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Biomedical subjects

C Desouza

Publications and source records attributed to C Desouza.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Nontraditional risk factors for cardiovascular disease in diabetes.

People with type 2 diabetes are disproportionately affected by cardiovascular disease (CVD), compared with those without diabetes. Traditional risk factors do not fully explain this excess risk, and other "nontraditional" risk factors may be important. This review will highlight the importance of nontraditional risk factors for CVD in the setting of type 2 diabetes and discuss their role in the pathogenesis of the excess CVD morbidity and mortality in these patients. We will also discuss the impact of various therapies used in patients with diabetes on nontraditional risk factors.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗

Hormones and homocysteine.

Hyperhomocysteinemia is a well-established risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Various factors, both modifiable and non-modifiable, interact with the homocysteine metabolism and determine the plasma homocysteine concentrations. These include genetic abnormalities, age, sex and various nutritional and hormonal determinants, all of which play a role in atherosclerosis and accelerated peripheral and cardio-vascular disease (CVD). Several hormones modulate homocysteine metabolism and hence may play a role in the pathogenesis of CVD. The mechanisms involved are unclear. The association of hyperhomocysteinemia with diabetes mellitus is complex and may explain some of the risk of CVD in diabetics not explained by traditional risk factors. Much conflicting data exists in the literature on the role of insulin on homocysteine metabolism, although insulin affects the enzymes regulating the homocysteine metabolism. Treatment of hyperhomocysteinemia with vitamins lowers plasma homocysteine concentrations. Little data is available on the effect of this intervention on cardiovascular outcomes. This review briefly outlines the homocysteine metabolism, summarizes its hormonal determinants, and discusses the role of hyperhomocysteinemia in diabetes, hyperlipidemia and other endocrine disorders.

Diabetic Angiopathies↗

Management of the insulin resistance syndrome.

The insulin resistance syndrome (IRS) is a common disorder, which has important clinical implications. It is a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors that include obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, glucose intolerance, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Lifestyle modifications and insulin sensitizers are among the several therapeutic strategies available for the treatment of the IRS. Optimal treatment will not only improve glycemic control, but may also significantly lower cardiovascular disease.

Diabetes Mellitus↗

The styloid process in ossicular chain reconstruction (a pilot study).

Our pilot study reports twenty-six cases of resolved chronic otitis media in which the human, cadaveric styloid process was used as an ossicular graft material. A maximum follow-up of one year is presented in this paper. There was no extrusion or rejection of the styloid processes. Hearing improvement with a closure of the air-bone gap to within 10-15 dB. of the pre-operative bone conduction was found in most cases. So far the styloid process has proved to be an ideal ossicular graft though the long-term results are yet to be seen.

Bioprosthesis↗