Influence of thyroid hormones on biochemical parameters of liver function: a case-control study in North Indian population

Normal level of thyroid hormones is important for normal hepatic function and thyroid dysfunction may modulate metabolic function of liver. The purpose of this study is to determine whether liver function is associated with subclinical and overt hypothyroidism. Thyroid and liver function tests were evaluated in 47 patients with overt (TSH ≥10.0 mIU/L) and 77 patients with subclinical hypothyroidism (TSH 6.0-9.9mIU/L) and compared with 120 age-matched euthyroid controls. Subjects with overt hypothyroidism had significantly raised serum ALT, AST, ALP and total protein levels as compared to controls whereas subclinical hypothyroid patients had significantly increased levels of serum ALT, ALP and total protein. Further, TSH showed significant positive correlation with AST and ALP values whereas fT3 and fT4 had a negative correlation with AST in overt hypothyroidism. Thus, overt hypothyroid state is associated with significant derangement in biochemical parameters of liver function. Hence, liver function should be regularly monitored in hypothyroid patients

Comparative study of sFlt-1/Plgf ratio with uterine artery doppler indices in prediction of preeclampsia at 22-24 weeks period of gestation

Background: Hypertensive disorders like pre-eclampsia along with hemorrhage and infection, contributes greatly to maternal morbidity and mortality. Various pro and antiangiogenic factors like sFlt-1 and Plgf have been linked to the etiopathogenesis of placental vascular disease and their combination with uterine artery doppler studies may improve the prediction accuracy. Present study was conducted to analyze sFlt-1/Plgf ratio and uterine artery doppler indices among high risk patients and to compare these in prediction of preeclampsia.Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted from September 2017 to February 2019 in which 100 patients giving consent and satisfying inclusion criteria were evaluated for various risk factors and were subjected to sFlt-1/Plgf ratio test and uterine artery doppler study at 22-24 weeks period of gestation. They were followed up and maternal outcome was analysed.Results: Among the cohort of 100 women with high risk factors, 35% of the study participants developed pre-eclampsia. Using sFlt-1/Plgf ratio 40% of them were screened positive for pre-eclampsia. This percentage of screened positive was 40%, 43%, and 53% using uterine artery RI, PI, and SD respectively. sFlt-1/Plgf was found to have a sensitivity of 91.4% and specificity of 87.7%. ROC curve analysis showed highest area under curve (AUC) for sFlt-1/Plgf (0.858).Conclusions: sFlt-1/Plgf ratio was found to be a better predictable biomarker than uterine artery Doppler indices in prediction of pre-eclampsia at 22-24 weeks period of gestation

Evaluation of maternal serum levels of cell adhesion molecules and endothelial inflammatory markers in normal pregnancy, gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia

Background: Hypertensive disorders complicate 5 to 10% of all pregnancies. Despite the still unexplained pathogenesis, endothelial dysfunctions and inflammatory mediators are thought to be responsible for the pathogenesis gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia. Aims and objective of the study was to determine the serum levels of cell adhesions molecules - VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 and endothelial inflammatory markers TNF-α and homocysteine in normal pregnancies, Gestational Hypertension and in Pre-eclampsiaMethods: The cross-sectional study was carried out in Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Biochemistry, ESI-PGIMSR, New Delhi between October 2013-April 2015. 150 patients who gave informed written consent were enrolled and were divided equally in three groups of 50 each (normotensive, gestational hypertensive and pre-eclamptic patients). Three groups have been compared in terms of variables such as age, BMI, gestational age, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, platelet count, AST, ALT, mode of delivery, neonatal weight, VCAM-I, ICAM-I, homocysteine and TNF-alpha concentrations.Results: We found the higher concentrations of vascular cell adhesions molecules (VCAM-1 and ICAM-1) and inflammatory mediators (homocysteine and TNF α) in gestational hypertensive patients and in pre-eclamptic patients. Out of four markers, concentrations of ICAM-1 was found in largest proportions and it was also statistical significant. P value was <0.001. Though in our study concentration VCAM-1, homocysteine and TNF-α were also high in gestational hypertensive groups as compared with normotensive patients, but they were not statistical significant.Conclusions: We conclude that higher concentrations of vascular cell adhesions molecules and inflammatory mediators may be responsible for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy suggesting the role of endothelial dysfunction as a central pathogenic feature in development of preeclampsia

Association between different degrees of hypothyroidism and serum lipids

The association between overt hypothyroidism (OH) and altered lipid profile is well known, however the significance of dyslipidemia in subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) remain controversial. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine any association between lipid profile and different degrees of thyroid dysfunction. Thyroid and lipid profile parameters were analysed in 58 patients with overt (TSH &#8805; 10.0 &#956;IU/L and/or abnormally low fT4 and fT3 levels) and 87 patients with subclinical hypothyroidism (TSH 6.0-9.9 &#956;IU/L with normal fT4 and fT3 levels) in this case-control study. These were compared with 100 age- and sex-matched euthyroid controls. It was found that only mean serum level of total cholesterol in patients with SCH was significantly high from that in controls (p=0.045). Other lipid parameters did not show any statistical significance. Whereas patients with OH had statistically significant higher levels of total cholesterol (p&lt;0.001), triglyceride (p&lt;0.05), LDL-C (p&lt;0.001) and VLDL-C (p&lt;0.05). There was also an increase in HDL-C in both SCH and OH group though not significant statistically. In conclusion, lipid profile is not much deranged in SCH whereas OH is a major cause of secondary dyslipidemia which may lead to increased risk of coronary artery disease. Therefore, thyroid hormone replacement would be most beneficial in patients with OH instead of SCH. However, patients with SCH should be monitored for deterioration of thyroid function and dyslipidemia at regular intervals.Keywords: Cholesterol; Dyslipidemia; HDL cholesterol; Hypothyroidism; SubclinicalInternet Journal of Medical Update 2012 July;7(2):3-

LOCAL DRUG DELIVERY IN PERIODONTICS: CURRENT CONCEPTS AND TRENDS

ABSTRACT Background: Periodontal disease is a chronic infection of the periodontium affecting the soft and mineralize

PolyMorphPredict: A Universal Web-Tool for Rapid Polymorphic Microsatellite Marker Discovery From Whole Genome and Transcriptome Data

Microsatellites are ubiquitously distributed, polymorphic repeat sequence valuable for association, selection, population structure and identification. They can be mined by genomic library, probe hybridization and sequencing of selected clones. Such approach has many limitations like biased hybridization and selection of larger repeats. In silico mining of polymorphic markers using data of various genotypes can be rapid and economical. Available tools lack in some or other aspects like: targeted user defined primer generation, polymorphism discovery using multiple sequence, size and number limits of input sequence, no option for primer generation and e-PCR evaluation, transferability, lack of complete automation and user-friendliness. They also lack the provision to evaluate published primers in e-PCR mode to generate additional allelic data using re-sequenced data of various genotypes for judicious utilization of previously generated data. We developed the tool (PolyMorphPredict) using Perl, R, Java and launched at Apache which is available at http://webtom.cabgrid.res.in/polypred/. It mines microsatellite loci and computes primers from genome/transcriptome data of any species. It can perform e-PCR using published primers for polymorphism discovery and across species transferability of microsatellite loci. Present tool has been evaluated using five species of different genome size having 21 genotypes. Though server is equipped with genomic data of three species for test run with gel simulation, but can be used for any species. Further, polymorphism predictability has been validated using in silico and in vitro PCR of four rice genotypes. This tool can accelerate the in silico microsatellite polymorphism discovery in re-sequencing projects of any species of plant and animal for their diversity estimation along with variety/breed identification, population structure, MAS, QTL and gene discovery, traceability, parentage testing, fungal diagnostics and genome finishing

Mapping inequalities in exclusive breastfeeding in low- and middle-income countries, 2000–2018

Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF)—giving infants only breast-milk for the first 6 months of life—is a component of optimal breastfeeding practices effective in preventing child morbidity and mortality. EBF practices are known to vary by population and comparable subnational estimates of prevalence and progress across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are required for planning policy and interventions. Here we present a geospatial analysis of EBF prevalence estimates from 2000 to 2018 across 94 LMICs mapped to policy-relevant administrative units (for example, districts), quantify subnational inequalities and their changes over time, and estimate probabilities of meeting the World Health Organization’s Global Nutrition Target (WHO GNT) of ≥70% EBF prevalence by 2030. While six LMICs are projected to meet the WHO GNT of ≥70% EBF prevalence at a national scale, only three are predicted to meet the target in all their district-level units by 2030