Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with various autoimmune disorders, including thyroid dysfunction. However, local data studying the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in newly diagnosed RA patients are limited.

Introduction: Plasma omentin-1 is a relatively new biomarker that has anti-diabetogenic and its level is inversely related with insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus, thus, increasing the risk of diabetic complications. In this study, we will determine the association between serum plasma omentin-1 levels and diabetes and its complications.Methods: This case control study was conducted from July 2020 to August 2021 in the internal medicine unit of a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan. There was a total of three groups, each comprising 250 patients. One group was type 2 diabetic patients with complications, the second group was type 2 diabetic patients without complications, and the third group was the control group, i.e. participants without type 2 diabetes. Their plasma omentin-1 levels were compared.Results: Patients with diabetic complications had significantly lower serum omentin levels than patients without complications (59.01 ± 9.21 ug/dL vs. 75.72 ± 14.11 ug/L; p-value: <0.0001). Patients with diabetes had significantly lower serum omentin levels in comparison to patients without diabetes (75.72 ± 14.11 ug/dL vs. 90.12 ± 17.89 ug/L; p-value: <0.0001). Conclusion:Based on our study, plasma omentin-1 is negatively associated with diabetes and its complications. Therefore, adequate levels of omentin-1 are needed in order to prevent diabetic complications.

Introduction: Hepatitis C has been linked to a multitude of autoimmune disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disease, cryoglobulinemia, immune thrombocytopenic purpura, systemic lupus erythematosus, and Sjögren's syndrome. In this study, efforts were made to draw a parallel between hepatitis C and thyroid dysfunction.Methods: This case-control study was conducted between June 2020 and March 2021 in the gastroenterology ward of a tertiary care hospital. We enrolled 300 hepatitis C-positive patients in this study through consecutive convenient non-probability sampling. In addition, 300 patients without hepatitis C were signed up as a control group. Blood sampling for thyroid function tests was conducted via phlebotomy from the cubital vein and the samples were dispatched to the laboratory for further study.Results: The control group had more euthyroid patients as compared to patients with hepatitis C (74.6% vs. 89.6%; p-value: <0.01). Hepatitis C patients had more cases of primary hypothyroidism compared to the control group (10.6% vs. 4.6%; p-value: 0.005). Similarly, patients with hepatitis C had a higher prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism compared to the control group (6.0% vs. 1.3%; p-value: 0.002). Conclusion:Hepatitis C patients have a high frequency of thyroid dysfunction, particularly primary hypothyroidism and subclinical hypothyroidism. Therefore, it is important to ensure regular screening for early prognosis and avoid treatment modalities that are known to cause thyroid abnormalities.

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Mental stress and insomnia are very common complaints nowadays among young individuals. Stress not only impacts mental well-being but it is also responsible for poor cardiac activity. A 32-year-old male patient having mental stress, anxiety, fatigue, and insomnia was managed with Ayurvedic External Therapy Module (AETM) having Shirodhara (~therapeutic oil streaming over the scalp), Sarvanga abhyanga (~therapeutic massage), and Sarvanga swedana (~sudation therapy) sessions of one hour duration daily for ten days. The patient was evaluated for cardiovascular and autonomic changes in Heart Rate Variability (HRV) by HRV camera smartphone application, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) for sleep quality, and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) Score for mental stress. The results found excellent changes in HRV time domain and frequency domain, a decrease in low-to-high frequency ratio suggesting parasympathetic activation, a 46.15% reduction in global PSQI score, and a 55.56% reduction in PSS score. This case study suggests that AETM sessions are not only effective in decreasing mental stress and improving sleep quality, but it also improves cardiac parameters.