Serum homocysteine level in vegetariansin district Tharparker, Sindh

The aim of present study was to investigate serum homocysteine levels in apparently healthy vegetarians and ominvores in Mithi, district Tharparker, Sindh, Pakistan. This study was conducted in the Department of Biochemistry, Basic Medical Sciences Institute [BMSI], Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center [JPMC], Karachi and blood samples were collected from Mithi, district Tharparker, Sindh, Pakistan, in 2012. One hundred vegetarian and one hundred omnivores [age ranging from 20-40 years] were enrolled for this study. Serum homocysteine levels were measured by the chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay method. Serum homocysteine [Hcy] level was considerably higher [p<0.001] in vegetarian group compared to omnivores. We further grouped and analyzed our study subjects according to their gender and according to Hcy level [greater than or lower than 15micromol/L]. A considerable number of vegetarian subjects 30% were having Hcy >15micromol/L compared to omnivores 6%, [p<0.001]. Gender-wise comparison showed that 27.02% male and 38.46% females had >15micromol/L serum Hcy level in vegetarian group and 6.9% male and 3.5% females had >15micromol/L serum Hcy level in omnivores group, but the difference was not significant in any group. Vegetarians are more prone to develop hyperhomocysteinemia, so they are at high risk to develop cardiovascular disease

Association of high serum uric acid with risk factors of cardiovascular disease in the rheumatology clinic of a tertiary care hospital of Karachi

Uric acid is the end product of purine metabolism in humans due to the loss of uricase activity. Elevated uric acid is one of the metabolic abnormalities associated with cardiovascular disease. There are some studies found that hyperuricemia has been linked with cardiovascular diseases. Hyperuricemia predispose to the development of hypertension and is also thought to result in increased oxidative stress and generation of free radicals, which eventually can be the nidus of future cardiovascular disease. To determine the association of high serum uric acid with risk factors of cardiovascular disease [obesity, hyperuricemia, diabetes or hypertension]. This Cross sectional comparative study was carried out in Tertiary Care Unit of Karachi, Pakistan from Feb, 2013 till September, 2013. A total of 120 subjects of both sexes were taken and divided into two groups. Fasting glucose levels, serum uric acid was done. Those with hyperuricemia were taken as cases and individuals with normal level were taken as controls. Lipid profile was performed in both groups by enzymatic kit. The data feeding and analysis was done on computer package SPSS [Statistical Packages of Social Sciences] version 16.0. The results were given in the mean and Standard Deviation [SD] i.e. age, weight, height, Body Mass Index [BMI], fasting blood sugar, serum cholesterol, serum triglyceride, Low Density Lipoprotein C [LDL-C], High Density Lipoprotein C [HDL-C], Very Low Density Lipoprotein C [VLDL-C] and serum uric acid. T-test was used for comparison between control and hyperuricemic patients group. In statistical analysis [p<0.01] was considered statistically significant. This study showed significantly raised levels of fasting blood glucose, serum cholesterol, LDL-C, triglyceride, systolic and diastolic blood pressure in hyperuricemic patients when compared to healthy control group [p<0.01]. The results of the present study suggest that high serum uric acid is associated with risk factors of cardiovascular disease thus hyperuricemia may results in cardiovascular disease

Status of lipid profile in different stages of chronic kidney disease

To estimate and compare dyslipidemia in patients with different stages of chronic kidney disease as compared to healthy controls and to determine whether dyslipidemia is independently associated with rapid renal impairment. This study was conducted in department of Biochemistry Basic Medical Institute [BMSI], Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre [JPMC] Karachi. A total of 150 participants were recruited for the study from the Nephrology department of JPMC. These were grouped as 30 stage II CKD patient, 30 stage III CKD patient, 30 stage IV CKD patient, 30 stage V CKD patient and 30 normal healthy individuals. Cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein, urea and creatinine were measured by commercially available kit method. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 11. Serum Cholesterol, Triglyceride and LDL-C among all groups were significantly increased when compared with control p<0.05. Serum HDL-C among all study groups was significantly decreased p<0.05, along with increase in LDL / HDL ratio among all study groups when compared with control p<0.05. Dyslipidemia occurs gradually in CKD patients as disease progresses. Evaluation of dyslipidemia in early stages of CKD is useful to assess the risk for future cardiovascular disease in these patients

Study to compare serum beta crosslaps levels between premenopausal and postmenopausal women

Osteoporosis is a progressive systemic disease of the bone causing significant reduction in bone mineral density and microarchitecture of bone tissue .All women experience slow bone loss with age . In Pakistan accelerated bone loss at menopause in women is about 75.3% increasing upto 97%with age thus making osteoporosis a major health problem.At the time of menopause, serum automated beta-Crosslaps increases by 86% a pattern consistent with accelerated bone loss within the first few years following menopause .we therefore hypothesized that estimation and comparsion beta-Crosslaps levels in Premenopausal and Postmenopausal women may be use as a diagnostic and screening marker for prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis. A cross sectional comparative study. This study was conducted in department of Physiology, BMSI in collaboration with Karachi gymkhana through a medical campaign in September 2011. A total of 94 subjects [premenopausal and postmenopausal] were included in this study that was performed in the urban area of Karachi city in 2011. Data was collected from all subjects through a questionnaire including questions regarding their age, menstrual history, menopausal and medical history. Blood samples from all these subjects were collected for the determination of bone turnover marker beta crosslaps. Bone mineral density [BMD] of the heel bone was done by single x-ray absorptiometry. The results of our study showed that the levels of serum beta-Crosslaps in postmenopausal women were significantly higher as compared to premenopausal women p<0.01.There was a significant rise in the beta-Crosslaps levels with the increasing age among the postmenopausal women p<0.01.BMD [bone mineral density] value have negative correlation the beta-crosslaps levels p<0.01 i.e with the increasing age there was decrease in BMD value and increase in beta-crosslaps values. Serum beta-crosslaps levels in postmenopausal women can provide valuable information regarding the decreasing bone density and hence may be considered a cost effective diagnostic as well as screening marker for the prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis

Role of fetuin-A in insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes mellitus

To determine the role of fetuin-A in triggering insulin resistance and leading to development of type 2 diabetes. A cross sectional, case control study was conducted at Basic Medical Sciences Institute [BMSI], Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre [JPMC]. Time duration of the study was from February 2012 to September 2013. A total of 150 subjects were included by random sampling out of which 50 were known type 2 diabetics, 50 were having impaired fasting glycaemia [IFG] and 50 were normal healthy individuals. Detailed history taking, clinical examination and body mass index [BMI] calculation were done. Laboratory investigations included serum fasting glucose, measured by glucose oxidase method and serum insulin and serum fetuin-A levels that were measured by ELISA method. Insulin resistance was calculated by Homeostatic model assessment, [HOMA IR]. Statistical analysis was done by using SPSS Version 16. We observed that serum fetuin-A levels were significantly higher in known type 2 diabetics as compared to impaired fasting glycaemics and controls [p<0.01]. Serum insulin and HOMA IR were also significantly elevated in known type 2 diabetics when compared to impaired fasting glycaemics and healthy individuals [p<0.01]. Body mass index was also significantly higher in known type 2 diabetics and impaired fasting glycaemics when compared to controls [p<0.01]. Our findings suggested that higher serum fetuin-A levels have a possible role in promoting insulin resistance and development of diabetes mellitus type 2

Status of HbA1c; Iron deficient diabetic and non diabetic patients

Glycated hemoglobin [HbA1c] is a marker to identify the average plasma glucose level over past three months but it is also influenced by the iron deficiency status of an individual. Research is designed to assess the relationship between HbA1c concentration and iron status among diabetic and non diabetic subjects. Cross sectional comparative study. Tertiary Care Unit of Karachi, Pakistan. Period: Dec 2010 till June 2011. A total of 75 subjects of both sexes were taken and divided into three groups. Fasting and random glucose levels, serum iron and TIBC were performed by enzymatic method while HbA1c was estimated by fast iron resin separation method and Complete blood count [CBC] was done by Coulter. The data feeding and analysis was on computer package SPSS [Statistical Packages of Social Sciences] version 16.0. the results were given in the mean and Standard Deviation [SD] and correlation [r] for quantitative data i.e. age, FBS, RBS, HbA1c, Serum Iron, Hb HCT, and TIBC. Using Analysis of Variance [ANOVA] with tukey test for comparison [Controls, Iron deficiency anemia with and without diabetes mellitus]. In all statistical analysis only p < 0.01 will be considered significant. HbA1c is a non-specific marker of Diabetes mellitus in iron deficieny anemia patients. Thus it is reccomended that iron status of diabetic patients must be considered while interpreting results. This study showed significantly raised levels of Fasting blood glucose [FBS], random blood glucose [RBS] and HbA1c in diabetic anemic patients when compared to control and nondiabetic anemic subjects [p < 0.01] while total iron binding capacity [TIBC] and HbA1 c in nondiabetic anemic subjects were also significantly raised when compared to control [p < 0.01]. Hemoglobin [Hb], Hematocrit [HCT] and Serum Iron levels were significantly decreased in diabetic and nondiabetic anemic subjects when compared to control [p < 0.01]. Our study depicted that while diagnosing Diabetes meliitus in iron deficient patients one should be carefull as HbA1c is not a very reliable parameter to assess glycemic control in iron deficiency anemia patients