D Prabath Kumar

Bio: D Prabath Kumar is an academic researcher from Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences. The author has contributed to research in topics: Population & Rheumatoid arthritis. The author has an hindex of 3, co-authored 14 publications receiving 155 citations.

Epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and diagnosis of chikungunya fever: Lessons learned from the re-emerging epidemic

Abstract: Chikungunya fever, caused by "Chikungunya virus," is an arbovirus disease transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes belonging to the genus Aedes. Chikungunya fever epidemics have been reported from several countries around the world. The disease that was silent for nearly 32 years re-emerged in the October 2005 outbreak in India that is still ongoing. The incubation period ranges from 3 to 12 days. The onset is usually abrupt and the acute stage is characterized by sudden onset with high-grade fever, severe arthralgias, myalgias, and skin rash. Swollen tender joints and crippling arthritis are usually evident. In the chronic stage, relapses that include sensation of fever, asthenia, exacerbation of arthralgias, inflammatory polyarthritis, and stiffness may be evident. Neurological, ocular, and mucocutaneous manifestations have also been described. Chronic arthritis may develop in about 15% of the patients. Viral culture is the gold standard for the diagnosis of Chikungunya fever. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and real-time loop-mediated isothermal amplification have also been found to be useful. Serodiagnostic methods for the detection of immunoglobulin M and immunoglobulin G antibodies against Chikungunya virus are more frequently used. Chikungunya is a self-limiting disease; however, severe manifestations such as meningoencephalitis, fulminant hepatitis, and bleeding manifestations may sometimes be life-threatening. Treatment is symptomatic and supportive. Prevention by educating the community and public health officials, vector control measures appear to be the best approach at controlling Chikungunya fever as no commercially available vaccine is available for public use in India for this condition presently.

Myasthenic crisis-like syndrome due to cleistanthus collinus poisoning

Abstract: Poisoning with Cleistanthus collinus frequently causes cardiac manifestations such as rhythm disturbances and also results in other manifestations such as metabolic acidosis and hypokalemia. We present the case of a patient who presented with a rare myasthenic crisis-like syndrome requiring assisted ventilation due to Cleistanthus collinus poisoning, which responded to treatment with neostigmine.

Comparison of Disease Activity Score in 28 joints with ESR (DAS28), Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI), Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI) & Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data with 3 measures (RAPID3) for assessing disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis at initial presentation.

Abstract: Background & objectives: In patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), disease severity assessment is done using Disease Activity Score in 28 joints with ESR (DAS28). Computing DAS28 is time-consuming, requires laboratory testing and an online calculator. There is a need to validate rapid methods of disease severity assessment for routine daily use. This study was conducted to compare DAS28, Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI), Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI) and Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data with 3 measures (RAPID3) to assess the disease activity in patients with RA. Methods: We prospectively studied the utility of CDAI, HAQ-DI and RAPID3 scoring in 100 consecutive newly diagnosed, disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) naive adult patients with RA seen during January 2013 and June 2014 at a tertiary care teaching hospital in south India. Results: The mean age of the patients was 42.1±11.6 yr, there were 82 females. The median [interquartile range (IQR)] symptom duration was 6 (range 4-12) months. The median (IQR) DAS28, CDAI, HAQ-DI and RAPID3 scores at presentation were 7 (6-7), 36 (28-43), 2 (1-2) and 17 (13-19), respectively. A significant positive correlation was observed between DAS28 and CDAI (r=0.568; P Interpretation & conclusions: In adult patients with RA, in the setting where illiteracy is high, CDAI emerged as the preferred choice for rapid assessment of severity of disease at the time of initial presentation.

Effect of oral hypoglycaemic agents on bone metabolism in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus & occurrence of osteoporosis

Abstract: Background & objectives: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is considered to be a protective factor against development of osteoporosis. But oral hypoglycaemic agents (OHA) are likely to increase the risk of osteoporosis. This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of various OHA on bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with T2DM. Methods: Forty one patients (study group) with T2DM (mean age 51.9±5.5 yr; 31 females) receiving treatment with oral hypoglycaemic agents (OHA) [thiazolidinediones alone (n=14) or in combination with other OHA (n=27)] for a period of at least three consecutive years and 41 age- and gender-matched healthy controls (mean age 51.4±5.1 yr) were included in the study. A detailed clinical history was taken and all were subjected to physical examination and recording of anthropometric data. BMD was assessed for both patients and controls. Results: The mean body mass index (kg/m [2] ) (26.5±4.90 vs 27.3 ±5.33) and median [inter-quartile range (IQR)] duration of menopause (yr) among women [6(2-12) vs 6(1-13)] were comparable between both groups. The bone mineral density (BMD; g/cm [2] ) at the level of neck of femur (NOF) (0.761±0.112 vs 0.762±0.110), lumbar spine antero-posterior view (LSAP) (0.849±0.127 vs 0.854±0.135); median Z-score NOF {0.100[(-0.850)-(0.550)] vs -0.200[(-0.800)-(0.600)]}, LSAP {-1.200[(-1.700)-(-0.200)] vs -1.300 [(-1.85)-(-0.400)]} were also similar in study and control groups. Presence of normal BMD (9/41 vs 8/41), osteopenia (16/41 vs 18/41) and osteoporosis (16/41 vs 15/41) were comparable between the study and control groups. No significant difference was observed in the BMD, T-scores and Z-scores at NOF and LSAP among T2DM patients treated with thiazolidinediones; those treated with other OHA and controls. Interpretation & conclusions: The present findings show that the use of OHA for a period of three years or more does not significantly affect the BMD in patients with T2DM.

Derivation & validation of glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA 1c ) cut-off value as a diagnostic test for type 2 diabetes in south Indian population.

Abstract: Background & Objectives: Glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA 1c ) has been in use for more than a decade, as a diagnostic test for type 2 diabetes. Validity of HbA 1c needs to be established in the ethnic population in which it is intended to be used. The objective of this study was to derive and validate a HbA 1c cut-off value for the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes in the ethnic population of Rayalaseema area of south India. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, consecutive patients suspected to have type 2 diabetes underwent fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and 2 h post-load plasma glucose (2 h-PG) measurements after a 75 g glucose load and HbA 1c estimation. They were classified as having diabetes as per the American Diabetes Association criteria [(FPG ≥7 mmol/l (≥126 mg/dl) and/or 2 h-PG ≥11.1 mmol/l (≥200 mg/dl)]. In the training data set (n = 342), optimum cut-off value of HbA 1c for defining type 2 diabetes was derived by receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curve method using oral glucose tolerance test results as gold standard. This cut-off was validated in a validation data set (n = 341). Results: On applying HbA 1c cut-off value of >6.3 per cent (45 mmol/mol) to the training data set,sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) for diagnosing type 2 diabetes were calculated to be 90.6, 85.2, 80.8 and 93.0 per cent, respectively. When the same cut-off value was applied to the validation data set, sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV were 88.8 , 81.9, 74.0 and 92.7 per cent, respectively, although the latter were consistently smaller than the proportions for the training data set, the differences being not significant. Interpretation & conclusions: HbA 1c >6.3 per cent (45 mmol/mol) appears to be the optimal cut-off value for the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes applicable to the ethnic population of Rayalaseema area of Andhra Pradesh state in south India.

Chikungunya virus: an update on the biology and pathogenesis of this emerging pathogen

Abstract: Re-emergence of chikungunya virus, a mosquito-transmitted pathogen, is of serious public health concern. In the past 15 years, after decades of infrequent, sporadic outbreaks, the virus has caused major epidemic outbreaks in Africa, Asia, the Indian Ocean, and more recently the Caribbean and the Americas. Chikungunya virus is mainly transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in tropical and subtropical regions, but the potential exists for further spread because of genetic adaptation of the virus to Aedes albopictus, a species that thrives in temperate regions. Chikungunya virus represents a substantial health burden to affected populations, with symptoms that include severe joint and muscle pain, rashes, and fever, as well as prolonged periods of disability in some patients. The inflammatory response coincides with raised levels of immune mediators and infiltration of immune cells into infected joints and surrounding tissues. Animal models have provided insights into disease pathology and immune responses. Although host innate and adaptive responses have a role in viral clearance and protection, they can also contribute to virus-induced immune pathology. Understanding the mechanisms of host immune responses is essential for the development of treatments and vaccines. Inhibitory compounds targeting key inflammatory pathways, as well as attenuated virus vaccines, have shown some success in animal models, including an attenuated vaccine strain based on an isolate from La Reunion incorporating an internal ribosome entry sequence that prevents the virus from infecting mosquitoes and a vaccine based on virus-like particles expressing envelope proteins. However, immune correlates of protection, as well as the safety of prophylactic and therapeutic candidates, are important to consider for their application in chikungunya infections. In this Review, we provide an update on chikungunya virus with regard to its epidemiology, molecular virology, virus-host interactions, immunological responses, animal models, and potential antiviral therapies and vaccines.