Asymmetric dimethylarginine and angiopoietin-like protein-2 are independent predictors of cardiovascular risk in pre-dialysis non-diabetic chronic kidney disease patients.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with increased cardiovascular (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Hence, this study was carried out to assess the biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction and inflammation as predictors of CVD risk in Indian patients with CKD.

Methods: In this case control study, we recruited 43 patients with CKD and 43 healthy control volunteers.

Assessment of bone turnover markers to predict mineral and bone disorder in men with pre-dialysis non-diabetic chronic kidney disease.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is commonly associated with disturbances in mineral metabolism and bone disease. Bone biopsy is the gold standard in diagnosing mineral bone disorder. Hence the search for non-invasive assessment of bone health gains importance.

Correlation of antimuscarinic acetylcholine receptor antibody titers and antidesmoglein antibody titers with the severity of disease in patients with pemphigus.

Background: Acetylcholine receptor (AchR) antibody levels significantly correlate with disease severity at initial pemphigus diagnosis and during follow-up. However, it is not clear if they are just an epiphenomenon or a potential trigger of the known pathogenic process in pemphigus vulgaris.

Objective: We sought to assess the changes in anti-muscarinic (M3) AchR and anti-desmoglein (Dsg) antibody titers with therapy.

Is the Ratio of Antibodies Against Oxidized LDL to Oxidized LDL an Indicator of Cardiovascular Risk in Psoriasis?

Objectives: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. Chronic inflammation results in increased oxidative stress and oxidizes lipoproteins, increasing their atherogenicity. This study sought to estimate the levels of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) and antibodies against oxidized LDL (anti-ox-LDL) and compute the ratio of anti-ox-LDL/ox-LDL as a single composite parameter to assess the oxidative lipoprotein burden as an indicator of cardiovascular risk in patients with psoriasis.

Serum bilirubin: a simple routine surrogate marker of the progression of chronic kidney disease.

Background: Studies suggest that Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a global burden health associated with significant comorbid conditions. Few biochemical parameters have gained significance in predicting the disease progression. The present work aimed to study the association of the simple biochemical parameter of serum bilirubin level with the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and to assess their association with the co-morbid conditions in CKD.

Association among stress, hypocortisolism, systemic inflammation, and disease severity in chronic urticaria.

Background: Chronic urticaria (CU) is an immune-mediated disease characterized by wheals for at least 6 weeks. The role of stress and the correlation of stress, hypocortisolism, and inflammatory markers are not well understood.

Objectives: To estimate C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)-18, and cortisol levels in patients with CU and to explore their association with disease severity and stress.

Elevated fibrinogen and lowered homocysteine-vitamin determinants and their association with left atrial thrombus in patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis.

Mitral stenosis (MS) causes stagnation of blood flow, leading to thrombus formation in the left atrium (LA), which may lead to systemic thrombo-embolic complications and stroke. We compared the alterations in echocardiographic and procoagulant parameters in patients with severe rheumatic MS with and without LA thrombus. The study was a cross-sectional study of patients with rheumatic MS, being evaluated for percutaneous mitral commisurotomy.

Comprehensive lipid tetrad index, atherogenic index and lipid peroxidation: Surrogate markers for increased cardiovascular risk in psoriasis.

Background And Objectives: Recently, the concept of "psoriatic march" has come to the fore, in which chronic cutaneous inflammation in psoriasis leads to systemic inflammation which, in conjunction with increased oxidative stress, triggers a cascade of events resulting in increased cardiovascular risk in patients with severe psoriasis. We, therefore, decided to study the levels of some biochemical cardiovascular risk markers: lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde), lipoprotein (a), lipid indices and atherogenic index, in patients with psoriasis and their association with disease severity.

Methods: Forty five patients with psoriasis and 45 age and gender-matched healthy controls were included in this cross-sectional study.

25-hydroxy vitamin D and ischaemia-modified albumin levels in psoriasis and their association with disease severity.

Psoriasis is a T-helper-1 (Th1)/Th17-mediated chronic inflammatory skin disease, characterised by hyperproliferation of keratinocytes. Psoriasis and cardiovascular disease share similar pathogenic mechanisms such as vascular endothelial cell dysfunction, oxidative stress and metabolic syndrome. 25-hydroxy vitamin D is an immune-regulatory hormone, with the ability to reduce cellular proliferation in psoriasis.

Is enhanced platelet activation the missing link leading to increased cardiovascular risk in psoriasis?

Background: Psoriasis is an immune mediated inflammatory skin disease associated with systemic inflammation resulting in increased risk for associated cardiovascular co-morbidities. The role of platelet activation in the pathophysiology of this condition has not been clearly studied. We undertook to study the platelet activation markers in psoriasis, as compared to controls and to identify its association with disease severity in psoriasis.

Hypomagnesemia and atherogenic dyslipidemia in chronic kidney disease: surrogate markers for increased cardiovascular risk.

Background: Recent reports suggest that 40-70 % chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients receiving dialysis have significant coronary artery disease. Magnesium depletion is being considered as the missing link between the cardiovascular risk factors and atherosclerosis in CKD. The present work aimed to study the association between magnesium status and lipid alterations in pre-dialysis CKD patients attending the Nephrology Clinic in a tertiary care hospital in South India.