The dendritic cell subsets myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) play an important role in HIV pathogenesis. While pDCs play a major role in the innate immune response, mDCs are important for induction of the antigen-specific immune response. We studied pDCs and mDCs at different stages of HIV infection, and found that there were decreased percentages of pDCs and mDCs in the advanced stage of the disease (p < 0.0001), and that slow progressors did not show as great a decrease as more healthy individuals. Persons who had acquired infection within the last year showed a normal mDC percentage but a lower pDC percentage (p = 0.0092) than healthy individuals (0.16%). pDC percentages in those with late-stage disease did not revert to normal after successful antiretroviral therapy (ART), whereas mDC percentages reverted to levels comparable to those seen in the healthy population (0.08% pre-ART to 0.18% post-ART; p < 0.0001). The pDC population had high levels of apoptotic markers in those with recent (p = 0.0025) and advanced (p = 0.0012) HIV infection, with no difference in their migratory capacity from controls and slow progressors, indicating that apoptosis is the major mechanism of declining pDC numbers in the circulation. mDCs showed increased levels of apoptotic markers (p = 0.0012), as well as migration (p = 0.03), in those with advanced-stage disease compared to controls, suggesting that both migration and apoptosis contribute to the decline seen in mDCs in the circulation. The irreversible loss of pDCs due to apoptosis seen early in HIV infection may be responsible for an impaired innate anti-HIV immune response. However, the presence of functionally-competent pDCs in slow progressors implies that the loss of pDCs early in infection may be critical to control of HIV infection through innate immune mechanisms, and may influence the progression of disease.
Congenital hypothyroidism is a more common pediatric endocrine disorder and also most common preventable cause of mental retardation. Early diagnosis by measuring Thyroid hormones thyroxine (T4), Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) levels and prompt treatment is crucial in improving intellectual outcome and for growth of the baby. There are several perinatal factors which influence cord blood TSH, T4 values which has to be considered while interpreting the results. Umbilical cord blood samples were collected for assessment of TSH and T4 in 100 newborns. The influence of birth weight and gestational age on T4 & TSH levels was assessed. On comparing mean TSH and T4 levels among preterm and term infants, it was found that there was statistically significant difference in the mean TSH levels between term and preterm infants. Difference in mean T4 levels among low birth weight and normal birth weight infants was statistically significant. To conclude Birth weight & gestational age have influence on Cord blood TSH and T4 levels and a caution in their interpretation should be considered.
Int. J. Adv. Res. 7(1), 868-875 874 suggesting the possible involvement of APOE in regulating bone turnover markers. More studies are required at molecular level to understand the impact of APOE alleles in osteoporosis.
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.
Vitamin D deficiency is associated with metabolic diseases like Type-2 diabetes mellitus, obesity and insulin resistance. Previous studies have evaluated the effects of vitamin D and parathyroid hormone (PTH) separately in isolation rather than studying the combined effects of both hormones together as a reflection of the status of the PTH-Vitamin D axis. Low vitamin D coupled with increased PTH may be a better indicator, which is the novelty of the present study. A total of 151 Type 2 diabetic subjects attending the outpatient clinics of endocrinology department of MMC&RI, Mysore, were chosen for the study. Vitamin D, PTH, calcitonin and Insulin levels were analysed using chemiluminescence Immuno assay techniques. Comparison was made between normal (vitamin D >20ng/ml) and vitamin D deficient (vitamin D <20ng/ml) groups. Significant increase in FBS, HbA1c, insulin levels and HOMA-IR value was seen in vitamin D deficient group (p<0.05). Vitamin D was negatively correlated with PTH, FBS, PPBS and HbA1c at p<0.01. Significant vitamin D deficiency and increased PTH levels are seen in Type 2 diabetic subjects. Insulin resistance was more common among diabetic subjects having both vitamin D deficiency and elevated PTH when compared to those diabetics with isolated vitamin D or elevated PTH.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality and is therefore a major public health concern. Acute exacerbations that compromise quality of life, accelerate a decline in respiratory functions, and increase cardiovascular risk during the course of COPD. Few studies have investigated the factors leading to exacerbations. Magnesium may have a role in maintaining disease stability in COPD patients. And serum uric acid has been proposed as a marker for impaired oxidative metabolism & systemic inflammation. A few data exist on the significance of serum uric acid& magnesium in patients with AECOPD. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the possible role of serum uric acid& magnesium as a biomarker for the prediction of outcome of patients with AECOPD. Study population was taken from patients admitted to K.R Hospital& PK TB Hospital MMCRI, Mysore with acute exerbation of COPD aged between 18-60years of either sex. 4ml of fasting venous sample was collected from patients admitted with acute exacerbation of COPD serum was analyzed immediately for Uric acid and Magnesium. 35% of patient had hypomagnesaemia where as 55% of study subjects where normomagnesemic with mean SD of 1.7+0.8. The mean standard deviation of uric acid levels was 7.2+ 2.1. Present study showed hypomagnesaemia and hyperuricemia with increase in duration of disease, stage of the disease and duration of hospital stay. Hence the present study helps in assessing the factors responsible for frequent exacerbations and durations of stay in hospital associated in COPD patients.
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