Correlation of serum anti-müllerian hormone levels with serum follicular stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and testosterone levels in male patients of depression.

Objectives: To determine the correlation of serum anti-müllerian hormone with follicular stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and testosterone levels in male patients of depression. METHODS: The cross-sectional analytical study was conducted at the Islamic International Medical College and the Armed Forces Institute of Mental Health, Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from March 4, 2017, to March 29, 2018, and comprised male patients aged 18-60 years suffering from depression diagnosed on the basis of Siddiqui Shah Depression Scale. Serum anti-müllerian hormone, follicular stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and testosterone levels of all patients were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Correlation of anti-müllerian hormone with the rest was explored. Data was analysed using SPSS 21. RESULTS: There were 72 male subjects with mean age 35.19±9.97 years. A significant negative correlation was observed between serum anti-müllerian hormone levels and serum follicular stimulating hormone levels (p=0.001), but the correlation was not significant with serum luteinizing hormone and serum testosterone levels (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Anti-Müllerian Hormone was found to be significantly correlated with follicular stimulating hormone, but not with luteinizing hormone and testosterone.

Comparison of cortisol levels in patients with vasovagal syncope and postural tachycardia syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the levels of cortisol in patients of vasovagal syncope (VVS) and postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS). METHODS: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted at Islamic International Medical College, Rawalpindi and Electrophysiology Department at (AFIC). This study included 80 subjects, comprising of 35 patients in each group of vasovagal syncope and postural tachycardia syndrome and 10 healthy subjects. Patients with complaint of syncope was evaluated for vasovagal syncope and postural tachycardia syndrome using Head Up Tilt Test (HUTT. Blood samples of all the participants were taken and serum cortisol was analyzed using ELISA method. Results were analyzed on SPSS Statistics 21 using ANOVA with a p value of ≤0.05 regarded as significant. RESULTS: Hormonal analysis shows that cortisol levels in the vasovagal, postural tachycardia syndrome and in control group was 153±16.7pg/ml, 160.17±pg/ml, and 69.65± 5.8pg/ml respectively. Cortisol levels were significantly higher in both vasovagal and POTS groups as compared to controls with a p-value of 0.04 and 0.023 respectively. However, there was no significant difference between vasovagal and POTS patients with p value 0.570. CONCLUSION: It is concluded from the study that cortisol responses of VVS and POTS were positive.

Association of age and symptoms with frequency of Premature Ventricular Contractions on 24 hours Holter monitoring.

OBJECTIVES: This study was done with the objective to identify the determinants of mild, moderate and frequent burdens of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) which may guide the health care professionals to stratify the high risk patients on basis of their symptoms. METHODS: It was a cross sectional descriptive study conducted in Islamic International Medical College (IIMC) in collaboration with Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC) from 18th April 2016 to 20th March 2018. It comprised 60 diagnosed patients of PVCs, divided into three groups on the basis of their PVCs burden determined by Holter monitoring report. Each group of mild (Group-A), moderate (Group-B) and frequent burden (Group-C) constituted 20 patients having PVC burden<10%, 10-20% and >20% respectively. All patients were evaluated for their symptoms by a cardiologist. Statistical analysis was done to determine the association of patient's symptom and age with mild, moderate and frequent PVCs burden. RESULTS: PVCs were significantly associated with presence of symptoms as compared to asymptomatic patients. While no significant correlation of age or any specific symptom (palpitations, chest pain, dizziness, shortness of breath) was found with mild, moderate and frequent PVCs burden with p-value of 0.466. CONCLUSIONS: Mild, moderate or frequent PVCs burden are not associated with any specific symptom predominantly or old age. So, it is equally important for all the patients presenting with any symptom of palpitations, chest pain, dizziness or shortness of breath to undergo the work up of PVCs, irrespective of their age.