Relation of elevated serum adenosine deaminase levels to glycated hemoglobin and serum uric acid in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background: Adenosine deaminase (ADA) is suggested to be an important enzyme for modulating the bioactivity of insulin, but its clinical significance in Type 2 diabetes mellitus is not yet established. The present study was undertaken to evaluate serum ADA activity and serum uric acid levels in patients of Type 2 DM. It is widely reported that immunological imbalance is one of the key factors associated with the metabolic disturbances in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Aims: The present study aimed to evaluate the serum Adenosine Deaminase level and to correlate ADA levels with Blood Glucose and HbA1c levels in Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus patients. Material and Method: It is a case control study. The subjects included in this study were divided into 3 groups. Group I consisted of 50 normal healthy individuals who served as controls with no history of DM. Group II consisted of 50 patients of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus both males & females in the age group of 40-65 years on oral hypoglycemic drugs with HbA1c <7%. Group III consisted of 50 patients of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus both males & females in the age group of 40-65 years on oral hypoglycemic drugs with HbA1c >7 %. Serum levels of fasting blood sugar, HbA1c, ADA and uric acid were estimated in all the subjects under study. Results: All the three parameters, FBS, HbA1c, ADA and serum uric acid levels were found to be increased in the patients of Type 2 DM as compared to controls. The mean serum uric acid levels showed a bell shaped relation with glycemic control. Conclusion: From the present study, it is concluded that there is an increase in serum ADA levels with increase in HbA1c levels. It was found that the serum uric acid levels increased with increasing levels of HbA1c <7% and then decreased with further increasing levels of HbA1c >7% (a bell-shaped relation)

Relation of elevated serum ferritin levels to hypothyroidism in children with beta-thalassemia major

Background: The commonest form of thyroid dysfunction, seen in thalassaemics, is subclinical hypothyroidism due to abnormalities of the thyroid gland which, leads to insufficient production of thyroid hormones. However, the frequency of hypothyroidism varies depending on the region, quality of management and treatment protocols. Aim: This study was conducted with the aim of investigating the frequency of hypothyroidism in children with beta-thalassemia major and to study its correlation with serum ferritin. Material and methods: A case-control study was carried out in the OPD, Medical College, Kolkata. It included 100 children with Beta–Thalassemia major as cases. Hundred age and gender matched healthy controls were also included in the study. Results: The weight and height of the cases lagged behind those of the control group. Compared to the control group, the mean level of thyroid hormones (both T3 and T4) and Hemoglobin levels were significantly reduced while those of TSH and Serum Ferritin were significantly increased. Out of 100 cases, 64 were euthyroid, 34 and 2% had subclinical and clinical hypothyroidism respectively. No case of secondary hypothyroidism was detected. Our results showed no association between Serum ferritin levels and the frequency of hypothyroidism among studied patients. Conclusion: Thyroid dysfunction in thalassemia may start early in life, hypothyroidism is not clinically observed in most thalassemia major patients. Therefore, thyroid function should be followed on regular basis when other iron over load associated complications occurs. Regular follow-up for early detection and timely treatment of such complications could improve the quality of life of these patients

SARS-CoV-2 Infection after Effects: Multi-Organ Damage through Oxygen Radicals

Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 respiratory infection leads to two-layered pathology in time (a) immediate pathology and recovery or fatal ending and (b) long periods of remission followed by unexplained clinical expressions involving one or more systems with various clinical presentations, even leading to loss of lives. Among the common causative factors affecting nearly all organs and systems, oxygen radicals and oxygen-derived species (ROS) should rank conclusively on top. Objective: This clinical report, part of a community screening of unexplained clinical outcomes in post-COVID presentation, carries findings focusing on ROS production and possible ROS-induced damages. Materials and Methods: Flow cytometry was used to quantify the samples' total ROS, superoxide production, and apoptosis quantification. Results: Observations indicate unexplained nearly uniform enhanced ROS production in all these long COVID subjects, although clinical presentations varied from no complaints to the requirement of advanced interventions. Conclusion: Causative factors leading to raised oxygen-derived toxic intermediaries (ROS) in initiating these variable long COVID presentations are ill-understood yet possibly merit mass screenings and possible intense anti-oxidative therapy given that such antioxidant therapy through oral medications led to rapid lowering of ROS production and improvement of clinical presentations