Background: Oxidative stress induced by the production of reactive oxygen species may play a critical role in the stimulation of HIV replication and the development of immunodeficiency. This study was conducted as there are limited and inconclusive studies on the significance of a novel early marker of oxidative stress which can reflect the total antioxidant capacity in HIV patients,

Serum adenosine deaminase (ADA), 5'nucleotidase (5'NT) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were estimated in patients with acute infective hepatitis (AIH) along with the routine parameters of liver disease.Present study is done to evaluate these special parameters in patients with clinical history of AIH and to assess the utility of these parameters as diagnostic/ prognostic indices of liver function and to correlate special parameters with routine liver function tests (LFT). ADA, 5'NT and MDA along with routine LFT was estimated in 25 patients with AIH and 25 samples from healthy voluntary blood donars served as the control group. Routine LFT was estimated by standard clinical chemistry procedures on dade behring analyser and ADA, 5'NT and MDA were estimated by berthlot reaction, fiske and subbarao method and thiobarbituric acid method respectively.Statistical analysis showed that serum ADA, 5'NT and MDA were significantly higher in patients as compared with the controls. There was a significant positive correlation between ADA and total bilirubin and MDA and total bilirubin. Hence we can conclude that these tests would be more sensitive to diagnose the patients with AIH and that the raised bilirubin levels could be looked upon, as a protective mechanism which the liver has evolved in order to combat oxidative stress. KEY WORDSADA, 5' NT, MDA, AIH.

Alkaptonuria, a metabolic disorder characterized by a triad of homogentisic aciduria, arthritis and ochronosis is one of the first conditions in the charter of group of inborn errors of metabolism proposed to have Mendelian recessive inheritance. It is due to the deficiency of the enzyme homogentisic acid oxidase which catalyzes the conversion of homogentisic acid to maleylacetoacetic acid in the catabolism of tyrosine. Homogentisic acid thus accumulates in cells and body fluids and its oxidized polymers bind to collagen, leading to progressive deposition of grey to bluish black pigment resulting in degenerative changes in cartilage, intervertebral disc and other connective tissues, leading to arthritis which is the only disabling effect in an affected older individual. However the diagnosis can be made in neonates when blackish stain is noticed in an unwashed diaper. Alkaptonuria is treated symptomatically, surgical intervention necessitates in advanced stages, treatment with ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) and dietary restrictions of food containing phenylalanine and tyrosine have proved to be successful in alleviating the symptoms.

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Overt hypothyroidism(HO) defined as high Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) lev­els with low levels of free thyroxine (FT4) and / or free triiodothyronine (FT3). Hypothyroidism is associated with an increased risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Serum Homocysteine (Hcy) is a independent risk factor for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. Elevated plasma homocysteine levels have been reported in overt hypothyroidism. : To study levels of Hcy in relation to TSH, FT4 and FT3 levels in overt hypothyroid patients compared to control groups and correlation between Hcy and thyroid hormones. This study included 50 female overt hypothyroid cases with age group between 18-50 years and 50 healthy females controls with same age group. Serum homocysteine was estimated by Homocysteine Enzyme Assay in Cobas Integra 400 plus. TSH, FT4 & FT3 estimated by CLIA method using Beckman coulter Access 2. Parameters of cases and controls are compared using unpaired ‘t’ test and the association between parameters is assessed by using Pearson’s correlation. There is a significant increase in Serum Hcy levels 19.24 ± 7.15 μmol/L and TSH levels 30.91 ± 10.21 µIU/ml respectively (p value <0.0001) and significant decrease in FT4 and FT3 levels (p <0.0001). Hcy was positively correlated with TSH and negatively correlated with FT4 and FT3. Thus, from our study we can conclude that serum Hcy levels can be used as a marker, which points towards the possible risk factor for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases in Overt hypothyroid patients.