Blood glucose and glycosylated haemoglobin are the two vital biochemical tests widely prescribed for the therapeutic management of diabetes and require different anticoagulants during specimen collection. If both tests can be performed using single vacutainer, it reduces the laboratory costs at a larger scale and facilitates timely intervention. The anticoagulants NaF/Na2 EDTA and K2 EDTA are used conventionally for blood glucose and HbA1c estimations respectively for specimen collection. In the current study we have investigated whether NAF/Na2 EDTA can be used for HbA1c assay without the need of separate vacutainer i.e.K2EDTA. A total of 125 subjects (25 non-diabetic and 100 diabetic) were enrolled for this study. Parallel samples were collected in NaF/Na2 EDTA and K2 EDTA to compare HbA1c levels in both the anticoagulants. The stability of HbA1c was elucidated in both anticoagulants till 72hrs of collection. The HbA1c levels in both anticoagulants showed excellent correlation (R2: 0.998). Bland and Altman analysis revealed that the bias between methods is -0.22 to +0.22%. The changes in HbA1c levels were unaltered till 72 hrs of collection in NaF/Na2EDTA and K2EDTA (mean SD: 0.066 vs. 0.058; %CV: 0.94 vs. 0.81). These results conclude that the same vacutainer used for glucose estimation can be used even for HbA1c till 72 hr of collection thus preventing the need of second sampling specifically in monitoring diabetic control. This study emphasized that a single vacutainer of NaF/Na2EDTA can be used safely for both glucose and HbA1c assays.

Objective: In the current scenario, many patients were suffering from musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) due to uncontrolled diabetes. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) causes secondary complications of articular surface of capsular membrane of joints. That’s why this study is intended to evaluate the prevalence of musculoskletal disorders in type 2 diabetic subjects of tertiary care centre of Gwalior, India. Methods: 400 diabetic subjects, selected via screening through survey in the OPD and IPD of Department of Orthopedics, J. A. Group of Hospitals, Gwalior (M.P.). The standard screening procedures such as glycated haemoglobin and musculoskeletal complication assessment were the criteria for selecting type 2 diabetes mellitus patients and T2DM patients with musculoskeletal disorders. The musculoskeletal complications were assessed by standard methods. Result: The prevalence of MSDs in T2DM was 75% with 43.5% male and 31.5% female suffered from various MSDs. The dupuytren’s contracture, frozen shoulder had more prevalence in T2DM. The male T2DM and female T2DM had maximum prevalence of frozen shoulder and Dupuytren’s contracture respectively. Conclusion: The MSDs were prevalent in T2DM patients. So, proper care must be taken to prevent the complications of MSDs in T2DM patients. Good glycemic control is necessary to prevent the MSDs complications in T2DM.

Objectives: To assess the routine laboratory analytes, serum Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) and Uric acid in women with preeclampsia compared to normotensive healthy pregnant women and to determine the concentration of liver enzymes in women with preeclampsia. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out in the Department of Biochemistry of MVJ Medical College and Research Hospital. Thirty women with preeclampsia and thirty normotensive pregnant women admitted to the Department of OBG were recruited for the study. Blood samples were collected and analysed for serum TSH, LDH, uric acid and liver enzymes. Mann Whitney U test was employed to evaluate the significance of the differences obtained between the groups. Results: All three analytes were significantly higher in the case group when compared to controls. LDH and ALT (Alanine transaminase) showed significant difference even within the mild and severe preeclampsia groups. A moderate positive statistically significant correlation (r=0.348, p=0.006) was obtained between serum TSH and LDH. Serum TSH level showed a sensitivity of 66.64%, specificity of 73.33% and a positive predictive value of 71.4%. A De Ritis ratio of 1.82 was observed in preeclampsia. Conclusion: TSH, LDH and Uric acid showed significant elevation in preeclampsia. TSH and LDH levels showed a positive correlation. Hence, TSH, LDH and Uric acid could serve as markers of preeclampsia. A hypothyroid status in early pregnancy might be seen as a risk factor for preeclampsia. An elevated ALT and a high De Ritis might indicate an underlying liver and cardiac compromise in preeclampsia.

Hypothyroidism is a common endocrine disorder associated with increase in peripheral vascular resistance and decreased cardiac output. The increase in peripheral resistance can predispose to alteration in renal hemodynamics including reduced renal blood flow associated with diminution of glomerular filtration. The study was taken up to determine the influence of thyroid hormones on serum cystatin C, creatine kinase and creatinine level in hypothyroids and to determine the extent of renal involvement in these cases. Serum T3, T4, TSH, Total creatine kinase, Cystatin C and creatinine levels were estimated. Creatinine clearance was calculated using Cockcroft Gault formula and eGFR by using MDRD formula. The elevation of serum creatinine levels in hypothyroids in the study may be due to increase in total creatine kinase level either due to myopathy or due to decreased clearance by kidney. In the study there is paradoxical relation of elevation of serum creatinine and decrease in serum cystatin C in hypothyroidism.

Carpenter syndrome is a condition characterized by the premature fusion of certain skull bones (craniosynostosis), abnormalities of the fingers and toes, and other developmental problems. Craniosynostosis prevents the skull from growing normally, frequently giving the head a pointed appearance (acrocephaly). Mutated genes cause Carpenter syndrome, and they are passed from parent to child during fetal development. These genes cause the coronal (from ear to ear) and sagittal (top of head, front to back) sutures to fuse together prematurely (craniosynostosis). Treatment of Carpenter syndrome depends on the symptoms the individual has and the severity of the condition. Surgery may be needed if a life-threatening heart defect is present. Surgery may also be used to correct craniosynostosis by separating the abnormally fused skull bones to allow for growth of the head. Craniosynostosis prevents the skull from growing normally, frequently giving the head a pointed appearance (acrocephaly). In severely affected individuals, the abnormal fusion of the skull bones results in a deformity called a cloverleaf skull. Craniosynostosis can cause differences between the two sides of the head and face (craniofacial asymmetry). Early fusion of the skull bones can affect the development of the brain and lead to increased pressure within the skull (intracranial pressure). Premature fusion of the skull bones can cause several characteristic facial features in people with Carpenter syndrome. Distinctive facial features may include a flat nasal bridge, outside corners of the eyes that point downward (down-slanting palpebral fissures), low-set and abnormally shaped ears, underdeveloped upper and lower jaws, and abnormal eye shape. Some affected individuals also have dental abnormalities including small primary (baby) teeth. Vision problems also frequently occur.Abnormalities of the fingers and toes include fusion of the skin between two or more fingers or toes (cutaneous syndactyly), unusua

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a gram negative bacterium that naturally colonizes the gastric epithelium, which causes chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer disease. Recent studies have shown that it may interfere with many biological processes and influence the occurrence of many diseases outside the stomach. Many studies have proposed a link between H. pylori infection and atherosclerosis. Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP) has been considered as a strong marker to predict the risk of atherosclerosis. The present study was done to assess the correlation between AIP and other lipid indices with H. pylori infection. The study comprised of 50 biopsy proven H. pylori cases and 50 age-sex matched controls. Blood samples were collected in fasting state and analyzed for total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), HDL-cholesterol (HDL) and LDL-cholesterol and the lipid indices were calculated. Lipid indices like AIP, CRI 1 & 2 & AC were significantly higher in H. pylori infected cases compared to controls. Hence these lipid indices can be used for identifying individuals at higher risk of cardiovascular diseases in H. pylori infected patients.

The starch synthase 4 (SS4) is a key enzyme for initiation of starch granules and regulation of the starch granule number in chloroplasts of higher plants. These enzymes transfer glucosyl residue from ADPglucose to the non-reducing end of a preexisting glucan chain. The presence of a coiled-coil motive in the N-terminus of Arabidopsis SS4 has been involved in mediating some of the protein-protein interactions. Thus, it was also shown that AtSS4 directly interacts with the plastidial phosphorylase (AtPHS1). However, phosphorylase enzymes are widespread in animals, microorganism, and plants. So far, it was unclear if the observed protein-protein interaction is specific for plant origin phosphorylase enzymes. Therefore, we tested whether or not an animal type phosphorylase, the rabbit muscle phosphorylase a (Pho a), also interacts with AtSS4. Our results show that the protein-protein interaction of AtPHS1 and AtSS4 is specific and cannot archived by Pho a. Furthermore, also a functional interaction between AtSS4 and the Pho a was not detected.