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Background: Currently there is only one marker to objectively establish perimenopause ie menstrual irregularities. Due to the wide variation in hormones like LH, FSH, estradiol, they become unreliable in predicting approaching menopause. This study was conducted to study and compare the patterns of LH, FSH and Estradiol in normal and abnormal perimenopause using the Stages of Reproductive Ageing Workshop (STRAW) criteria.Methods: A comparative evaluation was done after enrolling 200 patients out of which 100 women were in normal perimenopause (early-25 and late perimenopause-75, depending upon menstrual characteristics as defined by STRAW criteria) and 100 having AUB. Sociodemographic data, presence of menopausal symptoms were recorded. S. LH, S.FSH and S. estradiol we determined by adapted solid phase direct sandwich ELISA.Results: FSH was in menopausal ranges (>20IU/L) in early and late perimenopause. LH and FSH in women with AUB ranged from pre to post menopausal ranges. There was significant difference in LH and FSH between normal perimenopause and abnormal uterine bleeding. Estradiol levels showed a significant difference between late perimenopause and AUB p=0.015.Conclusions: This study shows that there is a progressive incremental trend in FSH and LH and decremental trend in Estradiol from early to late perimenopause due to decrease in ovarian follicular reserve, although the difference is not significant. Clinical symptoms present in 50% of late perimenopausal women showed that besides menstrual characteristics we can correlate these menopausal symptoms with raised FSH and low Estradiol. These women can be picked up and preventive therapy may be provided.
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Aims: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide. Its prevalence is increasing in the world. Tobacco smoking is the major risk factor for COPD. Oxidant-antioxidant and protease – anti-protease imbalance is the major hallmarks for the pathogenesis of COPD. The present study was planned to assess the correlation between markers of airflow obstruction with the serum level of neutrophil elastase, nitric oxide and superoxide dismutase in COPD patients. Study Design: Case Control Study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biochemistry, B. J. Govt. Medical College, Pune [Maharashtra]. The study period was in between Feb.2012 to Dec. 2013. Methodology: Study comprised of 60 stable COPD patients and 60 healthy controls. COPD patients were selected as per the GOLD (Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease) criteria with of aged between 40 to 75 yrs. Each subject undergone through the pulmonary function test by spirometry prior to enter in the study and predicted values of FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC were measured. Serum level of neutrophil elastase (NE) was analyzed using commercial available ELISA kits while serum level of nitric oxide and superoxide dismutase were measured by spectrophotometric methods. Statistical analysis was done by using SPSS software 17 version. Results: In our study we observed significantly increased levels of serum neutrophil elastase and nitric oxide and decreased level of enzymatic antioxidant superoxide dismutase (SOD) in COPD patients as compared to healthy controls. We found significant strong inverse correlation between neutrophil elastase (r=-0.604, P<0.0001) and nitric oxide (r=-0.565, P<0.0001) with FEV1% predicted and positive correlation between superoxide dismutase and FEV1% predicted (r=+0.394, P<0.001) in COPD patients. Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that the level of nitric oxide, superoxide dismutase and neutrophil elastase in serum might have played role in oxidative stress and inflammation in COPD patients. Hence, it can be concluded that the measurement of these biomarkers in serum may provide a good approach to assess the severity of the disease in COPD patients.
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Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate the immunogenicity of hepatitis B vaccine in infants of rural and urban Pakistan and to find out the vaccine efficacy. Methods: A sample of 400 subjects was taken by simple random method from the rural and urban areas (200 from Rural and 200 from urban areas) of Rawalpindi District Pakistan. The serum samples were analyzed by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbant assay (ELISA) for the quantitative determination of antiHBs antibodies. Results: As 88 (22%) infants out of the total 400 were found to be seropositive at baseline. The post vaccination results showed that about 15 (7.53%) of infants had inadequate levels of antibodies (i.e. <10 IU/L). Overall 92.46% infants showed a positive response to the vaccine. The females showed higher titers of antiHBs against vaccination as compared to that of males. Infants of urban areas showed higher titers as compared to that of rural areas. Conclusion: Our results reinforces that the Hepatitis B vaccine has a good tolerability and is highly immunogenic among infants. It is recommended that serosurvey of HBsAg and vaccine coverage at country level should be done.
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Objective To investigate the clinical significance of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) from peripheral serum in patients of vascular cognitive impairment (VCI).Methods Forty VCI subjects (including 10 mild cognitive impairment vascular(MCI-V) and 30 vascular dementia(VD)),and the control group for the same period in 40 healthy persons.Enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) was used to measure the serum levels of BDNF,statistical analysis was performed.Results The peripheral serum levels of BDNF in VCI (0.175 ±0.056) ng/L were lower than those of control group (0.211 ±0.061) ng/L,and there were significant differences (t =-2.752,P ＜ 0.05).The levels of BDNF showed no significant difference between MCI and VD ((0.195 ± 0.067) ng/L vs.(0.168 ± 0.052) ng/L,t =1.310,P ＞ 0.05).But they were both significantly lower than the control group (F =4.590,P =0.013).No significant differences were observed in the levels of BDNF between subcortical small vessel dementia (0.178 ± 0.057) ng/L and big vascular dementia (0.154 ± 0.042) ng/L (t =1.278,P =0.212).Conclusion BDNF participate in pathophysiology of VCI,and the serum levels of BDNF may be a candidate marker for clinical diagnosis of VCI.But serum levels of BDNF could not reflect the severity or the type of the VCI.
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Purpose: There are a few seroepidemiological studies reported on human metapneumovirus (hMPV) as hMPV was only discovered in the year 2001. This respiratory virus has been reported to be ubiquitous and associated with respiratory tract infections in all age groups. The present study aimed at determining the prevalence of antibodies to hMPV in children and adults of 1 month to 55 years of age. Materials and Methods: Serum samples from 100 study subjects were tested for hMPV antibody by an in-house ELISA system that used hMPV-infected cell lysate antigen. Result: The prevalence of antibody to hMPV was lowest in children less than 5 years of age (60%) and increased throughout age to > 80%. Similarly, geometric mean titres were 1:180 in children less than 5 years of age and reached a peak of 1:419 in adults over 35 years of age. Conclusion: The results show that hMPV infection is acquired early in life and re-infection in later life may maintain the seroprevalence and antibody levels in adult population.
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Background: Samples from babies exhibiting clinical symptoms suggestive of congenital infection are referred regularly to NICD, New Delhi,, from Government Hospitals located in Delhi and a home for abandoned children (Palna), for the diagnosis of etiological agents like toxoplasma, rubella, CMV and herpes. Blood samples of mothers of most of the affected babies are also received. Objective: Evaluation of rapid and accurate technique for the diagnosis of congenital CMV infection. Materials and Methods: One hundred and twenty five blood samples suggestive of symptomatic congenital CMV infection were selected from samples received at NICD during the period June 2005-March 2007. A request to collect and send the urine samples of the selected babies was sent to the respective hospitals. Serum samples of the babies were tested for CMV-IgM antibodies using µ-capture ELISA. Mothers' serum samples were subjected to CMV-IgM and IgG class antibodies assay by commercial ELISA kits. DNA isolation and amplification was performed in urine samples and some of the serum samples using a commercial PCR kit for detection of HCMV. Blood and urine samples from 20 normal babies were included in the study. Results: Twenty Seven serum samples (21.6%) of infants, of the 125 tested, were positive for CMV-IgM antibodies. Twenty five samples (20%) showed amplification of CMV -DNA. All 25 samples positive for PCR were positive for CMV IgM antibodies. Sera of 73 mothers, out of 75 tested (97.3%), were positive for CMV IgG antibodies. However, none of them was positive for CMV IgM antibodies. Mothers of all 27 positive babies were positive for CMV-IgG antibodies. Serum and urine samples from 20 normal babies were negative for ELISA and PCR. Conclusion: µ-capture ELISA technique was found to be more sensitive than PCR (92.6%) for detection of congenital CMV infection. ELISA is also rapid, less cumbersome and cost effective for diagnosis of CMV infection.
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Objective To investigate the expression of serum sHLA-G in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and the association with the disease activity.Methods The serum concentration of sHLA-G in SLE patients and healthy controls was measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results Significant higher sHLA-G levels were detected in patients of SLE than control group (P＜0.01),The serum concentrations of sHLA-G in active SLE patients were markedly higher than stable SLE patients (P＜0.01).The expression level of sHLA-G showed positive correlations with SLE activity index (SLEDAI)(r=0.30,P=0.01).There was no correlation between sHLA-G levels and serum concentration of Anti-dsDNA,C3,C4 and Anti-ANA in SLE patients (P＞0.05).Conclusion The level of serum sHLA-G is significantly increased in SLE patients.Positive correlations are observed between sHLA-G levels and SLEDAI.These data indicated that sHLA-G may play certain roles in the pathogenesis and progress in SLE.
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Aim To investigate the pharmacokinetics of albumin-interferon ?-2b fusion protein(HSA-IFN?-2b) in Rhesus monkeys.Methods Three groups of monkeys were administrated by single injection of HSA-IFN?-2b at 50 ?g?kg-1 iv,50 ?g?kg-1 sc and 300 ?g?kg-1 sc,respectively.Blood samples were taken at 14 different time points from each animal.ELISA was employed to determine the drug concentrations in plasma for all samples.Results Drug was detectable in all of the treated monkeys up to 336 hours after administration.One-compartment model analysis showed that distribution volume was 71 ml?kg-1 in 50 ?g?kg-1 iv group,67 ml?kg-1 in 50 ?g?kg-1 sc group,and 63 ml?kg-1 in 300 ?g?kg-1sc group,respectively.The absorption of HSA-IFN?-2b was relatively slow when given by subcutaneous injection.After 50 ?g?kg-1 sc,the absorption half-life was 19h and elimination half-life was 53h,the bioavailability(F) was approximately 73%,and the apparent clearance(clearance divided by bioavailability,CL/F) was 0.92 ml?h-1?kg-1.Conclusion The result showed that HSA-IFN?-2b may offer the benefits of less frequent dosing and a potentially improved efficacy profile compared with non-albumin fused IFN-alpha.
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Objective To evaluate the function of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and other clinical indexes to forcast ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). Method Collecting the serum and follicular fluid (FF) of 42 cases in the in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycles and then analysis the relationship of the clinical and detected indexes between the OHSS (10 cases) and the non-OHSS (32 cases). Results The concentration of VEGF in FF?E 2 on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) injection, basal luteinizing hormone (LH) and the number of ovum retried much higher in the OHSS than in the non-OHSS. Conclusions The concentration of VEGF in FF of OHSS cases is higher than that of controls, supporting the role of VEGF as a mediator of OHSS. Therefore VEGF in FF is a forcast index of OHSS.