ICAM-1 K469E gene polymorphism, genotype-phenotype correlation, and retinopathy in Type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.

Context: The role of genetic factors in the development of diabetic retinopathy is evident from the fact that only 50% of patients with the non-proliferative type of diabetic retinopathy progress to proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Though the K469E polymorphism of the ICAM-1 (Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1) gene is known to increase the risk of developing Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) among Type 2 diabetic patients, its role in the development of severe DR has not been extensively studied.

Aim: Hence, we aimed to determine the risk due to association of K469E polymorphism of ICAM-1 gene and sight threatening diabetic retinopathy.

A Prospective Nonrandomized Comparison of Wet Needling Versus Prolotherapy in Myofascial Pain.

Objective: The objective was to analyze the difference between prolotherapy and wet needling (WN) for myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) for the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Clinical Global Impression (CGI), and MTrP count.

Methods: Patients with myofascial pain for 1.5 years were included based on convenience sampling after a pilot study for sample size calculation.

The Impact of Poststroke Aphasia on Quality of Life: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study.

Objectives: The study aimed to analyze the impact of aphasia on quality of life (QoL) in persons with ischemic stroke per radiological severity, compare equally severe but nonaphasic stroke survivors, and analyze the impact of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) exposure Methods: Patients with first-ever middle cerebral artery (MCA) stroke were categorized by radiological severity into high, intermediate, and low Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS). The Stroke Aphasia Quality of Life (SAQoL) Scale was used for outcome analysis. Inclusion criteria were age 40-65, 12-16 months after stroke, MCA distribution, first stroke, and ischemic stroke.