Fetuin-A in association with metabolic syndrome and its components

Background: Fetuin-A also known as α-2-Heremans-Schmid glycoprotein, is a multifunctional plasma glycoprotein. In developing countries like India, the metabolic syndrome (MetS) is on an exponential rise. The factors that characterize MetS are also associated with the atherosclerotic process, in which an important role is played by serum fetuin-A levels. The aim of present study is an assessment of serum fetuin-A level and its association with other components of MetS in age matched healthy controls and MetS subjects.Methods: Total eighty (N=80) subjects (40 MetS cases and 40 age and gender matched controls) were included based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The fasting venous samples were collected to measure the fasting glucose, lipid profile, glycated hemoglobin, insulin and fetuin-A levels. The serum fetuin levels were estimated by ELISA kit.Results: The serum fetuin-A levels were significantly higher in MetS cases as compared to the control group (p value<0.001). Other components like insulin, HbA1c and HOMA-IR levels were raised in MetS compared to controls. In correlation analysis the serum fetuin-A levels were positively correlated with fasting insulin levels (r=0.36, p=0.02), fasting glucose (r=0.39, p=0.01) and triglycerides (r=0.34, p=0.03). Also, in receiver operating characteristic curve analysis the AUC for fetuin-A is 0.76 (95% CI: 0.65-0.86) was observed.Conclusions: We found that serum fetuin-A levels were strongly and independently associated with MetS. Our finding suggests that fetuin-A could be a useful marker in clinical practice in the future for the early diagnosis of MetS

Association of triglycerides/high density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio with insulin resistance in polycystic ovary syndrome

Background: Insulin resistance (IR) is frequently observed in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Recent studies advocated that triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (TG/HDL-C) can be used as a simple clinical indicator of IR. Hence, the present study was performed to investigate the use of TG/HDL-C and its association with IR in PCOS.Methods: Forty-one patients with PCOS and 40 healthy age matched women were randomly enrolled. Demographic and clinical characteristics were obtained. Insulin resistance was defined by the homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI).Results: In PCOS group, the insulin, HOMA-IR and TG/HDL-C ratio were significantly higher (p=0.001) than controls while, QUICKI was lower (p=0.001). Insulin, HOMA-IR were positively correlated with TG/HDL-C (ρ=0.303, p=0.006 and ρ=0.312, p=0.005 respectively) while, QUICKI was negatively correlated (ρ=-0.698, p=0.001). In receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, area under the curve (AUC) for model based on QUICKI levels was better 0.898 (95% CI: 0.811-0.955, p=0.001) than HOMA-IR 0.636 (95% CI: 0.522-0.740, p=0.03). A cut-off value 3.23 for TG/HDL-C is proposed from the model based on QUICKI with best combination of sensitivity 83.3% and specificity 86.7%.Conclusions: Results of present study support that TG/HDL-C ratio may be a simple indicator of IR in PCOS patients which helps clinicians to identify IR in small centers, where the assays for insulin measurement are not available

Association of receptor expression with prostate volume in benign prostatic hyperplasia

Background: The expression of androgen (AR) and estrogen receptors (ER-A, ER-B) in Prostate cancer is well documented, but there are limited data about the same in patients with BPH. Hence the present study was designed to analyse the gene and protein expression of androgen and estrogen receptors in patients with BPH. Materials and Methods: Prostatic tissues were obtained from 27 BPH patients aged between 55 to 85 years by transurethral resection of prostate. Based on prostate volume, BPH patients were divided into two groups, Group A (≤30mL) and Group B (>30mL). The mRNA and protein expression of AR, ER-A and B were assessed by Quantitative real time PCR, Western blotting and Immunohistochemistry. Results: AR gene (P < 0.05) and protein expression (P = 0.03) and ER-A gene (P < 0.05) and protein expression (P = 0.02) was significantly higher in BPH patients with larger prostate size compared to smaller prostate size. Immunohistochemistry showed that AR expression was predominate in ductal cells of larger volume prostate tissues while AR expression in stromal tissue was the dominant finding in patients with smaller prostate size. Also serum estradiol was significantly increased in patients with larger prostate size (P = 0.03). Conclusion: Androgen and Estrogen receptor expression increases with increase in prostate volume in BPH cases