Role of clinical biochemistry laboratory in the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus.

Clinical biochemistry and laboratory help is needed at all stages of diagnosis of diabetes. Laboratory plays a key role in the management of diabetes and its complications like renal, metabolic, and others. Monitoring of treatment is also guided by regular blood sugar estimation and self-monitoring of blood glucose level.

Some serum enzymes in burns and their probable correlation with surgical shock--a prospective combined surgicobiochemical study.

Serum enzymes such as phosphohexoisomerase, aldolase and amylase were estimated in serum of 100 patients with thermal burn of different degrees. These enzymes were estimated at the time of admission, at 12th hour, 24th hour, 36th hour, 72nd hour, 7th day and 14th day. The patients with high serum levels of these enzymes till 72nd hour showed grave prognosis and serial measurements of these enzymes might help in predicting the outcome.

Frusemide-induced diabetes mellitus in insulin pretreated rabbits as an experimental model.

Single dose of frusemide 0.1 mg/kg orally was administered in 10 rabbits pretreated with soluble insulin 4 IU intravenously. Induction of diabetes after 24 h was confirmed by an increase in blood sugar and glucosylated haemoglobin and a decrease in serum insulin levels. Ten diabetic rabbits which received only frusemide without insulin pretreatment were used as controls, whereas equal number of insulin-pretreated rabbits receiving hydrochlorothiazide 250 mg/kg orally served as the positive control group. All biochemical parameters remained unaltered in the frusemide-treated test group as well as the positive control group after two weeks. The pancreatotoxic effect of frusemide may induce a stable hyperglycaemic state in rabbits which could lead to a useful diabetic model.

Epidemiology of Japanese encephalitis.

Seven hundred and sixty-two cases of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) were studied during the last 5 years (1985-1989) in relation to age, sex, religion, nutritional status, living habits, exposure to domestic animals and mosquitos, clinical profile, seasonal variation and mortality pattern. The maximum occurrence was in 1987-1988 and it showed a preponderance in males (51-82%). The disease is progressively decreasing in Muslims (3-7%) and gradually increasing in tribes (25-60%). Children in the age-group of 6-7 years (19-25%) were maximally affected and the disease was rare in infancy. The common features were coma, convulsions, neck rigidity and fever (88-97%). Gastrointestinal manifestations were rare (3.6%) but were associated with the highest mortality. About 80-95% had exposure to domestic animals directly or indirectly and 95% of the patients were not using mosquito nets. The CSF protein and sugar content were normal, with or without slight leucocytosis while the lymphocyte count was variable. The CSF and blood picture had no significant relation with clinical presentation and prognosis.

In vivo chloroquine resistant P. falciparum in Calcutta. A case report.

An in vivo chloroquine resistant P. falciparum malaria case is reported from Calcutta. The resistance level being R-1. The patient responded well to pyrimethamine and sulfadoxine combination, which appears to be the drug of choice in Calcutta for choloroquine resistant P. falciparum malaria as quinine is not available.

Biochemical studies of liver & liver microsomes in envenomated rats.

Some biochemical parameters of liver and liver microsomes were studied in albino rats following administration of cobra and viper venoms at dose of 2 mg/kg body weight. The total protein content in cobra venom treated (CVT) animals and DNA and RNA contents of liver and liver microsomes were almost unaltered in both the venom treated animals while total protein content was significantly reduced in viper venom treated (VVT) animals. Alkaline and acid phosphatases activities of whole liver showed significant increase in both the venom treated animals whereas the rise in cholinesterase activity in CVT animals was not significant. Lactic acid content was significantly higher in CVT animals compared to either VVT animals or controls. The glycolytic enzymes viz., aldolase, phosphohexose isomerase and lactate dehydrogenase measured in hepatic microsomal fraction were significantly reduced while alanine and aspartate aminotransferases and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activities of liver microsomes were significantly elevated in both the venom treated animals compared to controls.

Changes in lipid profiles of brain of albino rats following envenomation.

Effect of high doses of cobra venom (150 micrograms/120 +/- 20 g body weight) and viper venom (300 micrograms/120 +/- 20 g body weight) on total lipid, triglyceride, phospholipid, cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) of brain of albino rats was studied. Total lipid (TL) triglyceride (TG) and phospholipid (PL) are decreased in both viper and cobra venom treated groups while cholesterol (C), and LDL-C are increased in both the groups in relation to controlled ones. HDL-C content was almost unaltered. Decrease in triglyceride and phospholipid may be due to effect of lipases and phospholipases whereas increased cholesterol and LDL-C may be attributed to lysis of cell membrane.

Effect of envenomation on enzymes of brain of albino rats.

Effects of high doses of cobra venom, (150 micrograms/120 +/- 20 g body wt) and viper venom (300 micrograms/120 +/- 20 g body wt) on aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), acetylcholinesterase (ACh) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) of brain of albino rats were studied. While AST, LDH, ACh and ALP activities increased in both viper and cobra venom treated rats, ALT decreased in both groups compared to control.