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Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases are a major cause of death among patients with Diabetic Kidney Disease (DKD). Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (LVH) is a threatening prognostic sign and an independent risk factor for cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. A number of epidemiological studies have proven that LVH is common in patients with DKD. Aim: To estimate the Serum Uric Acid (SUA) levels in DKD patients and its association with LVH and estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR). Materials and Methods: The current study was a cross-sectional study conducted at KR Hospital, Mysuru, a teritary care hospital, in Mysuru, Karnataka, India, during the period from 1st January 2020 to 31st December 2020. which included 53 patients with DKD. The demographic data, relevant investigations like Renal Function Test (RFT), SUA levels, complete haemogram, Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), Postprandial Blood Sugar (PPBS), glycosylated haemoglobin, Liver Function Tests (LFT), urine routine, Urine Albumin Creatinine Ratio (UACR), electrocardiogram, 2D echo were done. The results were tabulated, and the patients were classified into those with high and low SUA levels. They were also evaluated for the presence of additional risk factors like hypertension and Ischaemic Heart Disease (IHD). Data obtained was analysed statistically using Statistical Packages of Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0 software. Mean, Standard Deviation (SD), Chi-square test, and Fischer's-exact tests were used where appropriate, with a p-value <0.05 considered statistically significant. Patients were classified into two groups, one with SUA more than 6.5 and the other with less than 6.5, as normouricaemia and hyperuricaemia, respectively. Results: The majority of the cases were in the age group of 51-60 years, accounting for 43.4%. Out of 53 patients, males constituted 60.4% and females 30.6%, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.52:1. Total 33 patients (62.3%) were hypertensive, 32 patients (60.4%) had LVH, and 15 patients (28.3%) had IHD. Among 38 patients with SUA levels >6.5 mg/dL, the mean UACR value was higher (1807.9 mg/gm), the mean eGFR value was 32.4 mL/min/1.73 m2, and the mean Left Ventricular Mass index (LVMI) was 117.1 g/m2, which was statistically significant. Conclusion: In patients with DKD, higher SUA levels were associated with significantly higher values of UACR, lower eGFR values, higher LVMI values, and an increased risk for LVH, hypertension, and IHD. However, there was no significant association between higher uric acid levels and HbA1c. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have an increased risk of cardiovascular involvement, which is among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Echocardiography (ECHO) could be a reliable, non-invasive tool for predicting the risk of cardiovascular modalities in patients with COPD. Combining the ECHO parameters with highly selective cardiac troponin could predict the severity and outcome of patients with COPD. Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in South India. All patients who met the criteria were included. Patients with other concomitant chronic lung diseases were excluded. An echocardiographic examination was performed, and blood samples for hs-Tnt were taken on admission for patients admitted with COPD. Categorical variables were analyzed using Pearson's Chi-square test, and the T-test was used to compare the means. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by the Bonferroni multiple comparison tests was done to compare different echo parameters concerning COPD severity. Results: The mean tricuspid annulus plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and right ventricle (RV) fraction area change (FAC) values were lower with the increase in the disease severity (P < 0.001). There was a significant increase in the mean systolic pressures in the right atrium and ventricle in patients with severe COPD (P < 0.001). The mean hs-TnT values were significantly higher in patients with severe COPD (18.86 ± 18.12) and correlated well with the increase in the severity of the disease (P < 0.001). Changes in the echo parameters, such as mean TAPSE and RV FAC values, negatively correlated with COPD severity. There was an increase in systolic pressure in both atria and ventricles with the progression of COPD. Troponin helped predict mortality during hospitalization. Conclusion: Comprehensive echocardiographic parameters, such as TAPSE and RV FAC, help assess the disease's severity, predict mortality, and evaluate whether the proper ventricular function is reliable. Troponin is a valuable adjunct that is an independent and strong predictor of overall mortality in patients with COPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: One of the most challenging aspects of systemic sclerosis is the potential involvement of the cardiopulmonary system, which can lead to significant morbidity and mortality if not detected and managed promptly. Aim: To assess the clinical characteristics and prevalence of specific cardiopulmonary involvement and to investigate its association with disease duration in patients with systemic sclerosis from South India. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional, observational study was conducted at the Department of General Medicine, Government Medical College, Thrissur, India, between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2020. Forty patients with systemic sclerosis were included according to the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) and the American College of Rheumatology classification criteria. Skin thickening was evaluated using the modified Rodnan Skin Score (mRSS). Investigations such as chest X-ray, echocardiogram, and antibody profiling were conducted to evaluate cardiopulmonary involvement. The data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0, and the Chi-square test was used to compare qualitative variables between groups. Results: Sixteen patients (40%) had an mRSS score between 11 and 20, followed by 14 patients (35%) with mRSS scores between 21 and 30. The prevalence of Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) was 50%. The echocardiogram findings showed mitral regurgitation and moderate Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) in 30% (n=12) and 25% (n=10) of patients, respectively. High-Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT) and pulmonary function tests were normal in 10 patients (25%). The duration of the disease was three to eight years in 14 patients and eight to 12 years in 12 patients. Both ILD and PAH were significantly associated with the duration of the disease (p<0.05). Anti-scleroderma-70 and anti-centromere were the most common antibodies present in patients with ILD and PAH, respectively. Conclusion: The study indicated a high prevalence of PAH and ILD in patients with systemic sclerosis. Moreover, both ILD and PAH were significantly associated with the duration of the underlying disease, with longer disease duration being associated with a higher likelihood of these conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Noonan syndrome (NS) is a pleomorphic genetic disorder. Up to 50-80% of individuals have associated congenital heart disease. The scope of cardiac disease in NS is quite variable depending on the gene mutation. The most common forms of cardiac defects include pulmonary stenosis, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), atrial septal defect and left-sided lesions. Amongst the rare vascular abnormalities few case reports have been mentioned about coronary artery lesions apart from sinus of Valsalva aneurysm, aortic dissection, intracranial aneurysm. This is a case report a rare case of asymptomatic coronary artery aneurysm in a young male with NS. There is lack of unified protocol for the screening, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of coronary artery disease in patients with NS. We conclude, echocardiography is sufficient in most cases in children. But a CT scan is appropriate in adults or when other lesions are suspected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]