Objective:Polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS)is a pathophysiological disorder affecting reproductive and metabolic indices in females.The present study was designed to compare the efficacy of metformin and D-chiro-inositol in PCOS patients.Methods:In a tertiary care hospital in North India,prospective observational research was undertaken on 100 patients with PCOS,which was diagnosed based on European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology Guidelines and ultrasound of lower abdomen.The study involves various clinical characteristics into considera-tion for the determination of statistical significance(P＜0.05)in PCOS patients.Student's t-test along with the association between PCOS and patients taking metformin and D-chiro-inositol,as well as their impact on various biochemical parameters,were investigated finally using Pearson Correlation Analysis.Results:This study comprises 50 patients taking metformin and 50 patients taking D-chiro-inositol in women suffering from PCOS.Body mass index(BMI)and waist-to-hip ratio(WHR)were statistically significant(P＜0.05)within the groups of both metformin and D-chiro-inositol.Biochemical parameters such as luteinizing hormone(LH),follicle stimulating hormone(FSH),anti-mullerian hormone(AMH)and glycated hemoglobin(HbA1c)were found to be statistically significant(P＜0.05)in both groups.LH,FSH and AMH(14.40±0.52;14.28±0.53;1.99±0.10)were comparatively lower in patients taking D-chiro-inositol as compared to metformin group(14.17±0.42;19.88±1.01;2.61±0.04).HbA1c(3.71±0.08)with P＜0.05 was found to be decreased more in metformin group as compared to patients taking D-chiro-inositol(4.90±0.09).A positive correlation was found between HbA1c and LH in metformin,& HbA1c and FSH in D-chiro-inositol groups,respectively.Conclusion:The results indicate that D-chiro-inositol shows better results in reducing clinical variables involved in causing PCOS as compared to metformin whereas metformin has better glycemic control in PCOS patients.

Objective: To evaluate the epidemiology of candidiasis and the antifungal susceptibility profile of Candida species isolated from the intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Methods: The study used a qualitative descriptive design. Relevant samples depending on organ system involvement from 100 ICU patients were collected and processed. Identification and speciation of the isolates was conducted by the biochemical tests. Antifungal susceptibility testing was carried out as per CLSI-M27-A3 document. Results: Ninety Candida isolates were isolated from the different clinical samples: urine (43.3%), tracheal aspirate (31.1%), urinary catheter (12.2%), endotracheal tube (7.8%), abdominal drains (3.3%), sputum (2.2%). The incidence of candidiasis caused by non-albicans Candida (NAC) species (63.3%) was higher than Candida albicans (36.7%). The various NAC species were isolated as: Candida tropicalis (41.1%), Candida glabrata (10%), Candida parapsilosis (6.7%), Candida krusei (3.3%) and Candida kefyr (2.2%). The overall isolation rate of Candida species from samples was 53.3%. Antifungal susceptibility indicated that 37.8% and 7.8% of the Candida isolates were resistant to fluconazole and amphotericin B, respectively. Conclusions: Predominance of NAC species in ICU patients along with the increasing resistance being recorded to fluconazole which has a major bearing on the morbidity and management of these patients and needs to be further worked upon.