An Assessment of Relevance of Sputum Sample Examination in Patients with Tuberculous Pleural Effusion

Background: Utility of chest-X ray findings as a reference diagnostic modality in cases of tubercular pleural effusion is well acknowledged. In advent of increasing reports, regarding the absence of visible lung lesions among patients suffering with tubercular pleural effusion, reliability on radiographic findings alone is questionable. In this context, need for a more reliable diagnostic tool in addressing this diagnostic challenge arises. Aim: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the relevance and utility of sputum specimen and adenosine deaminase (ADA) level examination in patients with tubercular pleural effusion, having no visible lesions on radiological examination. Materials and methods Methods: A total 81 cases of suspected tubercular pleural effusion were selected from the inpatient wards of a tertiary care hospital, over a period of eight months (May to December, 2013). Sputum and pleural fluid specimens from all these patients were collected for microbiological investigations such as smear microscopy using Ziehl-Neelsen and Auramine-O staining, mycobacterial culture using conventional method. ADA level was also tested from all pleural fluid specimens. Results: Of the 81 cases, culture positivity from sputum specimens was observed among 13 (16.1%), smear positivity from sputum specimens (3, 3.7%) and smear and culture positivity from pleural fluid specimens (1, 1.23%) cases. High levels of ADA, ranging from 115 IU/L to 203 IU/L were observed among (8, 22.2%) subjects. Conclusion: Our study findings suggest the reliability of smear examination and culture from sputum specimens over pleural fluids specimens and also high sensitivity of ADA as a biomarker in the diagnosis of tubercular pleural effusion.Keywords: Tuberculous pleural effusion, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Diagnosis, Adenosine deaminase (ADA

Correlation of serum fructosamine, erythrocyte Na+-K+ ATPase and glutathione peroxidase with HbA1c levels

Glycated hemoglobin is the frequently used test in the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. However, because this test is affected by various factors and may not be accurate for patients of certain health conditions, the present study aims to explore the association between potential and cost-effective markers like serum Fructosamine, Erythrocyte Na+-K+ ATPase, and Glutathione peroxidase with altering levels of established marker HbA1c (Glycated haemoglobin). The study showed that serum Fructosamine has a statistically significant (P = <0.0001) association with increasing levels of HbA1c as well as blood glucose. There was a 100% sensitivity and specificity for serum fructosamine test against HbA1c in ROC analysis, however, the erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase and erythrocyte membrane Na+-K+ ATPase activity was not affected by increasing HbA1c levels

Correlation of serum fructosamine, erythrocyte Na+-K+ ATPase and glutathione peroxidase with HbA1c levels

334-338Glycated hemoglobin is the frequently used test in the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. However, because this test is affected by various factors and may not be accurate for patients of certain health conditions, the present study aims to explore the association between potential and cost-effective markers like serum Fructosamine, Erythrocyte Na+-K+ ATPase, and Glutathione peroxidase with altering levels of established marker HbA1c (Glycated haemoglobin). The study showed that serum Fructosamine has a statistically significant (P = <0.0001) association with increasing levels of HbA1c as well as blood glucose. There was a 100% sensitivity and specificity for serum fructosamine test against HbA1c in ROC analysis, however, the erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase and erythrocyte membrane Na+-K+ ATPase activity was not affected by increasing HbA1c levels

Prevalence of goitre and its associated factors in a coastal district of Karnataka

Context:&nbsp;Iodine deficiency Disorders (IDDs) are a major public health problem globally. In India more than 200 million are at risk for this disorder. It affects people of all ages and both sexes. The mental impairment caused by IDD especially in children is an important consequence of IDD.&nbsp;Aim:&nbsp;To find the prevalence of IDDs and the associated factors with it.&nbsp;Settings and Design:&nbsp;A school based cross – sectional study.&nbsp;Methods and Material: The study was done in Udupi district of Karnataka using a pretested, semistructured questionnaire. The villages of the three talukas (Udupi, Kundapur and Karkala) of Udupi district were sampled according to Probability Proportionate to Size (PPS).One school was chosen for the study from each of the 30 selected villages. Minimum of 90 students were selected from each school. Salt and urine samples were collected for Iodine estimation from a sub sample. Goitre was graded according to WHO/UNICEF/ICCIDD criteria.&nbsp;Results:&nbsp;A total of 3023 children were examined (M = 49.1%, F = 50.9%). The prevalence of goitre in Udupi district was 19.8%. The prevalence of goitre was found to be more amongst females compared to males (p = 0.021) and also was found to be increasing with the increasing age (p = 0.003). Of the 539 salt samples analyzed 23.7 % were inadequately iodized. Education of the father, fish consumption and occupation of the mother were found to be significant predictors of goitre.&nbsp;Conclusions:&nbsp;Goitre is a public health problem in Udupi district of Karnataka. The adequately Iodized salt coverage which should have been more than 90 % is not fulfilled. More awareness is required amongst the people about IDDs and its predictors

Efficiency of Galanti and Guisti Method of ADA Estimation in Comparison with the Gold Standard

BACKGROUND: Adenosine Deaminase, the key enzyme of purine metabolism catalyzing the irreversible hydrolytic deamination of adenosine to inosine is implicated in a varied spectrum of human diseases ranging from SCID to TB and pneumonia. Estimation of ADA offers an easy, relatively affordable and reliable diagnostic alternative and/ or adjunct (specially in a TB endemic nation) which emphasizes the necessity of a feasible and implementable alternative method to the Diazyme method of ADA estimation requiring high end autoanalyzer and infrastructural setup.METHODS: Sixty body fluids samples (irrespective of gender, age, diagnosis or sample type) received by the Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal for fluid ADA estimation by the Diazyme assay method (cobas 6000) was simultaneously processed by the Galanti and Guisti manual method to estimate the comparability and the aggregability of results obtained by the two analytical techniques.RESULTS: The Galanti and Guisti manual method of ADA estimation showed aggregability with the Diazyme autoanalyzer method for 90% of the assayed study samples with the manual method uniformly showing higher values when compared to the analyzer method. A correction factor of 2.44 was arrived at which could effectively achieve comparability between the two assay methods.CONCLUSION: The Galanti and Guisti manual method of ADA estimation might be a feasible, rapid, reliable and costeffective method for estimation of fluid ADA when compared to the cost and infrastructure intensive autoanalyzer

Estimation of salivary protein thiols and total antioxidant power of saliva in brain tumor patients

Background: The role of oxidative stress in the genesis of various types of cancers is well established. Several chemical, cell culture and animal studies also indicate that antioxidants may slow or even prevent the development of cancer. Brain is considered abnormally sensitive to oxidative damage as brain tissue has high rate of oxygen consumption, high lipid content and relatively low antioxidant defenses, compared to other tissues. Materials and Methods: The study design chosen for the present study was cross sectional. The biochemical parameters that were estimated in saliva manually using spectrophotometric methods were ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay - a direct measure of total antioxidant activity of biological fluids and protein thiols. The physical parameters of saliva that were also assessed were salivary flow rate, pH of the saliva and the osmolality of the saliva. Results: The mean values of salivary flow rate and pH were significantly decreased among malignant and benign tumor patients whereas the salivary osmolality was significantly increased in both the groups of patients. The mean values of salivary FRAP were significantly reduced among malignant and benign tumor patients. However, the salivary protein thiols were significantly increased in these patients. Conclusion: Hence with these observations it can be concluded that in saliva, besides the physical characteristics, salivary FRAP and protein thiol levels are appropriate indicators of the antioxidant status in brain tumor patients

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resistant bacteria(MDR

Comparison of efficacy of sodium hypochlorite with sodium perborate in removal of stains from heat-cured clear acrylic resin

Acrylic resin bases of removable dentures attract stains and odor-producing organic and inorganic deposits. The use of chemical denture cleanser soaks is the most popular method of denture cleansing. This study was undertaken to compare the efficacy of two different denture cleansers--sodium perborate (Clinsodent) and sodium hypochlorite (VI-Clean)--in removing tea, coffee, turmeric and tobacco (paan) stains from heat-cured clear acrylic resins. Distilled water was used as a control. Both Clinsodent and VI-Clean were found to be the least effective in removing coffee stains and best for removing turmeric stain. It is necessary that the dental professional be aware of these results to ensure that denture wearers know how to select the appropriate denture cleanser

Acute and sub-chronic toxicity of Liberin, an anti-diabetic polyherbal formulation in rats

Background: The polyherbal formulation (PHF) liberin, is known to exert anti-hyperglycemic effects in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Hence, it is important to study the safety profile of PHF in the current study through acute and chronic toxicity evaluation. Objectives: This research aims to assess the acute and sub-chronic toxicity of PHF in rats. Materials and methods: PHF was administered once orally (1000 mg/kg body weight), and the rats (male and female) were monitored for toxicity signs for a 14-day period. For a 28-day chronic toxicity study, rats were daily administered with PHF dose of 500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg body weight. Rats were followed up for mortality, weight changes, and other morbidities. Further haematological, biochemical, and histopathological changes were assessed. Results: No death related to treatment or toxicity signs were recorded in the acute single-dose administration group. The results showed that the PHF was tolerated well up to a dose of 1000 mg/kg body weight. Even at the high dose of 1000 mg/kg body weight, sub-chronic tests did not show any significant difference between the dosed and normal groups. No significant changes were seen in the histopathological analysis of the liver, spleen, and kidney as well as haematological and biochemical parameters in acute, sub-chronic and satellite groups following the administration of PHF. Conclusion: The results confirmed that there was no adverse effect of this PHF at the maximum dose of 1000 mg/kg body weight in Wistar rats. Further, no adverse delayed effects related to PHF were observed in the satellite group. Therefore, this PHF appears safe for therapeutic purposes in the Ayurvedic medicinal system