Liver dysfunction in alcoholics in Western Nepal

To estimate liver function tests in patients with alcoholic fatty liver disease, alcoholic hepatitis and alcoholic cirrhosis and to compare the levels of enzymes between the groups. A hospital based case control study was carried out at Nepalgunj Medical College, Nepal from January 2013 to June 2013. A total of 150 alcoholic associated liver disorders patients aged between 20-70 years and 50 sex age matched normal healthy controls were taken to assess liver function tests (LFTs) by measuring Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Gamma glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) & Albumin. The mean±SD of liver function tests (LFTs) of patients of alcoholic fatty liver disease is highest followed by alcoholic hepatitis patients. All the 3 groups of alcoholic associated liver disorders patients when compared to normal healthy control subjects showed statistically significant increase in the levels of AST (p<0.000), ALT (p<0.000), ALP (p<0.006), GGT (p<0.000), & Albumin (p<0.000). Liver function tests values for alcoholic associated liver disorders patients when compared to the healthy control subjects was significantly altered.

Comparison of lipid profile in type-2 obese diabetics and obese non-diabetic individuals. a hospital based study from Western Nepal

BACKGROUND

Type-2 diabetes mellitus is an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease and risk of coronary disease is three to four fold increased in patients with diabetes compared with non-diabetic population and 60-80% 0f type-2 diabetics are obese.

METHODS

This study was conducted in Nepalgunj Teaching Hospital, Kohalpur, Banke, Nepal, between 1st March, 2011 and 28th February, 2012. A total of 150 samples were taken to assess the lipid profile in type-2 diabetic patients associated with obesity and 25 obese controls for their lipid profile. Venous blood samples were taken from all the subjects in the morning after fasting overnight. Exclusion criteria included pregnancy, chronic infectious disease, heart failure; renal failure and drug allergy were confirmed from the subject's personal physician report and a detailed history. The data was analyzed using Excel 2003, R 2.8.0 Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows Version 16.0 (SPSS Inc; Chicago, IL, USA) and the EPI Info 3.5.1 Windows Version.

RESULTS

The mean ± SD age of diabetic patients with obesity was 53.76± 6.23 while the mean ± SD age of control was 49.61 ± 4.8. Out of 150 patients 105 (70%) were males and 45 (30%) were females. Among control subjects 16 (64%) were males and 9 (36%) were females. Obese type-2 diabetic patients when compared to obese control subjects showed statistically significant increase in the levels of serum total cholesterol (p < 0.001), serum triglycerides (p < 0.001), serum LDL-cholesterol (p < 0.001) while serum HDL-cholesterol levels did not show statistically significant difference in the two group (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

This study showed obese diabetic individuals have dyslipidemia and more prone to develop cardiovascular diseases.