Normal Healthy Controls Research Articles

IL-38 gene expression: A new player in Graves’ ophthalmopathy patients in Iraq

Introduction and Aim: Thyroid eye illness is widely recognized as one of the most significant concerns confronting the medical profession today. The thyroid-related ophthalmopathy also known as Graves’ ophthalmopathy is an autoimmune disorder that cannot be reversed and hence, research pertaining to the identification of novel markers that can explain both the prognosis and the recovery of the condition is needed. In this study, we aimed to investigate the IL-38 gene expression levels among Graves’ ophthalmopathy patients in Iraq. Methodology: The TSH levels were measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The level of IL-38 gene expression in patient blood samples and normal healthy controls was measured qualitatively using RT-PCR. Results: Patients who were diagnosed with Graves’ ophthalmopathy were observed to have abnormally low levels of thyrotropin (TSH) in their serum. In these patients, the interleukin IL-38 gene expression was observed to be significantly greater compared to healthy controls (P<0.01), the tendency of which continued even after one year of therapy with anti-thyroid drugs. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that the IL-38 transcript is important in the autoimmune response. The identification of IL-38 expression levels could contribute in the early clinical diagnosis and treatment of thyroid eye disease

EEG Entropy in REM Sleep as a Physiologic Biomarker in Early Clinical Stages of Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with EEG changes across the sleep-wake cycle. As the brain is a non-linear system, non-linear EEG features across behavioral states may provide an informative physiologic biomarker of AD. Multiscale fluctuation dispersion entropy (MFDE) provides a sensitive non-linear measure of EEG information content across a range of biologically relevant time-scales. To evaluate MFDE in awake and sleep EEGs as a potential biomarker for AD. We analyzed overnight scalp EEGs from 35 cognitively normal healthy controls, 23 participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 19 participants with mild dementia due to AD. We examined measures of entropy in wake and sleep states, including a slow-to-fast-activity ratio of entropy (SFAR-entropy). We compared SFAR-entropy to linear EEG measures including a slow-to-fast-activity ratio of power spectral density (SFAR-PSD) and relative alpha power, as well as to cognitive function. SFAR-entropy differentiated dementia from MCI and controls. This effect was greatest in REM sleep, a state associated with high cholinergic activity. Differentiation was evident in the whole brain EEG and was most prominent in temporal and occipital regions. Five minutes of REM sleep was sufficient to distinguish dementia from MCI and controls. Higher SFAR-entropy during REM sleep was associated with worse performance on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Classifiers based on REM sleep SFAR-entropy distinguished dementia from MCI and controls with high accuracy, and outperformed classifiers based on SFAR-PSD and relative alpha power. SFAR-entropy measured in REM sleep robustly discriminates dementia in AD from MCI and healthy controls.

Dissecting the immune suppressive human prostate tumor microenvironment via integrated single-cell and spatial transcriptomic analyses

The treatment of low-risk primary prostate cancer entails active surveillance only, while high-risk disease requires multimodal treatment including surgery, radiation therapy, and hormonal therapy. Recurrence and development of metastatic disease remains a clinical problem, without a clear understanding of what drives immune escape and tumor progression. Here, we comprehensively describe the tumor microenvironment of localized prostate cancer in comparison with adjacent normal samples and healthy controls. Single-cell RNA sequencing and high-resolution spatial transcriptomic analyses reveal tumor context dependent changes in gene expression. Our data indicate that an immune suppressive tumor microenvironment associates with suppressive myeloid populations and exhausted T-cells, in addition to high stromal angiogenic activity. We infer cell-to-cell relationships from high throughput ligand-receptor interaction measurements within undissociated tissue sections. Our work thus provides a highly detailed and comprehensive resource of the prostate tumor microenvironment as well as tumor-stromal cell interactions.

Immunophenotyping of Gastritis, Gastric Ulcer and Gastric Cancer using a Cluster of Differentiation (CD) Antibody Microarray

One of the factors that contribute to the development of gastric cancer is the host immune response. Extensive immunophenotype of gastric cancer can be identified by using antibody microarray technique that profiles more than 100 cluster of differentiation (CD) antigens in parallel. In this study, we used DotScanTM antibody microarray to profile CD antigen expression in patients with distinct digestive diseases for surface antigen disease-signatures. Patients’ blood samples with gastric disorders and healthy controls were taken and processed for leukocytes isolation using Histopaque density gradient centrifugation. Leukocytes were captured onto DotScanTM slides and cell binding densities were analyzed using DotReaderTM. Different groups of gastric diseases were found to be characterized by differentially expressed distinct CD antigens. Compared to normal healthy controls, 17, two and four highly expressed CD antigens were identified in gastritis, gastric ulcer and gastric cancer patients, respectively. The 17 CD antigens that show differential expression in gastritis were CD15, CD16, CD20, CD23, CD24, CD25, CD28, CD34, CD37, CD77, CD102, CD103, CD122, CD128, CD10, CD183, and CD184. High expression of CD64 and CD69 were found in gastric ulcer, whereas CD52, CD126, CD135, and CD121a were highly expressed in gastric cancer. CD antigens involve in T-cell functions had reduced expression in gastric cancer, while proinflammatory cytokines shows increased expression. These results demonstrate specific immunophenotype of CD antigens in patients with various gastric diseases and identification of differential expressed surface antigens may have clinical significance for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

Evaluation of Serum Paraoxonase and Lipid Profile in Patients with Chronic Renal Failure Pre and post Hemodialysis

Chronic Renal Failure (CRF) is the progressive and irreversible loss of normal functioning of kidneys. this is associated with increased levels of some biochemical parameters and decreased others. This study aims to evaluate the value of serum paraoxonase-1 (PON1) activity as biochemical marker for patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) before and after hemodialysis (HD).
 The samples of this study consists of 100 patients (55 males, 45 females) and 100 apparently healthy individuals (57 males, 43 females) from 20 - 70 years old of age. All patients included in this study were those who were receiving hemodialysis therapy in the dialysis unit in Kirkuk general Hospital from the period between February 2013 and May 2014. Serum PON1, BU, Cr, TC, TG, HDL, LDL levels were measured by spectrophotometric methods.Paraoxonase1 activity level was significantly lower in cases of CRF patients than in normal healthy control in pre hemodialysis (HD). It's level was significantly increased in post HD (P> 0.05). The blood urea (BU), serum creatinine (Cr), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) were significantly higher than normal healthy control in pre HD (P˂ 0.05), In post HD their levels were significantly decreased as compared to the pre HD (P˂ 0.05) but still lower than normal control, the serum high density lipoprotein (HDL) of CRF patients was significantly lower than normal controls (P˂ 0.05) in pre HD and was significantly increased in post HD as compared to pre HD but remained lower than normal healthy control. Conclusion: PON1 activity was significantly decreased in CRF patients before HD and significantly increased after HD but remained lower than controls. PON1 was significantly and negatively correlated with the age, BMI, duration of disease, BU, Cr, TC, TG, LDL, and VLDL. This study demonstrates that there is an increased risk of cardiovascular complications in CRF patients undergoing hemodialysis by increasing TC, TG, LDL, VLDL and decreasing HDL.

Diagnosis and Stratification of COVID-19 Infections Using Differential Plasma Levels of D-Dimer: A Two-Center Study from Saudi Arabia

Background: D-dimer, generated upon the degradation of fibrin, is extensively used to detect thrombosis in various diseases. It is also explored as a marker for thrombosis in cases with COVID-19 disease. Few studies have confirmed its utility as a marker for assessing disease severity. Objectives: The current research was undertaken to determine the role of D-dimer in patients with COVID-19 and to investigate any association with the progression and severity of the disease in the Saudi population. Methods: Clinical indices in confirmed COVID-19 patients were collected from tertiary care hospitals in Aljouf and Qassim regions. The plasma D-dimer levels were quantified directly in the samples collected from COVID-19 patients (n = 148) using an immunofluorescence assay, and the data were presented in Fibrinogen Equivalent Units (mg/L). The collected data of D-dimer were analyzed based on COVID-19 severity, age, and the gender of patients. Results: The findings show that the plasma D-dimer concentrations were significantly (p = 0.0027) elevated in COVID-19 cases (n = 148), compared to in the normal healthy uninfected controls (n = 309). Moreover, the D-dimer levels were analyzed according to the severity of the disease in the patients. The data revealed that D-dimer concentrations were significantly increased in patients with mild infection to moderate disease, and the levels were the highest in patients with severe COVID-19 disease (p < 0.05). Our analysis demonstrates that the D-dimer levels have no association with the age or gender of COVID-19 patients (p > 0.05) in the study population. Conclusions: D-dimer can serve as a biomarker not only for the detection of COVID-19 infection, but also for determining the severity of infection of COVID-19 disease.

Study of serum catalase in depression at Pravara institute of medical sciences

Depression is caused as a multifactorial psychiatric disorder and the reasons associated are genes, environmental, psychological, and biological factors. There are several molecular changes in the pathogenesis of depression. Antioxidants in the body like catalase was found to be deranged in patients suffering from depression. The present observational cases-control study was carried out in the Physiology Department of Rural Medical College Loni in collaboration with Psychiatry department. Total 183 subjects recruited for study. Out of total subjects 83 patients were diagnosed with depression and 100 were normal individuals without any psychiatric disorder. A non-probabilistic international sampling method was adopted for the selection of subjects. Significant decrease in serum catalase was observed in patient suffering from depression as compared to normal healthy individuals (p value < 0.05).The present study finds decreased serum catalase levels in patient suffering from depression as compared to the normal healthy controls.

Improved treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis with Clotrimazole plus probiotic Lacidophilin Vaginal Capsules: A prospective, real-world study

Clotrimazole has long been used to treat vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), yet the antibiotic resistance, adverse effects and recurrences still bring about a great challenge for the clinicians. To explore the effect of probiotic Lacidophilin Vaginal Capsules plus Clotrimazole Vaginal Tablets (500mg) in the treatment of uncomplicated VVC, a self-controlled real-world study was conducted. Twenty-seven women with a normal vaginal flora and 15 women with uncomplicated VVC were recruited. The patients were treated with the single dose of Clotrimazole Vaginal Tablets (500mg) supplemented with 2 Lacidophilin Vaginal Capsules for the following 7 days. The patients were prospectively examined 4 times and the time points were at m0 (the first visit), m1 (8-10 days after the first visit), m2 (30 days after the second visit) and m3 (30 days after the third visit). However, women in the healthy normal control group were examined just once at the first visit. The obtained vaginal secretions were examined by high-throughput sequencing. The mean age in healthy control group and case group was 28.63 ± 5.40y and 27.67 ± 3.33y, respectively. Finally, 46.67% (7/15) of patients were cured at the second visit, 61.54% (8/13) were cured at the third visit and eventually 72.73% (8/11) were cured. A total of 81 samples were sequenced, generating 1668 operation taxonomy units among all the samples. The bacterial composition of women in the healthy control group was exceedingly abundant and dominated by Lactobacillus, especially by Lactobacillus. crispatus, and followed by Lactobacillus. iners, Lactobacillus. jensenii and Gardneralla. On the contrary, the bacterial composition of women with VVC was relatively few and dominated by Lactobacillus. iners. During the process of treatment, the bacterial abundance of VVC patients was increased gradually. At the final visit, the abundance of vaginal flora was augmented further with the dominant bacteria being Lactobacillus. crispatus, followed by Lactobacillus. iners. Clotrimazole Vaginal Tablets plus probiotic Lacidophilin Vaginal Capsules could improve the effect in treating uncomplicated VVC. This improved effect was achieved perhaps through improving the composition of vaginal flora and restoring vaginal microecology.

Vitiligo: Correlation with Cytokine Profiles and its Role in Novel Therapeutic Strategies: A Case-Control Study.

The inflammatory and immune factors play a key role in the pathogenesis of vitiligo, and there are very few studies that have investigated the levels of major cytokines produced by T helper (Th) 1, Th2, and Th17 cells. This can enable better understanding of the, pathogenesis, and severity of vitiligo. To evaluate the serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, IL-1β, interferon (IFN)-γ, and IL-10 in patients with vitiligo and to correlate them with the disease severity and activity and to compare them with normal healthy controls. A case-control study was conducted with 100 study participants: 50 cases clinically diagnosed as vitiligo and 50 controls. All patients underwent complete evaluation with detailed demographic parameters, history, and physical examination. The severity of the disease was assessed clinically by Vitiligo Area Scoring Index (VASI) and Vitiligo Disease Activity Score (VIDA). Blood investigations performed were IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, IFN-γ, and IL-10. We observed significantly higher levels of serum IFN-γ levels in the patient group when compared with those of the normal controls (P = 0.002) and showed a positive correlation with the activity and severity of the disease with a significant VASI (P = 0.05) and VIDA score (P = < 0.001). The mean serum IL-10 (p < 0.001) in patients with vitiligo was significantly lower than that in the control group. There was no significant difference in the serum level of TNF-α level (P = 0.347), IL-6 (P = 0.365), and IL-1β (P = 0.362) between vitiligo and healthy controls. This study proved that high serum level of IFN-γ may be a risk factor for vitiligo progression and significantly low levels of IL-10, which has an anti-inflammatory role, suggesting that they could be used as a marker for assessing vitiligo activity and may open the way for further therapeutic approaches for vitiligo.

Highly Sensitive Radioactivity-Based DNA 3'-Phosphatase Activity Assay for Polynucleotide Kinase 3'-Phosphatase.

Endogenous and exogenous genotoxic agents can generate various types of non-ligatable DNA ends at the site of strand break in the mammalian genome. If not repaired, such lesions will impede transcription and replication and can lead to various cellular pathologies. Among various "dirty" DNA ends, 3'-phosphate is one of the most abundant lesions generated in the mammalian cells. Polynucleotide kinase 3'-phosphatase (PNKP) is the major DNA end-processing enzyme for resolving 3'-phosphate termini in the mammalian cells, and thus, it is involved in DNA base excision repair (BER), single-strand break repair, and classical nonhomologous end joining (C-NHEJ)-mediated DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair. The 3'-OH ends generated following PNKP-mediated processing of 3'-P are utilized by a DNA polymerase to fill in the gap, and subsequently, the nick is sealed by a DNA ligase to complete the repair process. Here we describe two novel assay systems to detect phosphate release by PNKP's 3'-phosphatase activity and PNKP-mediated in vitro single-strand break repair with minimal repair components (PNKP, DNA polymerase, and DNA ligase) using either purified proteins or cell-free nuclear extracts from mammalian cells/tissues. These assays are highly reproducible and sensitive, and the researchers would be able to detect any significant difference in PNKP's 3'-phosphatase activity as well as PNKP-mediated single-strand break repair activity in diseased mammalian cells/tissues vs normal healthy controls.

S-07-5: ASPROSIN INDUCES VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL- TO-MESENCHYMAL TRANSITION IN DIABETIC LOWER EXTREMITY PERIPHERAL ARTERY DISEASE

Objective: Altered adipokine secretion in dysfunctional adipose tissue facilitates the development of atherosclerotic diseases including lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD). Asprosin is a recently identified adipokine and displays potent regulatory role in metabolism, but the relationship between asprosin and lower extremity PAD remains uninvestigated. In this study, we investigated the effect of asprosin accounting for the lower extremity vascular injury in diabetic patients based on the metabolic profiles of PAD. Design and method: 33 type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients (DM), 51 T2DM patients with PAD (DM+PAD) and 30 healthy normal control (NC) volunteers were recruited and the blood samples were collected for detecting the circulatory asprosin level and metabolomic screening. RNA sequencing was performed using the aorta tissues from the type 2 diabetic db/db mice and its control db/m mice. Moreover, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with asprosin to determine its impact on the endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT). Results: The circulating levels of asprosin in DM+PAD group were significantly higher than that of NC group and the DM group. Circulating asprosin level was remarkably negatively correlated with ankle-brachial index (ABI), even after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index (BMI) and other traditional risk factors of PAD (P = 0.049). Logistic regression analysis revealed that asprosin is an independent risk factor for PAD (OR:3.944, 95%CI:1.656 − 9.393, P = 0.002) and receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curve determined a cut-off value at 188.70 ng/ml with a good sensitivity (74.5%) and specificity (74.6%) of asprosin to distinguish PAD (Area under curve:0.788, 95%CI:0.694 − 0.863, P &lt; 0.001). Data from metabolomics displayed a typical characteristics of de novo amino acid synthesis in collagen protein production by myofibroblasts in which TGF-beta signaling pathway might plays a critical role in patients with PAD. In addition, activation of TGF-beta signaling pathway also appeared in the aortic tissue of db/db mice, suggesting a causal relationship between TGF-beta signaling pathway and artery injury. Asprosin directly induces EndMT in HUVECs in a TGF-beta-dependent manner as TGF-beta signaling pathway inhibitor SB431542 erased the promotional effect of asprosin on EndMT. Conclusions: Elevated circulatory asprosin level is an independent risk factor of lower extremity PAD and might serve as a diagnostic marker. Mechanistically, asprosin directly induces EndMT that participates in vascular injury via activation of TGF-beta signaling pathway.

Assessment of Haptoglobin 2-2 Genotype in Type 2 Diabetes and Cardiovascular Patients in North Indian Population: A Case-control Study

Introduction: Haptoglobin (Hp), an acute phase protein, is a plasma inflammatory marker. It is important in both infectious and non infectious illnesses. When intravascular haemolysis occurs, the dead red blood cells are discharged into the circulation and link to Hp to form the haemoglobin (Hb)-haptoglobin (Hb-Hp) complex that is recognised by the macrophage scavenger receptor CD163. The Hp1 and Hp2 are its two alleles. The Hp2 is formed by a partial duplication of the Hp1 gene. The Hp1 has five exons, but Hp2 has seven exons owing to the duplication of Hp1 third and fourth exon. There are three genotypes of Hp: Hp1-1, Hp2-1, and Hp2-2. The encoded products of genotypes are attached to haemoglobin with varying degrees of affinity: Hp1-1 has the most affinity, Hp2-1 has medium affinity, and Hp2-2 has the lowest affinity. Hp allelic and genotypic variation differs amongst populations and different geographic regions of the world. Aim: To study the haptoglobin 2-2 genotype in type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular patients in north Indian population. Materials and Methods: It was a case-control study and a total of 200 participants were recruited randomly including 50 participants of type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM), 50 participants of Cardiovascular Disorders (CVD), 50 participants with Cardiovascular Disorders With type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (CVDWDM) and 50 normal healthy controls from Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Hospital and clinics and Aashirwad laboratory of Jalandhar, Punjab, India in February 2021 to January 2022. Anthropometric variables were determined by using standard methods and biochemical parameters were measured by commercial available kits. Allele specific Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) or Amplification Refractory Mutation System (ARMS) PCR was used to detect Hp genotypes. Data were represented as mean±Standard Deviation and the statistical difference i.e. p&lt;0.05 between all parameters was determined by using the Mann-Whitney U test. Results: Anthropometric parameters i.e. Body Mass Index (BMI) was found to be statistically significant in CVDWDM as compared to CVD, N and T2DM i.e. p=0.023, p=0.01 and p=0.014. Waist Circumference (WC) was found to be statistically significant in CVDWDM as compared to CVD, N and T2DM i.e. p=0.02, p=0.013 and p=0.012 and Hip Circumference (HC) was found to be statistically significant in CVDWDM as compared to CVD, N and T2DM i.e. p=0.02, p=0.017 and p=0.014. However, Apolipoprotein A1 mean value was found to be higher and statistically significant i.e. p=0.03 in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) as compared to healthy participants. Triglycerides mean value was increased in T2DM as compared to CVD, CVD as compared to N and CVDWDM as compared to healthy controls (p-value=0.012,0.04,0.015, respectively). The findings had shown that a 349 bp band was detected in patients with T2DM, CVD and CVDWDM, implying that the Hp2-2 genotypes were observed but not in healthy controls. Conclusion: The study finds that people with DM, CVD, or CVDWDM all have a 349bp band. It means that the genotypes of the Hp2-2 allele were found in patients of diabetes, CVD and diabetics with CVD but not in the healthy individuals.

Evaluation of Serum Cortisol Levels in Patients with Hypothyroidism at a Tertiary Care Hospital, Telangana, India: A Case-control Study

Introduction: Serum Cortisol is a glucocorticoid hormone released from the zona fasciculata layer of the adrenal cortex, which plays an important role in regulation of blood pressure and metabolism. Hypothyroidism causes elevated cortisol levels due to both decreased clearance and negative feedback of cortisol on the hypothalamic pituitary-adrenal axis. Aim: To investigate the correlation of serum cortisol and with Triiodothyronine (T3), Thyroxine (T4), Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) and serum cortisol levels in patients with hypothyroidism. Materials and Methods: Present case-control study was carried out in the Department of Biochemistry, Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, Secunderabad, Telanagana, India, July 2022 to August 2022. A total of 60 patients with hypothyroidism (cases) aged between 35-60 years, and 60 controls were selected from Gandhi Medical College and Hospital. Samples were analysed in Siemens Advia centaur XPT. T3, T4, TSH and cortisol levels were estimated by “CLIA” method. Data were statistically analysed using Karl Pearson’s correlation test. Results: In present study, there were five males and 55 females in control group, 23 males and 37 females were in case group. The mean age in cases was 39.39±6.44 years and in control group was 39.38±10.97 years. The mean T3 in subjects cases was 10.74±5.34 ng/mL, as compared to 8.93±2.78 ng/mL, in controls. The mean TSH level in cases was 13.38±20.43 mIU/L, as compared to 3.47±4.20 mIU/L, in controls. The mean cortisol level in cases was 64.88.44±16.25 µg/dL, as compared to 9.55±5.59 µg/dL, in controls. There was significant positive correlation between serum cortisol level and T3 (r=0.12, p-value 0.02), T4 (r=0.12, p-value 0.02), and TSH Levels ( r= 0.31, p-value 0.01) in case group. Conclusion: The results of present study showed that serum levels of cortisol were significantly increased in hypothyroidism patients as compared to normal healthy controls.

Retinal and Choroidal Alterations in Migraine Patients Compared to Normal Healthy Controls

Retinal and Choroidal Alterations in Migraine Patients Compared to Normal Healthy Controls

Association between Serum Uric Acid Levels and Primary Open-angle Glaucoma: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: There is an intricate association between serum Uric Acid (UA) levels and Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG). UA levels in the blood are known to be a good indicator of antioxidant function, and a decrease in UA plays a key role in the pathogenesis of POAG. However, the association of serum UA and Uric Acid Creatinine Ratio (UACR) in POAG cases in the Indian population remains unexplored. Aim: To investigate the association of serum UA levels and serum UACR with POAG. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among patients who attended the Outpatient Department (OPD) of Opthalmology at Maharajah’s Institute of Medical Sciences, Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh, India. The duration of the study was one year and six months, from January 15, 2021 to July 15, 2022. The study included 200 recently diagnosed patients with POAG, who were divided into three groups based on Intraocular Pressure (IOP): Group 1 (mild) with an IOP of 21-30 mmHg, group 2 (moderate) with an IOP of 31-50 mmHg, and group 3 (severe) with an IOP greater than 51 mmHg. Age and gender-matched 199 healthy subjects were included as the control group. Blood samples were collected from the study subjects after obtaining informed consent and were tested for serum UA (using the modified Trinder method) and serum creatinine (using Jaffe’s method) in a semiautomatic analyser (Erba chem 7). The data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0 software and MS Excel 2007. Results: The mean age of the study participants of all three groups was found to be 51.19±5.06 years with 46.7% male and 53.3% female subjects. The serum UA levels were 5.55±0.74 mg/dL in the mild POAG group, 4.1±0.5 mg/dL in the moderate POAG group, and 2.67±0.6 mg/dL in the severe POAG group (p-value &lt;0.001). The present study also found that among the three study groups of POAG, UA levels were the lowest in the severe POAG group, followed by the moderate POAG group, and then the mild POAG group. This pattern was observed in both the males and females population. Conclusion: The present study found that serum UA levels were decreased in POAG patients compared to the normal healthy control group. Furthermore, the study revealed a significant negative association between serum UA levels and serum UACR levels with the severity of POAG.

Post-COVID-19 impacts on male sexual and reproductive functions

Background: Assessment of the male sexual and reproductive health status with and without severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2infected COVID19 disease could create awareness about the lateral impact of those patients recovered from COVID19 infection. Aim and Objectives: Therefore, the main focus of the current study was to determine the postCOVID19 infection on male sexual and reproductive functions. Materials and Methods: A crosssectional study by involving two groups of the study individuals namely: Group 1: age and sexmatched normal healthy control human individuals. Group 2: postCOVIDtreated patients, at least 912 months after treatment success. The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), a questionnaire developed by Rosen et al. to question on sexual functions has been used in the present study. Results: Based on analysis of the 15point International Index of Erectile Function analysis, it was found that overall there was a statistically significant difference in (P &lt; 0.05) in sexual behaviors in both the groups. It was also found that marital status, place of living, and vaccination status are statistically significant associated with sexual behaviors, whereas occupation, religion, and education are statistically insignificant. Conclusion: The current study showed significant differences after the COVID19 infection and treatment in male fertility from a single tertiary care hospitalbased study in Western Uttar Pradesh. However, involving a large population from different parts of the country could pave the way to show what needs to be done by the scientific and clinical community to tackle our limited understanding of the disease. Keywords: Erectile dysfunction, International Index of Erectile Function, male sexual and reproductive functions, postCOVID19.

Cerebrovascular Function in Migraine Patients during, their Interictal Period, Compared to Normal Healthy Controls

Background: Migraine is a debilitating neurovascular disorder which primarily impacts the working age population. The aim of the study was to determine if transient hemodynamic alterations during each migraine attack translates into cerebrovascular alterations, during migraineurs interictal period. A secondary hypothesis was to determine if there was any relationship between vascular hemodynamics and either the severity or frequency of migraine attacks.Methods: We recruited 29 volunteers: 13 migraineurs (mean age 28±8.8 years; 12 female and 1 male) and 16 age-matched controls (mean age 26.6±6.9; 9 female and 7 male). Volunteers were classified as migraine sufferer or not (control group). All individuals underwent a detailed ophthalmic examination by a qualified optometrist and a Migraine Disability Assessment. Cerebral blood velocity measurements for the Middle Cerebral Artery (MCA) and Vertebral Artery (VA) were obtained using Colour Doppler Imaging using the Hitachi Aloka Noblus ultrasound system. The investigators were blind to the migraine diagnosis.Results: During their interictal period migraineurs appear to have no significant difference in any hemodynamic parameter, for either their MCA and VA, when compared to normal healthy controls. Neither was a significant relationship between Migraine Disability Assessment Scores and any vascular parameter reported.Conclusion: This study found nil cerebrovascular alterations which could be measured in migraineurs compared to normal healthy controls, during their interictal period.

Study of Micro Albuminuria and HbA1c in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients in Shendi Town, Sudan: Case Control Based Study

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a systemic metabolic disorder that can lead to diabetic nephropathy (DN), a leading cause of end-stage renal disease around the world.&#x0D; Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare microalbuminuria and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in patients with diabetes mellitus to healthy normal controls in Shendi, Sudan.&#x0D; Materials and Methods: This hospital-based case-control study was carried out in Shendi, Sudan. Between June and October of 2021 This study included 50 participants, 30 of whom had clinically confirmed diabetes as cases and 20 who appeared to be healthy as controls. In this study, blood and random urine samples were collected from each case and control, and the levels of microalbuminuria and hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) were estimated using an A25 chemistry analyzer and an Ichroma immuno-analyzer, respectively. The data was collected with a structured questionnaire and analyzed with SPSS version 20.&#x0D; Results: In our study, patients had higher mean microalbuminuria than controls (26.438.2 vs 11.4 9.2 mg/l, P value = 0.000). This study found a significant increase in mean hemoglobin A1C levels in the case group compared to the control group (7.382.2 vs5.7 0.76% P value = 0.001). Our findings also revealed that there was no relationship between microalbuminuria and disease duration.&#x0D; Conclusions: Microalbuminuria levels were higher when compared to controls. In comparison to the control group, HbA1c levels were higher. Microalbuminuria and patient age had a weak positive correlation in our study group.

Association of high blood pressure with raised homocysteine level among urban population- A case control study

Abstract Introduction: Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Raised homocysteine level is also an important independent risk factor for CVD. This study sought to determine whether there is any relationship between plasma homocysteine and blood pressure levels. Method: A case control study was conducted among 200 hypertensive cases and 200 normal healthy control groups. Cases were from the Department of medicine and hypertensive clinics at GMC, Baramati and similar controls were selected from patients’ neighborhood. Detailed clinical assessment as well as plasma homocysteine level were assessed and compared in both. Results: Hypertensive cases had higher mean homocysteine level (21.3 ± 4.6 μmol/L) from controls (13.0 ± 6.0 μmol/L), p&lt;0.001. Homocysteine is positively correlated with both systolic and diastolic blood pressure among both hypertensive patients and healthy controls. In both hypertensive subjects and healthy control, homocysteine level has weak positive correlation with DBP and moderate to strong positive correlation with SBP. The hypertensive cases had very high chance (OR=52.4) of developing hyperhomocysteinemia (&gt;15 μmol/L), p&lt;0.001. Conclusion: This study showed higher mean plasma homocysteine levels in hypertensive subjects than controls. Serum homocysteine concentrations were positively associated with both systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels in a general adult population.

Variability in International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis-Scientific and Standardization Committee endorsed Bleeding Assessment Tool (ISTH-BAT) score with normal aging in healthy females: contributory factors and clinical significance

BackgroundBleeding assessment tools are key screening tests used in the evaluation of patients with suspected inherited bleeding disorders. The International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis-Scientific and Standardization Committee endorsed Bleeding Assessment Tool (ISTH-BAT) has differing reference ranges for adult males (0-3), adult females (0-5), and children (0-2), reflecting differing bleeding symptoms and exposure to hemostatic challenges in these healthy population subgroups. Age is known to markedly impact bleeding score in individuals with von Willebrand disease. However, the influence of age on bleeding score in healthy adult controls is poorly understood. ObjectivesWe aimed to assess variability in ISTH-BAT score with age among healthy control females. MethodsWe used the legacy “Merging Project” dataset of normal healthy controls upon which current ISTH-BAT normal ranges are based. We included women, totaling 646 individuals. The normal range (middle 95th percentile) of total ISTH-BAT and grouped subdomain scores between age quartiles was assessed. ResultsThe normal range of ISTH-BAT scores increased with age, ranging from 0 to 4 in the youngest quartile (age range, 18-30) to 0 to 6 in the oldest (age range, 52-88). This increased variability with aging was related both to high menorrhagia domain scores in older women and an increase in postprocedural bleeding with accumulated exposure to hemostatic challenges. ConclusionsCumulatively, our data highlight that normal aging leads to increased variability in bleeding scores in healthy adult females. Further refinement of the ISTH-BAT with age-adjusted reference ranges may improve the sensitivity and specificity of the tool among females.