Correlation between glycated haemoglobin levels and random blood glucose.

BACKGROUND: Glycated haemoglobin or glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) is a form of haemoglobin that is measured primarily to identify the average plasma glucose concentration over prolonged periods of time. Levels of HbA1c represent the average blood glucose levels of diabetic patients over the previous 120 days. The objective of this study was to see the correlation between HbA1c levels and random glucose levels. METHODS: This descriptive study included 106 randomly selected patients with known diabetes from the outpatients department. Random sugar levels were measured by using venous blood samples. HbA1c levels were measured in venous blood by BIO-RAD D-10 HPLC Method. Data were recorded on a proforma. Pearson's correlation was applied to find out any significant correlation between the glycated haemoglobin levels and the random blood glucose levels. Results were plotted onl simple scatter plot and p < 0.01 was considered significant. CONCLUSIONS: A significant linear positive correlation exists between levels of HbA1c and random blood sugar.

Clinical and radiological findings in Arnold Chiari malformation.

BACKGROUND: The Chiari Malformation I (CMI) is a disorder of uncertain origin that has been traditionally defined as downward herniation of the cerebellar tonsils through the foramen magnum. The anomaly is a leading cause of syringomyelia and occurs inassociation with osseus abnormalities at the craniovertebral junction. In contrast to other Chiari malformations, CMI tends to present in the second or third decade of life and is sometimes referred to as the 'adult-type' Chiari malformation. The objective was to document clinical and radiological findings in Arnold Chiari Malformation-I. METHOD: This was a descriptive study carried out in Ayub Teaching Hospital Abbottabad at Neurosurgery Department during July 2008-July 2010. We examined a prospective cohort of 60 symptomatic patients. All patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging of the head and spine. RESULTS: There were 40 female and 20 male patients. The age of onset was 24.9 +/- 15.8 years. Common associated radiological problems included syringomyelia (60%), scoliosis (25%), and basilarinvagination (12%), increased cervical lordosis 5 (8.5%), and Klippel Feil syndrome 2 (3.3%). The most consistent magnetic resonance imaging findings were obliteration of the retrocerebellar cerebrospinal fluid spaces (70% patients), tonsillar herniation of at least 5 mm (100% patients), and varying degrees of post fossa anomalies. Linical manifestations were headaches, pseudotumor-like episodes, a Meniere's disease-like syndrome, lower cranial nerve signs, and spinal cord disturbances in the absence of syringomyelia. CONCLUSION: These data support accumulating evidence that CMI is a disorder of the para-axial mesoderm that is characterised by underdevelopment of the posterior cranial fossa and overcrowding of the normally developed hindbrain. Tonsillar herniation of less than 5 mm does not exclude the diagnosis. Clinical manifestations of CMI seem to be related to cerebrospinal fluid disturbances (which are responsible for headaches, pseudotumor-like episodes, endolymphatic hydrops, syringomyelia, and hydrocephalus) and direct compression of nervous tissue.

Release of vasopressin during suppression of oestrous cycle in rat by zoladex and hypovolemic challenge.

BACKGROUND: The vasopressin (AVP) response to hypovolemia has been compared in intact and chemically castrated rats. This functional ovariectomy was done to confirm the findings in surgical ovariectomy of how gonadal steroids modulate the release of AVP under hypo-volemic challenge. METHODS: Twenty female Sprague Dawley rats were checked for oestrous over two consecutive cycles. The ten control rats were given sub-cutaneous puncture only whereas the experimental were given Zoladex implant. On the fifteenth day all the rats were given intra-peitoneal injection of poly-ehylene glycol. All the rats were de-capitated after an hour. RESULTS: The uterine weight was significantly decreased in experimental group. The plasma AVP level was also significantly decreased in the experimental group. The pituitary AVP level was significantly increased in the experimental group. CONCLUSION: The chemical castration effected the AVP secretion, this proves that the sex steroids modulate the release of AVP secretion inspite of hypo-volemic challenge.