Ataxia is a common and important neurological finding in medical practice. Severe deficiency of Vitamin E can profoundly affect the central nervous system and can cause ataxia and peripheral neuropathy resembling Friedreich's ataxia. Vitamin E deficiency can occur with abetalipoproteinemia, cholestatic liver disease or fat malabsorption. Ataxia with isolated Vit E deficiency (AVED) is an Autosomal Recessive genetic disorder with a mutation in the alpha tocopherol transfer protein gene (TTPA). This condition responds to high dose of Vit E and is one of the important causes of treatable ataxia. We report a young patient with Ataxia with isolated Vit E deficiency (AVED) who responded partially to replacement of Vitamin E.
Background: Diabetes mellitus comprises a group of common metabolic disorders which share common phenotype of hyperglycaemia. Oxidative stress and inflammation are associated with poor glycaemic control and further pathogenesis and complications of diabetes mellitus. This study investigated for correlation of good and poor glycaemic control with these factors.Methods: Subjects selected for the study were divide into three groups, group I control (n=35), group II type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with good glycaemic control (n=35) and group III type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with poor glycaemic control (n=35). Patients complete blood count, random blood sugar, HbA1c, HsCRP and GGT were investigated. These parameters were statistically analysed for correlation between HbA1c with GGT and HbA1c with hsCRP.Results: The mean HbA1c in group I, II and III were found to be 5.17%, 6.54% and 9.23% respectively. It was statistically significant (p=0.01), as according to the criteria defined for study recruitment. Furthermore, mean GGT and hsCRP levels were evaluated; a statistically significant difference in mean GGT levels as well as hsCRP of three different groups were obtained with a p value of 0.02. Correlation between HbA1c and hsCRP was found to positive (R2=0.17, p=0.03). When GGT was compared with HbA1c across the groups, there was a statistically significant correlation (R2= 0.09, p=0.03).Conclusions: Present study established a positive correlation between HbA1c and GGT, HbA1c and hsCRP, indicating increasing oxidative stress and inflammation in patients with poor glycaemic control.
Background and Objectives:
Human carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is widely used as a tumor marker. Striking similarities have been reported between process of tumor genesis and atherosclerotic diseases. CEA levels have also been associated with development of atherosclerosis; there are not many studies on the use of CEA as a biomarker in prognostication of stroke. This study was aimed at evaluating the role of CEA as a marker of severity and as a prognostic marker in patients with acute ischemic stroke.
Materials and Methods:
A hospital-based case–control study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Bangalore. Sixty-eight individuals above 18 years of age were divided into two groups with 34 individuals each: Group A (ischemic stroke) and Group B (age- and sex-matched healthy controls). Exclusion criteria for Group A included diabetes mellitus, heavy smoking, and recent cerebrovascular or myocardial events. The blood sample was taken not later than 24 h of onset of stroke in Group A. CEA levels were estimated using double-sandwich ELISA method. CEA was compared in both the groups. Data were analyzed using statistical software SPSS version 21.
Results:
The mean standard error serum CEA levels in ischemic stroke patients (cases) and healthy controls were 5.67 ± 1.64 and 0.973 ± 0.21 ng/mL, respectively (P < 0.001). This was significant even after adjusting for confounders. The cases were further divided into three quartiles based on CEA levels. The mean duration of hospital stay, mortality and higher National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores, and poor improvement in grade of power were seen in cases under higher CEA quartile (>7 ng/ml) group. The difference was statistically significant.
Conclusion:
Patients with ischemic stroke have raised level of CEA. CEA is a promising novel biomarker for assessing the severity of acute ischemic stroke.
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