ABSTRACT
Background and Objectives: Pregnancy is the physiological process in which progressive anatomical, physiological and biochemical changes occur. Secretion of different hormones during pregnancy is responsible for maternal adaptation to the increasing demand of the growing fetus. The present study was aimed to evaluate serum calcium and phosphate status in normal pregnant women in different trimesters. Materials and Methods: A total number of 140 subjects, age range 20-40 (yrs) were recruited in the study which includes 100 normal pregnant women termed as study group (Group B) and 40 healthy women without pregnant (Group A), served as Control. Group B subjects were subdivided into Group B1 (n=12), Group B2 (n=30) and Group B3 (n=58) on the basis of duration of pregnancy- 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimesters respectively. Calcium was measured by CPC (photometric method for Ca) and serum phosphate by colorimetric method. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS for Windows, Version 10. Unpaired Student's -'t' test performed to calculate statistical differences between groups. Results: Age (yrs) (mean±SD) and BMI of the pregnant women in different groups did not show statistical difference. Serum calcium (mean±SD) levels in the 1st (p=0.0001) and 2nd (p=0.02) trimester was significantly higher compared to the Controls. In 3rd the value was significantly lower (p=0.015) compared to the Controls and of 1st and 2nd trimesters (p=0.001). Serum phosphate (mean±SD) levels in three trimesters did not show statistical significant difference compared to the Controls and among the pregnancy groups. Conclusion: The data concluded that serum calcium level was lower during third trimester of the study subjects which may be explained by the fact of increased demand of the growing fetus and exposing the mother at risk of complications related to low serum calcium.
ABSTRACT
The whole-cell-extract and the acid-extract preparations of Helicobacter pylori strains isolated from peptic ulcer patients and the NCTC 11638 control strain were studied to compare their antigen profiles. Besides, the anti-H. pylori-antibody profile in serum from H. pylori-infected peptic ulcer patients were also studied to define the antigen stimulating specific anti-H. pylori-antibody response in the infected patients. The whole-cell extract (WCE) and the acid-extract (AE) preparations showed a general antigenic homogeneity among the H. pylori strains isolated from the patients and the NCTC 11638 control strain. A humoral immune response against the infecting organism was observed and three antigenic bands of approximate molecular masses of 61 kDa, 58 kDa and 24 kDa were recognized by all the tested sera. Those bands were found to be unique for H. pylori and did not show any cross reaction with the Campylobacter jejuni antigenic bands. This makes them a candidate for the specific antigens required to develop a specific serological diagnostic test. Further purification and characterization of the protein bands may be carried out to define their probable diagnostic or immuno-pathogenic role.