Correlation between hyperhomocysteinemia and common carotid artery intima media thickness in carbamazepine treated epileptic patients using ultrasonography

Objective: The objective was to assess the role of homocysteine in the development of atherosclerosis in common carotid artery in the carbamazepine treated epileptic patients

Methods: This study was conducted in the Department of Biochemistry, Basic Medical Sciences Institute [BMSI], Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center [JPMC], Karachi. Three hundred individuals, aged 34 +/- 9.5 years were selected and divided into three groups. Each group comprised of 100 subjects labeled as Group-A [control group had healthy individuals], Group-B [newly diagnosed epileptic patients without antiepileptic therapy], Group-C [epileptic patients on Carbamazepine therapy, which was further subdivided into C-l having epileptic patients on Carbamazepine therapy less than 1 year n=33, C-ll had epileptic patients on Carbamazepine therapy 1-2 years n = 33 and C-lll comprised of epileptic patients on Carbamazepine therapy more than 2 years n = 34]. Blood concentration of homocysteine was measured and ultrasound of Common Carotid Artery for intima-media thickness was performed

Results: Significantly elevated level of homocysteine was observed in epileptic patients on CBZ therapy. Common Carotid Artery Intima-media thickness [CCAIMT] was observed significantly high throughout group Cbut it was more profound in Group-C-lll. Homocysteine was found positively correlated with right CCA IMT, left CCA IMT and mean CCA IMT

Conclusion: Hyperhomocysteinemia was linked with increased risk of atherosclerosis in CBZ treated epileptic patients

Comparison between liver biopsy and hyaluronic acid in chronic liver disease

Background: CLD is considered a major cause of mortality throughout the world including south Asia. The clinical examination is often unreliable in assessing the severity of disease. Liver biopsy [LB] is the gold standard for assessing CLD but it is invasive, painful and has complications and technical problems. Hyaluronic acid [HA], an ideal marker of fibrosi, it has a high degree of sensitivity and specificity and is a simple laboratory test detecting fibrosis in CLD patients

Objectives: To compare the strength of SHA and liver biopsy

Methods: This study was conducted in the department of Biochemistry BMSI/JPMC Karachi. Total 120 subjects were taken and divided into control group and case group. In histopathology grades and stages were scored according Batts and Ludwig criteria. SHA was measured in serum by ELISA

Results: The mean SHA in case group [119.39ng/ml] was significantly higher compared to the control group [53.60ng/ml].The SHA levels 75ng/ml, 103ng/ml and 130ng/ml were determined in grades I, II and Ill respectively and in stages I, II, Ill and IV were 87ng/ml, 101 ng/ml, 124ng/ml and 172ng/ml respectively. There was positive linear correlation between SHA and histological grades and stages

Conclusion: SHA is a definite diagnostic tool and can be used routinely in the diagnosis of CLD

Zinc and copper levels fluctuate with altered glucose homeostasis

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is becoming one of the major health problems worldwide. Especially in South East Asia, type 2 diabetes has gained critical significance. As pre-diabetes prevalence is increasing worldwide, it has become an important concern to prevent diabetes at an early stage. Trace elements have been gaining attention in improving the glucometabolic conditions like pre-diabetes and diabetes. Zinc and copper are the major trace elements present in the human body and they play a significant role in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus and pre-diabetes

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare serum zinc and copper levels in type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes

Methods: This study was conducted in department of Biochemistry BMSI, JPMC Karachi. Total 90 subjects were taken out of which 30 were type 2 diabetics, 30 were pre-diabetics and 30 were normal healthy individuals. Serum fasting glucose was measured by glucose oxidase method. Serum zinc and copper were measured by colorimetric method. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 16

Results: Serum zinc levels were significantly lower in type 2 diabetics as compared to pre-diabetics and normal individuals [mean differences were 45.17+/-15.63 micro g/dl, 59.97+/-13 micro g/dl and 86.57+/-14.34 micro g/dl respectively]. Serum copper was significantly increased in type 2 diabetics compared to pre-diabetes and control samples [mean differences were 325.55+/-88.34 micro g/dl, 175.53+/-47.45 micro g/dl and 126.87+/-21.57 micro g/dl respectively]

Conclusion: it was concluded that serum zinc was significantly lower in type 2 diabetics and pre-diabetics and is inversely related to serum fasting glucose while serum copper is significantly higher and positively related with fasting blood glucose

Comparison of gamma glutamyltransferase in normal and in type 2 diabetics

Comparison of gamma glutamyltransferase in normal and type 2 diabetics. In a cross-sectional study, 100 apparently normal healthy subjects and, 47 type 2 diabetic subjects were selected from either sex with ages between 18-65 years.Subjects were measured for waist/hip ratio, BMI and serum levels of ALT, AST.Alk Phosphatase and Glutamyl Transferase [GGT]. The study excluded by screening for AntiHCV, HBsAg and patients with aspartate amino transferase [SGOT], alanine amino transferase [SGPT], GGT levels more than three times the normal and subject with a total leukocyte count more than 10,000/microl. The levels of GGT levels were found to be most significant among all the liver enzymes [P = 0.001]. The levels of GGT compared with type 2 diabetics was found to be significantly increased when compared with BMI, waist/circumference, cholesterol, triglycerides [TG], High Density Lipoprotein [HDL], Low density Lipoprotein [LDL], fasting blood sugar level and blood pressure [P = 0.001]. The pearson regression analysis showed a positive relation with systolic, diastolic blood pressure and fasting blood sugar. These results indicate that levels of GGT were raised with increased waist girth, BMI, blood pressure TG and low HDL, all of these are the features of metabolic syndrome according to ATP III criteria. Hence, serum GGT may be an important investigation for diabetes and metabolic syndrome