Effect of oral glucose tolerance test on urine sodium excretion in obese and non-obese pre-menopausal females

We have investigated the changes in urinary sodium excretion during an oral glucose tolerance test [OGTT] through the associated changes in plasma atrial naturetic peptide [ANP], endogenous insulin and renal kallikrein excretion, in 10 normatensive obese and 10 healthy non-obese pre-menopausal females. Baseline blood glucose did not differ between obese and non-obese females. Blood glucose levels during the OGTT were significantly higher in obese than in non -obese females [P<0.01]. Obese females had significantly higher values of serum insulin at baseline and 2 hours after oral glucose load in comparison to non-obese females [P<0.01, <0.0001 respectively]. A similar finding was also obtained regarding fasting insulin resistance index [FIRI][P<0.0001] Prior to OGTT, urine sodium and kallikrein excretion did not differ between obese and non-obese subjects. After oral glucose load there were significant reduction of urine sodium [P<0.0001] and kallikrein excretion [P<0.0001] only in non-obese females. Obese females had insignificant decrease in urine sodium excretion and insignificant increase in urine kallikrein excretion. The decrease in urine sodium excretion was similar in obese and non-obese females. The plasma ANP level was significantly higher both in obese [P<0.0001] and non-obese [P<0.0001] females after glucose load. However, the percent increase was less in obese than in non-obese females [P<0.05]. In conclusion, changes in endogenous insulin induced by oral glucose were associated with a similar decrease in urine sodium excretion in obese and non-obese normatensive pre-menopausal females but the decrease was only significant in non-obese females. Insignificant reduction in urine sodium excretion in obese females could be due to the counteracting natriuretic effects of renal kallikrein and ANP

Serum adenosine deaminase activity in complicated pregnancy

The activity of serum adenosine deaminase [ADA] was measured in 3 groups of pregnant women. Group I [n=10] consisted of normal pregnant females, group II [n=10] included eclamptic and preeclampatic pregnant women and group III [n=10] comprised of diabetic pregnant females. Serum ADA activity was found to be significantly lower in group II [12.07 +/- 6.2 U/L] and group III [7.81 +/- 2.66 U/L] than in group I [18.03 +/- 5.6 U/L]. As ADA activity has been associated with immune competence, it can be concluded that the determination ADA concentration in serum might be a marker of depressed cell-mediated immunity in complicated pregnancy

Significance of serum heat stable alkaline phosphatase, fucose and total sialic acid as tumour markers for breast carcinoma

Serum levels of heat stable alkaline phosphatase [HSAP], fucose and total sialic acid [TSA] were measured in forty patients with different stages breast carcinoma, ten patients with benign breast disease fibroadenosis and ten healthy female individuals. HSAP and TSA were significantly elevated in patients with breast carcinoma as compared to the controls; while in fibroadenosis, TSA only, was different from that in controls HSAP was more significantly increased in stage IV as compared to stage I and III. Serum fucose was found to have higher significant mean values in stage IV as compared both to controls and stage I. TSA showed significant increase in its mean vaule in cancer patients of stage II, III and IV as compared to the controls. Serum mean values of HSAP and fucose were significantly increased in patients with breast carcinoma [stage IV] as compared to fibroadenosis. The present study showed also that HSAP and fucose levels in the serum were most specific [100%] whereas TSA levels were most sensitive [40%] for breast carcinoma. It can be suggested that the combined use of the markers studied may give a high degree of marker positivity and can be useful in the diagnosis of breast carcinoma

Some biochemical indices in monitoring myocardial ischemic arrest, reperfusion and recovery during open cardiac surgery procedures

The present study was conducted on 12 patients [8 males and 4 females] undergoing open cardiac surgery. Plasma lactate, serum total creatine phosphokinase [CPK] and its MB isoenzyme [CPK-MB] were measured in those patients at different stages of open cardiac surgery procedures [stage I up to stage VI]. Plasma-lactate revealed highest level in stage IV [reperfusion phase] which was significantly higher than stage I [before anaesthesia] and stage II [after crossclamp on- ischemic arrest]. Serum total CPK showed significant gradual increase from stage I up to stage IV and then decreased; while CPK-MB was significantly increased in stage V [24 hours after recovery] as compared to I and III. Both of them were significantly increased in stage IV as compared to stage III. The present study revealed also persistent rising of the meanvalues of plasma lactate, serum total CPK and CPK-MB up to one week following open cardiac surgery [stage VI], in patients with poor post operative myocardial function comparing to lower values among patients with good and fair results of myocardial function. The present data may confirm the degree of myocardial ischemic insult and reperfusion injury during open cardiac surgery. They can be used as biochemical monitoring indices for evaluation of myocardial haemodynamics and out come results of open cardiac surgery patients