RESUMEN
Aim The objective of the study was to observe the association of villous atrophy with anti-tissue transglutaminase levels in the identified subjects that met our addressed inclusion criteria. Methods A case series study was conducted among 40 patients presenting with dyspepsia along with signs and symptoms of celiac disease at the Bolan Medical Complex Hospital, Quetta over a period of five months from 25/5/17 to 25/10/17. The patients were referred to undergo tissue transglutaminase antibody serum test. The positive ones underwent biopsies to assess pathological entities including villous atrophy, blunting (focal or total), crypts, Intestinal layers and the number of Intraepithelial lymphocytes. The results collected were analyzed by using IBM SPSS version 20 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Results There was a weak, negative correlation between tTGA and focal villous blunting (r = -0.345, p = 0.029) showing that high levels of tTGA are associated with lower risk of focal villous blunting. Correlation of tTGA and total villous blunting was a weak positive correlation (r = 0.282, p = 0.07) showing that high levels of tTGA are associated with increased risk of total villous blunting. There was a weak, negative correlation between tTGG and focal villous blunting (r = 0.409, p = 0.009) showing thathigh levels of tTGG are associated with a greater risk of focal villous blunting (p < 0.01) while tTGG and total villous blunting was a weak negative correlation (r = -0.330, p = 0.03) showing that high levels of tTGG are associated with lower risk of total villous blunting. Conclusion The study concludes by providing evidence of the absence of tissue transglutaminase antibodies in patients with histology-proven celiac disease. It implies that serology tests may be negative in some of the patients with typical chronic symptoms. Therefore, in such cases, histopathology may be conclusive in defining the status of celiac disease.
RESUMEN
Background Vitamin D is a vital micronutrient and plays a vital role in defining the bone mineral density of an individual. There are many factors that regulate the levels of vitamin D in our body. The deficiency in vitamin D leads to various complications, with the most important one weakening of bones. Adolescence defines the degree of bone mineral density, which reduces with the growing age in a gradual fashion. Methods The study was a cross-sectional study conducted in Zarghoon town, Quetta, Pakistan. A sample size of 142 was taken from urban and rural areas. Participants were adolescent girls falling in the age bracket of 13-18 years. The circulating level of 25-hydroxy vitamin D was assessed using the ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) technique. Data were analyzed with SPSS Version 20 (IBM Corp.). Results Overall, vitamin D deficiency was 32.4%, and 9.9 % of girls were found to be severely deficient, where the highest proportion belonged to urban samples. The prevalence rate of vitamin D insufficiency was 39.4%. The urban population had a higher prevalence of low levels of vitamin D. In urban respondents, 49.1% had an insufficient vitamin D level, 33.3% had a deficient vitamin D level, and 17.5% had a severely deficient vitamin D level. In rural respondents, 47.1% had normal vitamin D levels, 32.9% had insufficient vitamin D levels, 15.3% were deficient, and 4.7% were severely deficient. Conclusion It was concluded that vitamin D deficiency has a high prevalence among adolescent girls of school age. Additionally, it is more prevalent in urban areas than in rural areas.