A study to evaluate the correlation of serum albumin levels with chronic periodontitis.

Context: Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease caused by bacterial infection of the supporting tissues around the teeth. Serum albumin levels might be the practical marker of general health status. Albumin concentration is associated with nutrition and inflammation. Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between periodontal health status and serum albumin levels. Subjects and Methods: A total of 60 subjects of both genders with age range of 40–70 years were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups viz. Group I; clinically healthy subjects and Group II; patients with chronic periodontitis, that is, loss of attachment ≥5 mm. Serum albumin concentration was estimated by bromocresol green albumin method. Statistical Analysis Used: Student’s unpaired t‑test. Results: The mean value of serum albumin levels for Group I was 4.815 g/dL with standard deviation (SD) of 0.127 and for Group II, the mean value of serum albumin levels was 4.219 g/dL (SD 0.174). The difference between serum albumin levels in Group I and Group II were found to be statistically significant (P ≤ 0.001). Conclusions: The findings of this clinical trial suggest an inverse relationship between the serum albumin concentration and chronic periodontal disease.

Biochemical effect of some feed additives and immunological response in broilder chickens

This study was investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with prebiotics beta-glucan, MOS 500 and Bio MOS [registered sign] on the broilers performance, biochemical parameters and immune response for 5 weeks. One hundred and twenty 1-day-old broiler chickens were randomly assigned to 4 dietary treatment groups as follows: control, beta-glucan [1g/kg], MOS 500 [0.5g/kg] and Bio MOS [registered sign] [1g/kg]. Each treatment was divided into three replicates [ten birds/ replicate]. The overall BW gains of birds treated with prebiotics were significantly [P <0.01] higher than those of the control group. During the experiment, the birds fed supplemental Bio MOS [registered sign] gave the best FCR followed by beta-glucan MOS 500 and then the control group. Addition of these prebiotics were improved the levels of serum total protein and globulin which in turn support the immune function against NDV and IBDV. In addition to, supplementation of broiler chicks by beta-glucan, MOS 500 and Bio-MOS [registered sign] had no effect on the liver transmination enzymes and some kidney function which represent the non pathological metabolism of the liver and kidneys indicating their safety supplementation in broiler feed

Immunogencity of HAS-L7/L12 [Brucella abortus ribosomal protein] in an animal model

The immunogenic Brucella abortus ribosomal protein L7/L12 is a promising candidate antigen for the development of subunit vaccines against brucellosis. This study was aimed to evaluate the protection of recombinant Human Serum Albumin [HAS]-L7/L12 fusion protein in Balb/c mice. The amplified L7/L12 gene was cloned in pYHSA5 vector, pYHSA5-L7/L12 construct was transformed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the expressed protein from supernatant was purified by affinity chromatography. Balb/c mice were immunized in five groups by tHSA-L7/L12 fusion protein [group 1], Brucella abortus S19 [group 2], HSA [group 3], recombinant L7/L12 [group 4], PBS [group 5]. ELISA to detect antibody production, LTT test to assess antigen specific lymphocyte response were conducted prior to virulent B. abortus strain 544 challenge two weeks after the last injection. Bacterial counts from spleens of immunized mice were done four weeks after challenge. In ELISA tests, the specific antibodies exhibited a dominance of immunoglobulin IgG1 over IgG2a. In addition, the tHSA-L7/L12 fusion protein and L7/L12 elicited a strong T-cell proliferative response upon restimulation in vitro with recombinant tHSA-L7/L12 and L7/L12, suggesting the induction of a cellular immunity response in vivo. However, there was no significant difference in proliferative response of L7/L12 and tHSA-L7/L12 fusion protein [p > 0.05]. The L7/L12 and tHSA-L7/L12 fusion protein vaccines could also induce significant protection against challenge with the virulent strain B. abortus 544 in Balb/c mice [p.0.05]. The tHSA-L7/L12 fusion protein, similar to L7/L12 has the ability to induce antigen specific lymphocyte proliferation, stimulate humoral immunity and engender protection

[Evaluation of correlation between fructosamine and glycated hemoglobin]

Fructosamine or glycated plasma proteins are used to assess the short term diabetes control. Fructosamine concentration dependends on blood glucose level, protein concentration and half-life of proteins. Some have reported that measuring fructosamine without considering protein concentration is of no value. To investigate the relation between fructosamine, albumin and total protein and also the effect of fructosamine correction on capacity of this assay to assess the glycemic condition. Fifty diabetic patients from diabetes center in Yazd [Iran] were selected. The levels of fructosmine, albumin and total protein were determined once a month for a duration of two months followed by measurement of glycated hemoglobin after two months. Fructosamine and glycated hemoglobin were measured by colorometric method based on nitro blue tetrazulium and ion exchange chromatography method, respectively. The correlation between glycated hemoglobin and fructosamine, fructosamine corrected with albumin and total protein were 0.941, 0.908 and 0.9 [P<0.001]. No correlation was found between fructosamine, albumin, and total protein. Mean of albumin and total proteins were 4.3 and 6.3 g/dl. Regarding our data, fructosamine correlation at normal range of albumin and total protein did not affect fructosamine capacity in assessing diabetes control and under such condition albumin and total protein showed no effect on fructosamine concentration

Estimation of ionized calcium, total calcium and albumin corrected calcium for the diagnosis of hypercalcaemia of malignancy

To measure levels of ionized calcium, total calcium and albumin corrected calcium in patients with different malignant disorders for the diagnosis of hypercalcaemia of malignancy. A case control comparative study. The study was carried out in the Department of Pathology, Army Medical College Rawalpindi, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology and Department of Oncology CMH, Rawalpindi from March 2003 to December 2003. Ninetyseven patients of various malignant disorders, admitted in the Department of Oncology, CMH, Rawalpindi, and 39 age and gender-matched disease-free persons [as control] were included in the study. Blood ionized calcium [Ca++], pH, sodium [Na+] and potassium [K+] were analysed by Ion selective electrode [ISE] on Easylyte[R] auto analyser. Other related parameters were measured by colourimetric methods. Blood Ca++ levels in patients suffering from malignant disorders were found significantly high [mean +/- SD: 1.30+017 mmol/L] as compared to control subjects [mean +/- SD: 1.23+0.03 mmol/L] [p<0.001]. The number of patients with hypercalcaemia of malignancy detected by Ca++ estimation was significantly higher [38%] as compared to total calcium [8.4%] and albumin corrected calcium ACC [10.6%] [p<0.001]. There was no statistically significant difference in other parameters e.g. phosphate, urea, creatinine, pH, Na+ and K+ levels in study subjects and controls. Detection of hypercalcaemia can be markedly improved if ionized calcium estimation is used in patients with malignant disorders

Rankl/OPG system is altered in hepatic osteodystrophy

The coexistence of liver disease and metabolic bone disease has been recognized for many years and is now the subject of increasing attention. Hepatic Osteodystrophy has been established in patients with cholestatic liver disease, but new research suggests that it is prevalent in patients with other chronic liver diseases. Its etiology is complex and multifactorial. The Receptor activator of nuclear factor Kb ligand [RANKL] plays a role in the differentiation and activation of bone resorbing osteoclasts by binding to its high affinity receptor [RANK] located on the surface of osteoclasts. This effect is counterbalanced by osteoprotegren [OPG], which acts as a decoy receptor competing with RANKL for RANK. In this study we aim to evaluate OPG/RANKL system in cirrhotic patients with backache. This study includes 50 subjects suffering backache, divided into 4 groups as follows: Group I:10 subjects with normal bone mineral density [BMD] as control, Group II: 10 patients with pathological BMD but who are otherwise healthy, Group III: 15 patients with cirrhosis and normal BMD, Group IV: 15 patients with cirrhosis and pathological BMD. All patients underwent clinical examination, routine liver function tests, alkaline phosphatase, total calcium, serum OPG, serum RANKL, added to BMD estimation. The lowest BMD values were estimated at the lumber spine, then femoral neck, and lastly lower end of radius. There was a significant decrease in OPG in osteopenic non cirrhotic patients compared to the control group, while it was significantly higher than controls in both osteopenic and non osteopenic patients of the cirrhotic groups. SRANKL was significantly higher in non cirrhotic patients with pathological BMD compared to the control group, but lower than controls in cirrhotic groups both with normal and pathological BMD, with a significant difference in cirrhotics with pathological BMD, and a non significant difference in those with normal BMD compared to controls. Serum OPG was negatively correlated to serum calcium, albumin, and INR, but positively correlated to bone alkaline phosphatase, and AST in cirrhotic patients of both groups. OPG/RANKL system plays a role in the pathogenesis of hepatic Osteodystrophy. In cirrhotic patients, low BMD has a tendency to affect axial bone earlier, which is similar to postmenopausal osteoporosis. However in cirrhosis there are higher OPG and lower sRANKL levels which are opposite to postmenopausal osteoporosis. This difference indicates that: either OPG/RANKL system is working in a different way in cirrhosis, which might be due to an increased RANK/RANKL affinity which is not measurable, and consumes part of total RANKL leaving a smaller amount of measurable soluble RANKL to be assessed, which would explain its lower level in serum despite increased osteoporotic changes in bone, or there are other factors associated with this process to make their mechanism of action different than in postmenopausal osteoporosis

Correlation between body weight and serum albumin concentration in premature infants

Albumin is the most abundant protein in human plasma, exerting 75 to 80% of the normal colloid osmotic pressure. Its normal concentration is required for many of the physiological effects in the body. Premature babies are reported to have low serum albumin. However, it is not clear that this is weight related. To look into the relationship between the body weight and albumin in premature infants we selected a group of extremely low birth weight [ELBW] infants, defined as birth weight of less than 1000 grams, having the available data. The study was carried out at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit [NICU] of Royal Hospital, Muscat. All ELBW infants admitted during the period from January 2000 to October 2003 were reviewed for the level of serum albumin concentration in the first 48 hours. The required data were extracted from the computer database in the NICU. Atotal of 90 ELBW infants, out of 114 ELBW admissions during the specified study period had complete information. The birth weight of ELBW infants ranged from 490 to 990 grams with a mean of 845 +/- 107 grams. The mean serum albumin concentration among the cohort was noted to be 22 +/- 4 g/Lwith a range varying from 12 to 33 g/L. No significant correlation [r = 0.13, p = 0.21] was noted between the birth weight and albumin concentration. There is no correlation between the body weight of premature infants and the serum albumin concentration

Plasma vitamin A, carotene, serm total protein and albumin levels in the school age children and young adults of Multan city

Purpose of this study was to estimate the severity and extent of vitamin A deficiency and to find whether it constitutes a significant public health problem. This study included 446 school children aged 5-17 years and 210 young adults aged 18-22 years of Deeni Madaras. All students were male, normal and apparently healthy. The schools and students of Multan city were selected randomly. It was observed that majority of the children belonged to poor socioeconomic class. In these subjects dietary intake of milk, meat and eggs per week was very low and in many cases the consumption of these commodities was once per month. Intake of other dairy products like butter and butter oil was also not found in many cases. However, consumption of leafy vegetables was common to some extent. Clinical examination showed that none of the children had visual or skin disturbances. To assess the malnutrition, serum total protein and serum albumin were measured in all subjects. Low levels of serum total proteins were found in 52.4% children of age 5-11 years, in 26.6% children of age 12-17 years and in 21.0% young adults of age 18-22 years. Low levels of serum albumin were found in 28% children of age 5-11 years, 37% children of age 12-17 years and in 35% young adults of age 17-22 years. Low or subclinical plasma vitamin A levels were noticed in 81.5% children of age 5-11 years, in 6% children of age 12-17 years and in 12.5% young adults of age 18-22 years. Low or subclinical plasma carotene levels were observed in 64% children of age 5-11 years, in 16% children of age 12-17 years and in 20% young adults of age 18-22 years. This study has shown that clinical features of vitamin A deficiency are not visible in our children, however subclinical deficiency is present which must be corrected for adequate growth and development

Interference of anticoagulants with estimation of glucose alkaline phosphatase, albumium, O-analyse and total protein

The effect of anticoagulants, [EDTA, lithium heparin and Na-citrate] on the estimation of some clinical test [Glucose, Alkaline phosphatase, Albumin, Total protein and alpha-Amylase] was investigated. The interference of these anticoagulants seems to be very high. Na-citrate plasma was found unsuitable specimen for alkaline phosphatase and Glucose estimation. Lithium heparin plasma overestimated Albumin level Despite that alpha-amylase concentration was not affected by the anticoagulants, it was found out side the reference range recommended by the procedure of determination. It was confirmed that EDTA plasma is preferred over serum as specimen for total protein estimation. This study was conducted on thirty fasting volunteers [n=30]. Control was run as a replicate specimen to validate the results obtained. To avoid unexpected analytical artifacts, serum is recommended as suitable specimen for the determination of most of clinical tests

Could beta blockers be used in th treatment of cirrhotic ascites? the role of serum-ascites albumin gradient estimation

This study included 30 portal hypertensive cirrhotic ascitic patients assigned into 3 groups of 10 patients each, well matched as regards age and sex. Groups I, II and III were put on diuretics, beta blocker propranolol, and both, respectively, and restudied 1 month latter. Serum-ascites albumin gradient [S-AAG] was found to correlate positively with grade of esophageal varices and portal vein diameter [P <0.001] and the reduction of portal blood flow [P <0.05]. Diuretics with or without beta blockers propranolol gave a good therapeutic response as regards body weight [P <0.001], 24-hour urine output [P <0.001] and sodium excretion [P <0.05], whereas propranolol alone was found to have deleterious effect on ascites. There was a decrease in renal blood flow in the 3 groups which was more by the use of propranolol. It was concluded that S-AAG is a good predictor of portal hypertension and its response to beta blockers. The portal hypotensive effect of beta blockers showed no beneficial effect on ascites for renal hemodynamic changes resulting in less water and sodium excretion

Effects of ration and fasciola infection on some blood parameters of ewes

This study was conducted using fourty cross-bred ewes in 5 groups of which one was kept as a control and the others were infected with metacercariae of Fasciola gigantica twice at the beginning of the experiment and 200 days from the first. The four infected groups fed on basal ration or high protein ration with or without mineral mixture. Blood samples were taken from the five groups to assess the concentrations of plasma fibrinogen and serum total proteins, albumin, glubulin, calcium and inorganic phosphorous. Results indicated that ewes total serum protein, albumin and globulin were decreased by Fasciola infection. The decrease was only significant in ewes fed basal ration with or without mineral mixture. Mineral mixture had no effect on the later blood parameters of infected ewes although little improvement in blood serum globulin was noticed .Plasma fibrinogen decreased significantly by infection. The level of plasma fibrinogen was improved by feeding high protein ration but did not affect by adding mineral mixture to any of the ration used. Infection was also found to decrease blood serum inorganic phosphorous but not calcium level .Feeding high protein ration with or without mineral supplement maintained blood serum inorganic phosphorous as that of the uninfected ewes. Blood serum calcium to phosphorous ratio of ewes fed Only basal ration was significantly higher than that of other groups

Reinfusäo regular de ascite durante hemodiálise: um método alternativo para pacientes renais crônicos, um hemodiálise, com ascite refratária / Regular reinfusion of ascitis during hemodyalisis: an alternative method for trom a renal patients with refractory ascitis

Nesse estudo, avaliou-se a eficácia da reinfusäo de ascite em um paciente do sexo masculino, 40 anos, diabético, insulino-dependente, que desenvolveu ascite meses após o início da hemodiálise. O paciente nunca havia realizado diálise peritoneal. Ultrafiltraçäo do líquido ascítico foi realizada durante a hemodiálise, sendo o líquido retirado adaptado ao local de entrada de líquidos, na linha arterial. Foram realizadas cinco sessöes de infusäo, em média de 1220ml/sessöes. Observamos que após as cinco sessöes a albumina sérica subiu de 3,1 para 3,6. A indicaçäo de infusöes proteícas em determinados pacientes ascíticos num país onde o orçamento anual de albumina é elevada é de extrema valia como método alternativo para tratamento de pacientes renais crônicos

Correlacion de proteinuria en orina de 24 Horas con muestras de orina ocasional / Correlation between proteinuria in 24 Hours urine with occasional urine samples

Un total de 55 pacientes con edades entre 15 y 60 anos y con creatinemia normal, se dividio en tres categorias de acuerdo con la excrecion diaria de proteinas en orina de 24 horas. A cada paciente se le tomaron cuatro muestras de orina; para creatinuria a las 6:00 y para proteinuria a las 8:00, 12:00 y 20:00 horas. En estas muestras se establecio el indice Proteinuria/Creatinuria (Pr/Cr) el cual se correlaciono con la proteinuria de 24 horas. Los resultados indican que un indice (Pr/Cr) superior a 3.0 puede ser considerado dentro del rango "nefrotico", y un indice (Pr/Cr) inferior a 0.2 dentro del rango de "normalidad". Se concluye que la mejor muestra de orina para el estudio "Correlacion de la proteinuria de la orina de 24 horas con muestras de orina ocasional", es la primera muestra de la manana.

Evaluación nutricional comparada entre pacientes en hemodiálisis y diálisis peritoneal continua ambulatoria / Compared nutritional evaluation among patients in hemodialysis and ambulatory continuous peritoneal dialysis

Se estudiaron 30 pacientes, 21 en hemodiálisis y 9 en DPCA, con promedio de edades y de antigüedad en tratamiento comparables. Dos de los pacientes de DPCA son diabéticos tipo I. Se evaluó el estado nutricional de ambas poblaciones a través de: ingestas calórica y proteicas, albúmina sérica y los índices antropométricos: peso (P), área grasa del brazo (AGB) y área muscular del brazo (AMB), indicadores respectivamente de la reserva calórica y de las proteínas somáticas. En los pacientes en DPCA se incluye en la ingesta calórica la absorción peritoneal de dextrosa. Resultó que la ingesta diaria de calorías y proteínas fue mayor en pacientes en DPCA que la de los de hemodiálisis; dichas ingestas se adecuan a lo recomendado para cada tipo de tratamiento. Excluyendo los dos pacientes diabéticos, el grupo DPCA mostró los tres índices antropométricos en valores normales; en hemodiálisis se observó en promedio disminución leve del peso y del área muscular del brazo y reducción moderada a severa del área grasa del brazo. La albúmina sérica fue normal en hemodiálisis y subnormal en DPCA, con diferencia estadísticamente significatica. En conclusión, ambos grupos mostraron ingestas de proteínas y calorías dentro de lo recomendado para cada grupo de tratamiento, pero los pacientes en hemodiálisis conservaron mejor la albúmina sérica, en tanto que los de DPCA mostraron mayor reserva calórica y de proteínas somáticas

Administración de soluciones isotónicas de aminoácidos a pacientes en el post-operatorio inmediato de cirugía abdominal / Administration of isotonic amino acids solution to patients in inmediate postoperative abdominal surgery

Se estudió el efecto de las soluciones isotónicas de aminoácidos sobre el ahorro de nitrógeno en pacientes en post-operatorio inmediato de cirugía abdominal. Se seleccionaron 26 pacientes con parámetros nutricionales normales: 13 pacientes recibieron soluciones isotónicas de aminoácidos al 4.25% por vía intravenosa periférica, y los 13 restantes recibieron hidratación con dextrosa al lance de Nitrógeno del quinto día, en los pacientes que recibieron aminoácidos fue en promedio significativamente mejor, que el observado en los pacientes que recibieron dextrosa al 5% (-0,12 + ou - 1,5206 gr. (FEM) y -16,58 + ou - 1,7760 gr., respectivamente estas condiciones son contradictorias, atribuyéndose en un caso a un efecto propio de la infusión de aminoácidos, y en otro a la movilización y utilización de las grasas endógenas por una disminución de los niveles séricos de glucosa e insulina. Independientemente del mecanismo planteado, se produce un ahorro de nitrógeno mayor en los pacientes que reciben aminoácidos, en comparación a los que reciben dextrosa al 5%