Texture analysis is a promising non-invasive tool for distinguishing renal tumors on CT images. These results were further improved upon application of machine learning, and support the further development of texture analysis as a quantitative biomarker for distinguishing various renal tumors.

Keywords: osteoarthritis • innate immunity • NASIDs (Non-steroidal inflammatory drugs) • topicals • capsaicinBackground: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disorder that affects the cartilage of bones and characterized by severe pain in joint, joint lock and instability. Factors associated with its risks are obesity, past trauma, advancing age, female sex and genetics. Women and older people are more susceptible to the risk of OA. There are different types of OA on basis of joint affects as hip, knee, hand etc. Innate immunity plays an important role in pathogenesis of OA. Activation of innate immunity as a result of small fragments e.g., of protein results in secretion of cytokines (IL1-β and TNF-α, IL-8, IL-17 etc.) and enzymes (MMP and ADAMTS) which cause degradation of bone and imparts inflammatory effect. Aging also plays an important role in OA as chondrocytes show reduced autophagy with aging, so risks of OA increases. Different drugs have been in use for the treatment of OA which provide anti-inflammatory, analgesic effects and help in improving bone integrity. Acetaminophen is usually prescribed as first line drug. Oral NASIDs and opioids provide an alternative when it does not prove effective. But these are associated with the high risks of gastrointestinal (GI) tract, cardiovascular (CV) and renal system, and liver toxicity. Topical NASIDs can also be used as alternative to oral NASIDs for their safety. Another option is topical capsaicin which can be used as an adjunctive treatment with only local adverse effects such burning, itching etc. Intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid and corticosteroids are also used. Both are considered almost safe with local adverse effects. Non-pharmacological treatments for OA includes education, exercise, therapies, surgery and regenerative therapies. In this study, we have briefly enlightened the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. Moreover, pharmacological as well as nonpharmacological treatment for OA is also explained.

Objectives:To estimate the incidence of microvascular complications among subjects with type 2 diabetes at a tertiary care hospital.Methods:This retrospective longitudinal follow-up study assessed the data records of type 2 diabetic subjects who visited the outpatient department of Baqai Institute of Diabetology and Endocrinology, Baqai Medical University, from January 2005 to April 2016. Subjects with gestational diabetes, type 1 diabetes and with history of any microvascular complication were excluded. Medical records were obtained through electronic database (Health Management System). Statistical analyses were conducted using STATA version 14 and SPSS version 20.Results:The incidence of microvascular complications was 92.8, 106.2, and 130.2 per 1000 person per years for retinopathy, neuropathy and nephropathy respectively. Retinopathy, neuropathy and nephropathy were significantly high among diabetic patients with duration of diabetes >10 years followed by 5-10 years. Incidence of retinopathy and nephropathy was significantly higher in patients who had HbA1c>7% than patients with HbA1c≤7% (p-value<0.05). Higher incidence rate of all three microvascular complications were seen in subjects with hypertension than subjects without hypertension.Conclusion:A high incidence of microvascular complications is found in subjects with type 2 diabetes. Poor glycaemic control, longer duration of diabetes and hypertension was found to be associated with the occurrence of these complications.

Background/aim: The aim of this study is to find the association between diabetic microvascular complications and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in subjects with type 2 diabetes. Materials and methods: This was a retrospective study based on hospital data records from January 2005 to May 2016 at the Baqai Institute of Diabetology and Endocrinology. The eligibility criteria included subjects with type 2 diabetes with their latest complete blood count while subjects with conditions such as chronic inflammation, cancer, heart failure, and end-stage renal disease were not eligible for inclusion. Subjects were divided into two groups: one with any microvascular complications and the other with no microvascular complications. Body mass index, anthropometric measurements, and blood pressure were measured. Results: Out of 5620 type 2 diabetic subjects, 3202 (57%) were male and (2418) 43% were female. Among these, 3374 diabetic subjects had one or more microvascular complications and 2246 had no microvascular complications. The NLR was found to be 1.14 times higher in diabetic subjects with at least one microvascular complication as compared to diabetic subjects without any complications (4.34 ± 3.32 vs. 3.36 ± 2.67; P < 0.0001). Factors likely associated with microvascular complications were high levels of NLR, HbA1c, serum creatinine, and systolic blood pressure and longer duration of diabetes. Conclusion: According to the results, the NLR is an efficient, cheaper, and readily available marker of inflammation and it is known as an important predictor for the existence of microvascular complications in subjects with type 2 diabetes.