ABSTRACT
Background:Hypertension, a chronic medical condition of elevated blood pressure in the arteries. It is an emerging problem worldwide and one of the identifiable cause of kidney disease. Gamma glutamyl transferase(GGT) plays essential role in the metabolism of glutathione which is reported as major antioxidant. More recently increased GGT is associated with pathogenesis of hypertension. This study was aimed to determine activity of gamma glutamyl transferase in hypertensive patients. Methods:All together 150 participants were recruited from Department of Medicine, Star Hospital for this hospital based cross-sectional study. Among which 50 were normotensive, 50 were pre-hypertensive and 50 were hypertensive. Bloodsample were collected and analyzed in autoanalyser by enzymatic method.Results:Mean serum gamma glutamyl transferase activity is significantly different among normotensive, prehypertensive and hypertensive groups (i.e.,10.3 IU/l, 26.8IU/land 37.2 IU/lrespectively). Serum gamma glutamyl transferase activity is significantly higher in prehypertensive patients than normotensive group (p=0.001). Similarly GGT activity is significantly increased in hypertensive patients than prehypertensive patients (p=0.001).Conclusions:Serum gamma glutamyl transferase activity is raised in prehypertensive and hypertensive participants as compared to normotensive. Thus Serum gamma glutamyl transferase level can have potential role on management of hypertension.
ABSTRACT
Background: Over the recent year there has been a startling rise in the number of people suffering from diabetes mellitus. Estimation of blood glucose levels has been an essential laboratory investigation for screening and monitoring of diabetes. Saliva is one of the secretions in human body whose collection is easy and non-invasive. Salivary glucose hence could serve as an easy and non-invasive tool.Methods: Institutional review committee of NHRC gave us permission to carry out this study. 105 subjects with Type 2 diabetes mellitus who attended the OPD at Star hospital, Sanepa, Lalitpur, Nepal and 106 healthy individuals were consented to participate in this study. Glucose was measured by the GOD-POD (Glucose oxidase peroxidase) methods using the semi-autoanalyser and salivary glucose was compared with corresponding blood glucose levels.Results: A significant positive correlation of fasting salivary glucose level and fasting blood glucose level was observed in healthy (r=0.241, p=0.001) and in diabetic patients (r=0.202, p=0.001).Conclusions: The study implies a potential for saliva in monitoring and screening of diabetes mellitus.
ABSTRACT
Background:Hypertension is one of the common disorders during pregnancy and can cause severe health complications for both mother and developing fetus. Pre-eclampsia(PE) is a form of hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy. This study was aimed to estimate serum uric acid and homocysteine level as a potential biomarker for prediction of preeclampsia. Methods:85 pre-eclamptic pregnant women and 50 normotensive pregnant women were recruited from department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Star Hospital after obtaining the informed written consent. Blood samples were collected and analyzed for serum homocysteine and serum uric acid level.Results:Serum uric acid and homocysteine levels were found to be significantly higher in pre-eclamptic cases than in controls (6.5±0.7 mg/dl and 13.5±5.4 μmol/l in cases versus 4.3±0.8 mg/dl and 10.1±4.6 μmol/l in healthy controls). Maximum sensitivity and specificity of serum uric acid was obtained at a cut-off of 5.5 mg/dl (sensitivity-91% and Specificity-88%) and serum homocysteine at 10.7 μmol/l (sensitivity-67% and specificity-64%) respectively.Conclusions:At optimum cut off value serum uric acid showed highest sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of pre-eclampsia. Thus, serum uric acid level is better predictive marker compared to serum homocysteine level for pre-eclampsia.