Hyperuricemia and Serum ADA Levels in Psoriasis and their Correlation to Severity of Disease

Introduction: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatoryautoimmune disease characterized by hyperproliferation ofkeratinocytes with multifactorial pathogenesis includinggenetic, and environmental factors. The aim of this study wasto evaluate serum ADA, SUA, and ESR in psoriatic patientsand their correlations with PASI score.Material and methods: Our study was a case–control study.The sample size was calculated using the Cochran formulaand 50 patients of psoriasis who attended the out patient clinicat SMHS and Government medical college, srinagar wereincluded in the study. These patients were divided accordingto PASI scores into three groups (mild, moderate, and severe).PASI score <10 defined psoriasis as mild, between 10 and 20as moderate, and >20 as severe. A group of 50 healthy subjectsof matched age and sex were included as a control group whowere taken from amongst volunteering hospital staff andrelatives.Results: This study included 50 psoriatic patients classifiedaccording to PASI score into mild, moderate, and severepsoriatic group and 50 age and sex matched controls. Outof these four patients had mild psoriasis, twelve patients hadmoderate psoriasis and thirty four patients had severe psoriasisaccording to PASI. Fifty healthy subjects were includedas a control group. There were no statistically significantdifferences of age and sex between different patients and thecontrol group.Conclusion: ESR, Serum Uric Acid and serum adenosinedeaminase levels are significantly raised in patients withpsoriasis. However there was no association with severity ofdisease in these patients, however, larger studies are neededto elucidate the mechanism and whether this hyperuricemiapredisposes these patients to gout and increased risk ofcardiovascular disease.

Frequency of metabolic syndrome in psychiatric patients, is this the time to develop a standardized protocol to reduce the morbidity from an acute care psychiatry unit

To determine the frequency of Metabolic Syndrome among psychiatric patients and to look for the correlation between the two medical conditions. The cross-sectional study was conducted from February to April 2013 at the acute care psychiatry in-patient unit at Kingston General Hospital, Ontario, Canada, and comprised adult patients of both genders diagnosed under the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition. For Metabolic Syndrome, definitions outlined by the International Diabetes Federation were used. The patients were divided into two groups on the basis of presence or absence of the Syndrome and were compared for clinical and demographic characteristics. SPSS 22 was used for statistical analysis. Of the 50 patients in the study, 24[48%] were found to have Metabolic Syndrome. Besides, 40[80%] patients were taking atypical antipsychotics regardless of the diagnosis; 20[83%] among those with the Syndrome, and 20[77%] among those without it. Patients at high risk of developing metabolic syndrome need to be identified early so that an individualised care plan can be formulated. Identifying the variables to make a management plan is vital

Detection and sequencing of plasmid encoded tetracycline resistance determinants (tetA and tetB) from food-borne Bacillus cereus isolates

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the detection and sequencing of plasmid encoded tetracycline resistance genes (tetA and tetB) from food-borne and standard strains of Bacillus cereus (B. cereus).@*METHODS@#A PCR was carried out to detect the tetracycline resistance genes (tetA and tetB) in food-borne B. cereus strains and the amplified products were sequenced.@*RESULTS@#The phenotypic resistance against tetracycline was observed in 39 of the 118 food-borne isolates and two reference strains (MTCC 430 and MTCC 1307) of B. cereus. Among the phenotypically resistant isolates, tetA was detected in 36 food-borne isolates and two reference strains (MTCC 430 and MTCC 1307), whereas, tetB was detected in 12 food-borne isolates and MTCC 1307 strain.@*CONCLUSIONS@#A close association was therefore found between phenotypic resistance against tetracycline and presence of tetracycline resistance genes. The tetA and tetB gene fragments were amplified, purified and sequenced. The gene sequences of the isolates studied herein were found similar to tetA and tetB gene sequences of other bacteria available in NCBI. The occurrence of tetA and tetB genes in B. cereus indicate the horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance determinants from other bacteria into B. cereus. The transfer of these resistant determinants to other potentially pathogenic bacteria may be a matter of great concern.