The relationship of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and Vitamin D binding protein in periodontitis.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to explore the relationship between 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D (1,25(OH)2D) and Vitamin-D binding protein (DBP) in patients with periodontitis and healthy controls. METHODS: Seventy-five periodontitis cases were recruited from the dental OPD of Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi. Diagnostic criteria of periodontitis were followed according to the probe pocket depth and clinical attachment loss. Seventy-five periodontal healthy controls were selected from the faculty and students of same university. Serum levels of 1,25(OH)2D and DBP were determined by ELISA. RESULTS: Significantly low levels of 1,25(OH)2D and high levels of serum DBP were observed in periodontitis patients compared to healthy controls (p<0.05), with levels of DBP increasing significantly with the severity of periodontitis (p=0.005). Concentrations of DBP correlated positively with 1,25(OH)2D, especially in cases with periodontitis (r =0.780; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Within the limits of the study, we conclude that low 1,25(OH)2D levels and high DBP levels are associated with periodontitis.

Serum Interleukin-15 and its relationship with adiposity Indices before and after short-term endurance exercise.

OBJECTIVE: The myokine interleukin-15 (IL-15) is capable of modifying the metabolism of both skeletal and adipose tissue. This study compares the change in serum levels of IL-15 in obese and non-obese after a single session of submaximal exercise. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out at Jinnah Medical and Dental College, Karachi, during Aug-Dec 2015, comprising of 133 medical students (aged 17-24 years). Cardiorespiratory fitness was evaluated by Queen's College Step Test. Blood was obtained both before and just after exercise and serum levels of IL-15 determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Mean serum level of IL-15 was 3.64±1.59 pg/mL. Higher levels of IL-15 were seen in lean subjects compared to overweight/obese, both before and after three minutes of exercise (all Ptrend<.001). The percent increase in IL-15 upon exercise was 12.7% higher in lean. Significant negative association was seen between interleukin-15 and adiposity, especially visceral fat (r = -.288, p=.001). CONCLUSION: Interleukin-15 correlates negatively with adiposity indices, especially visceral fat. With the proven benefit of IL-15 in terms of adipose tissue stores and skeletal muscle mitochondrial biogenesis, endurance exercises, even of short duration, may possess therapeutic potential towards producing a healthier body.

Cardiorespiratory fitness and its association with adiposity indices in young adults.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and adiposity in young adults. METHODS: Data was collected from 133 students of a medical college of Pakistan. The study was conducted on young adults, aged 17-24 years, recruited from Jinnah Medical & Dental College, Karachi, between Aug-Dec, 2015. Queen's College Step Test was conducted to measure CRF and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) evaluated. Anthropometric measurements (body mass index, body fat, visceral fat, waist circumference) were taken to assess adiposity. Associations of VO2max and adiposity were analyzed. RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight/obesity was 44% overall. The VO2max (ml/kg/min) of males and females was 55.41±9.45 and 39.91±3.14, respectively, the gender difference being highly significant (p<0.001). Quartiles of VO2max showed strong inverse relationship between adiposity and VO2max, obese individuals having low VO2max (1st quartile) and normal weight individuals having high VO2max (4th quartile). VO2max correlated greatest with body fat in males (r = -0.600; p<0.001), and waist circumference in females (r = -0.319; p=0.004). CONCLUSION: The results indicate low CRF in young females and a strong inverse relationship between fitness levels and adiposity in young adults of both genders. Improving these parameters in our young population may prevent development of chronic non-communicable disease in later life.

Analysis of one-best MCQs: the difficulty index, discrimination index and distractor efficiency.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship of items having good difficulty and discrimination indices with their distractor efficiency to find how 'ideal questions' can be affected by non-functioning distractors (NF-Ds). METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted at Fatima Jinnah Dental College, Karachi, during Jan-Jun 2009, with 102 First Year dental students (17-20 years). Physiology paper of the first semester, given after 22 weeks of teaching general topics of physiology, was analysed. The paper consisted of 50 one-best MCQs, having 5 options each. The MCQs were analysed for difficulty index (p-value), discrimination index (DI), and distractor efficiency (DE). Items having p-value between 30-70 and DI > or = 0.25 were considered as having good difficulty and discrimination indices respectively. Effective distractors were considered as the ones selected by at least 5% of the students. RESULTS: The mean score was 27.31 +/- 5.75 (maximum 50 marks). Mean p-value and DI were 54.14 +/- 17.48 and 0.356 +/- 0.17, respectively. Seventy eight per cent items were of average (recommended) difficulty (mean p-value = 51.44 +/- 11.11) and having DE = 81.41%. Sixty two per cent items had excellent DI (0.465 +/- 0.083) with DE = 83.06%. Combining the two indices, 32 (64%) items could be called as 'ideal' (p-value = 30 to 70; DI > 0.24) and had DE = 85.15%. Overall 42% items had no Non-functioning Distractors (NF-D), while 12% had 3 NF-Ds. Excellent discrimination (DI = 0.427) was achieved with items having one NF-D, while items with 2 NF-D and no NF-D had nearly equal but lower DI (0.365 and 0.351 respectively). CONCLUSION: One-best MCQs having average difficulty and high discrimination with three functioning distractors should be incorporated into future tests to improve the test score and properly discriminate among the students. Items with two NF-Ds, though easier, are better discriminators than items with no NF-D.

Overweight and obesity in students of a dental college of Karachi: lifestyle influence and measurement by an appropriate anthropometric index.

OBJECTIVE: To compare body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and body fat percentage (%BF), as index of overweight and obesity in young adults. We also intended to find an association between lifestyle behaviours and obesity. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Fatima Jinnah Dental College, Karachi, during 2007 to 2008, with 192 first year dental students, (18-21years) of high socioeconomic class. All were questioned regarding lifestyle behaviours. Overweight and obesity were estimated by measuring %BF, BMI, and WC. For %BF, skinfold thickness was measured using skinfold calipers. BMI > or = 23.0-24.9 kg/m2 was taken as overweight and > or = 25.0 kg/m2 as obese (Asians criteria proposed by Western Pacific Regional Office of World Health Organization). WC using Asian cutoff values for overweight and obesity were: males > or = 78 cm and > or = 90 cm; females > or = 72 cm and > or = 80 cm, respectively. Body fat percentage used to define overweight and obesity was: males 22.1-27.0 and > 27.1; females 27.1-32.0 and > 32.1, respectively. Pearson's correlation was done between the BMI, WC and %BF with statistical significance taken at P < 0.01. RESULTS: BMI (Expressed as mean +/- SD) in males and females was 23.82 +/- 3.88 and 20.98 +/- 4.12 respectively. WC was 83.63 +/- 10.20 cm in males and 70.22 +/- 9.36 cm in females. %BF was 22.32 +/- 6.27 in males and 28.73 +/- 6.65 in females, with an overall 60.8% females and 44.4% males found to be overweight or obese. Obesity was underpredicted by BMI when compared to skinfold calipers method. The obese were seen to skip breakfast more often [odds ratio (OR): 2.39], take frequent snacks (OR: 1.58), watch television more (OR: 1.58), and were physically less active than their non-obese counterparts. CONCLUSION: Body fat percentage using skinfold caliper is a reliable index of obesity. Lack of sleep and skipping of breakfast, are prominent promoters of obesity, in addition to other lifestyle behaviours.