SHBG and Insulin resistance - Nexus revisited.

Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) is a liver-synthesized glycoprotein. Low SHBG levels are associated with insulin resistance (IR). Specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the SHBG gene are linked to IR.

Effect of Statins on the Inflammatory Markers in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease.

 Atherosclerosis mediated by inflammatory markers is the corner stone in the pathology of coronary artery disease (CAD). Hyperlipidemia, one of the risk factors is treated with statins. Statins also have a pleotropic role in reducing inflammation.

Plasmapheresis can correct refractoriness of insulin on triglyceride metabolism - A case report of hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis.

Hypertriglyceridemia associated acute pancreatitis is a medical emergency and it causes significant morbidity and mortality. Here we report a case of 47 years old male with hypertriglyceridemia associated acute pancreatitis. The diagnosis was confirmed by elevated serum triglyceride levels and elevated lipase levels.

Association of Serum Pentraxin 3 and High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein with Severity of Coronary Stenosis.

Background: Atherosclerosis being the keystone in the pathology of coronary artery disease (CAD) is a chronic inflammation of arterial intima mediated by various inflammatory markers. Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) are the two important biomarkers of chronic inflammation that causes atherosclerosis.

Aims: This study aims to investigate the association of serum PTX3 and hs-CRP with the severity of coronary stenosis in patients undergoing coronary angiogram.

Nell1 as Target Antigen for Mercury Related Membranous Nephropathy: A Case Report.

Membranous nephropathy constitutes 30% of adult nephrotic syndrome. Of all cases of membranous nephropathy, primary membranous nephropathy is commonest. Mercury is known to be a cause of secondary membranous nephropathy.

Role of vitamin D-calcium supplementation on metabolic profile and oxidative stress in gestational diabetes mellitus: A randomized controlled trial.

Aim: To assess role of vitamin D-calcium supplementation on the metabolic profile and oxidative stress in women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) controlled on diet.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted at a tertiary care teaching hospital. Seventy women diagnosed as GDM at 24-28 weeks of gestation, controlled on a diabetic diet, were randomized to receive either vitamin D 1000 IU and calcium 1000 mg (group A, n = 34) or vitamin D 250 IU and calcium 500 mg (group B, n = 36) daily for 6 weeks.

Cardiovascular risk using WHO-ISH chart among Diabetes and Hypertensive patients in a remote rural area of South India.

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are major problems in India and many other developing and developed countries. As India is committed to provide universal health care for the population, there is a need to find out the prevalence and determinants of CVD risk among high-risk individuals (Diabetes and Hypertensive patients) in the remote rural area of India to deliver appropriate services, as they are considered as neglected population.

Methods: We screened high-risk individuals (Hypertension and Diabetes patients) for CVD risk using WHO/ISH chart, in a remote rural area of south India, covering ten villages surrounding the Rural Health Training Centre (RHTC), in August-September 2017.

Feasibility and outcome of community-based screening for cardiovascular disease risk factors in a remote rural area of South India: The Chunampet rural-Cardiovascular health assessment and management program.

Background: As committed by India in Global Action Plan, Sustainable Development Goals and National Health Policy 2017, India has the responsibility to provide accessible, affordable noncommunicable disease care to the people. Our study aimed to find out the burden of cardiovascular risk factors among hypertension and diabetic patients, through a community-based screening, in a remote rural area of South India.

Methods: A special program named "Chunampet Rural-Cardiovascular Health Assessment and Management Program" (CR-CHAMP) was launched in August and September 2017 in a Rural Health Training Center (RHTC), functioning under a private medical college in South India.

Lipid Accumulation Product Index as Visceral Obesity Indicator in Psoriasis: A Case-control Study.

Background: Psoriasis has well-known associations with individual components of metabolic syndrome such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and obesity. Traditional anthropometric measurements of obesity such as waist circumference (WC) and body mass index (BMI) do not differentiate between subcutaneous fat and visceral fat, the latter being associated with cardiovascular risk factors. Lipid accumulation product (LAP) index is a measure of visceral fat and has been found to be a better predictor of cardiovascular risk.

Comparison of Lipid Accumulation Product Index with Body Mass Index and Waist Circumference as a Predictor of Metabolic Syndrome in Indian Population.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS), which confers a high risk for cardiovascular diseases, needs early diagnosis and treatment to reduce morbidity and mortality. Lipid accumulation product index has been reported to be an inexpensive marker of visceral fat and metabolic syndrome. This study aimed to evaluate lipid accumulation product index as a marker for metabolic syndrome in the Indian population where the prevalence of the condition is steadily increasing.

Evaluation of Leptin as a Marker of Insulin Resistance in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide, whose incidence is rapidly increasing in India. T2DM is caused by varying degrees of insulin resistance (IR) and relative insulin deficiency. Leptin, an adipokine with the primary function of regulating energy balance, is found to mediate insulin secretion and sensitivity in peripheral tissues.

Correlation of Friedewald's calculated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels with direct low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in a tertiary care hospital.

Background: One of the risk factors for the development of coronary heart disease is high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. National Cholesterol Education Program ATP III guidelines suggest drug therapy to be considered at LDL-cholesterol levels >130 mg/dl. This makes accurate reporting of LDL cholesterol crucial in the management of Coronary heart disease.

Is dilution important: Factitious Total Creatine Kinase in case of Rhabdomyolysis?

Factitious test reports may result in incorrect diagnosis and incorrect management. Such incorrect diagnosis can be prevented by a vigilant biochemist. We report a case of Rhabdomyolysis presenting with extremely low total Creatine Kinase (CK) levels which was factitious.

High atherogenic index of plasma in subclinical hypothyroidism: Implications in assessment of cardiovascular disease risk.

Background: A controversy exists regarding the association between subclinical hypothyroidism (SH) and dyslipidemia. Moreover, studies on lipid ratios and atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) in SH are rare, particularly in the Indian scenario.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate abnormalities in conventional lipid profile, lipid ratios, and AIP in SH and attempted to correlate thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and AIP in SH.

Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in Psoriasis Patients and its Relation to Disease Duration: A Hospital Based Case-Control Study.

Introduction: Previous studies indicate a higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome in psoriatic patients. This study aimed to investigate the association of metabolic syndrome and its components with psoriasis. It also studied the relation between presence of metabolic syndrome and disease duration in psoriasis patients.

Effect of preoperative statin therapy on early postoperative memory impairment after off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery.

Context: Frequent incidence of early postoperative memory impairment (POMI) after cardiac surgery remains a concern because of associated morbidity, impaired quality of life, and increased health care cost.

Aim: To assess the effect of preoperative statin therapy on POMI in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) surgery.

Setting And Design: Prospective observational study in a tertiary level hospital.

Agreement of arterial sodium and arterial potassium levels with venous sodium and venous potassium in patients admitted to intensive care unit.

Introduction: Electrolyte abnormalities are one of the common causes of morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. The turnaround time for electrolyte reporting should be as low as possible. Electrolytes are measured conventionally in serum obtained from venous blood by electrolyte analyser which takes 20 to 30 min.

A comparative study of serum aminotransferases in chronic kidney disease with and without end-stage renal disease: Need for new reference ranges.

Background: Hepatic diseases are common among chronic kidney disease patients and liver function tests particularly serum liver enzymes play an important role in diagnosing and monitoring these patients. Serum aminotransferase levels commonly fall near the lower end of the range of the normal values in patients of chronic kidney disease (CKD). High-levels of serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) can occur in these patients due to renal osteodystrophy.

Validation of Method Performance of pH, PCO2, PO2, Na(+), K(+) of Cobas b121 ABG Analyser.

Introduction: The introduction of a new method or new analyser is a common occurrence in clinical biochemistry laboratory. Blood gas measurements and electrolytes are often performed in Point-of-Care (POC) settings. When a new POC analyser is obtained, the performance of the analyser should be evaluated by comparison to the measurements with the reference analyser in the laboratory.

Quantitative application of sigma metrics in medical biochemistry.

Introduction: Laboratory errors are result of a poorly designed quality system in the laboratory. Six Sigma is an error reduction methodology that has been successfully applied at Motorola and General Electric. Sigma (σ) is the mathematical symbol for standard deviation (SD).

Factitious Biochemical Reports which are Caused Due to Paraproteinaemia in Multiple Myeloma - A Case Report.

Factitious biochemical reports result in the misguiding of clinicians, unnecessary retesting, wrong diagnoses and incorrect treatments. A vigilant biochemist identifies these factitious biochemical reports and alerts the clinician regarding the proper interpretation of the biochemical reports, thus preventing a misdiagnosis and an incorrect treatment. We are presenting a case report of a multiple myeloma patient who presented with factitious biochemical reports which were caused due to paraproteinaemia.

The role of sevista in the management of dysfunctional uterine bleeding.

Objective: The complaints of excessive menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia) have a substantial impact on the gynaecological services and in most of the cases, no organic pathology is identified. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and tranexamic acid offer a simple therapy which has to be taken during menses, with reductions of 25-35% and 50% respectively in the Menstrual Blood Loss (MBL). Danazol and the gonadatrophin-releasing hormone analogues are highly effective, but their side-effects make them suitable only for a short-term use.

Plasma lactate as prognostic marker of septic shock with acute respiratory distress syndrome.

The present study was conducted to study the significance of lactate as a prognostic marker in patients of septic shock with acute respiratory distress syndrome. This study was conducted on 50 critically ill patients of septic shock with acute respiratory distress syndrome between the age group of 20-60 years and 50 controls. Plasma lactate and serum electrolytes were determined among controls and patients.