Pneumonia is defined as an infection of the pulmonary parenchyma. Despite being the cause of significant complications and deaths, pneumonia is often wrongly diagnosed, mistreated, and underestimated. The incidence rates are highest in old-aged patients. In the current prospective observational study, we intend to study the utility of procalcitonin (PCT) level and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level for diagnosing pneumonia.

Prospective observational studies.

The study was conducted in RajaRajeswari Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru, during the period extending from June to May 2014. Eighty patients, aged more than 18 years, with diagnosis of pneumonia were included in the study. Serum PCT levels were calculated using BRAHMS PCT Kryptor immunofluorescent assay (Biomerieux, France). Other routine investigations, including CRP, sputum culture, and endotracheal secretions cultures, were done. Chisquare analysis was done to assess its prognostic and diagnostic significance. Data were analysed with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (version 17.0 for Windows).

C-reactive protein was positive in 60 (75%) of the patients, and PCT was positive in 45 (56.25%) patients; 28 patients had PCT levels 0.5 to 1.5 ng/mL, 1 (3.6%) had CRP <6 mg/mL, 27 (96.4%) had CRP >6 mg/mL; 17 patients had PCT values >1.5 ng/mL and CRP was positive in all patients (p < 0.001). Streptococcus pneumonia was the most common and isolated in 8 (10%) patients. C-reactive protein is a useful and better adjuvant in the diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Positive PCT levels indicate a bacterial etiology for pneumonia. A high PCT level is a poor prognostic indicator and is associated with a higher mortality.

Prajwal KC, Krishna MV, Patil S. Study of Clinical Profile of Community-acquired Pneumonia with Special Reference to C-reactive Protein and Procalcitonin Levels. J Med Sci 2016;2(2):27-30.

Diabetes mellitus is independently associated with lower levels of health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Quality of life (QoL) is an important aspect in diabetes because poor QoL leads to diminished self-care, which in turn leads to worsened glycemic control, increased risks for complications, and exacerbation of diabetes overwhelming in both the short run and the long run.

To assess the HRQoL among diabetics aged 18 years and above visiting the Medicine Outpatient Department at RajaRajeswari Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru.

We conducted a hospital-based study using a generic instrument, Audit of Diabetes Dependent Quality of Life 18 (ADDQoL 18) to measure the QoL of diabetic subjects aged ≥18 years. One hundred and forty diabetics, including 68 males and 72 females, were selected from the Medicine Outpatient Department at RajaRajeswari Medical College and Hospital. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences for Windows, version 22.

The mean age of the participants was 55.7 ±12.5 years. Majority of them (75.7%) were Hindu by religion and most of the study participants (60%) had received formal education. Majority (48.6%) belonged to grade 3 socioeconomic status. Diabetic patients who were employed constituted 52.9%. On the type of diabetes, 91.4% of the participants had type 2 diabetes, while 8.6% had type 1 diabetes. The mean duration of diabetes since diagnosis was 8.2 ±6.5 years.

With regard to presence or absence of complications, 38.6% of the participants suffered from complications of diabetes, while 61.4% did not. With regard to treatment, 59.3% of them were consuming only oral hypoglycemic, whereas 40.7% were on insulin. It was observed that diabetes had a negative impact on the present QoL with a mean negative impact of –0.45 and a mean negative average weighted impact of –5.16 on the individual life domains. The negative impact of diabetes on the QoL was greater among those receiving insulin ±oral hypoglycemic agents and among those who had complications. The domains “freedom to eat,” “freedom to drink,” “enjoyment of food,” and “working life” had the greatest negative impact in all patient subgroups. It was observed that male diabetics had a poorer QoL as compared with female diabetics, but this was found to be not statistically significant.

Diabetes had an adverse effect on the QoL of these study subjects.

Komal SS, Srividya V. Health-related Quality of Life among Diabetics visiting RajaRajeswari Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru. J Med Sci 2016;2(2):31-35.

Vardhan V, Vishwaraj S. A Case of Cyclopentolate Induced Psychosis. J Med Sci 2016;2(2):36-37.

Somayaji NR, Talwade R, Shukla AK, Pramila VS, Nagesh R, Pravin GU. Multidetector Computed Tomography Evaluation of Juvenile Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma. J Med Sci 2016;2(2):38-41.

Parinita S, Rao KNM, Vivek. Intrapulmonary Solitary Fibrous Tumor of the Lung: A Rare Case Presentation. J Med Sci 2016;2(2):42-44.