BACKGROUND CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen) is mainly associated with malignant conditions, but there is a modest increase in non-malignant conditions such as aging, and atherosclerosis and this study is to find correlation of CEA levels in stroke patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS A case control study conducted from March 2016 to August 2016 in Stanley Medical College, General Medicine Department. RESULTS The mean CEA levels were significantly elevated in infarct group compared to control group by a mean difference of 5.09 ng/mL (73% higher), which is significant with p value of 0.0001, likewise the mean CEA levels were significantly elevated in haemorrhage group compared to control group by a mean difference of 3.26 ng/mL (64% higher). The CEA levels were significantly elevated in infarct group compared to haemorrhage group by a mean difference of 1.83 ng/mL (26% higher). This difference is significant with a p-value of 0.0071. CONCLUSION The CEA levels are higher among stroke patients than normal population. The elevation is more among ischaemic stroke patients than haemorrhagic stroke patients. Infarct stroke patients had 3.73 times carcinoembryonic antigen levels compared to healthy subjects, haemorrhage stroke patients had 2.75 times carcinoembryonic antigen levels compared to healthy subjects and infarct stroke patients had 1.36 times carcinoembryonic antigen levels compared to haemorrhage stroke patients.

Background: A percentage of HIV patients who fail first line ART (FLA) via immunologic (i.e. CD4 cell count) criteria may have adequate HIV suppression on viral load (discordance) .We studied the prevalence and factors for this discordance when viral load testing became available in patients enrolled in an HIV treatment program in a large tertiary care hospital in India. Methodology: A cross-sectional study of HIV patients on FLA in Government Hospital of Thoracic Medicine , Tambaram with immunological failure (IF) and who were eligible for viral load testing as determined by the State AIDS Clinical Expert Panel (SACEP).Eligibility criteria for SLA include: received FLA for at least 6 months with adherence > 95% and has failed FLA immunologically or clinically (WHO) with a subsequent failed virologic response. Concordant response was defined as IF and VL > 10,000 copies/ml, discordant response as IF and a VL < 400 copies/ml; intermediate response was defined as IF and VL between 400 and 10,000 copies/ml. Various clinical and demographic factors were analyzed between discordant and concordant groups using Chi-Square and Fisher's exact test. Results: From January to August 2008, 106 patients were referred for SACEP. Of these, 76 (71.6%) were eligible for evaluation. In those evaluated 69.7% , 21.1% , and 9.2% had a concordant , discordant and an intermediate response. The respective baseline characteristics for discordant and concordant groups were: mean age in years 35 and 39 (p-value < 0.05) , 81.3% and 96.2% males (p-value >0.05) , median CD4 count of 51 and 56 cells/cubic millimeter (p-value > 0.05). Other characteristics of the discordant and concordant groups respectively were: median CD4 count at IF (68 vs. 96 cells/cubic millimeter; p-value > 0.05) , median time to IF (12 vs. 15 months; p-value > 0.05) , previous history of ART (6.3% vs. 37.7%; p-value < 0.05) , ART substitution (50% vs. 71.7%; p-value >0.05) , clinical failure in addition to IF (12.5% vs. 37.7%; p-value < 0.05). Conclusion: In this population , 21.1% of HIV treatment patients with IF on FLA were found to have discordant virologic response to ART. Such patients may be inappropriately initiated on more costly and potentially toxic SLA.

BACKGROUND Metabolic syndrome is known to predispose to atherosclerosis. C-reactive protein, a marker of systemic inflammation is significantly associated with the atherosclerotic process. (1) METHODS We prospectively studied the relationship between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) with various components of metabolic syndrome in 50 patients with metabolic syndrome at our tertiary care centre in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. RESULTS 50 patients diagnosed with metabolic syndrome were studied. There were 21 males and 29 females. In our analysis, hs-CRP was found to be significantly increased in patients with diabetes mellitus (p < 0.023) with increase in duration of diabetes (p < 0.0446), those whose diabetes was not controlled (p < 0.0365) and those with abnormal waist circumference (p < 0.0019). There was no significant association between hs-CRP and high triglycerides, hypertension, reduced high density lipoprotein cholesterol. HS-CRP increased significantly with increasing number of components of metabolic syndrome (p < 0.0001). HS-CRP was found to be elevated in about two-third (68%) of patients with metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSIONS Measurement of hs-CRP can be used as a surrogate marker of chronic inflammation in patients with metabolic syndrome and has a positive correlation with the number of components met in metabolic syndrome patients.

BACKGROUNDDynamics of HIV acquired through the blood transfusion is studied largely, there are no studies that show the difference of impact of HAART on HIV acquired by heterosexual and blood transfusion routes. This study compares the impact of HAART between these groups.