Elevated levels of serum sialic acid and C-reactive protein: markers of systemic inflammation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a systemic chronic inflammatory disease with pulmonary and extra-pulmonary manifestations involving lungs causing airways dysfunction. C-reactive protein (C-RP) is a positive acute phase reactant and albumin a negative phase reactant during inflammation in COPD patients. Sialic acid (SA) prevalent in mucus rich tissues is gaining importance as biochemical marker in inflammatory immune response. Purpose of present study was to measure serum C-reactive protein (C-RP), total sialic acid and albumin levels in COPD patients and establish there association in COPD and compare with healthy controls.Methods: Seventy five clinically confirmed COPD patients, both male and female between the age group of 38-70 years were selected for the study and age/ sex matched healthy volunteers as controls were selected for comparison. Serum samples were analyzed for C-RP (mg/dl) by nephalometry and TSA (mmol/L) by periodate resorcinol method and albumin by dye binding method by spectrophotometer.Results: The mean value of serum C-RP in cases was 3.26±2.0 (mg/dl) and in controls 0.57±0.34 (mg/dl) with p<0.001. TSA in cases was 3.53±1.41 (mmol/L) compared to controls 1.81±0.53 (mmol/L), p<0.001. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between C-RP and TSA (r=0.755, p<0.001). The mean value of Albumin in cases decreased (2.54±0.87) as compared to control (4.07±0.66) (p<0.001) showed negative correlation with C-RP (r= -0.418, p<0.01) and TSA (r= -0.728, p<0.001). There was a significant decrease in BMI among cases 19.95±3.17 compared to control 21.17±1.78 p<0.001.Conclusions: C- reactive protein in association with TSA has increased in COPD as a marker of systemic inflammation. Albumin and BMI decreased as a result of nutritional depletion. Patients with low BMI and low serum albumin level have greater risk of having exacerbation, acute respiratory failure than patients with normal BMI.

Experimental evaluation of the anti-ulcer activity of the ethanolic extract of grape (Vitis vinifera) seed in wistar albino rats against aspirin plus pylorus ligation induced gastric ulcer model

Background: There is an increased demand for newer safer drugs for the treatment of peptic ulcer disease as its incidence is increasing gradually in view of changing lifestyle and stress. The objective of this study was to evaluate the anti-ulcer activity of ethanol extract of seeds of Vitis vinifera.Methods: The ethanol extract of Vitis vinifera was investigated for its anti-ulcer activity in rats against Aspirin plus Pylorus ligation induced gastric ulcer.The antiulcer activity was assessed by determining and comparing gastric volume, pH, free and total acidity; ulcer number and its inhibition, ulcer severity and ulcer index.Results: A significant antiulcer activity was observed. Pylorus ligation model showed significant (p<0.01) reduction in gastric volume, free acidity and ulcer index as compared to control.Conclusions: This present study indicates that Vitis vinifera seed extract have potential anti-ulcer activity in the model tested

Role of glycated hemoglobin (HBA1c) as a dual marker to predict glycemic status and dyslipidemia in type II diabetes mellitus

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is an endocrinological disease associated with hyperglycemia characterized by both insulin resistance and defective insulin secretion. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is a routinely used marker for long-term glycemic control. This study is aimed at investigating the relationship between glycemic control and serum lipid profile and to evaluate the role of glycated haemoglobin as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases in patients with type-2 diabetes and to evaluate the diagnostic value of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in predicting diabetic dyslipidemia as a marker of circulating lipids. The aim of the present study was to estimate glycated hemoglobin and lipid profile in patients with type 2 DM and compare it with controls (healthy subjects). The association of glycated hemoglobin with lipid profile evaluated.Methods: This study was conducted in 150 subjects, out of whom 75 were type 2 diabetes mellitus patients (cases) and 75 were non diabetic healthy subjects (controls).The sera were analyzed for HbA1c, fasting blood glucose (FBG), total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL).Results: A significantly increased level of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is observed in cases compared to control. HbA1c showed direct and significant correlations with cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL and inverse correlation with HDL in cases when compared to controls. Our study also revealed a significant positive correlation between lipid profile and glycated hemoglobin.Conclusions: These findings clearly suggest that HbA1c can provide valuable supplementary information about the extent of circulating lipids besides its primary role in monitoring long-term glycemic control. Further studies are warranted to reinforce the potential of HbA1c as a biomarker for screening of high-risk diabetic patients

Anti-Müllerian hormone in health and disease: a review

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is a homodimeric glycoprotein, member of the transforming growth factor β family of growth and differentiation factors. In the ovary, AMH has an inhibitory effect on primordial follicle recruitment as well as on the responsiveness of growing follicles to follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). The ovary-specific expression pattern in granulosa cells of growing non-selected follicles makes AMH an ideal marker for the size of the ovarian follicle pool.  AMH levels accurately reflect the ovarian follicular reserve and could, therefore, be considered as an extremely sensitive marker of ovarian aging and a valuable tool in the diagnosis and the recognition of recurrence of granulosa cell tumors. Furthermore, AMH could be a surrogate diagnostic marker of polycystic ovary syndrome in cases in which ultrasonographic examination is not possible. Additionally AMH evaluation is of clinical importance in predicting the success of in vitro fertilization (IVF). Special reference is made to the possible implications of AMH in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome and the relationship between AMH and obesity. AMH also plays important role in evaluation of infants with ambiguous genitalia and other intersex conditions. This article is a review of the clinical usefulness of AMH evaluation in the fields of gynecological endocrinology, menopause, gynecological oncology and assisted reproduction and also in pediatric patients

Amygdalin laetrile-a nascent vitamin B17: a review

Amygdalin is also called Vitamin B17 and its semi synthetic product is laetrile. It is a natural glycoside nutrient which gained popularity due to wide availability and low cost in treating various diseases. Vitamin B17 is derived from natural food sources and can be used for cancer prevention in alternative medicine practices. This review illustrates the proposed anticancer activity and other effects of amygdalin on different body systems along with a variety of clinical trials on humans and animals with pharmacological, toxicological effects and provides a perspective for further investigation and research

Experimental evaluation of the anti-ulcer activity of the ethanolic extract of grape (Vitis vinifera) seed in wistar albino rats against aspirin plus pylorus ligation induced gastric ulcer model

Background: There is an increased demand for newer safer drugs for the treatment of peptic ulcer disease as its incidence is increasing gradually in view of changing lifestyle and stress. The objective of this study was to evaluate the anti-ulcer activity of ethanol extract of seeds of Vitis vinifera.Methods: The ethanol extract of Vitis vinifera was investigated for its anti-ulcer activity in rats against Aspirin plus Pylorus ligation induced gastric ulcer.The antiulcer activity was assessed by determining and comparing gastric volume, pH, free and total acidity; ulcer number and its inhibition, ulcer severity and ulcer index.Results: A significant antiulcer activity was observed. Pylorus ligation model showed significant (p&lt;0.01) reduction in gastric volume, free acidity and ulcer index as compared to control.Conclusions: This present study indicates that Vitis vinifera seed extract have potential anti-ulcer activity in the model tested

Elevated levels of serum sialic acid and C-reactive protein: markers of systemic inflammation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a systemic chronic inflammatory disease with pulmonary and extra-pulmonary manifestations involving lungs causing airways dysfunction. C-reactive protein (C-RP) is a positive acute phase reactant and albumin a negative phase reactant during inflammation in COPD patients. Sialic acid (SA) prevalent in mucus rich tissues is gaining importance as biochemical marker in inflammatory immune response. Purpose of present study was to measure serum C-reactive protein (C-RP), total sialic acid and albumin levels in COPD patients and establish there association in COPD and compare with healthy controls.Methods: Seventy five clinically confirmed COPD patients, both male and female between the age group of 38-70 years were selected for the study and age/ sex matched healthy volunteers as controls were selected for comparison. Serum samples were analyzed for C-RP (mg/dl) by nephalometry and TSA (mmol/L) by periodate resorcinol method and albumin by dye binding method by spectrophotometer.Results: The mean value of serum C-RP in cases was 3.26±2.0 (mg/dl) and in controls 0.57±0.34 (mg/dl) with p&lt;0.001. TSA in cases was 3.53±1.41 (mmol/L) compared to controls 1.81±0.53 (mmol/L), p&lt;0.001. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between C-RP and TSA (r=0.755, p&lt;0.001). The mean value of Albumin in cases decreased (2.54±0.87) as compared to control (4.07±0.66) (p&lt;0.001) showed negative correlation with C-RP (r= -0.418, p&lt;0.01) and TSA (r= -0.728, p&lt;0.001). There was a significant decrease in BMI among cases 19.95±3.17 compared to control 21.17±1.78 p&lt;0.001.Conclusions: C- reactive protein in association with TSA has increased in COPD as a marker of systemic inflammation. Albumin and BMI decreased as a result of nutritional depletion. Patients with low BMI and low serum albumin level have greater risk of having exacerbation, acute respiratory failure than patients with normal BMI.

Role of glycated hemoglobin (HBA1c) as a dual marker to predict glycemic status and dyslipidemia in type II diabetes mellitus

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is an endocrinological disease associated with hyperglycemia characterized by both insulin resistance and defective insulin secretion. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is a routinely used marker for long-term glycemic control. This study is aimed at investigating the relationship between glycemic control and serum lipid profile and to evaluate the role of glycated haemoglobin as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases in patients with type-2 diabetes and to evaluate the diagnostic value of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in predicting diabetic dyslipidemia as a marker of circulating lipids. The aim of the present study was to estimate glycated hemoglobin and lipid profile in patients with type 2 DM and compare it with controls (healthy subjects). The association of glycated hemoglobin with lipid profile evaluated.Methods: This study was conducted in 150 subjects, out of whom 75 were type 2 diabetes mellitus patients (cases) and 75 were non diabetic healthy subjects (controls).The sera were analyzed for HbA1c, fasting blood glucose (FBG), total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL).Results: A significantly increased level of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is observed in cases compared to control. HbA1c showed direct and significant correlations with cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL and inverse correlation with HDL in cases when compared to controls. Our study also revealed a significant positive correlation between lipid profile and glycated hemoglobin.Conclusions: These findings clearly suggest that HbA1c can provide valuable supplementary information about the extent of circulating lipids besides its primary role in monitoring long-term glycemic control. Further studies are warranted to reinforce the potential of HbA1c as a biomarker for screening of high-risk diabetic patients

A clinical study on musculoskeletal changes seen in type 2 diabetes mellitus: A single-center study

Background: Type 2 Diabetes mellitus (T2DM) may affect the musculoskeletal (MSK) system in a variety of ways. The impacts can be debilitating enough to impair functional ability and quality of life. MSK complications are the most common endocrine arthropathies which are often under-recognized and poorly treated. This study was done to evaluate the prevalence of MSK complications and its correlation with microvascular complications of T2DM given the paucity of similar studies in India particularly South India. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 130 diabetic patients at a tertiary care hospital in Bengaluru. The patient's demographic details, clinical profile including history, general physical examination, systemic examination, and relevant investigations were done to record microvascular complications. A thorough MSK system examination along with imaging of bones and joints was also performed. Results: Out of 130 diabetic patients, 21 patients (16.2%) had MSK complications of which 47.6% (n = 10) of them had carpal tunnel syndrome and 42.8% (n = 9) had frozen shoulder and 9.5% (n = 2) had diabetic amyotrophy. It was also noted that patients who were on oral hypoglycemic agents alone were more likely to develop MSK complications (57.14%) than patients solely on insulin (14.2%). Poor glycemic control, existing microvascular complications, and low high-density lipoprotein were found to be associated with increased risk of MSK complications. Conclusion: The prevalence of MSK complications in T2DM patients is quite significant and is also associated with microvascular complications. Improved glycemic control in T2DM was found to reduce the burden of such complications. Early identification of MSK complications can improve the quality of life in diabetic patients and hence demands proper screening and follow-up