ABSTRACT
Background and objective Given the enormous public health burden posed by acute ischemic stroke (AIS), it becomes imperative to identify associated risk factors such as serum uric acid (SUA) and lipid profile that can be tangibly assessed. This could potentially provide useful markers for disease risk or progression, facilitating timely diagnosis and management of AIS. This study aimed to evaluate the SUA and lipid levels in patients with AIS. Method This cross-sectional study enrolled 66 AIS patients aged >18 years, from both genders. After a thorough medical history and clinical examination, each patient was subjected to SUA analysis and lipid profiling using an auto-analyzer with dedicated reagents. Results were statistically analyzed using Chi square test, and p-value ≤0.05 indicated statistical significance. Results and interpretation The study cohort showed a mean age of 61.17 ± 14.01 years and male to female (M:F) ratio of 1.7:1, with mean blood levels of SUA, triglyceride, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) reaching 5.68 ± 1.71 g/dL, 205.42 ± 105.08 g/dL, and 29.80 ± 8.45 g/dL, respectively. Most patients suffered from hypertension (81.82%), diabetes (77.27%), and alcoholism (24.24%). Cerebrovascular Doppler findings revealed the combined presence of plaque and stenosis (24.24%). Male AIS patients showed a significantly greater association with alcohol and smoking/nicotine use (p<0.001). Gender showed no significant association with SUA, lipid profile, hypertension, and diabetes (p>0.05). Conclusion AIS is associated with hyperuricemia and dyslipidemia, with no significant gender differences.
ABSTRACT
Carcinoid syndrome, a paraneoplastic condition linked with the release of multiple humoral factors, affects around 30-40% of patients with well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumours. Carcinoid syndrome has a major and unfavourable impact on patients' quality of life; it raises costs when compared to non-functioning neuroendocrine tumours; and it causes patients' lifestyles to alter, such as food, job, physical activity, and social life. Somatostatin analogues have been the first-line therapy for individuals with neuroendocrine tumours and carcinoid disease for decades. While these drugs give considerable relief from carcinoid syndrome symptoms, clinical progression is unavoidable, necessitating further research into newer treatment measures. Carcinoid tumours are sometimes difficult to diagnose because of their vague or nonspecific symptoms. There have been several advancements in all aspects of carcinoid syndrome, as well as novel therapeutics, in the previous few years. New epidemiological studies show that it is becoming more common; increasing insights into the pathogenesis of its various clinical manifestations and its natural history: definition of prognostic factors; new methods to verify its presence; the development of new drugs to treat its various manifestations, both initially and in somatostatin-refractory cases; and an increased understanding of the pathogenesis, natural history, and management of the disease. An all language literature search was conducted on MEDLINE, COCHRANE, EMBASE, and Google Scholar till November 2021. The following search strings and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms were used: "Recent advances", "Carcinoid syndrome", "Neuroendocrine Neoplasms" and "Carcinoid heart disease". We comprehensively reviewed the literature on the pathogenesis, clinical features, and newer treatment modalities for Carcinoid Syndrome. Recent advancements in research and management have resulted from advances in our understanding of the aetiology of carcinoid syndrome. The development of molecular indicators of aggressiveness improved serum tumour markers, and the molecular aetiology of carcinoid heart disease are all possible because of advances in molecular biology. We conducted a comprehensive review to update knowledge regarding the pathophysiology, diagnostic protocols, and current and newer treatments for carcinoid syndrome, which presently requires a multidisciplinary approach, due to the complexity of the illness's aetiology, diagnosis, and therapy.
