Activities of serum Ada, GGT and alp in carcinoma breast-a case control study for diagnostic and prognostic significance.

AIM: To assess the clinical utility of Serum adenosine deaminase, gamma glutamyl transferase and alkaline phosphatase in carcinoma breast patients for diagnostic and prognostic purpose. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty clinically and histopathologically confirmed female patients of the age group of 30-65 years served as cases and 30 normal healthy females in the same age group served as controls. The parameters were estimated by standard biochemical methods. RESULTS: The activities of serum ADA, GGT and ALP were significantly increased in carcinoma breast patients when compared to controls. When all the 4 stages of carcinoma breast were compared with controls ADA and GGT were increased significantly. Whereas ALP showed a significant increase only in stage II, III and IV. Interstage comparison yielded a steady and progressive increase in the activities of these enzymes from stage I-IV. CONCLUSION: The study concludes that enzyme markers like serum ADA and GGT could be sensitive, specific and cost effective biomarkers for diagnosing carcinoma breast and for monitoring its progression. Serum ALP level can be used as important biomarker for detecting metastasis and for differentiation of carcinoma breast with and without metastasis.

An Interesting Case of Familial Homozygous Hypercholesterolemia-A Brief Review.

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a form of primary hyperlipoproteinemia, is an autosomal co-dominant disorder, characterized by an increase in serum LDL cholesterol concentrations, presence of xanthomas and premature atherosclerosis. Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia is of rare occurence in which approximately 1 in 1 million persons in the general population are affected. Here we report an interesting case of familial homozygous hypercholesterolemia for its classical presentation and rarity.

Oxidative stress and enzymatic antioxidant status in rheumatoid arthritis: a case control study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic multisystem disease of unknown cause. Formation of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxides as a result of disease activity may play an important role. Oxidative stress and decreased antioxidant status are the hallmarks in patients of RA as observed in recent years. The objectives of the study was to determine oxidative stress by measuring malondialdehyde and enzymatic antioxidant status by estimating superoxide dismutase and glutathione reductase in patients of RA and then comparing with healthy individuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study comprises of 40 RA cases who were clinically diagnosed and confirmed by laboratory tests, attending KLE Society's Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital and Research Centre, Belgaum. Southern India attached to J. N. Medical College. between September 2007 to August 2008. All the patients were in the age group of 40-60 years including both the sexes. Biochemical parameters like malondialdehyde, enzymatic antioxidants like superoxide dismutase and glutathione reductase were estimated in cases (40) and controls (40). RESULTS: The mean level of blood malondialdehyde (in nmol/ml) in controls was 6.19 +/- 0.96 and 11.48 +/- 0.76 in cases. The mean level of superoxide dismutase (IU/g of Hb) in controls was 948.32 +/- 99.88 and 443.68 +/- 111.69 in the cases. The mean glutathione reductase level (in IU/g of Hb) in controls was 8.91 +/- 1.04 and 2.96 +/- 0.79 in the cases. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that there was an increased oxidative stress and a decreased antioxidant defense in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.