Trend analysis of the correlation of amino acid plasma profile with glycemic status in Saudi diabetic patients

The role of amino acids in diabetes mellitus and its metabolic traits have been suggested previously; however, studied to a very limited scale in the Saudi patient population. Patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus were included in the current clinical study. Sample was representative and in accordance with the national population distribution. Blood samples were drawn and assayed for glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein and low density lipoprotein. General biochemical markers, such as alkaline phosphatase [ALP], creatinine kinase [CK], aspartate transaminase [AST], alanine transaminase [ALT] and blood urea nitrogen [BUN] were assessed. Serum amino acids of different categories [essential, semi-essential and metabolic indicator amino acids] were assessed. Correlation co-efficient between each amino acid and serum glucose level was calculated. The current study showed positive correlation between amino acid level and glucose serum concentration in male while it showed negative correlation in female Saudi diabetic patients. Male patients had significantly higher methionine concentration parallel to their glycemic status. Metabolic indicator amino acids significantly changed in concordance with the glycemic status of female patients more than in male patients. In conclusion, serum amino acid is positively correlated with glycemic status in Saudi male diabetic patients while negatively correlated in female patients. Yet, further study would be recommended to utilize serum amino acid profile as surrogate parameter for the metabolic complications of diabetes mellitus

effect of streptococcus pneumoniae polysaccharide vaccine on the opsonizing and bactericidal function of homozygous sickle serum

The effect of Streptococcus pneumoniae polysaccharide vaccine on homozygous sicklers was studied. The bactericidal and opsonizing functions of the serum were measured by five indices: i. The viability index of S. Pneumoniae type 2 in 10% serum. ii. viability following ingestion by human neutrophils iii. overall viability in presence of serum and neutrophils iv. effect of neutrophils on extra-cellular bacterial survival and v. Phagocytic index. Five sickle sera defective in all of the five indices before vaccination were restored to normal function after the patients had received 14-valent pneumovaccine. The comparison of the prevaccination and postvaccination sera was done with pooled white serum as control. The effect of the antibody alone in the postvaccination serum remained low inspite of the normal restoration. The maximum effect on any of the five indices was exerted when both the antibody and the heat labile factors are present together in the serum