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Background: Commonly used methods to measure protein are 24 hours urine collection, which is time consuming cumbersome and often in accurate, the other method, infrequently used, is estimation of proteinuria from proteincreatinine ratio. The objective of the study was to compare spot urine protein-creatinine ratio with 24 hours urine protein as an index of quantitative proteinuria. Methods: 110 patients with persistent dipstick positive proteinuria with varying degrees of renal dysfunction were included in this study. First morning spot urine sample were used to estimate protein creatinine ratio and then 24 hours urine protein estimation was done and compared. Results: There was significant correlation between 24 hours urine protein and protein creatinine ratio (r = 0.70) (P<0.01) However maximum correlation was in patients with normal or mild renal dysfunction and non nephrotic range proteinuria (r = 0.92) (p<0.01). Conclusions: Protein creatinine ratio in a spot morning urine sample is a precise indicator of proteinuria and represents a simple and inexpensive procedure in establishing severity of proteinuria.

A new species of Amomum Roxb. from Western Ghats of Kerala is illustrated and described. Amomum nilgiricum VP.Thomas & M.Sabu, sp. nov. shows similarity with Amomum masticatorium Thwaites in having long drying ligule with an acuminate apex, pubescent anther and echinate capsules, but differs in clump forming habit with non-stoloniferous rhizomes, tomentose lamina beneath, long corolla tube, obovate to rhomboid labellum with clefted apex and without any colour design, emarginate anther crest and reduced staminodes. Detailed description, illustration, photographs, conservation status, and distributional details are provided.

Background: Cardiovascular cause is the leading cause of mortality in RA and this has been attributed to accelerated atherosclerosis. Indirect evidence of accelerated atherosclerosis in RA comes from studies using carotid artery intima media thickness (CIMT) as a marker of atherosclerotic burden and cardiovascular risk. Aims: To assess carotid intimamedia thickness in patients with rheumatoid arthritis by using Doppler ultrasound and to study the correlation between carotid intima-media thickness and the duration and severity of rheumatoid arthritis. Materials and Methods: A total of 30 rheumatoid arthritis patients were enrolled during 2 year study. Patients satisfying the modified American Rheumatology Association criteria (1987) were included. Those with hypertension, cardiac disease, and diabetes mellitus were excluded. Subjects were divided into three groups (each group consist of 10 patients) based on disease duration. For measurement of carotid intimal medial thickness B-mode USG scan using 7.5 MHz probe is used. Results: The mean value of common carotid intima media thickness (CCIMT) was significantly higher in the study group (0.8 mm) when compared to control group (0.59 mm) (p value < 0.001). Total carotid intima media thickness (i.e., mean of total CIMT of CCA, ICA, and ECA) was significantly higher in the study group (0.76 mm) when compared to control group (0.57mm) (p value < 0.001). Conclusion: The study shows a significant directly proportional relation between carotid intima media thickness to longer duration of disease.

Background: Long term uncontrolled hyperglycemia, which is indicated by HbA1c levels, is strongly suspected of promoting atheogensis.An accurate marker for assessing the risk of stroke is the carotid artery intima-media thickening (IMT), assessed by Doppler ultrasound. Increased common carotid artery IMT is correlated with silent cerebral infarcts.This study aimed to show the association between marker of uncontrolled long term hyperglycemia (HbA1C) and marker of atherosclerosis (Carotid intima media thickness [CIMT]) in ischemic stroke patients. Methods: This study was conducted In Deptt. of Medicine, Rajindra hospital Patiala in collabroration with Deptt. Of Radiology and Deptt. of Biochemistry. Results: This study included a total number of 75 patients admitted in various ward of Medicine Deptt. Rajindra Hospital Patiala.CIMT was found to be significantly increased in the patients having diabetics mellitus than non diabetic patients. Conclusion:There is seen a positive correlation of HbA1C with CIMT in our study which included only the ischemic stroke patients.