral lobe involvement (20%), and hemiparesis (17%). Computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging showed involvement of paranasal sinuses in all patients with ethmoid (86%) and maxillary (80%) sinuses being most frequently involved. Orbital involvement was observed in 80% of patients with cavernous sinus thrombosis in 11%, and internal carotid occlusion and hydrocephalus in 3% each. All were treated with amphotericin B (3-3.5 g) and 26 (74%) patients underwent appropriate surgery. Twenty one patients (68%) survived with a mean (SD) follow up of 39.6 (34.1) months (range 10 months to 11 years). Factors related to poor survival included delay in diagnosis and treatment (p<0.05), facial and/or eye lid gangrene (p<0.05), hemiplegia (p<0.05), cerebral invasion by mucorales (p<0.05), and treatment with amphotericin B alone (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with diabetes and ROCM, ROCM was the presenting manifestation in one fourth of the patients. Ophthalmic and extensive cerebral involvement predominated in the clinical picture. Delay in treatment due to late presentation and associated complications were major determinants of the survival outcome in these patients.

Adolescent↗

Reversibility of thyrotroph hyperplasia after L-thyroxine replacement therapy in patients with juvenile primary hypothyroidism.

Thyrotroph cell hyperplasia in primary hypothyroidism though well described is often not discussed as it remains clinically silent. This hyperplasia in long standing juvenile primary hypothyroidism presenting as 'pituitary tumor' is very uncommon. We report four patients with juvenile primary hypothyroidism, who were detected to have sellar/suprasellar masses on imaging performed for unrelated symptoms, and complete resolution in three of them after L-thyroxine replacement therapy.

Adolescent↗

Plasma cortisol response to 1-24 adrenocorticotropin in patients with treated/untreated sellar & suprasellar mass lesions.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: One microgram short synacthene test is widely recommended as a screening test for evaluation of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical axis in patients with secondary adrenal insufficiency. Information on adequacy of cortisol response to this dose at different periods of the day in patients with hypothalamic-pituitary disorders is not available. Hence, this study was designed to assess the adequacy of cortisol response to 1 microg 1-24 adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) at 0800 h and 1600 h in patients with sellar and suprasellar mass lesions. METHODS: Thirty five consecutive patients with sellar and suprasellar mass lesions with mean age of 43.0+/-14.4 yr and 36 healthy controls with mean age of 32.3+/-9.0 yr were studied after obtaining informed consent. Maintenance doses of glucocorticoids in these patients were discontinued appropriately. On day 1, prestimulated and stimulated plasma cortisol samples at 0800 h and at 30 and 60 min following i.v. bolus of 1 microg 1-24 ACTH were collected. While on day 3, plasma cortisol samples were similarly collected at 1600 h. Cortisol estimation was done by a sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay. Stimulated plasma cortisol of 500 nmol/l or higher was defined as a normal response. RESULTS: In healthy controls, the prestimulated and peak cortisol levels at 0800 h (377.5+/-93.3 and 729.1+/-183.2 nmol/l) were higher (P<0.001 and P<0.01) than those at 1600 h (230.1+/-75.7 and 665.8+/-138.6 nmol/l). All subjects had a cortisol response of 500 nmol/l or higher in response to 1 microg 1-24 ACTH both at 0800 and 1600 h. In the patients' group, the prestimulated plasma cortisol at 0800 h (250.3+/-169.7 nmol/l) was higher (P<0.001) than that at 1600 h (166.3+/-128.9 nmol/l), while the peak cortisol response was comparable (P>0.05) in the morning as well as in the evening (490.9+/-309.4 vs 464.8+/-318.4). In 27 patients (77%) the morning and evening stimulated cortisol response to 1 microg 1-24 ACTH was consistent (normal in 13 and subnormal in 14) but was discrepant in the remaining 8 (23%). In 7 of these 8 patients, cortisol response was normal at 0800 h but not at 1600 h, while in only one, normal response was seen at 1600 h but not at 0800 h. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: The demonstration of normal peak cortisol response to 1 microg 1-24 ACTH at 0800 h but not at 1600 h in substantial number of patients with sellar and suprasellar mass lesions suggests preference to morning for performing this test.

Adolescent↗