Association of Lipid and Body Mass Index Profile With Chronic Hepatitis C Infection Stratified by Age and Gender.

Background In this study, we aimed to determine the association of lipid and body mass index (BMI) profiles among cases having chronic hepatitis C virus (CHCV) infection. Methodology This cross-sectional study was conducted in the outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital. A total of 320 cases of both genders, aged 18 to 60 years, with CHCV infection were enrolled in the study. After obtaining relevant history and conducting a physical examination, the venous blood sample of each patient was taken and sent to the institutional laboratory to analyze serum total cholesterol, serum triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein levels. BMI of all the study participants was also noted. Results Of the total 320 cases, there were 152 (47.5%) males and 168 (52.5%) females. The overall mean age was 42.92 ± 11.38 years. Most cases [97 (30.3%)] were in the 41 to 50-year age group. Overall, the mean BMI was 27.75 ± 4.59 kg/m2. Dyslipidemia was noted in 144 (45.0%) cases. Increasing age and increasing BMI were found to have statistical significance with the presence of dyslipidemia (p < 0.05). Conclusions Increasing age and BMI have a significant association with dyslipidemia in patients with CHCV infection. Lipid profile appears to differ among different age and BMI groups.

Neutrophil-lymphocyte and platelet-lymphocyte ratio in patients after resection for hepato-pancreatico-biliary malignancies.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine whether Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) or platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) were associated with outcomes of patients undergoing surgery for a hepatopancreatico-biliary (HPB) malignancy. METHOD: Between 2000 and 2013, 452 patients who underwent an HPB procedure for a malignant indication were identified. Clinicopathological characteristics, NLR, and PLR, as well as short- and long-term outcomes were analyzed. High NLR and PLR were classified using a cut-off value of 5 and 190, respectively, based on ROC curve analysis. RESULTS: Patients with low versus high NLR and PLR had similar baseline characteristics with regard to performance status and tumor stage (all P > 0.05). Elevated PLR (HR = 1.40) tends to be association with shorter recurrence-free survival (RFS) (P = 0.05), whereas NLR was not a predictor of shorter RFS. Differently, both elevated NLR (HR = 1.94) and PLR (HR = 1.79) were associated with worse overall survival (OS) (both P < 0.05). Patients with NLR ≥5 and those with PLR ≥190 had a significantly shorter OS compared to patients with NLR <5 and PLR <190, respectively (log-rank test, both P < 0.05). Moreover, patients who had both NLR and PLR elevated had worse OS compared to patients with either one or none inflammatory markers elevated (log-rank P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Elevated NLR and PLR were predictors of worse long-term outcome among patients with HPB malignancy undergoing resection.

Elemental and nutritional analysis of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides ssp. turkestanica) Berries of Pakistani origin.

Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides ssp. turkestanica) is a very important medicinal plant in northern areas of Pakistan. The fruit of sea buckthorn is rich in nutrients and medicinal compounds such as vitamins, carotene, flavonoids, essential oil, carbohydrates, organic acids, amino acids, and minerals. In order to compare various populations of sea buckthorn for chemical composition, eight populations from different areas of northern Pakistan were compared using fruit characteristics. Phytochemical analysis of berries showed vitamin C (250-333 mg/100 g), seed oil (7.69-13.7%), oil in softer pulp (19.2-29.1%), phytosterol content of seed oil (3.3-5.5%), and anthocyanin (0.5-25 mg/L), while the mineral element composition analysis revealed high contents of potassium (140-360 ppm), sodium (20-80 ppm), calcium (70-98 ppm), magnesium (150-240 ppm), iron (40-150 ppm), and phosphorus (110-133 ppm). This study established sea buckthorn berries as a good source of biochemical and mineral elements. The high variation between different populations shows the potential of selecting and breeding of the raw material for various defined purposes.