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-I having epileptic patients on Carbamazepine therapy less than 1 year n=33, C-II had epileptic patients on Carbamazepine therapy 1-2 years n = 33 and C-III 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 (CCA IMT) was observed significantly high throughout group C but it was more profound in Group-C-III. 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.

Serum homocysteine level in vegetarians in District Tharparker, Sindh.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of present study was to investigate serum homocysteine levels in apparently healthy vegetarians and ominvores in Mithi, district Tharparker, Sindh, Pakistan. METHODS: This study was conducted in the Department of Biochemistry, Basic Medical Sciences Institute (BMSI), Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC), Karachi and blood samples were collected from Mithi, district Tharparker, Sindh, Pakistan, in 2012. One hundred vegetarian and one hundred omnivores (age ranging from 20-40 years) were enrolled for this study. Serum homocysteine levels were measured by the chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay method. RESULTS: Serum homocysteine (Hcy) level was considerably higher (p<0.001) in vegetarian group compared to omnivores. We further grouped and analyzed our study subjects according to their gender and according to Hcy level (greater than or lower than 15µmol/L). A considerable number of vegetarian subjects 30% were having Hcy >15µmol/L compared to omnivores 6%, (p<0.001). Gender-wise comparison showed that 27.02% male and 38.46% females had >15µmol/L serum Hcy level in vegetarian group and 6.9% male and 3.5% females had >15µmol/L serum Hcy level in omnivores group, but the difference was not significant in any group. CONCLUSION: Vegetarians are more prone to develop hyperhomocysteinemia, so they are at high risk to develop cardiovascular disease.

Increased 5-HT Levels Following Repeated Administration of Nigella sativa L. (Black Seed) Oil Produce Antidepressant Effects in Rats.

The seeds of Nigella sativa L., commonly known as black seed or black cumin, and its extracts are used in folk medicine in the Middle East and in Asian countries for the promotion of good health and as a remedy for many ailments. These seeds have many acclaimed medicinal properties such as broncho-dilatory, immunopotentiating, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and hypotensive. In the present study, the antidepressant activity following the repeated administration of Nigella sativa L. oil has been monitored using the forced swim test. Rats treated with Nigella sativa L. oil exhibited a significant increase in struggling time after oral administration of Nigella sativa L. oil (0.1 ml/kg/day) for four weeks. Nigella sativa L. oil increased brain 5-HT levels and decreased 5-HT turnover (5-HT/5-HIAA ratio). Levels of tryptophan increased significantly in the brain and plasma following the repeated administration of Nigella sativa L. oil. Nigella sativa L. oil showed a potential antidepressant-like effect.

Prediction of success in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) by estimation of serum estradiol/progesterone ratio on the day of embryo transfer.

OBJECTIVE: To compare estradiol-to-progesterone ratio with pregnancy outcome in patients of intracytoplasmic sperm injection. METHODS: The quasi-experimental study was conducted on 106 couples at an assisted reproductive clinic in Islamabad from June 2010 to August 2011. Down-regulation of females aged 18-41 with Gonadotrophin releasing hormone agonist was followed by calculated stimulation with Gonadotrophin injections (Puregon). Oocytes pickup was done 36 hours after ovulation induction by human chronic gonadotropin (hCG) (on Day 0), eggs fertilised in vitro were graded and only blastocysts were transferred on Day 5 (Ovulatoin induction + 7 days). Serum estradiol and progesterone was measured by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay on D0 and D5 and its values were compared in 3 groups of females; no conception beta hCG < 5 mlU/ml; pre-clinical abortion with beta hCG > 5 mlU/ml and no cardiac activity on trans-vaginal scan; and clinical pregnancy with beta hCG > 5mlU/ml and cardiac activity on transvaginal scan. SPSS 15 was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Out of the 106 females, 12 (11.32%) had to be excluded for various reasons at different stages. The final sample stood at 94 (88.67%). Of them, 33 (35.1%) achieved clinical pregnancy, 21 (22.3%) had non-viable pregnancy, and 40 (42.6%) failed to conceive. Females who had significantly high number of oocytes and thick endometrial lining at the day of hCG administration were found to have significant rise in estradiol-to-progresterone ratio on the day of embryo transfer which correlated with a positive pregnancy test and cardiac activity on trans-vaginal scan (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The success of intracytoplasmic sperm injection could be predicted by good number of oocytes that secrete large amount of estradiol, increased thickness of endometrial lining, and a high estradiol-to-progresterone ratio on the day of embryo transfer.