Serum cholesterol levels and incidence of ovarian tumors in Pakistani women

This study was aimed to observe the relationship of serum cholesterol with incidence of ovarian tumors [benign and malignant] in pre and postmenopausal Pakistani women. Effect of type [benign and malignant] and state of disease [FIGO stages of malignant tumors] on serum was also the objective of the study. Thirty-five clinically and histopathologically confirmed patients with benign and malignant tumors [mean age 47.05 with rang of 16-70 years] selected. Nineteen age and weight matched healthy control subjects were selected among the female staff members and students of JPMC. Serum cholesterol was estimated by kit method. In case of benign tumor patients lowest level of serum cholesterol was observed in serous cyst adenoma [p<0.0005] and ovarian cyst of undetermined origin [p<0.001]. The lower cholesterol levels were also observed in other groups when compared with controls [p<0.0005]. Statistically significant differences were noted when serum cholesterol levels compared between stage 1 and III [p<0.05] between 1 and IV [p<0.001] II and IV [p<0.05] and between III and IV [p<0.01]. Findings of this study suggests that lowest levels of total cholesterol [TC] has been observed in various is benign and malignant tumors and the inverse correlation between low total cholesterol levels to incidence and mortality of tumors is more markedly associated with the advance disease status. This finding of inverse relation of TC with increase incidence of cancer is in agreement with the several prospective epidemiological studies carried out by various researchers

Effect of weight reduction by dietary caloric restriction on serum glucose and insulin levels in non-diabetic and obese postmenopausal women

Reduction in body weight by energy-restrictive diet and/or by increased physical activity reduces several health hazards associated with obesity including insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, sleep apnoea, hypoxemia osteoarthritis, etc. the effect of weight loss by energy-restrictive diet on insulin sensitivity in postmenopausal women who are non-diabetic and obese, is not well-established. This study is based on the hypothesis that weight-reduction through caloric restriction may normalize the obesity-induced hyperinsuliemia or insulin resistance in postmenopausal obese women who are at a great risk of development of glucose intolerance. Twenty non-diabetic postmenopausal females aged 45 to 55 years with body mass index [BMI] 30 or above kg/m[2] were placed at a low caloric diet [1000-1400 kcal], for 60 days. Following 60-day dietary treatment BMI reduced from 32.94 +/- 1.68 [Mean +/- SD] to 30.09 +/- 1.72 kg/m[2] [P<0.001]. The reduction in BMI in our study population was associated with decrease in fasting levels of insulin [from 219.48 +/- 14.10 to 150.25 +/- 19.69. The findings of the present study suggest that weight reduction through caloric restriction is an effective measure to normalize the obesity-induced hyperinsulinemia in postmenopausal women who are non-diabetic and obese, hence decreasing the risk of development of insulin resistance and glucose intolerance

Alterations in serum cholesterol levels in Benign colorectal tumours

Colorectal adenoma is the benign precursor of colorectal carcinoma. This study was designed to assess the relation between serum cholesterol levels and colorectal adenoma. Subjects were selected from males who underwent colonoscopy for various reasons. Among selected subjects, twenty were histologically confirmed cases of colorectal adenoma [constituting the patient group] and sixteen age- and body mass index [BMI]-matched were free from colorectal adenoma [constituting the control group]. Before any medical and surgical treatment, fasting blood samples were taken for the estimation of lipid fractions of various serum lipoproteins. Patients showed raised levels of serum cholesterol [P<0.05] and low density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDLc] [P<0.01], as compared to those in the control subjects. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDLc] and triglycerides did not show statistically significant difference between patients and controls. The findings of the present study suggest that the patients with colorectal adenoma may have higher levels of total cholesterol and LDLc

Effect of uncomplicated membranous glomerulonephritis on serum lipid profile

Alterations in the serum lipids have been reported in various renal disorders. The present study was designed to examine the effect of uncomplicated [prior to development of renal failure] membranous glomerulonephritis [MGN] on serum lipids, before initiation of drug treatment. Eighteen histologically confirmed MGN patients, with urinary excretion of protein >3.5 g/24h, serum level of total protein <6 g/dL, and serum level of albumin <3 g/dL, were included in the study [constituting patient group]. Twenty age- and body mass index [BMI]-matched healthy subjects were selected as controls. The patients with MGN had elevated serum concentrations of total cholesterol [9.79 +/- 0.453 mmol/L [mean +/- SEM]], triglycerides [2.53 +/- 0.071 mmol/L], and LDLc [8.02 +/- 0.447 mmol/L] as compared to the control values 5.06 +/- 0.065, l.26 +/- 0.023, and 3.33 +/- 0.067 mmol/L, respectively, with P<0.001. However significantly low levels of HDLc were observed in MGN patients with P< 0.001 when compared with those in controls [1.27 +/- 0.039 vs I.48 +/- 0.018 mmol/L]. There was an inverse correlation between serum albumin, and total cholesterol [r = -0.6800; P<0.01] and triglycerides [r = -0.8644; P< 0.001]. From the findings of this study, it was concluded that there were statistically significant elevations in the levels of atherogenic fractions of serum lipids and declines in the antiatherogenic fraction of serum lipids, in patients with uncomplicated and untreated MGN

Changes in serum lipid, testosterone, LH and FSH levels in nephrotic patients with chronic renal failure

Chronic renal failure is associated with hypogonadism in males and nephritic syndrome is usually associated with dyslipidaemia. The aim of the present study was to examine the changes in lipid contents of various serum lipoprotein fractions and serum levels of testosterone, FSH [follicle stimulating hormone] and LH [luteinizing hormone] in the male nephrotic patients with chronic renal failure. Sixteen male patients [age 35.29 +/- 0.58; mean +/- SEM] with chronic renal failure and proteinuria [>3.5g/day] were selected. On the basis of histological findings of renal biopsy: membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, 3 patients; focal segmental glomerulosclerosis,8 patients; and membranous nephropathy, 5 patients. Fourteen age- and weight-matched healthy male subjects were selected as controls. Serum levels of testosterone, FSH, LH, and lipid fractions of serum lipoproteins were determined in-patients and controls. Patients showed significantly lower levels of testosterone and FSH and higher levels of LH, when compared with those of patients [P<0.001]. All lipid fractions [except for HDLc] were significantly higher in-patients than those in controls [P<0.001]. In addition an inverse correlation was observed in the patients between albumin levels and total cholesterol [r=-0.6842, P<0.01], and serum albumin and triacylglycerols [r=-0.7489, P<0.001]. The findings of the present study suggest that chronic renal failure with nephrotic syndrome is associated with decreased levels of serum testosterone and FSH, and elevated levels of lipids excluding HDLc