Triglyceride profile in dyslipidemia of type 2 diabetes mellitus

To evaluate ratios of serum triglycerides and cholesterol levels which may indicate postprandial lipid handling and to assess their role as prospective markers of dyslipidaemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Comparative, observational study. Bismillah Taqee Hospital, Karachi from July 2002 till December 2003. The study comprised 160 subjects, including 83 known type 2 diabetics [45 males, 38 females] and 77 age-matched controls [45 males, 32 females]. Fasting blood samples were analysed for serum triglycerides and total cholesterol, using automated chemistry analyzer. HDL-C was determined by precipitation method and LDL-C and VLDL-C were estimated by Friedewalds formula. LDL/HDL ratio and TG/HDL ratios were also calculated. The mean values for male and female diabetics were compared with that for the male and female non-diabetics respectively and tested for significance by paired t-test. Serum triglycerides and VLDL were raised in both male and female diabetics. No significant differences were observed in levels of serum total cholesterol, LDL, HDL and the LDL/HDL ratio. The mean value of the TG/HDL ratio for male diabetics was higher than that for the male non-diabetics [p=0.39]. A statistically significant difference was found in the TG/HDL ratios for the female diabetics and non-diabetics [p < 0.05]. In this study, type 2 diabetics showed marked hypertriglyceridaemia and raised TG/HDL ratio. The dyslipidaemia of diabetes predisposes to development of coronary heart disease and, therefore, evaluation of the TG:HDL ratio may provide a good tool to monitor and manage the lipid abnormalities in diabetics

Amphetamine / methamphetamine abuse in taif region

To report the extent of Amphetamine / Methamphetamine abuse in patients with psychiatric symptoms at Mental Health Hospital, Taif, Saudi Arabia. It was a descriptive study done in Taif during 2005. Urine samples of patients were screened for the presence of amphetamine / methamphetamine, using fluorescent polarization technique. We received 739 samples of urine for screening amphetamine / methamphetamine, during our study, from 1/01/2005 to 31/12/2005. Out of these 151 samples were reported positive which makes 20.44% of the total samples received during our one year study period. The abuse of amphetamine / methamphetamine is an extremely serious and growing problem, globally. About two thirds of the users of Amphetamine are found in Asia. Moreover, the highest proportion of treatment demand for ATS abuse is found in Asia too. Our study reports a high incidence of Amphetamine / Methamphetamine abuse in Taif region. About 21% of the total admissions in Mental Health Hospital, Taif, during our one year study period were related to treatment for Amphetamine / Methamphetamine abuse

Leptin levels in pre and post menopausal Pakistani women

To evaluate the correlation of fasting serum leptin levels with anthropometric measurements and menopausal status, in women. The study comprised of 80 non-obese women who were divided into 2 groups as pre-menopausal [n=46] and post-menopausal [n=34].Anthropometric measurements i.e. height, weight, waist and hip circumference were measured for all the subjects and the Waist-hip Ratio [WHR] and Body Mass Index [BMI] were calculated from these measurements. A fasting venous blood sample was taken from all the subjects and serum leptin concentrations were determined by ELISA. A comparison of the mean values for BMI and WHR between the two groups showed a non significant difference. Within each group, significant associations were noted between the fasting serum leptin level and values of BMI and WHR. A comparison of the mean serum leptin concentrations between the two groups, showed a highly significant difference [p<0.001]. Our results indicate that in the non-obese women of our population, leptin levels associate with BMI and WHR and together with menopausal status seem to be important determinants of serum leptin levels

Improved fat tolerance in postmenopausal women: a possible role for hormone replacement therapy

The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible role of Hormone Replacement Therapy [HRT] in the handling of lipid stress by enhancing lipolysis and thus improving fat tolerance in women using the therapy after menopause. As a measure of the lipolytic capacity, we estimated the TG/HDL ratio, or the lipolytic index, since the lipolytic stress in the circulation, at any given time, is a function of the two parameters, triglycerides[TG] and high density lipoproteins [HDL], i.e. the lipid load and the ability to remove it. Materials and A comparative study comprising 80 postmenopausal women, who fulfilled the inclusion criteria, was carried out. Subjects were divided into four groups according to type of hormone regimen used and their respective controls. Serum total triglycerides and HDL levels were estimated and the TG/HDL ratio calculated for four groups. The difference noted in the mean values for serum HDL and TG/HDL ratios in users of oestrogen therapy and their controls prove to be statistically significant, P < 0.001 and P < 0.05 respectively. While comparison of mean values in users of a combined oestrogen and progestin regimen and their controls showed statistically significant differences in values of serum TG [P < 0.05] and serum HDL [P < 0.001]. HRT while having beneficial effects on the circulating level of cholesterol rich lipoproteins, may also play an important role in preventing atherogenesis by enhancing the removal of the triglyceride rich particles from the circulation. Raised HDL levels in hormone users appear to contribute to improved fat tolerance and this effect would perhaps be more enhanced and relevant in the non-fasting state

Effects of an oestrogen only and oestrogen progestin regimen of hormone replacement therapy on lipid profile in postmenopausal women

Hormone replacement therapy [HRT], is known to be accompanied by changes in blood lipid profile. The use of a progestin in addition to oestrogen is believed to negate or attenuate the effects of oestrogen on lipids and lipoproteins. In this study, we compared the lipid profiles of two groups of postmenopausal women who had been using the two different types of regimens of HRT. Each group consisted of twenty women. The first group of women consisted of women who had undergone surgical menopause and were using an oestrogen only HRT [Premarin]. The second group consisted of women who had undergone natural menopause and were on a combined, sequential regimen of oestrogen and progestin [Progyluton]. For each group, total cholesterol, triglycerides, VLDL-C, LDLC, HDL-C, ratio were estimated. Certain difference were observed in these parameters of the two groups but statistical analysis showed no significant. Thus our study indicated that the presence of a progestin in HRT may have some effects on lipid profile, but it does not alter it significantly