Role of heat stable fraction of alkaline phosphatase as an adjunct to ca 125 in monitoring patients of epithelial ovarian carcinoma

Heat stable fraction (HSF) of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was evaluated as an adjunct to CA 125 as a tumour marker for epithelial ovarian cancer in a follow-up study. In our study group 63.4% of patients had elevated HSF levels (≥10U/L) and 93.3% had elevated CA 125 levels (>35U/mL). The sensitivity of CA 125 and HSF was 93.3% and 63.3% respectively. The decline in the activity of HSF, over the pre-op levels was highly significant after the first (p=0.001) chemotherapy cycle and significant after the second and third cycles (p<0.029). Thereafter, HSF activity was almost undetectable. The decrease in CA 125 levels over the pre-op levels was significant after the first, second, third (p<0.001) and fourth (p<0.034) chemotherapy cycle. HSF can be used alone or as an adjunct to CA 125 in screening and monitoring patients of ovarian carcinoma especially in remote areas where sophisticated facilities are not available and in patients in which CA 125 levels are not raised preoperatively.     

Increasing Glucose Concentrations Interfere with Estimation of Electrolytes by Indirect Ion Selective Electrode Method

The estimation of electrolytes like sodium (Na⁺), potassium (K⁺) and chloride (Cl⁻) using direct and indirect ion-selective electrodes (ISE) is a routine laboratory practice. Interferents like proteins, triglycerides, drugs etc. are known to affect the results. The present study was designed to look into the effect of increasing glucose concentrations on estimation of Na⁺, K⁺ and Cl⁻ by direct and indirect ISE. Pooled sera was mixed with glucose stock solution (20 g/dL) prepared in normal saline to obtain glucose concentrations ranging from ~100 to ~5000 mg/dL. Na⁺, K⁺ and Cl⁻ levels were estimated by direct and indirect ISE analyzers and results were statistically analysed using ANOVA and Pearson’s correlation. Similar experiment was also performed in 24 h urine sample from healthy subjects. Significant difference was observed between Na⁺ and Cl⁻ measurements by direct and indirect ISE, with indirect ISE values being consistently higher than direct ISE. Besides this, significant difference was observed amongst Na⁺ and Cl⁻ values from baseline values obtained by indirect ISE at glucose concentrations ≥2486 mg/dL. However, no such difference was observed with direct ISE. Na⁺ and Cl⁻ estimation by indirect ISE showed significant negative correlation with glucose concentration, more so, above ~2000 mg/dL. K⁺, however, showed no significant difference with varying glucose. Similar results were observed in 24 h urine samples with a significant difference observed amongst Na⁺ and Cl⁻ values at ≥2104 mg/dL glucose. Thus we conclude that high glucose concentrations interfere significantly in estimation of Na⁺ and Cl⁻ by indirect ISE in serum as well as urine.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s12291-015-0522-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

An Integrated Approach of the Potential Underlying Molecular Mechanistic Paradigms of SARS-CoV-2-Mediated Coagulopathy

Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a pandemic disease which has affected more than 6.2 million people globally, with numbers mounting considerably daily. However, till date, no specific treatment modalities are available for Covid-19 and also not much information is known about this disease. Recent studies have revealed that SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with the generation of thrombosis and coagulopathy. Fundamentally, it has been believed that a diverse array of signalling pathways might be responsible for the activation of coagulation cascade during SARS-CoV-2 infection. Henceforth, a detailed understanding of these probable underlying molecular mechanistic pathways causing thrombosis in Covid-19 disease deserves an urgent exploration. Therefore, in this review, the hypothetical crosstalk between distinct signalling pathways including apoptosis, inflammation, hypoxia and angiogenesis attributable for the commencement of thrombotic events during SARS-CoV-2 infection has been addressed which might further unravel promising therapeutic targets in Covid-19 disease.     

Assessement of Blood Lead and Cadmium Levels in Occupationally Exposed Workers of Jodhpur,Rajasthan

In spite of the established knowledge regarding their toxicities, occupational exposure to heavy metals like lead and cadmium still continues because of their wide distribution in environment. Due to lack of awareness, most of the workers usually eat, smoke, drink at their workplace which may aggravate the metal exposure. The present study was planned to assess the blood levels of lead and cadmium in occupationally exposed workers of Jodhpur (India). A total of 110 individuals working in different industrial set ups (furniture, metal handicraft, welders) of Jodhpur district (exposed group), aged between 20 and 60 years and 97 apparently healthy people (controls) with no history of occupational heavy metal exposure aged between 25 and 60 were recruited. Details of personal habits and demographics were recorded by means of self-developed questionnaire. 5 ml of whole blood was drawn from every individual. Metal levels were measured by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Statistical analysis was done using GraphPad Prism Software. Results showed that Blood Lead Level and Blood Cadmium Level (CdB) were significantly higher in the exposed group as compared to the non-exposed group. Significant age and gender-based differences were found in terms of blood cadmium levels but no such difference was observed in case of blood lead. The study also revealed that higher blood levels of these metals in workers are influenced by their occupational practices, lack of protection against workplace environment pollutants, thus increasing their susceptibility to metal toxicity.     

Role of Intervention on Laboratory Performance: Evaluation of Quality Indicators in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Quality in laboratory has huge impact on diagnosis and patient management as 80–90% of all diagnosis is made on the basis of laboratory tests. Monitoring of quality indicators covering the critical areas of pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical phases like sample misidentification, sample rejection, random and systemic errors, critical value reporting and TATs have a significant impact on performance of laboratory. This study was conducted in diagnostic laboratories receiving approximately 42,562 samples for clinical chemistry, hematology and serology. The list of quality indicators was developed for the steps of total testing process for which errors are frequent and improvements are possible. The trend was observed for all the QI before and after sensitisation of the staff over the period of 12 months. Incomplete test requisition form received in the lab was the most poor quality indicator observed (7.89%), followed by sample rejection rate (4.91%). Most significant improvement was found in pre- and post-analytical phase after sensitisation of staff but did not have much impact on analytical phase. Use of quality indicators to assess and monitor the quality system of the clinical laboratory services is extremely valuable tool in keeping the total testing process under control in a systematic and transparent way.     

Presynaptic Membrane Receptor in Human Brain

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease that results from antibody mediated damage of Acetylcholine receptor (AChR) at the neuromuscular junction. The autoimmune character of MG and pathogenic role of AChR antibodies have been established by several workers i.e., the demonstration of anti-AChR antibodies in about 90 % of MG patients. It has been demonstrated that patients with MG also have antibodies against a second protein named presynaptic membrane receptor (PsmR), which is identified by utilizing β-Bgtx, a ligand which binds to PsmR. Using β-Bgtx Sepharose 4B affinity matrix, the PsmR was purified from different regions of human cadaver brain by affinity chromatography. Purified receptor was characterized both by biochemical and immunological procedures. PsmR purified from different regions of the brain shows a specific activity of 0.37 ± 0.01, 0.39 ± 0.02 and 0.43 ± 0.005 nM/ μg of protein in Parietal lobe, Occipital lobe and Frontal lobe respectively. The affinity purified PsmR from the brain of 87 and 68 kd (parietal lobe, occipital lobe and frontal lobe) shows immunoreactivity with myasthenic sera. These findings suggest that PsmR from brain is another antigen against which autoantibodies are developed in Myasthenia gravis patients. Upon treatment with various enzymes we concluded that PsmR from brain is a glycoprotein in which the immunoreactivity resides in the carbohydrate as well as the peptide epitopes. In conclusion the PsmR is another antigen against which autoantibodies are formed in different regions of brain. These can be used as a diagnostic tool for detecting antibodies in the sera or cerebrospinal fluid of MG patients.     

Alumni giving: The influences of reunion,class, and year

We analyzed fifty years of inflation-adjusted data on the Annual Giving program of Princeton University. Most of the variation in both average size of gifts and percentage of class giving can be explained with simple models having three factors: reunion number, class identity, and fiscal year. Besides providing insights into factors influencing donations, these models provide a way to unmask features that are not evident in the raw data, such as trends in giving behavior and exceptional performances by particular classes in particular years.     

Xanthelasma Palpebrarum-clinical and biochemical profile in a tertiary care hospital of Delhi

Xanthelasma Palpebrarum is the most common of the xanthomas with asymptomatic, symmetrical, bilateral, soft, yellow, velvety, polygonal papules around the eyelids. Xanthelasmas may be associated with hyperlipidemia. This prospective study included 66 clinically diagnosed patients with Xanthelasma Palpebrarum and 50 controls with non-inflammatory skin disorders. Serum triglyceride, cholesterol, HDL, LDL and VLDL estimated in all cases indicated that patients with Xanthelasma Palpebrarum have underlying lipid abnormalities.     

A study of serum zinc, selenium and copper levels in carcinoma of esophagus patients

The association of serum trace elements like selenium, zinc and copper has been found in different types of cancer. This study was conducted to see the serum level of these three trace elements in cancer esophagus patients. Biopsy confirmed cancer esophagus, 24 patients (12 males, 12 females, mean age 54.5±11.65 year with 23 healthy subjects (16 males, 7 females, mean age 44 ±13.82 years) were included in this study. Both control and study group patients were of same socio-economic status and dietary habits. Serum zinc and copper level were estimated using standard absorption spectrometer technique and serum selenium by Hydride generation method. We observed significant low serum levels of zinc and selenium while high level of serum copper in carcinoma esophagus patients, as compared with normal healthy controls. This shows an association of serum selenium zinc and copper with cancer esophagus.     

Effect of vitamin C and E activity on surgically removed cataractous human lens epithelium cells

Oxidative stress has been proposed as a common underlying mechanism of cataractogenesis. Experimental and observational data suggest that micronutrients like vitamin C and vitamin E with antioxidant capabilities may retard the development of age-related cataract. Effect of these factors on lens epithelium cells, center of lens metabolic activities, is not completely elucidated. The aim of present study was to examine the effect of vitamin C and E on surgically removed lens epithelium cells of patients with cataract. Capsulorhexis samples were collected from 170 patients, admitted for cataract surgery. Catalase specific activity was estimated in lens epithelium cells with and without vitamin (C or E) treatment at different concentration for different time duration. Student’s t-test was employed for data analysis. We observed that in ex-vivo condition, a) both vitamin C and E bring about a decrease in catalase activity in lens epithelial cells. b) vitamin C showed toxic effect at high concentration. c) 100μM was the optimum concentration at which both vitamins showed maximum antioxidant activity. It was concluded that both vitamin C and E has direct effect on lens epithelium cells. At optimum concentration, they can reduce oxidative stress in these cells thus can support to prevent or delay cataract development.