Variations in the arterial pattern of the upper limb are very common as observed in many cadaveric and angiographic studies. Knowledge of variations in the origin and course of the radial artery is important because they are used for many diagnostic procedures as well as vascular and reconstructive surgeries like coronary angiography, percutaneous coronary intervention and coronary artery bypass surgery. During routine dissection in our institute, we observed a case of high origin of the radial artery in a 33 year old male cadaver. It was found to be unilateral; on left side, radial artery was taking origin from 3 rd part of the axillary artery at the lower border of pectoralis minor before the origin of subscapular artery and anterior circumflex humeral artery. It had a superficial course in the arm crossing the median nerve from medial to lateral side. The further course of this superficial radial artery in the forearm was normal and it terminated by forming a deep Palmar arch in hand. These variations may be of great clinical implications for vascular and plastic surgeons and radiologists. Superficial course of radial artery makes it vulnerable to accidental injuries and elevates the risk of bleeding.

Background: Magnesium (Mg) is the fourth most abundant cation in the human body and plays a key role in many fundamental biological processes including metabolism and DNA synthesis. Hypomagnesaemia has also been associated with poor glycemic control and albuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods: The present study was undertaken in the Department of Medicine in SGRDIMSAR, Amritsar on 100 patients diagnosed with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus as per the latest ADA criteria. The patients were divided into 2 groups. Group A with 50 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with urinary albumin level >30 mg/dl (Study Group). Group B with 50 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with urine albumin levels <30 mg/dl (Control Group).Results: Hypomagnesemia was present in 16 patients i.e. 32% in study group and 12 patients i.e. 24% in control group (P=0.034). In study group with hypomagnesemia, 13 patients i.e. 81.25% and in control group with hypomagnesemia, 4 patients i.e. 33.33% have poor glycaemic control (P=0.033). In study group with hypomagnesemia, 14 patients i.e. 87.5% and in control group with hypomagnesemia, 5 patients i.e. 41.67% were found to have diabetic retinopathy (P=0.010).Conclusions: Hypomagnesemia was directly correlated with hypertension (P=0.004), poor glycaemic control (P=0.033), diabetic retinopathy (P=0.010) and diabetic nephropathy (P=0.034). Hypomagnesemia leads to early microvascular complications as compared to macrovascular complications. Thus, screening of serum magnesium levels in T2DM with albuminuria should alert us to look for hypertension, poor glycaemic control and retinopathy.

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