ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the frequency of hyperuricemia in patients with thyroid dysfunction. Study Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Chemical Pathology, Army Medical College Rawalpindi, National University of Sciences and Technology [NUST] Islamabad and Military Hospital [MH] Rawalpindi, from Apr 2013 to Jun 2014
Results: Among the fifty five participants, 16 [29.1%] were male while 39 [70.9%] were females. Mean age of the subjects was 45.49 +/- 16.7 years in this study. Hyperuricemia was observed in seventeen [30.9%] individuals with thyroid dysfunction. Mean serum uric acid level was found to be 418.3 +/- 147 micromol/l in participants
Material and Methods: Fifty five individuals with thyroid dysfunction were included in this study. Detailed history was recorded on a questionnaire, blood samples were collected and serum total tri-iodothyronine [T3], free thyroxine [T4], thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH] and uric acid levels were measured
Conclusion: High frequency of hyperuricemia occurs in patients with thyroid dysfunction. Therefore in patients presenting with thyroid dysfunction, evaluation of underlying hyperuricemia should be considered by the clinicians
ABSTRACT
Objective: To study the pattern of diabetic foot among diabetic patients visiting the tertiary care hospital
Study Design: Observational descriptive study
Place and Duration of Study: Combined Military Hospital [CMH] Rawalpindi and Military Hospital [MH], Rawalpindi, from June 2014 to August 2014
Material and Methods: Fifty six known diabetic patients, undergoing treatment or follow up for diabetic foot were included in the study. A detailed medical history was obtained and recorded in the proforma. Frequencies and percentages of complications of diabetic foot were calculated. SPSS version 16 was used for data analysis
Results: Out of fifty six diabetic patients, 35 [62.5%] were male and 21 [37.5%] were females; their mean age was 58.21 +/- 7.10 years. Mean duration of Diabetes mellitus was 6.04 +/- 3.35 years. The median known duration of DM2 was 11 [5-43] years. 21.4% of patients had foot infection while 35.7% patients were suffering from foot ulcers. 42.9% patients had both, foot infection along with ulcers
Conclusion: Foot infections and foot ulcers are common feature of diabetic foot. Infected foot ulcer is a common cause of morbidity in diabetic patients, ultimately leading to dreaded complications like gangrene and amputations. All patients with diabetes should have an annual foot examination
ABSTRACT
Interferon Lambda [IFN- Lamda] is a type III interferon which belongs to a novel family of cytokines and possesses antiviral and antitumor properties. It is unique in its own class of cytokines; because of the specificity towards its heterodimer receptors and its structural similarities with cytokines of other classes. This renders IFN- Lamda a better choice for the treatment against many diseases including viral hepatitis and human coronavirus [HCoV-EMC]. The present study describes a computational approach known as relative synonymous codon usage [RSCU]; used to enhance the expression of IFN- Lamda protein in a eukaryotic expression system. Manually designed and commercially synthesized IFN- Lamda gene was cloned into pET-22b expression plasmid under the control of inducible T7-lac promoter. Maximum levels of IFN- Lamda expression was observed with 0.4 mM IPTG in transformed E. coli incubated for 4 hours in LB medium. Higher concentrations of IPTG had no or negative effect on the expression of IFN- Lamda. This synthetically over expressed IFN- Lamda can be tested as a targeted treatment option for viral hepatitis after purification
Subject(s)
Gene Expression , Codon , Escherichia coliABSTRACT
Objective: This study was designed to estimate the incidence of testosterone elevation among infertile women
Method: Three hundred twenty seven married women, presenting with a complaint of infertility, were evaluated at the Reproductive Physiology Laboratory of the NIH, Islamabad. Serum testosterone level was determined using Enzyme Immuno Assay [EIA]
Statistical Analysis: Data were compared using student `t`-test
Results: The results revealed that 36.08% of the infertile women had significantly elevated level of serum testosterone, a predominately male hormone
Conclusion: The estimation of serum testosterone is not usually advised for assessment of the fertility status, unless the patient presents with symptoms of hyper androgenic status. However, the prevalence of a significantly high level of serum testosterone in more than one third of the studied subjects warrants the inclusion of serum testosterone level estimation as a routine component of female factor fertility assessment