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Authors are the souls of any journal, and deserve much respect. To publish a journal manuscripts are needed from authors. Authors have a great responsibility for producing facts of their work in terms of number and results truthfully and an individual honesty is expected from authors in this regards. Both ways its true "No authors-No manuscripts-No journals" and "No journals–No manuscripts–No authors". Reviewing a manuscript is also a very responsible and important task of any peer-reviewed journal and to be taken seriously. It needs knowledge on the subject, sincerity, honesty and determination. Although the process of reviewing a manuscript is a time consuming task butit is expected to give one's best remarks within the time frame of the journal.
Salient features of the JCDR: It is a biomedical, multidisciplinary (including all medical and dental specialities), e-journal, with wide scope and extensive author support. At the same time, a free text of manuscript is available in HTML and PDF format. There is fast growing authorship and readership with JCDR as this can be judged by the number of articles published in it i e; in Feb 2007 of its first issue, it contained 5 articles only, and now in its recent volume published in April 2011, it contained 67 manuscripts. This e-journal is fulfilling the commitments and objectives sincerely, (as stated by Editor-in-chief in his preface to first edition) i e; to encourage physicians through the internet, especially from the developing countries who witness a spectrum of disease and acquire a wealth of knowledge to publish their experiences to benefit the medical community in patients care. I also feel that many of us have work of substance, newer ideas, adequate clinical materials but poor in medical writing and hesitation to submit the work and need help. JCDR provides authors help in this regards.
Timely publication of journal: Publication of manuscripts and bringing out the issue in time is one of the positive aspects of JCDR and is possible with strong support team in terms of peer reviewers, proof reading, language check, computer operators, etc. This is one of the great reasons for authors to submit their work with JCDR. Another best part of JCDR is "Online first Publications" facilities available for the authors. This facility not only provides the prompt publications of the manuscripts but at the same time also early availability of the manuscripts for the readers.
Indexation and online availability: Indexation transforms the journal in some sense from its local ownership to the worldwide professional community and to the public.JCDR is indexed with Embase & EMbiology, Google Scholar, Index Copernicus, Chemical Abstracts Service, Journal seek Database, Indian Science Abstracts, to name few of them. Manuscriptspublished in JCDR are available on major search engines ie; google, yahoo, msn.
In the era of fast growing newer technologies, and in computer and internet friendly environment the manuscripts preparation, submission, review, revision, etc and all can be done and checked with a click from all corer of the world, at any time. Of course there is always a scope for improvement in every field and none is perfect. To progress, one needs to identify the areas of one's weakness and to strengthen them.
It is well said that "happy beginning is half done" and it fits perfectly with JCDR. It has grown considerably and I feel it has already grown up from its infancy to adolescence, achieving the status of standard online e-journal form Indian continent since its inception in Feb 2007. This had been made possible due to the efforts and the hard work put in it. The way the JCDR is improving with every new volume, with good quality original manuscripts, makes it a quality journal for readers. I must thank and congratulate Dr Hemant Jain, Editor-in-Chief JCDR and his team for their sincere efforts, dedication, and determination for making JCDR a fast growing journal.
Every one of us: authors, reviewers, editors, and publisher are responsible for enhancing the stature of the journal. I wish for a great success for JCDR."
Thanking you
With sincere regards
Dr. Rajendra Kumar Ghritlaharey, M.S., M. Ch., FAIS
Associate Professor,
Department of Paediatric Surgery, Gandhi Medical College & Associated
Kamla Nehru & Hamidia Hospitals Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh 462 001 (India)
E-mail: drrajendrak1@rediffmail.com
On May 11,2011
Dr. Shankar P.R.
"On looking back through my Gmail archives after being requested by the journal to write a short editorial about my experiences of publishing with the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research (JCDR), I came across an e-mail from Dr. Hemant Jain, Editor, in March 2007, which introduced the new electronic journal. The main features of the journal which were outlined in the e-mail were extensive author support, cash rewards, the peer review process, and other salient features of the journal.
Over a span of over four years, we (I and my colleagues) have published around 25 articles in the journal. In this editorial, I plan to briefly discuss my experiences of publishing with JCDR and the strengths of the journal and to finally address the areas for improvement.
My experiences of publishing with JCDR: Overall, my experiences of publishing withJCDR have been positive. The best point about the journal is that it responds to queries from the author. This may seem to be simple and not too much to ask for, but unfortunately, many journals in the subcontinent and from many developing countries do not respond or they respond with a long delay to the queries from the authors 1. The reasons could be many, including lack of optimal secretarial and other support. Another problem with many journals is the slowness of the review process. Editorial processing and peer review can take anywhere between a year to two years with some journals. Also, some journals do not keep the contributors informed about the progress of the review process. Due to the long review process, the articles can lose their relevance and topicality. A major benefit with JCDR is the timeliness and promptness of its response. In Dr Jain's e-mail which was sent to me in 2007, before the introduction of the Pre-publishing system, he had stated that he had received my submission and that he would get back to me within seven days and he did!
Most of the manuscripts are published within 3 to 4 months of their submission if they are found to be suitable after the review process. JCDR is published bimonthly and the accepted articles were usually published in the next issue. Recently, due to the increased volume of the submissions, the review process has become slower and it ?? Section can take from 4 to 6 months for the articles to be reviewed. The journal has an extensive author support system and it has recently introduced a paid expedited review process. The journal also mentions the average time for processing the manuscript under different submission systems - regular submission and expedited review.
Strengths of the journal: The journal has an online first facility in which the accepted manuscripts may be published on the website before being included in a regular issue of the journal. This cuts down the time between their acceptance and the publication. The journal is indexed in many databases, though not in PubMed. The editorial board should now take steps to index the journal in PubMed. The journal has a system of notifying readers through e-mail when a new issue is released. Also, the articles are available in both the HTML and the PDF formats. I especially like the new and colorful page format of the journal. Also, the access statistics of the articles are available. The prepublication and the manuscript tracking system are also helpful for the authors.
Areas for improvement: In certain cases, I felt that the peer review process of the manuscripts was not up to international standards and that it should be strengthened. Also, the number of manuscripts in an issue is high and it may be difficult for readers to go through all of them. The journal can consider tightening of the peer review process and increasing the quality standards for the acceptance of the manuscripts. I faced occasional problems with the online manuscript submission (Pre-publishing) system, which have to be addressed.
Overall, the publishing process with JCDR has been smooth, quick and relatively hassle free and I can recommend other authors to consider the journal as an outlet for their work."
Dr. P. Ravi Shankar
KIST Medical College, P.O. Box 14142, Kathmandu, Nepal.
E-mail: ravi.dr.shankar@gmail.com
On April 2011 Anuradha
Dear team JCDR, I would like to thank you for the very professional and polite service provided by everyone at JCDR. While i have been in the field of writing and editing for sometime, this has been my first attempt in publishing a scientific paper.Thank you for hand-holding me through the process.
Dr. Anuradha
E-mail: anuradha2nittur@gmail.com
On Jan 2020
Original article / research
Full Version
Comparison of Serum CRP, Total Cholesterol, Magnesium and Uric Acid in Smoker and Non Smoker Patients with COPD: A Cross-sectional Study
Correspondence Address :
Dr. Akash Shrikhande,
Associate Professor, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, PCMS and RC, Bhopal-462037, Madhya Pradesh, India.
E-mail: akashnshrikhande@gmail.com
Introduction: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a common and treatable disease characterised by progressive airflow limitation and tissue destruction. Smoking is a common risk factor but non smokers can also develop COPD. There may be change in serum level of inflammatory marker, oxidative stress markers, bio-markers among these patients. In this study smoker and non smoker group in COPD patients were studied which could be helpful for comparing levels and for associating with severity of disease and also for group specific management.
Aim: To evaluate the level of Serum C-Reactive Protein (CRP), total cholesterol, Magnesium (Mg++), and uric acid in COPD patients and also, to compare these parameters in smoker and non smoker patients with COPD.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Department of Biochemistry and Department of Pulmonary Medicine at People’s College of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India, from October 2021 to December 2022. A total of 100 COPD patients, aged between 40-60 years were included and divided into two groups: 50 smokers and 50 non smokers. Parameters such as CRP, Mg++, total cholesterol and uric acid, were estimated by autoanalyser. Data were statistically analysed using unpaired t-test.
Results: In smokers, mean age was 53.08±5.89 years, whereas in non smokers, mean age was 53.9±4.84 years. Out of the 100 subjects, 50 were smokers (F=6 and M=44) and 50 were non smokers (F=6 and M=44). The present study, observed increased CRP levels and cholesterol levels, low serum magnesium, and normal uric acid in smoker in comparison to non smokers COPD. There was significant difference in cholesterol (p-value=0.044), serum magnesium (p-value=0.001) and CRP levels (p-value=0.0001) but there was no significant difference in uric acid (p-value=0.989).
Conclusion: Smokers with COPD had increased level of CRP, Cholesterol and low level of Magnesium as compared to non smoker COPD patients. This may attribute that smokers COPD patients are in risk of developing recurrent exacerbations and more disease severity.
C-reactive protein, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Inflammatory marker, Oxidative stress, Smoking
The COPD is characterised by minimally reversible or irreversible airflow limitation (1). It is associated with structural lung changes due to chronic inflammation from prolonged exposure to noxious particles or gases most commonly cigarette smoke (2). COPD is a multisystem disease characterised by both pulmonary and systemic inflammation. Pulmonary inflammation is a result of the abnormal inflammation of the lungs to noxious gases and particles (1). The COPD can occur in smokers as well as in non smoker. Tobacco smoke is the most common cause of COPD. Non smoker cause of COPD are exposure to biomass, occupational exposure and passive smoking to having a history of asthma, tuberculosis or respiratory infections during childhood (3). There are various deranged markers in COPD.
Although primarily affecting the lungs, the chronic inflammatory process of COPD does have systemic involvement. CRP is an inflammatory marker and raised level can be associated with higher incidence of myocardial infraction, stroke and sudden coronary death (4). According to data from previous studies, high level of cholesterol as a part of a metabolic syndrome in COPD patients is associated with more serious and more frequent exacerbation (1),(5). Magnesium has an important role in regulating bronchial tone and respiratory muscle function and its defiency lead to excerabation of pulmonary disesase (6). Researches found that tissue hypoxia in COPD were associated with higher level of serum uric acid (7).
Very few studies (8),(9) has been done on comparison of smokers COPD versus non smokers COPD with above mentioned parameters. Also, no such study was previously done in this region of the India, comparing these parameters among smokers and non smokers. The present study may be helpful for research purpose and play a major role in management of patients by monitoring these parameters. Hence, present study was conducted to evaluate the level of serum CRP, total cholesterol, magnesium, and uric acid in COPD patients and also to compare these parameters in smoker and non smoker patients with COPD.
This cross-sectional study was conducted in Department of Biochemistry and Department of Pulmonary Medicine at People’s College of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India, from October 2021 to December 2022. The present study was approved by Ethical and Research Committee of People’s College of Medical Sciences and Research Centre {IEC REF. NO. PCMS/OD/2022/445(7)}.
Inclusion criteria: Smoker and non smoker patients, age between 40-60 years, diagnosed with COPD, based on Gold criteria spirometric FEV1/FVC ≤0.7 and no postbronchial reversibility (10), were included in the study.
Exclusion criteria: Patients below 40 years, chronic alcoholic, not giving consent for study were excluded from the study.
Sample size calculation: Sample size calculated was 100 as per N=4 pq/L2 formula. {P=Prevalence (11), q=(1-P), L2=error (5%)}.
Study Procedure
Data for the present study were collected from Department of Pulmonary Medicine. COPD patients were selected from Out-Patient Department/In-Patient Department (OPD/IPD), they were grouped in smokers and non smokers as per history after taking the written consent form in English and Hindi language. Total 100 patients were divided into smoker (50) and non smoker (50). Parameters CRP, serum magnesium, uric acid and cholesterol were estimated by respective methods i.e., latex turbimetery, xylidyl blue, Uricase Trinder and endpoint reaction by using autoanalyser.
Reference values: CRP upto 6 mg/dL (12), Mg++1.7-2.4 mg/dL (13), Total cholesterol <200 mg/dL (14), Uric acid 3.6-7.2 mg/dL (13).
Statistical Analysis
The data were entered into excel work sheet and were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0. Result on continuous measurement was presented on Mean±Standard Deviation (SD) and statistically analysed using unpaired t-test. The p-value equal or less then 0.05, was considered as statistically significant.
The present study was conducted to estimate the levels of serum CRP, total cholesterol, magnesium and uric acid in smoker and non smoker COPD patients. Out of total 100 COPD patients, 50 patients were enrolled in each group of smokers and non smokers. In smoker, mean age was 53.08±5.89 years, whereas in non smokers, mean age was 53.9±4.84 years. In both the groups, gender distribution was equal with 44 males and six females in each group. It was observed that Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1) was significantly lower in smokers indicating that, smokers have more severe obstruction compare to non smoker COPD (Table/Fig 1).
Serum CRP levels and serum cholesterol level was significantly higher in smoker COPD patients than non smoker COPD patients. Serum magnesium level was significantly lower in smoker COPD patients in comparison to non smoker COPD. There was no significant difference in uric acid level in both groups (Table/Fig 2).
The COPD is a common, preventable and treatable chronic lung disease which affects men and women worldwide. Abnormalities in the small airways of the lungs lead to limitation of airflow in and out of the lungs (15). The authors observed differences in various parameters in COPD smoker and non smoker patients. A study done by Ata MA et al., of 192 subjects including 96 smokers and 96 non smokers (age range 20-40 years) and found that mean serum CRP concentration in smokers (14.62±0.16 mg/L) against the non smokers (4.81±0.38 mg/L) was significantly higher (p-value <0.001) (16). In present study, it was observed that serum CRP level was significantly higher in smokers COPD patients. Similar finding of higher CRP level in COPD patients was observed in a previous study (17). Higher CRP level is a risk factor for recurrent exacerbations and severe disease.
A study done by Sundaram R et al., showed that total cholesterol level and LDL level, significantly increased with increasing staging of COPD (17). In the present study, serum cholesterol level was significantly increased in smokers COPD patients. Compared to non smoker COPD patients, smoker COPD patients may develop more metabolic problems such as dyslipidaemia hypertension etc., (17). A study done by Khand F et al., showed that out of the total 96 subjects in the study, 48 (50%) each represented the two groups. The results of mean serum magnesium concentration in non smokers (2.52±0.18 mg/L) as compared to smokers (1.09±0.38 mg/L) was significantly higher (p<0.001) (18). In present study also, serum Mg++ level was significantly lower in smoker COPD patients. Lower Mg level is associated with severe COPD condition and requires proper management.
A study done by Sontakke A et al., found that serum uric acid level was higher in patients of severe stages of COPD (19). In present study, no significant difference in serum uric acid level was found but in both groups uric acid level was higher than the normal range. This may be due to oxidative stress level affected equally in non smoker and smoker COPD patients, may require study in larger group (19).
Limitation(s)
Severity stage of COPD patients not included in study, this may evaluate severity stage-wise level change of parameters.
In smokers having COPD, CRP is raised significantly indicating risk of severe COPD to be more in comparison to non smokers COPD patients. In smokers, COPD magnesium level was low, low magnesium is associated with poor control of symptoms in COPD patients. Similarly, high cholesterol level was observed in smokers COPD they were found more prone for developing severe COPD and metabolic problems, in comparison to non smokers. Further studies can be done together with other parameters like IL-6, TNF alpha, LDL, HDL in smoker and non smoker COPD patients.
DOI: 10.7860/JCDR/2023/63649.18015
Date of Submission: Feb 21, 2022
Date of Peer Review: Mar 18, 2023
Date of Acceptance: Apr 28, 2023
Date of Publishing: Jun 01, 2023
AUTHOR DECLARATION:
• Financial or Other Competing Interests: None
• Was Ethics Committee Approval obtained for this study? Yes
• Was informed consent obtained from the subjects involved in the study? Yes
• For any images presented appropriate consent has been obtained from the subjects. NA
PLAGIARISM CHECKING METHODS:
• Plagiarism X-checker: Mar 04, 2023
• Manual Googling: Mar 30, 2023
• iThenticate Software: Apr 18, 2023 (8%)
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