Correlation between prostate specific antigen and prostate volume with disease symptom severity assessed by international prostate symptom score

Background: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is clinically defined as prostate adenoma, resulting in bladder outlet obstruction (BOO), which may eventually harm the bladder and even kidneys. For differential diagnosis of male LUTS, uroflowmetry can be used together with non-invasive ultrasound to ascertain the flow rate and IPP. PSA is also an important indicator for differential diagnosis. International prostate symptoms score (IPSS) is used to assess the severity of the symptoms for clinical BPH. There is also a recommendation to consider the quality of life (QoL) index, where a QoL score of ?3 is considered as worrisome. Methods: This was a retro-prospective study based on secondary and primary data collection and analysis, pertaining to BPH patients who visited the study site previously as well as those who are coming for regular follow-up since 2019. Patient enrolment was done at a teaching hospital Shree Krishna Hospital affiliated to the Pramukh Swami Medical College, Bhaikaka University, Karamsad. About 100 patients presenting with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and histo-pathologically proven cases of BPH were enrolled to pursue research objectives. All patients were followed up to a period of 3-months after initiating the treatment and disease severity through IPSS and quality of life upon completion of treatment were also assessed. Results: PSA is also an important indicator for differential diagnosis, which is generally less than 1 ?g/l in patients in absence of clinically confirmed BPH. In our study, mean prostate volume was reported to be 43.46±19.35 cc. A positive correlation was observed between prostate volume and serum PSA with disease severity. Conclusions: Our study evaluated the IPSS to predict the disease severity and correlated it with quality of life, prostate volume and serum PSA. Our findings were in line with currently available evidences, and suggested that QoL, prostate volume and serum PSA are better predictors of disease severity, IPSS.

The action of red scorpion (Mesobuthus tamulus coconsis, pocock) venom and its isolated protein fractions on blood sodium levels

Red scorpion (Mesobuthus tamulus or Buthus tamulus) venom samples were collected at different regions of India: western (Chiplun and Ahmednagar from Maharashtra State) and southern (Ratnagiri and Chennai from Tamil Nadu State). The action of whole venoms on the blood sodium levels of mice was assessed using flame photometry. Seven peptides were common to all venom samples. They were separated using the native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) technique and their activities were also studied using flame photometry. There was a decrease in the concentration of sodium ions in the serum, which suggested the blockage of such ions by scorpion venom toxins. Among the 10 protein bands isolated, the band at 79.6 kDa presented maximum activity in decreasing serum sodium ions concentration. Whole venom from Chiplun region also showed maximum activity. The western blotting technique demonstrated that the anti-scorpion venom sera produced by Haffkine Biopharmaceuticals Corporation Ltd., India, neutralized all four venom samples.(AU)

Intraspecific variation in protein pattern of red scorpion (Mesobuthus tamulus, coconsis, pocock) venoms from Western and Southern India

Red scorpions Mesobuthus tamulus (Coconsis, Pocock) were obtained from different regions of West and South India (Ratnagiri, Chiplun and Ahmednagar from Maharashtra and Chennai from Tamil Nadu, respectively). Their venoms composition was analyzed using gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). All venom samples shared six bands of 170, 80, 60, 57, 43, and 38 kDa molecular weights. Bands of 115 kDa and 51.5 kDa were characteristic of venoms obtained from red scorpions of Chiplun region, and the 26kDa band was absent in scorpion venom from Tamil Nadu. The separated protein band patterns suggest that the venoms from Ratnagiri, Ahmednagar and Tamil Nadu had high similarities in their biochemical composition but differed from that of Chiplun region. These data were also supported by the Jaccard (J) index. The J value was 0.33 for venom obtained from Ratnagiri-Ahmednagar, 0.31 for venom from Ratnagiri-Tamil Nadu, and 0.3 for venom from Ratnagiri-Chiplun region. This suggests the existence of genetic variation among the different strains of red scorpion in western and southern India. The antiserum produced by Haffkine Biopharmaceuticals Corporation Ltd. completely neutralized proteins of venoms from all the regions studied.(AU)