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Purpose:The purpose was to compare the different calculated methods of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) estimation and to determine which of them correlate best with the direct method.Materials and Methods:The records of 480 samples for lipid profile were analyzed. Apart from the direct method, LDL-C was calculated by Friedewald low-density lipoprotein cholesterol method (F-LDL-C), modified Friedewald low-density lipoprotein cholesterol method (MF-LDL-C), and Anandaraja low-density lipoprotein cholesterol method (A-LDL-C). Paired t-test and Pearson correlation were evaluated between the different methods. Degree of agreement between the calculated methods and direct method was detected by Bland–Altman graphical plots.Results:A strong correlation was found between all calculated LDL-C methods and direct low-density lipoprotein cholesterol method (D-LDL-C) assay, that is, F-LDL-C versus D-LDL-C = 0.94; A-LDL-C versus D-LDL-C = 0.93 and MF-LDL-C versus D-LDL-C = 0.95. No statistically significant difference was found between D-LDL-C and MF-LDL-C. Bland–Altman plot for MF-LDL-C showed minimal negative bias.Conclusions:The study pointed out that MF-LDL-C correlated maximally with D-LDL-C estimation at all levels of triglycerides and MF-LDL-C can be used in place of D-LDL-C when the direct method cannot be afforded.

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Context: Cardio vascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in diabetes mellitus (DM) contributing to 65% of all deaths with diabetic complications. The most important cause of CVD is atherosclerosis, and dyslipidemia acts as a marker of developing atherosclerosis. The derangement of lipid profile and atherogenic indices start in the prediabetic state, much before the development of DM. Detection of the deranged lipid profile and atherogenic indices in the prediabetic state can help devise the aggressive treatment strategy right from this stage, so as to arrest the development of CVD as a complication of diabetes. Aims: To compare the lipid profile and atherogenic indices of prediabetics with controls and diabetics. Settings and Design: The electronic medical records of 239 subjects were reviewed retrospectively. Materials and Methods: About 187 cases consisting of 137 diabetics and 50 prediabetics were evaluated for serum fasting blood sugar, post prandial blood sugar, HbA1c, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TGs), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc). Atherogenic indices [TC/HDLc, LDLc/HDLc, (TC-HDLc)/HDLc, TG/HDLc] were also evaluated in the two groups. Rest 52 age- and sex-matched subjects were taken as controls. Statistical Analysis Used: The comparisons were evaluated using SPSS statistical package version 20. Results: TC, TG, LDLc, and the atherogenic indices were significantly increased in prediabetics as compared with controls. HDLc was significantly decreased in prediabetics. Conclusions: The altered lipid profile and atherogenic indices in prediabetics signify the increased susceptibility of prediabetics to CVD in the long run. Hence, we recommend screening of prediabetics for dyslipidemia to arrest the development of cardiovascular complications.

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Background:Diabetes mellitus (DM) and thyroid dysfunctions are the two most common endocrine disorders to come across in any clinical practice. Both thyroid hormones and insulin act antagonistically in metabolic pathways or cycles of cells. The aim of our study is to look for thyroid dysfunction in patients with type 2 DM and its correlation with insulin resistance (IR).Methods:A cross-sectional study was carried out among 80 newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine, free thyroxine, and insulin were measured in fasting serum sample. Homeostasis model assessment for IR was calculated as per formula.Results:Among 80 diabetic patients, 20 were hypothyroid, 4 were hyperthyroid, and 56 were found to be euthyroid. IR was found to be significantly higher in hypothyroid as compared to euthyroid patients. A positive association was found between TSH and IR (r = 0.230) among hypothyroid patients though association was not significant. In hyperthyroid patients, a strong negative correlation (r = −0.94933) was found between TSH and IR, but no association was found among euthyroid patients.Conclusion:The inability to recognize the presence of thyroid hormone dysfunction may be one of the important causes of poor management of type 2 DM. Therefore, there is a need for routine assay of thyroid hormones in type 2 diabetic patients to improve the medical management as well as to reduce the morbidity in them.

The conventional teaching and learning methods in medical education yearns for a change. The newer and effective small group interactive teaching methodologies are being looked into. Problem based learning and case based learning modules were taken into consideration in this study. Although PBL is student centred but it lacks able guidance of the teacher involved and effective participation of all the students. The deficiencies encountered in PBL are taken care of in case based learning study. It is a guided enquiry approach where the teacher plays a vital role in the preparation of the case based problem, organizing the CBL session under his guidance and providing constructive and relevant information during the sessions. Students are the speakers and presenters. Generally, most of the studies refer to the advantages of CBL and PBL in regard to traditional teaching. This study compares the learning effectiveness amongst the two approaches. A total of 126 first year medical students were included in the study. Students were divided into two groups such that both the groups have similar academic knowledge. The effectiveness of the teaching methodologies was reflected in the better performance of the students in the evaluation tests conducted after the said sessions. Both the groups performed better in the evaluation tests conducted after the PBL and CBL session. But the performance was better in the group which attended CBL on the same topic. The difference in the mean marks of the two groups being statistically significant. . However it seems important to develop more consistent research in this field, namely, longitudinal studies with larger samples.

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