Objectives: Chronic renal failure (CRF) is complicated by characteristic dyslipidemias. CRF patients on hemodialysis have abnormalities in lipid profile and have a high incidence of cardiovascular diseases. Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is now considered as a novel cardiovascular risk factor and its level is increased in CRF patients with and without hemodialysis. We sought to evaluate the pattern of lipid profile including Lp(a) level in CRF patients with and without hemodialysis. Methodology: Study were divided into 3 groups, Group-I: healthy controls (30), Group-II: CRF patients who never undergone hemodialysis (30) and Group-III: CRF patients on hemodialysis for more than 6 months (30). We obtained serum samples from patients in the morning after an overnight fast and were analysed for total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TGs), HDL, LDL, Lp(a) using standard colorimetric assays on fully automated analyzer. VLDL concentration was calculated using Friedewald's Formula. Results: Among the various parameters tested triglyceride and VLDL levels were significantly higher in group-II and III as compared to controls (p<0.01). HDL levels were significantly lower in group-II and III as compared to control (p<0.05). HDL level was found reduced in group-III as compared to Group-II (p<0.01). There was no significant change (p>0.05) observed in total cholesterol and LDL levels in between healthy controls and CRF patients with & without hemodialysis. Lp(a) levels were significantly higher in group-II and III as compared to controls (p<0.01) but the difference between Lp(a) levels in group-II and III was found insignificant (p>0.05). There was no significant difference (p>0.05) observed between Lp(a) levels and lipid profile in male and female patients in control group and in CRF patients with and without hemodialysis. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that CRF patients with and without hemodialysis are at greater risk of development of dyslipidemias, characterized by hypertriglyceridemia, elevated VLDL and Lp(a) levels and decreased HDL levels. Total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels remain normal or decreased in these patients. Both male and female patients of CRF with and without hemodialysis have dyslipidemias without any discrimination of sex and it is not attenuated by the hemodialysis process.

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Background: Continuous and long-term exposure to the screens of electronic devices, especially smartphones, cell phones, and tablets, is associated with poor quality of sleep. Aim and Objectives: The study was undertaken to correlate screen time exposure and the quality of sleep in undergraduate medical students and to find out the effects of increased screen time exposure on the health of students. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out on 200 undergraduate medical students at Smt. B. K. Shah Medical Institute and Research Centre, Piparia, Vadodara, Gujarat with the help of an online pre-validated questionnaire constructed on Google Form after obtaining ethical approval. The questionnaire was comprised demographic profiles, screen time exposure, and Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) statements. Data were entered into an Microsoft Excel sheet. For the descriptive statistical part, means, standard deviations, and frequency tables were used. A Chi-square test was applied to detect the strength of the association. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The prevalence of increased screen time among the study population was found 79%. The prevalence of PSQI scores >5 observed in the present study was 73%. There was a significant association observed between increased screen time exposure and PSQI score >5. Conclusion: Increased screen time was significantly associated with poor sleep quality. The most common effect of increased screen time exposure among students found was a headache.

Since its discovery over fifteen years ago, Leptin remains the cornerstone for researchers because of its important role in central control of energy metabolism. Apart from role in energy metabolism, researchers have identified some newer but important roles of leptin in various areas like neuroendocrine function and regulation of metabolism-immune system interplay. Recently, recombinant human leptin emerged as a therapeutic intervention in various disorders. In this review, we highlighted important biology and physiology of leptin, its association with several disorders, and therapeutic interventions involving leptin.