Experience of cardiac implantable electronic device lead removal from a South African tertiary referral centre.

Background: The rate of cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) implantation in low- and middle-income countries is increasing. Patients recieving these devices are frequently older and with multiple co-morbidities, which may later lead to complications requiring CIED removal. CIED removals are associated with life-threatening complications.

Demographic stratification of Type 2 diabetes and comorbidities in district healthcare in KwaZulu-Natal.

Background: Diabetes has been reported as the second leading cause of death and the top leading cause of death amongst women in South Africa; it is important to evaluate any epidemiological or demographic transition related to diabetes. This study evaluated the demographically stratified prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and existing comorbidities amongst an outpatient population in a district healthcare facility in Kwazulu-Natal (KZN).

Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at a district hospital, and a retrospective record review of all outpatients who reported to the hospital to be treated for T2DM between the period, August 2018-January 2019, was used.

Nitric oxide: basic science and clinical applications.

Nitric oxide is now considered an important endogenous mediator for neurotransmission, vasodilatation, nerve function and immune defence. Improved understanding of the physiology and pharmacology of nitric oxide could lead to important applications especially in the treatment of septic shock and pulmonary hypertension or vasoconstriction.

Stress hyperglycaemia is a predictor of abnormal glucose tolerance in Indian patients with acute myocardial infarction.

66 non-diabetic Indian patients with acute myocardial infarction were assessed prospectively for the presence of hyperglycaemia and the value of this admission hyperglycaemia and glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1) levels in reflecting the glucose tolerance status of the patients was studied. Hyperglycaemia, defined as admission plasma glucose greater than or equal to 8 mmol/l was detected in 49% of the patients, whilst raised HbA1 values were seen in 11%. The admission plasma glucose (APG) correlated significantly with both the HbA1 levels and with the 2 hour glucose value in the oral glucose tolerance test (p less than 0.