Assessing extent of single stranded DNA damage in oral mucosal cells of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma and its correlation with TNM staging.

Context: This study was carried out on the assumption that oral mucosal cells might show DNA damage in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Aims: To evaluate the extent of DNA damage in oral smears of patients with OSCC and determine correlation if any of the extent of DNA damage to TNM staging of oral cancer. Settings and design: A randomized controlled study at a regional cancer centre was designed for this project. Smears were taken from lesion proper of 30 patients with OSCC and from the buccal mucosa of 30 normal healthy volunteers. Materials and methods: Collected cells were centrifuged and single-cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) assay was performed. DNA damage was visualized under a fluorescent microscope. Statistical analysis used : Mean DNA damage levels of both the groups were measured and statistically analyzed with students' test. The extent of DNA damage was correlated with the TNM stages by employing the one way ANOVA 'F' technique. Results: High statistical significance (P < 0.0001) was found in DNA damage levels between control and study groups. A stepwise increase in DNA damage levels with high statistical significance (P < 0.005) was also found between all the TNM stages. Conclusions: Statistically significant increased DNA damage levels in OSCC patients and their correlation to clinical staging suggest that comet assay may be used effectively to assess the prognosis of OSCC.

Oxidative stress in benign prostate hyperplasia.

Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH) is the common health problem in ageing male. Free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced more with advancement of age leads to oxidative stress. This study aims to assess Malondialdehyde (MDA), the marker of lipid peroxidation and vitaminic antioxidants e.g. alpha-Tocopherol (Toc) and Ascorbate (Asc) status in plasma of BPH patients. This is a case control study conducted in Department of Biochemistry in collaboration with Dept of Surgery, BPKIHS. Forty eight (n = 48) confirmed patients of BPH and forty six (n = 46) healthy age matched controls were enrolled. Plasma MDA, Asc and alpha-Toc were estimated. Plasma MDA level showed 4.81 +/- 1.87 nmol/ml in BPH patients compared to 3.69 +/- 1.56 nmol/ml in healthy controls (p < 0.001). There were significant decrease in plasma alpha-Toc and Asc level which were 0.85 +/- 0.12 mg/dl and 0.93 +/- 0.13 mg/dl in BPH patients compared to 1.37 +/- 0.31 mg/dl and 1.44 +/- 0.38 mg/dl in healthy controls respectively. Inverse correlation of plasma MDA with a- Toc (r = -0.09) and Asc (r = -0.51) was found in BPH patients. There was mild elevation of PSA in BPH patients compared with control but was not statistically significant. Thus, our study showed the evidence of association of oxidative stress in BPH patients.

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in liver cirrhosis with ascites.

OBJECTIVE: The study was designed to elucidate the correlation of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) with aetiology of liver cirrhosis, overall mortality, ascitic fluid and systemic microbial infections. METHODS: Sixty three patients with cirrhosis of the liver were included in this study. These patients were diagnosed on the basis of clinical evaluation, biochemical investigation, ultrasonography, ascitic fluid examination for protein, cells, pH, and bacterial culture. RESULTS: SBP developed in 22 (34.92%) patients of cirrhosis. Culture positive SBP was present in 18 (81.81%) and culture negative neutrocytic ascitis (CNNA) in 4 (18.18%). In the culture positive group, 14 (77.7%) patients had monomicrobial bacterascites (MNB), the commonest organism being coagulase positive Staphylococcus aureus eight (44.44%) followed by E. coli (22.22%). Only 4 (22.22%) had infection by more than one organism. Direct bed side inoculation of ascitic fluid into blood culture bottle was a better method for bacterial yield than the conventional method of ascitic fluid culture (81.8% vs. 18.2%). Only 22.8% patients with SBP had ascitic fluid protein less than 1 gm%, ascitic fluid pH < 7.3 and polymorphonuclear cell count > 250/cmm. CONCLUSION: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis is common complication in Child Pugh class C cirrhosis. Alcoholic cirrhosis with SBP carries high mortality than their non-alcoholic group. The most common organisms isolated were coagulase positive Staphylococcus aureus followed by E. coli.

Cerebrospinal fluid adenosine deaminase activity and C-reactive protein in tuberculous and partially treated bacterial meningitis.

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity measurement and C-reactive protein (C-RP) detection were done in CSF of 27 tuberculous meningitis (TBM) and 8 patients of partially treated bacterial meningitis, apart from routine biochemical tests. Both the groups had comparable CSF cell count, protein and sugar concentrations. The mean CSF ADA activity was significantly raised in TBM as compared to partially treated bacterial meningitis patients (p < 0.05). A cut-off ADA level < or = 5 IU/L and C-RP positively were used for differentiation of partially treated bacterial from TBM cases. Based on this, the sensitivity and specificity of ADA and C-RP were 62.5%, 88.9% and 75%, 100%, respectively. Since both the tests are simple and take lesser time to perform, they can be used as rapid diagnostic tests to remove diagnostic dilemma between the two diseases.

Adenosine deaminase activity in typhoid fever.

Serum adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity was determined in 41 patients of typhoid fever and 15 normal controls. The mean ADA activity was significantly raised in typhoid fever patients as compared to controls (p < 0.001). The peak enzymatic activity was observed in the first week of illness. Complicated patients had lower mean ADA activity at diagnosis as compared to uncomplicated group and they showed a rise in enzyme level during defervescence, repeated in a few cases. A significant correlation between serum ADA activity and lymphocyte percentage was found (r = 0.4245, p < 0.001). It is concluded that ADA activity in typhoid fever patients not only indicates immunity but also has a prognostic value.