BACKGROUND/AIMS: Birth asphyxia occurs when a baby does not receive enough oxygen before, during or after birth . It is an insult to the fetus or newborn due to lack of oxygen (hypoxia) and /or a lack of perfusion (ischemia) to various organs . Fetus totally depends for its oxygen supply and other nutrients on the blood supplied through placenta. In any case, if blood supplied through placenta is hampered, it leads to asphyxial injury. We performed this study to determine the incidence of liver failure in birth asphyxia and to correlate the severity of hepatic disorder with asphyxia by estimating serum AST and ALT. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 70 asphyxiated neonates and 50 healthy neonates as controls. Serum AST and ALT were estimated by IFCC method for Aspartate aminotransferase and IFCC method for Alanine aminotransferase respectively. RESULT: Serum AST and ALT were found significantly higher in asphyxiated babies compared to control groups (p<0.001). The mean AST and ALT of asphyxiated babies were 80.3±47.4 U/L and 88.8±43.5 U/L, respectively and those of normal babies were 20.5±8.5 U/L and 27.5±8.5 U/L respectively. The rise of AST and ALT also showed a significant positive correlation with the severity of asphyxia. Hence it can be concluded from present study that estimation of hepatic enzymes can be used as markers to diagnose the incidence of perinatal asphyxia and also to assess its severity.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Osteoarthritis is an inflammatory & degenerative disorder of joints. The exact pro-oxidant & antioxidant status is not clear in osteoarthritis. Our aims were to estimate levels of the lipid peroxidation (in terms of MDA) & enzymatic antioxidant (in terms of superoxide dismutase) in serum of osteoarthritis patients & compare them with the levels in normal healthy controls. MATERIAL & METHODS: A study was performed at the department of biochemistry at Pd. Dr. D. Y. Patil medical college, Pimpri, Pune-18(M.S.) In 30 patients of osteoarthritis serum levels of enzymatic antioxidant Marker (SOD) & lipid peroxidation status (MDA) were estimated by spectrophotometry. Thirty healthy controls were also included in the study & serum levels of same parameters were also measured. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: It was performed by using the student unpaired t test. RESULT: A serum level of enzymatic antioxidant marker (SOD) was increased in the patients than in the controls. The serum lipid peroxidation (MDA) level was increased in the patients than in the controls.

BACKGROUND Glycated Haemoglobin (HbA1c) is the indicator of glycaemic status over long-term. Diabetes and obesity currently threaten the health, wellbeing and economic welfare of humanity. The study was designed to study the correlation between glycated hemoglobin and serum lipid profile in obese type 2 diabetic patients and obese non diabetic patients in Malwa region. MATERIALS AND METHODS This case control study comprised of a total of 200 obese (BMI ≥25 kg/m²) patients (148 males and 52 females) who visited the Outpatient Department of Sri Aurobindo Medical College and Postgraduate Institute, Indore. Out of which, those 100 obese patients with diabetes were taken as cases and 100 obese non-diabetic were taken as controls. Ethical clearance obtained for the study from the Institute Ethical Committee. RESULTS 200 obese subjects included in the study out of which 148 (76%) were males and 52 (24%) were females. The majority (71%) of the cases had glycated haemoglobin value >9%, whereas majority (84%) of the control had glycated haemoglobin value in the range of 6-9%. A significant difference (P<0.0001) were found between the cases and controls. Glycated haemoglobin has a significant positive correlation with TC (total cholesterol), TG (triglycerides), LDL-C (low density lipoprotein), VLDL-C (very low density lipoprotein) whereas a significant negative correlation with HDL-C (high-density lipoprotein) and HDL-C /LDL-C ratio. CONCLUSION Our study ensures HbA1c status in obese diabetics and obese non-diabetics. HbA1c showed positive correlations with LDL-C cholesterol and negative correlations with HDL-C cholesterol and HDL-C/LDL-C ratio. A significant correlation exists between HbA1c and lipid profile. These findings suggest that HbA1c level can be used as good parameter for predicting the lipid profile. Glycated haemoglobin level can be used as an alarming factor for blood glucose dysregulation as well as lipid dysregulation in patients. The better the glycaemic control as reflected by HbA1c the better would be the lipidemic state. Achieving the target in HbA1c will contribute in improving the lipid state in patients.

BACKGROUND Perinatal asphyxia is a major cause of neurological morbidity in infants. Hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) after perinatal asphyxia is a condition in which serum concentration of Neuron specific enolase may be elevated. There are very few studies about its usefulness in asphyxiated newborns. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To determine the serum levels of Neuron Specific Enolase (NSE) in newborns with perinatal asphyxia and its relation with different stages of hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy. METHODS We have determined the serum levels of NSE by ELISA method in 100 asphyxiated newborns and 100 healthy newborns (control group). Blood samples were taken on day 1 and day 3 of life in all newborns. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION The mean serum values of NSE were found to be decreased on day 3 in asphyxiated neonates and negative correlation was seen between day 1 and day 3 for NSE.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Birth asphyxia occurs when a baby does not receive enough oxygen before, during or after birth. It is an insult to the fetus or newborn due to lack of oxygen (hypoxia) and /or a lack of perfusion (ischemia) to various organs. Fetus totally depends for its oxygen supply and other nutrients on the blood supplied through placenta. In any case, if blood supplied through placenta is hampered, it leads to asphyxial injury. We performed this study to determine the incidence of renal failure in birth asphyxia by estimating serum creatinine, blood urea and blood urea nitrogen / creatinine ratio on I & III day of life. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 50 asphyxiated neonates and 25 healthy neonates as controls. Blood urea and serum creatinine were estimated by Vitros 950 dry chemistry autoanalyzer. RESULT: Blood urea and serum creatinine were significantly higher in asphyxiated babies compared to control groups (p<0.001). Blood Urea nitrogen / Creatinine ratio was significantly higher in asphyxiated babies compared to control groups (p<0.001) on day 3 but insignificant on day 1. We conclude that renal failure is a significant problem in asphyxiated neonates.