Role of Serum Interleukin-6 and C-reactive Protein in Early Prediction of Severe Acute Pancreatitis.

Background: Early prediction of severity is an important goal in acute pancreatitis (AP), to identify 20% of patients who are likely to have a severe course. Such patients have an expected mortality of 15-20% and may benefit from early admission to high dependency or intensive care units, with parenteral or nasojejunal feeding and prophylactic antibiotics. In severe AP (SAP), multiorgan dysfunction accounts for most of early deaths.

Evaluation of Reproductive Outcome in Infertile Hypothyroid Women on Thyroxine Therapy.

Introduction: Thyroid dysfunction is associated with increased risk of infertility. Serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) screening in all women seeking infertility care is recommended and hypothyroid infertile women should be treated with thyroxine until the preconception serum TSH level is <2.5 mU/l.

Impact of Vitamin D Supplementation on Semen Quality in Vitamin D-Deficient Infertile Males with Oligoasthenozoospermia.

Introduction: Male factor contributes to almost 50% cases of infertility. There is evidence of the effect of serum vitamin D on male fertility by helping in spermatozoa maturation and initiating acrosomal reaction. In India, vitamin D deficiency has been documented to be in the range of 50-90% among all the age groups.

Study of Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation on the Clinical, Hormonal and Metabolic Profile of the PCOS Women.

Introduction: Insulin resistance is one of the most common features of polycystic ovary syndrome, and some studies suggest that vitamin D deficiency may have role in insulin resistance.

Objective: To study the effect of vitamin D supplementation on the clinical, hormonal and metabolic profile of the PCOS women.

Study Design: Randomized, placebo-controlled, interventional, double-blind study.

Evaluation of Role of GnRH Antagonist in Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) Cycles with Mild Ovarian Hyperstimulation (MOH): A Prospective Randomised Study.

Aims And Objective: To evaluate the role of GnRH antagonist in prevention of premature LH surge and increasing pregnancy rates in IUI cycle with mild ovarian hyperstimulation (MOH).

Study Design: Prospective parallel, randomised controlled study.

Material And Methods: Couples diagnosed with unexplained, male factor subfertility and with one or both tubes patent were randomised to receive either a GnRH antagonist (study group) or no intervention (control group).

Correlation of Vitamin D Levels in Term Normotensive and Pre-eclamptic Patients in Labor.

Objective: To evaluate maternal vitamin D levels in term normotensive and preeclamptic patients in labor and to assess additional factors such as maternal and cord blood levels of calcium, phosphorus, parathormone, and alkaline phosphatase and associated factors such as BMI, birth weight, and mode of delivery.

Method: This was a case control study carried out in Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, ESIC-PGIMSR, New Delhi, India from August 2012-April 2014. A total of 100 patients were divided into two equal groups (control and study groups of 50 each).

Serum Homocysteine and Total Antioxidant Status in Vitiligo: A Case Control Study in Indian Population.

Background: Oxidative stress is considered as an initial pathogenic event in melanocyte destruction. These free radicals are scavenged by antioxidants, whose sum of activity in serum is measured by total antioxidant status (TAS). In addition, homocysteine (Hcy) may mediate melanocyte destruction via increased oxidative damage.

Effect of endometrial biopsy on intrauterine insemination outcome in controlled ovarian stimulation cycle.

Objective: The objective was to evaluate the effect of endometrial biopsy (EB) on intrauterine insemination (IUI) outcome in controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) cycle.

Design: Prospective randomized control study.

Setting: Tertiary care center.

HDL-A molecule with a multi-faceted role in coronary artery disease.

Background: High density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is popularly known as "good cholesterol" due to its ability to protect against atherosclerosis. High density lipoprotein (HDL) is best known as a key player to promote efflux of cholesterol from cells and promote reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) which decreases the accumulation of foam cells in arterial walls. Several roles of HDL discovered recently include anti-oxidant effect, anti-inflammatory role, and anti-thrombotic role, all of which potentiate the athero-protective role of HDL.

Association of obesity with hormonal imbalance in infertility: a cross-sectional study in north Indian women.

Hormones play an important role in the development and regulation of reproductive function and the menstrual cycle of women. Extremes of body weight tend to affect the homeostasis of the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis. This cross-sectional study was carried out in 113 women (57 with primary infertility and 56 with secondary infertility) in the age group 20-35 years, presenting for hormonal evaluation of infertility in a tertiary care hospital.

Prostasin: An Epithelial Sodium Channel Regulator.

Prostasin is a glycophosphatidylinositol-anchored protein which is found in prostate gland, kidney, bronchi, colon, liver, lung, pancreas, and salivary glands. It is a serine protease with trypsin-like substrate specificity which was first purified from seminal fluid in 1994. In the last decade, its diverse roles in various biological and physiological processes have been elucidated.

Integrative role of neuropeptides and cytokines in cancer anorexia-cachexia syndrome.

Background: The cachexia anorexia syndrome is a complex metabolic syndrome associated with cancer and some other palliative conditions characterized by involuntary weight loss involving fat and muscle, weight loss, anorexia, early satiety, fatigue, weakness due to shifts in metabolism caused by tumour by-products and cytokines. Various neuropeptides like Leptin, neuropeptide Y, melanocortin, agouti-related peptides have been known to regulate appetite and body weight.

Method: A comprehensive literature search was carried out on the websites of Pubmed Central (http://www.

Correlation of creatinine with TSH levels in overt hypothyroidism - a requirement for monitoring of renal function in hypothyroid patients?

Objective: Renal function is influenced by thyroid status. Therefore, this study was done to determine the relationship between renal function and different degrees of thyroid dysfunction.

Design And Methods: Thyroid and kidney function tests were analyzed in 47 patients with overt (TSH ≥ 10.

Lipoprotein (a)--lipid profile and apolipoprotein B in children of young parents with coronary artery disease.

Objective: To evaluate lipoprotein(a), apolipoprotein B and lipid profile in children of young parents with coronary artery disease.

Design: Analytical observational study.

Setting: Tertiary care hospital.

Effect of integrated yoga practices on immune responses in examination stress - A preliminary study.

Background: Stress is often associated with an increased occurrence of autonomic, cardiovascular, and immune system pathology. This study was done to evaluate the impact of stress on psychological, physiological parameters, and immune system during medical term -academic examination and the effect of yoga practices on the same.

Materials And Methods: The study was carried out on sixty first-year MBBS students randomly assigned to yoga group and control group (30 each).

Hepcidin: a novel peptide hormone regulating iron metabolism.

Background: Hepcidin is a low-molecular weight hepatic peptide regulating iron homeostasis. Hepcidin inhibits the cellular efflux of iron by binding to, and inducing the internalization and degradation of, ferroportin, the exclusive iron exporter in iron-transporting cells. It has been recently recognized as a main hormone behind anemia of chronic disease.

Cytokines in recurrent pregnancy loss.

Background: Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is defined as the occurrence of three or more consecutive miscarriages prior to 20 weeks gestation. Exaggerated maternal immune response to fetal antigens has been proposed to be one of the mechanisms underlying recurrent pregnancy loss.

Method: A comprehensive literature search was conducted from the websites of the National Library of Medicine (http://www.

PCR-Based Evaluation of Tuberculous Endometritis in Infertile Women of North India.

Background: Tuberculous endometritis is often a diagnostic dilemma for gynecologists in the evaluation of infertility. This study evaluated and compared different diagnostic methods in tuberculous endometritis.

Methods: 100 infertile women were investigated for tuberculous endometritis.

Association of macrovascular complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus with serum magnesium levels.

Background: Diabetes mellitus and its complications are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Micronutrients have been evaluated as potential preventive and therapeutic measures in diabetes. The present study evaluated serum magnesium levels in diabetic patients-uncomplicated and those with macrovascular complications.

Assessment of insulin resistance using surrogate markers in patients of metabolic syndrome.

Background: Insulin resistance is defined as situation where there is insufficient biological or metabolic response to normal plasma levels of insulin. For precise quantification of insulin sensitivity, the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp may be used, but it is expensive, invasive and used mainly in research settings. HOMA-IR (Homeostasis Model Assessment-Insulin Resistance) and ISI 0,120 (Insulin Sensitivity Index) are indirect markers of insulin resistance.

Co-peptin: Role as a novel biomarker in clinical practice.

Background: Arginine vasopressin (AVP) is a key regulator of water balance, but its instability makes reliable measurement difficult and precludes its routine use. Co-peptin is the C-terminal part of the AVP precursor which plays an important role in the correct structural formation of the AVP precursor and its efficient proteolytic maturation. Because of its stoichiometric generation, co-peptin mirrors the release of AVP and measurement of more stable co-peptin may be an indicator of AVP levels.

Macroprolactin; a frequent cause of misdiagnosed hyperprolactinemia in clinical practice.

Introduction: Macroprolactin is a significant cause of misdiagnosis, unnecessary investigation, and inappropriate treatment in patients with hyperprolactinemia. Its frequency has not been clearly established due to technical difficulties in identifying it. Most laboratories and clinicians are unaware of macroprolactin interferences in prolactin assays.

Acute presentation of dizziness in vitamin B12 deficient old patient of cardiac disease: a case report.

Background: Neuropsychiatric and hematological manifestations of vitamin B12 deficiency are well known. The present report highlights the biochemical basis for the impaired synthesis of DNA and neurological disorders associated with vitamin B12 deficiency.

Methods: We present a case of an old patient who developed acute ataxia, dizziness and imbalance 2 days after pacemaker implantation in a cardiac care unit.

MCP-1: chemoattractant with a role beyond immunity: a review.

Background: Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein (MCP)-1, a potent monocyte attractant, is a member of the CC chemokine subfamily. MCP-1 exerts its effects through binding to G-protein-coupled receptors on the surface of leukocytes targeted for activation and migration. Role of MCP-1 and its receptor CCR2 in monocyte recruitment during infection or under other inflammatory conditions is well known.