No abstract

Introduction: Now-a-days quality is the key aspect of clinical laboratory services. The six sigma metrics is an important quality measurement method for evaluating the performance of the clinical laboratory. Aim: To assess the analytical performance of clinical biochemistry laboratory by utilising thyroid profile and cortisol parameters from Internal Quality Control (IQC) data and to calculate sigma values. Materials and Methods: Study was conducted at Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory, Dhiraj General Hospital, Piparia, Gujarat, India. Retrospectively, IQC data of thyroid profile and cortisol were utilised for six subsequent months (July to December 2019). Coefficient of Variation (CV%) and bias were calculated from IQC data, from that the sigma values were calculated. The sigma values <3, >3 and >6 were indicated by poor performance procedure, good performance and world class performance, respectively. Results: The sigma values were estimated by calculating mean of six months. The mean sigma value of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) and Cortisol were >3 for six months which indicated the good performance. However, sigma value of Triiodothyronine (T3), Tetraiodothyronine (T4) were found to be <3 which indicated poor performance. Conclusion: Six sigma methodology applications for thyroid profile and cortisol was evaluated, it was generally found as good. While T3 and T4 parameters showed low sigma values which requires detailed root cause analysis of analytical process. With the help of six sigma methodology, in clinical biochemistry laboratories, an appropriate Quality Control (QC) programming should be done for each parameter. To maintain six sigma levels is challenging to quality management personnel of laboratory, but it will be helpful to improve quality level in the clinical laboratories.

Background: To assess serum TSH and Prolactin in women with PCOS in comparison with healthy women as controls and to find correlation between TSH & Prolactin in PCOS subjects. Materials and Methods: A comparative study including 30 women diagnosed as PCOS and 30 age and BMI matched healthy women as controls was conducted. The age group for the study was 18-35 years. Fasting blood samples were drawn to measure serum thyroid stimulating hormone(TSH) and prolactin. Results: Mean TSH and prolactin were found elevated in the PCOS cases compared to controls but they were not statistically significant. No significant correlation was found between TSH and prolactin. Conclusion:We could not find any significant correlation between serum TSH and serum prolactin. Further, studies with larger number of PCOS subjects will be beneficial. However monitoring of Prolactin & TSH in PCOS should be done.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most frequent endocrine disorders among women at reproductive age and is characterized by infertility, hirsutism, obesity, insulin resistance, and menstrual irregularities. Leptin, an adipocyte derived hormone, serves as a link relaying metabolic signals to the neuronal networks in the brain to modulate hypothalamo-pituitary- ovarian axis. Circulating leptin correlates strongly with obesity, which is frequently associated with PCOS. PCOS is associated with hyperandrogenemia and relatively high estrogen levels, which could stimulate prolactin secretion. Aims: 1. To assess serum leptin and prolactin in women with PCOS and to compare them with healthy women as controls. 2. To correlate the leptin, prolactin and body mass index (BMI) among a group of PCOS women and healthy women as controls. Methodology: The study was conducted at Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences & Hospital, Bangalore. A comparative study was conducted which includes 30 women who has diagnosed with PCOS and 30 healthy women with as controls. The age group for the study was 18 to 35 years. Fasting blood samples were drawn to measure serum leptin and prolactin. BMI was also calculated. Interpretation of data was done using SPSS version 13. Results: Significant positive correlations between leptin levels and BMI in cases and controls (ρ= 0.683, p < 0.001; ρ= 0.485, p = 0.007 respectively) were observed. Mean BMI, leptin and prolactin were found elevated in the PCOS women compared to controls but they were not statistically significant. No significant correlation was found between leptin and prolactin. Conclusion: Leptin levels were correlated with BMI both in PCOS women and in the healthy controls. Leptin may not have a direct role in the pathogenesis of PCOS, as the serum levels were not significantly higher in PCOS women and did not correlate with prolactin.