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Background:Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), is an extracellular matrix (ECM) non-collagenous glycoprotein that is mainly localized within the cartilage, and also be found in tendon and synovium.RecentstudiesinwestandAsiaPacificregionhasshownthatCOMP, is a prognostic marker in Rheumatoid arthritis(RA).Objective:To correlate serum COMP levels with disease severity and cartilage destruction in rheumatoid arthritis.Methods:The study was conducted in Department of Pathology and Rheumatology, Ziauddin University Hospital, Karachi from June 2018 to May 2019. Patients were recruited as per American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 2010 classification criteria. The study populationconsists of 88 healthy subjects and 88 RA patients. Sandwich ELISA technique was used to assess serum COMP level. Other inflammatory markers such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) antibodies like rheumatoid factor, and anti-cyclic citrullinated protein (anti-CCP) were also assessed. Results were analyzed using SPSS-20 and P-value ≤0.05 was considered as significant.Results: Serum COMP levels were significantly higher in RA patients 51.35ng/ml than controls 21.454ng/ml with significant p value=<0.0001. There was strong positive correlation between COMP level and disease severity in RA patients with moderate as well as high disease activity score (DAS) with significant p value. Serum COMP showed 96% sensitivity and 83% specificity at level of 27.01ng/ml for diagnosis of RA.Conclusions:COMP has significant positive correlation with severity of RA. Serum COMP can be utilized as a biomarker to quantify cartilage destruction in RA patients
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Background:Diabetes mellitus has remained the major concern for medical sciences researches duetoits deleterious effects on general, physical and mental health of patients. To understand the pathophysiology and to explore better treatment options for such kind of metabolic disorders it is necessary to generate the experimental animal models. To create diabetic animal models, streptozotocin has shown predominance in selectivity as a diabetogenic agent. While studying effects of any intervention in the diabetic animal models, being a cytotoxic drug streptozotocin may affect the study results by inhibiting highly replicating cells especially hematopoietic cells.Original ResearchArticle Aims:The aim of study was to analyze the effects of streptozotocin on various cellular components of blood such as RBCs, WBCs (Lymphocytes, Neutrophils, Eosinophils), Hb%, HCT and Platelets, at baseline,5thday and 15thday without any intervention.Study Design:Animal based Experimentalstudy.Place and duration of Study:The study was conducted at animal house of faculty of Pharmacy Ziauddin University Karachi, while laboratory work was performed at MDRL-1 Ziauddin University.Methodology:In Group A normal saline and in group B and C 60mg / kg streptozotocin diluted in normal saline was administered intraperitoneally. After the confirmation of induction of Diabetes in rats, on fifth day blood samples were drawn from Group A and B and were analyzed. While blood samples from group C weredrawn on fifteenth day.Results:Analysis of various hematological parameters on 5thday revealed that there was a decrease in the levels of Hb, HCT, RBCs and WBCs with an increase in platelet count in group B in comparison to group A (control). On the other hand, in Group C (15th day), blood cell counts (Hb, HCT, RBCs, WBCs, Lymphocytes, Neutrophils and platelets) seemed to recover from streptozotocin induced decline that was observed in group B, however did not reach the baselines as in group A(control).Conclusion:It is concluded that change in hematological parameters of rats after administration of streptozotocin is reversible. The blood parameters may recover near to base line values without any intervention within two weeks
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Nephropathy due to damage of filtration barrier is a primary origin of end stage renal disease in Diabetics. It is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Mostly clinicians rely on urine analysis of Albumin. In the recent years extensive research has been conducted to find out a novel biomarker which can help in the early diagnosis of nephropathy. A search was conducted regarding publications of new diagnostic biomarkers for nephropathy. Among many renal biomarker researched lately, Nephrin was identified as the one that can become an early predictor of nephropathy and the levels of which can also ascertain the severity of the disease
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Objective: To determine the levels of Vitamin D in apparently healthy population of Islamabad
Study design: A Descriptive Study
Place and duration: From March 2012 to April 2013 at Rawal Institute of Health Sciences, Islamabad
Methodology: Two hundred and ninety nine healthy subjects were selected between the age of 10-85 yrs. Convenient sampling was done. Subjects with complain of bone pain, musculoskeletal or rheumatologic problems, pregnant and lactating mothers, smokers or alcoholics were excluded from the study. History was taken and Blood samples were collected and stored at -80[degree]C for estimation of Vitamin D levels in batches. Vitamin D level was determined by ELISA technique [Enzyme linked immunosorbant assay] after standardizing it and controls were run simultaneously. The data was collected and analyzed on SPSS version 17.Percentage was determined and Chi square test applied on data
Result: Vitamin D levels of 299 subjects were categorized according to deficiency and insufficiency criteria specified [Roche]. The study shows that 65.2% [n =195] subjects were deficient in Vitamin D, 26.09% [n = 78] were insufficient and only 8.7% [n=26] had normal 25 OH Vitamin D levels
Conclusion: The subjects in the population are suffering from hypovitaminosis D. The cause of vitamin D deficiency remains an area of concern, when availability of sunlight is adequate especially in asian population