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Background:The prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has increased over the last decade. India is one of the countries with highest prevalenceof NAFLD. High prevalence of lifestyle disorders among Keralites and their association with NAFLD necessitates studies on the subject. Aims and Objective: Owing to the scarcity of studies evaluating the association of NAFLD with anthropometric and clinical parameters in Kerala, the present study was conducted. Materials and Methods: Our case-control study enrolled 81 cases (with NAFLD) and 79 controls (without NAFLD) who were undergoing voluntary health checkup over a period of 2 years. Institutional Ethics Committee approved the study and written informed consent was obtained from all the study participants. Sociodemographic, anthropometric parameters and blood pressure (BP) were recorded and categorized based on gender, body mass index (BMI), and BP (JNC-8). Data were analyzed using free software R™. Independent sample t-test, Mann-Whitney U-test, and Chi-square test were used for statistical analysis and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: 15% and 11% of the study participants were having normal BMI and BP, respectively. Cases were significantly taller (P = 0.003), were having higher BMI (P = 0.04), weight (P < 0.001), waist circumference (WC) (P = 0.02), and systolic BP (SBP) (P = 0.02) compared to controls.Significant association was observed between NAFLD and stage 2 hypertension (P = 0.04). Our study did not demonstrate any association between NAFLD and BMI (P = 0.2) and between NAFLD and WC (P = 0.7). Conclusion: High prevalence of weight-related and BP disorders were seen in participants undergoing voluntary health checkup. NAFLD was associated with a significantly higher weight, BMI, height, SBP, and WC. Significantly higher odds of NAFLD were seen in participants with Stage 2 hypertension.

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Background: The effectiveness of self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients is debated in the literature. We aimed at elucidating the association and patterns of complications between SMBG use and plasma glucose values. Methods: This cross-sectional study comprised 303 participants from outpatient departments with T2DM for over 12 months. We analyzed sociodemographic and clinical variables including: anthropometry, SMBG use, disease duration, treatment modality, complications, plasma glucose level, and glycated hemoglobin level (%). Results: The mean duration of T2DM was 93±76 months. Participants were grouped into SMBG users (n=115, 38%) and non-SMBG users (n=188, 62%). The mean fasting plasma glucose levels of SMBG and non-SMBG users were 140.7±42.7 (95% Confidence Interval [95%CI]: 132.72;148.67) mg/dl and 145.4±50 (95%CI: 138.12;152.67) mg/dl (p=0.03), respectively. The mean post-prandial plasma glucose levels of the SMBG and non-SMBG groups were 202±63.42 (95%CI: 190.23;213.76) mg/dl and 209±84.54 (95%CI: 196.56;221.43) mg/dl (p=0.002), respectively. The mean difference in HbA1c among the groups were 8.14±1.69% (95%CI: 7.59;8.68) and 8.15±1.98% (95%CI: 7.27;9.02) (p=0.4), respectively. Hypoglycemia (n=50, 43.5%) was the most common complication. The prevalence of neuropathy (n=5, 4.3%, p=0.036) and cardiovascular disease (n=21, 18.3%, p=0.042) were significantly higher in the SMBG group. Conclusion: Although plasma glucose values were significantly lower in the SMBG group, its clinical significance remains questionable. Furthermore, many participants in both the groups had shortfalls in awareness, monitoring, and glycemic control. SMBG use needs to be evaluated in a cohort of patients with T2DM with adequate health awareness.

Background: Monosodium glutamate (MSG), a flavor enhancer, is one of the most widely used commercial food additives. MSG produces oxidative stress in various tissues including cerebellar cortex. There is a paucity if data on the histological and immunohistochemical changes of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) on chronic administration of MSG at doses equivalent to human consumption (i.e., 40 mg/kg, 60 mg/kg, and 80 mg/kg daily for 3-month duration), hence this study. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the histological and immunohistochemical effects produced by MSG at doses equivalent to human consumption (40mg/kg/day, 60 mg/kg/day, and 80 mg/kg/day) in cerebellar cortex of adult mice. Materials and Methods: Study commenced after the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee approval. 40 Swiss-albino mice were randomly divided into four groups. Group 1 served as the negative control and received distilled water i.p. Groups 2, 3, and 4 received MSG at increasing doses. Animals were euthanized at 3 months, cerebellar samples were examined histopathologically and immunohistochemically. Results: Degeneration of the layers of cerebellar cortex in histopathology and reduction in the GFAP activity was observed in immunohistochemistry. Conclusion: MSG due to its wide consumption can cause degenerative changes in the cerebellum.