Satyam Prakash

Microalbuminuria in Diabetes

Diabetes has become the main public health challenge for the 21st century. Pronounced changes in the human environment and in human behavior and lifestyle, have accompanied globalization, and these have resulted in escalating rates of diabetes. Microalbuminuria is considered as a clinically important indicator of deteriorating renal function in diabetic patients. Microalbuminuria is the strong predictor of diabetic nephropathy, which is the main cause of mortality and morbidity in patients with diabetes mellitus. It is also characterized by increased prevalence of arterial hypertension, proliferative retinopathy, and peripheral neuropathy. Detection of microalbuminuria is an indication for initiation of appropriate therapy for the purpose of preventing the advance of progressive diabetic nephropathy. Diabetic kidney disease or nephropathy is the most common cause of end stage renal disease (ESRD) or kidney failure. One of the early markers of not only diabetic nephropathy, but also vascular disease in patients with diabetes, is the presence of microalbuminuria. The primary constituent of urinary protein in diabetic nephropathy is albumin. Consequently, quantification of urinary albumin excretion is central to any description of diabetic renal disease. Other renal diseases that occur with greater frequency in diabetic patients include asymptomatic bacteriuria, pyelonephritis, papillary necrosis, and radiocontrast induced renal failure. Primary prevention of diabetes is the ideal. In this concern, this review briefly highlights the features of diabetes, diabetic nephropathy and different perspectives of microalbuminuria in diabetes.

Anthropometric Dimensions on Nutritional Grade among School Children

The combination of the food, fuel and financial crises coming together is threatening the livelihoods and food security of millions of people in developing countries which has enhanced the interest of researchers in under nutrition. Under nutrition continues to be an important cause of ill-health and premature mortality and morbidity among children [1]. Nutritional deprivation is rampant in children of school age. Since deficient physical growth is naturally reflected in their suboptimal mental achievement, the assessment of nutritional status is essential for making development towards improving overall health of the school age children [2]. Organization plays a chief role in conveying knowledge and prevention of nutritional deficiencies and several other diseases which provides an ideal setting for promoting good health behavior. The most significant period of a student’s life is spent at school and colleges and it is here that their lifetime beliefs and habits develop [3,4]. Schools are considered as perfect settings for health promotion among children and school staffs [5,6]. School age is a dynamic period of physical growth as well as of mental development of the child. The nutritional status of school-aged children impacts their health, cognition and subsequently their educational achievement. Children in the age group of 5-14 years are often considered as school-age. Since 1972, the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) consider 6-11 years as primary school age and 12-17 years as secondary school age for statistical purposes [7]. The foundations of good health and sound mind are laid during the school age period [8]. The children are classified using three categories: ‘underweight’ (low weight-for-age), ‘stunting’ (low height-for-age) or ‘wasting’ (low weight-for-height). Anthropometric examination is an almost mandatory tool in any research to assess health and nutritional condition in childhood. Based on the age, body weight and height, a number of indices such as height-for-age, weight-for-height and body mass index have been suggested [9]. School children are not thought of as “at risk” population and little attention is paid to their nutritional assessment [10]. Nepal has high rates of under nutrition contributing to a huge absolute number of undernourished children in the world. The problem is more severe in third world countries affecting children of all ages especially the under fives. According to Nepal Demographic Health and Survey (2011), the nutritional status of children under five as measured by weight-forheight was 11 % of children wasted and 3 % was severely wasted [11]. The use of different growth standards can Volume 6 Issue 3 2017

Dental Caries: A Microbiological Approach

Tooth decay, also known as dental caries is an epidemic, microbiological contagious disease of the teeth that ends in localized dissolution and damage of the calcified structure of the teeth. This disease occurs due to multiple factors such as interactions within the plaque community, host physiology, diet, fluoride, pH and the nature of the tooth enamel, and dominance of Streptococcus mutans . The time factor is significant for the commencement and development of caries in teeth. The main instigation and progress of dental caries involves acidogenic and aciduric Gram-positive bacteria such as Streptococcus, Lactobacillus and Actinomycetes colonizing the supragingival biofilm which impede with usual nutrition intake, verbal communication, self-worth and daily habitual behavior. Nutritional influences on craniofacial development, oral cancer and other oral infectious diseases are expensive to treat. In spite of development in science of oral diseases, dental caries extend to be a global health concern affecting human being of different age groups. With this concern, this review article highlights different microbiological perspectives of dental caries in broader sense and its update will help to upgrade the recent trends of microbiology in dental caries and also formulating various developmental programs towards oral hygiene.