The A/C transversion at 1166 of the angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor AT1R) gene per se does not characterize any functional diversity but has been associated with expression of the AT1R, consequently molecular variants of the gene may modulate the possible risk of essential hypertension. The present study was performed to determine the genotypic frequency of the A1166C polymorphism of the AT1R gene in essential hypertensive patients with the aim to assess the effect of variants of this polymorphism in hypertension. AT1R gene amplification was performed by PCR and A1166C polymorphism was determined by enzyme digestion methodologies in 224 consecutively enrolled essential hypertensive patients and 257 controls. Suitable descriptive statistics was used for different variables. Results revealed that genotype and allele distribution of the A1166C variant differed significantly in hypertensives and normotensives. Allele frequency at the A1166C position was 61%A and 39%C for control and 52%A and 48%C for patients. Observed frequencies were compatible with HWE expected frequencies in cases as well as in controls. rs5186 was found to be associated with hypertension (95% CI 1.1453-2.7932,: 0.0106). The difference remained statistically significant after the multivariate adjustment ( < 0.05), with C/C variant conferring a risk of 1.74-fold of essential hypertension. This association was confirmed by inter-genotypic variations in the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure in patients. In conclusion, genetic variation at the AT1R gene influences the risk of hypertension stratification and might serve as a predictive marker for the susceptibility to hypertension among affected families.

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Several lines of experimental and clinical evidence have alluded a pivotal role of renin in blood pressure homeostasis and therefore a relevance of molecular variants of the renin gene and essential hypertension have been speculated. This study was designed to evaluate the pattern, alliance and risk of renin Mbo I (10631A>G; rs2368564) polymorphism at the locus intron 9 for a possible role in modulating essential hypertension in adult population from Gujarat (India). A total of 257 consecutively enrolled essential hypertensive patients and 270 controls were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method for the selected marker. Suitable descriptive statistics was used for different variables. Genotypic (x(2) 10.43, p 0.0054) and allelic (x(2) 11.46, p 0.0007) distribution of this SNP displayed significant differences between cases and controls with an increased frequency of the A allele (x(2) 6.275; p 0.0122) and A/A geno-type (x(2) 8.247; p 0.0041) in hypertensive individuals. However, it showed no deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in either affected or control group. A significant association was found in the A/A variant of rs2368564 with essential hypertension (p 0.0032), along with a statistically significant increase in odds of hypertension (OR 1.69; CI 1.46-2.28; p 0.02), even after confounding factors were adjusted in multiple logistic regression analysis and is substantiated by inter-genotypic variations in the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure in patients. In conclusion, renin 10631A>G gene mutation at the ninth intron play critical roles in BP (dys)regulation and can be implicated in an individual's susceptibility for hypertension.

Festive season in India is associated with a marked change in diet of people. It is accompanied by consumption of sweets and fat-rich fried foods. There is a concern that this dietary change can cause significant deterioration in the metabolic profile of patients with T2DM. The effect of this change in diet on blood glucose and lipid profile of patients of T2DM has not been studied [1,2]. We studied the effect of expected changes in diet on glycemic control and lipid levels of patients with T2DM around the Hindu festival of Diwali of 2011.The study was conducted from 12th October to 11th November 2011 at the out-patient department of MDM Hospital, Jodhpur. Seventy-two T2DM patients, treated with oral hypoglycemic drugs, were enrolled for the study. Out of them, 67 patients completed follow-up. Their mean age was 60.0±8.3 years; male-to-female ratio was 43:24. Mean BMI was 26.14±2.94 kg/m 2 . The study involved two visits, first within 2 weeks before and second within 2 weeks after Diwali. At each visit, the following biochemical parameters were estimated: fasting and 2 h post breakfast plasma glucose, lipid profile including total cholesterol, TG, LDL, VLDL, and HDL. At the first visit, height and weight were also measured. The exclusion criteria were patients on insulin therapy and those suffering from renal failure, stroke, cancer, and other conditions affecting diet and weight. The biochemical tests were performed using Bayer Semi-autoanalyzer RA-50. The paired t test was used for comparison of study parameters measured at both the visits and p<0.05 was considered significant.The results of the study show that Diwali is followed by a significant increase in fasting ( ) after Diwali. The results of this study show that there is deterioration of lipid and glycemic parameters after festival of Diwali. These findings have clinical implications. While managing T2DM, lifestyle and cultural factors should be considered. The antidiabetic drugs can be adjusted in accordance with the expected dietary change during festivals. Specialized diet counseling can be of help for patients.T2DM type 2 diabetes mellitus, TG triglycerides, LDL lowdensity lipoprotein, VLDL very-low-density lipoprotein, HDL high-density lipoprotein. This study was presented as a poster at ENDO 2012 (Houston, TX) and the abstract is present online on the meeting organizer's website.

Background: Patient preparation is one of the least standardized parts of the preanalytic phase oftesting. Fasting blood glucose requires fasting for 8-12 hours as per various guidelines and also hasseveral other requirements. Lack of communication, understanding, or compliance regarding hours-of-fasting, water-intake, avoidance of caloric snack/beverage, the sudden change in smoking,exercise, alcohol, medication, etc. introduces preanalytic errors. Method: To evaluate awareness,understanding, and compliance with fasting requirements, a face-to-face survey was done onoutpatients in a Government Hospital in Pali, Rajasthan, India. Relatively more educated internetusers were surveyed as controls through an online SurveyMonkey tool. Results: 98 patients and187 controls participated in the study. Perception about fasting requirements ranged from 0-17hours. 71% of patients and 35% of controls perceived that nobody explained to them the durationor nature of fasting. The different sources of information had been used in different proportions bypatients and controls. For imparting understanding and compliance about duration, and otherrequirements of fasting, the instruction was usually incomplete but still much more effective (p-value=0.000002) than formal education level (p-value=0.024). Conclusion: 71% of patients and35% of controls did not receive instructions for fasting. 40% of those instructed showed bettercompliance, but awareness was incomplete. The instruction was more effective than formaleducation in improving awareness and compliance. Improved awareness was strongly associatedwith receiving instruction and weakly associated with formal education but financial status showedonly a weak negative association.