Serum adiponectin levels in coronary artery disease

Coronary artery disease [CAD] refers to a lack of oxygen due to inadequate perfusion of the myocardium, which causes an imbalance between oxygen supply and demand. Many generalized or systemic risk factors predispose to development of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries commonly causes acute coronary syndromes. Adiponectin is one of the adipokines secreted by adipocytes. Adiponectin may play anti-atherogenic and anti-inflammatory roles. The aim of this study is to investigate whether concentrations of serum adiponectin constitute a significant coronary risk factor. Serum adiponectin was measured in 50 patients with CAD and in 20 control subjects. Patients were divided into three groups according to condition type: Acute myocardial infarction [AMI] group [n=20], unstable angina pectoris [UAP] group [n=15], and stable angina pectoris [SAP] group [n=15]. Serum concentrations of adiponectin in patients with CAD were significantly lower than in control subjects [p<0.000]. There was a significant negative correlation between adiponectin and triglyceride and significant positive correlation with HDL in patients. The findings suggest that measurement of serum concentrations of adiponectin may become a predictor risk factor for CAD and may be related to the development of acute coronary syndromes

Rapid detection of methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia in bactec blood culture bottles of ICU patients

Methicillin resistance and infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus [MRSA] represent a growing problem and a challenge for health-care institutions. Resistance to methicillin is primarily associated with acquisition of mecA gene. The aim of the current study was to find out the incidence of MRSA bacteraemia among ICU bacteraemic patients and evaluate direct mecA gene detection from blood culture bottles and the oxacillin [methicillin] disk diffusion method commonly used in hospitals to identify MRSA using PCR for mecA detection in isolates as the golden. The study was conducted on 300 ICU patients with pyrexia of unknown origin. Blood samples were collected under complete aseptic precautions for blood culture onto BACTEC blood culture bottles. Detection of mecA gene by Polymerase Chain Reaction [PCR] was carried directly on any bottle showing Gram-positive cocci in clusters in film. Isolates of all positive blood culture bottles were identified. For Staph aureus isolates oxacillin disk diffusion and mecA gene detection was carried. Out of 300 samples included in the study, 190 [63.3%] yielded growth. Methicillin resistant Staph aureus was isolated from 88/190 patients [46.3%]. The agreement between the results of mecA gene detection among isolates and those among blood culture bottles was found to be 100% [Kappa = 1] and the sensitivity 100%. Disk diffusion method detected 79 cases out of the 88 MRSA strains The agreement between the results of oxacillin disk diffusion sensitivity method and mecA detection either in isolates or blood culture bottles was found to be 94% [Kappa= 0.87] and the sensitivity was 89. 8%.Methicillin resistant Staph. aureus bacteraemia is a major problem in ICU. Detection of mecA gene by PCR from blood culture bottles is a good tool for rapid detection of methicillin resistance in staph aureus bacteremia. To confirm the specificity of this test, more samples from patients with Enterococcus and Streptococcus species bacteraemias need to be studied