Nodular goiters

The purpose of the study was to estimate the levels of amino sugars and glycosylated proteins in the blood and thyroid tissues of the patients suffering from thyroid disorders. The study was carried out at Basic Medical sciences Institute, J.P.M.C. Karachi. From 1990 to 1992. Twenty control subjects and 35 thyroid patients [Non toxic goiter = 14, Non toxic nodular goiter =12 and Toxic nodular goiter=9] were studied. T4, TBG and T4/TBG ratio, serum and tissue glucose, protein, glycosylated proteins and hexosamine with their correlation coefficient [r] were estimated. Significantly raised levels of TBG in non toxic goiter and toxic nodular goiter while T4/TBG ratio was significantly decreased in non toxic goiter and toxic nodular goiter. In non toxic goiter patients correlation coefficient analysis showed a direct relationship [serum to tissue levels] of glucose[r=0.47], glycosylated proteins[r=0.40] and hexosamine [r=0.23] while an inverse rela tionship was found in case of protein[r= -0.38]. In non toxic nodular group inverse relationship was only found in proteins [r= -0.48] estimation while direct correlation coefficient was observed in glucose [r= 0.29], glycosylated proteins [r=0.13] and in hexosamine [r=0.14]. In toxic nodular group hexosamine shows a direct correlation coefficient[r=0.73]while glucose [= -0.53], proteins [r= -0.87]and glycosylated proteins[r= -0.12] have an inverse relationship. It was concluded from correlation coefficient analysis [blood to tissue levels] that in non toxic goiter and non toxic nodular patients glucose, glycosylated protein and hexosamine showed a direct relationship while protein showed an inverse relationship

value of fructosamine in monitoring diabetes control in NIDD with different stages of schistosomal liver disease

The value of fructosamine versus glycosylated hemoglobin HbA[1c] in monitoring diabetes control in diabetics with different stages of liver disease was investigated. The study included diabetics without liver disease [[Group I, n = 20], diabetics with compensated hepatosplenic schistosomiasis [HSS] [Group II, n = 20], diabetics with decompensated HSS [Group III, n 20]. Each group included patients who were controlled [n = 10] and others who were uncontrolled [n = 10] for at least 2 months before the stud. Group IV included 10 normal controls, 10 with compensated HSS and 10 with decompensated HSS without diabetes. Both HbA[1c] and fructosamine were determined by quantitative colorimetry. In diabetics without liver disease both fructosamine and HbA[1c] correlated significantly with plasma glucose was well as with each other and so fructosamine which is cheaper can be used alone for monitoring diabetes control in such cases. In the absence of diabetes fructosamine decreased in parallel with the progress of liver disease while HbA[1c] did not change. This illustrates the influence of decreasing albumin in fructosamine levels. Fructosamine was not correlated to HbA[1c] but was correlated to albumin. In diabetics with liver disease, fructosamine and HbA[1c] levels followed the same pattern as in patients without diabetes indicating that fructosamine levels are related more to albumin than the glucose levels. It can be concluded that fructosamine can be used safely for monitoring diabetes control in the absence of liver disease, while HbA[1c] is preferred with liver disease