1, 25-Dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25-(OH)<Subscript>2</Subscript> D<Subscript>3</Subscript>) levels in osteoporosis

In the present study primary involution osteoporosis and vitamin D levels were studied in 60 subjects including thirty controls. The biochemical analysis of serum calcium, phosphorus, ALP, albumin and vitamin D₃ (1,25-(OH)₂ D₃) levels were significantly decreased in osteoporotic patients when compared to non-osteoporotic control group. There was a significant correlation of magnitude of sun exposure with 1,25-(OH)₂ D₃ levels. Similarly, vitamin D intake in the diet has a significant correlation with 1,25-(OH)₂ D₃ concentration. However, no correlation could be obtained between vitamin D₃ levels with increasing age. Among the biochemical markers serum calcium, phosphorus, ALP and albumin could not be correlated with 1,25-(OH)₂ D₃ levels.     

Study of apolipoproteinc3 Sstl polymorphism in healthy volunteers from Northern India

Several studies including a small case-control (hypertriglyceridemic/normotriglyceridemic individuals) study by us revealed close association between rare S2 allele ofAPOC3 Sstl polymorphism and hypertriglyceridemia. With the understanding that Asian Indians are highly vulnerable to the adverse effects of hypertriglyceridemia, we extended the investigation and studied the frequency distribution of this polymorphism in 216 healthy volunteers from Northern plains of India. We found that more than 50% of the study population had one or two S2 allele. This may suggest that a larger fraction of this population is genetically predisposed to hypertriglyceridemia.     

Diagnostic potential of fractionatedMycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra excretory-secretory (EST-DE1) antigen in pulmonary tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is emerging as a major public health problem in developing and developed world. Early and precise diagnosis is of prime importance in successful control of infection. Indirect ELISA with penicillinase as marker was developed using purifiedM. tuberculosis excretory-secretory (EST-DE₁) antigen for detecting IgG antibodies in pulmonary tuberculosis. The assay System gave a overall sensitivity of 82% for both smear positive and smear negative pulmonary tuberculosis cases with a specificity of 84%. The positive and negative predictive values were 75% and 88% respectivaly. Further studies with EST-DE₁ antigen revealed that, it contains two of the active antigen fractions of Mtb EST antigen i.e. Mtb EST-4 (56–68 KDa) and Mtb EST-6 (37–45 KDa), as demonstrated by inhibition ELISA. Reactivity with monoclonal antibodies HGT 3a showed the presence of 38 KDa molecule in EST-DE₁ antigen.     

Serum ionised calcium in birth asphyxia

Serum total and ionised calcium levels were measured at birth and at 48 hours in 25 term neonates with birth asphyxia (one minute APGAR score of 6 or less) and in 25 normal term neonates (one minute APGAR score of 7 or more). Infants were categorised into two groups TAGA (term appropriate for gestational age) and TSGA (term small for gestational age). Asphyxiated infants had significantly lower serum total and ionised calcium values at birth as well as at 48 hours. Abnormal clinical features were observed in 48% of asphyxiated infants. Low ionised calcium was detected in symptomatic babies, who had otherwise normal total calcium values. Due to hyocalcemia especially ionised calcium in asphyxiated infants and high frequency of functional derangement associated with this hypocalcemioa, serial monitoring of serum isonised calcium levels is necessary.     

Dissociation as a mediator between child abuse history and adult abuse potential

OBJECTIVE: It has commonly been found that abused children are at risk for later becoming abusive parents (Kaufman & Zigler. 1987; Oliver, 1993) and observational learning has been discussed as a mechanism that perpetuates this intergenerational cycle of abuse. However, two thirds of abused children do not become abusive (Kaufman & Zigler, 1987). Thus, the goal of the current study was to examine whether dissociation functions as an additional mechanism mediating the relation between a history of child abuse and abusiveness as an adult. METHOD: A cross-sectional design was used to examine physical abuse history, dissociation, and physical abuse potential in a sample of 190 college students. Questionnaires were utilized to assess the three constructs. RESULTS: Findings indicated that the three constructs were intercorrelated. In particular, a newly established association was found between dissociation and physical abuse potential (r = .54, p < .0001). The primary finding was that the relation between physical abuse history and physical abuse potential was significantly mediated (z = 2.19, p < .05) by level of dissociation, with dissociation accounting for approximately half of the observed relation between history of abuse and abuse potential. CONCLUSION: Results suggested that dissociation may be one mechanism that helps to perpetuate the intergenerational cycle of abuse. Although dissociation promotes psychological survival during children's abuse experiences, it may result in the development of abusive tendencies in later life. Reducing parental dissociation may assist clinicians in preventing or terminating physical child abuse.     

Diagnostic Value of Lactate Levels in Acute Abdomen Disorders

The supply of oxygen is limited in certain intra abdominal conditions due to direct vascular invasion or inflammatory process, resulting in high lactate levels. Aim of this study was to find the predictive value of lactate levels in the peritoneal fluid (PF) and blood of patients with acute abdomen. The study comprised of fifty patients with acute abdominal conditions, admitted in emergency ward of tertiary care hospital, thirty patients were with surgical abdomen (group I) and twenty patients with non surgical abdomen (group II). Lactate was estimated in PF and blood on Blood Gas Analyzer (NOVA, M-7). The mean lactate levels in PF were significantly higher in group I as compared to group II (14.65 ± 1.195 vs. 5.92 ± 0.97 mmol/L, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in blood lactate levels in both the groups. When PF and blood lactate levels were compared within groups, we found that PF levels were significantly higher than blood in group I (14.65 ± 1.195 vs. 3.85 ± 0.54 mmol/L, p < 0.001) but not in group II (5.92 ± 0.97 vs. 4.36 ± 0.95 mmol/L). Diagnostic value was obtained using ROC curve. Cut off values obtained for PF lactate, difference and ratio of PF and blood lactate (≥6.4 mmol/L, ≥3.3 and ≥2.1 respectively) are at very high degree of sensitivity and specificity. So it can be useful marker of surgical emergency in patients with acute intra abdominal pathology, especially in clinically ill patients or in whom physical examination is not yielding because of neurologic disorders or unresponsiveness.