Liver fibrosis occurs in response to different etiologies of chronic liver injury. Diagnosing degree of liver fibrosis is a crucial step in evaluation of severity of the disease. An invasive liver biopsy is the gold standard method associated with pain and complications. Biomarkers to detect liver fibrosis include direct markers of extracellular matrix turnover and indirect markers as a reflection of liver dysfunction. Although a single marker may not be useful for successful management, a mathematical equation combining tests might be effective. The main purpose of this review is to understand the diagnostic accuracy of biomarkers and scoring systems for liver fibrosis. Advances in -omics approach have generated clinically significant biomarker candidates for liver fibrosis that need further evaluation.

Background:Cerebrovascular disease (CVD) and coronary heart disease (CHD) cause 40%–50% of deaths in developed countries with CVD causing 10%–12% of deaths. Though increased Lipoprotein (a) is a risk factor in developing CHD, its role is poorly defined in etiopathogenesis of CVD.Aims:To find the association of lipoprotein (a) and lipid profile in thrombotic stroke patients after acute phase.Settings and Design:The study was conducted at Kasturba Medical College, Manipal. Twenty one cases of thrombotic stroke and 18 cases of age and sex matched controls were taken for the study. Informed consent was taken from both case and control.Materials and Methods:Overnight fasting sample was collected from both case and control. Serum was separated and parameters such as total cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoproteins-C, low density lipoprotein-C, lipoprotein (a), fasting blood sugars were estimated. Statistical analysis: Data were analyzed by SPSS software, Student's t-test, standard deviation (SD), and standard error of mean (SEM), P-value <0.05 is considered to be significant.Results:In this study, we found no statistical significant differences in serum lipid and lipoprotein (a) profile between controls and thrombotic stroke patients.Conclusions:Highest frequency (38%) of stroke was found in the age group of 7080 years. There were other associated risk factors such as diabetes in five cases (24%), hypertension in nine cases (43%), and family history of stroke in four cases. However, further studies are required to evaluate the importance of serum Lp(a) estimation in the assessment as a risk factor for thrombotic stroke.

Introduction: Sodium arsenite, an inorganic arsenic, is naturally present at high level (>50 μg/L) in ground water. Drinking ground water is the biggest threat to public health. Though, there are numerous reports on arsenic neurotoxicity, the arsenic effect on cerebellar neurotoxicity remains vague especially its chronic effect on its neurobehavioural and neurochemical alterations. Aim: To evaluate the neurobehavioural and neurochemical alterations caused by sodium arsenite in cerebellum of rats. Materials and Methods: This experimental study was conducted in the Central Animal House at Sri Devaraj Urs Academy of Higher Education and Research (SDUAHER) from November 2019 to February 2020 for a period of 90 days. Total 16 male spraguedawley rats were randomised into two equal groups. Group I: Control, received normal saline. Group II: Sodium arsenite, Doses of 50 Parts per Millions (PPM) for 90 days through oral gavage. Rats were subjected to Open Field Test (OFT) for locomotor and exploratory behaviour and Beam Walking Test (BWT) for motor coordination and balance. Following behavioural tests, rats were anaesthetised. Blood was drawn from a retro-orbital puncture. Brains were dissected and cerebellum was separated. Concentration of Malondialdehyde (MDA), Nitric Oxide (NO) and activity of Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx) were assessed spectrophotometrically in serum and cerebellum of rats. Mean±SD was used for normally distributed data and groups were compared using independent t-test, whereas for non normally distributed data, Median (25th-75th Percentile) was used and Mann-Whitney U-test was used to compare between two groups. Results: Arsenic-treated rats showed a significant increase in arsenic concentration in serum and cerebellum (5.5±1.6 ng/mL, 2.76±0.56 µg/g, respectively) compared to control (1.14±0.43 ng/mL, 0.65±0.29 µg/g, respectively). There was a significant decrease in locomotor and exploratory behaviour and impairment in motor coordination and balance in arsenic treated rats with a p-value <0.001 in comparison with control rats. The arsenic treated rats had significantly enhanced concentration of MDA and NO level and reduced activity of GPx in serum {16.84 (13.84-18.87), 33.79 (30.05-37.17) nmol/mL, and 6.89 (5.24- 8.5) mmoles of Reduced glutathione (GSH) oxidised/min/mL, respectively} compared to control {8.81 (8.36-9.48), 17.66 (15.33-21.29) nmol/mL, and 15.16 (12.77-16.59) mmoles of GSH oxidised/min/mL, respectively} and also found increased concentration of MDA and NO level and reduced activity of GPx in tissue {7.98 (7.14-8.92), 24.67 (21.4-28-22) nmol/mg of protein and 2.66 (1.19-3.86) mmoles of GSH oxidised/min/ mg protein, respectively} compared to control {3.02 (2.35-3.61), 13.93 (11.0-16.16) nmol/mg of protein and 7.63 (7.08-9.19) mmoles of GSH oxidised/min/mg protein, respectively}. Conclusion: The oral administration of sodium arsenite at the doses of 50 PPM for 90 days showed interesting alterations in neurobehavioural and neurochemical parameters related to cerebellum of rats.

Background: Preeclampsia is one main reason for high-risk pregnancy. Among the disorders in hypertension, preeclampsia develops in antenatal period and it is defined by high blood pressure of more than 140/90 mmHg and arteriolar vasoconstriction, both of which lower uteroplacental perfusion and ultimately lead to placental hypoxia. The objectives of this study was (a) to estimate CA125 level in normotensive and pre eclamptic pregnancies; and (b) to predict severity of pre-eclampsia with CA125 levels with cut off value of CA125 level as 23.7 IU/ml. Methods: This two year cross sectional study was conducted on all antenatal mothers bestween 20 -40 weeks gestational age getting admitted RLJH and research centre Tamaka (January 2021-December 2022), for the period of 2 years who fulfilled inclusion and exclusion criteria. Detailed clinical history along with antenatal examination was done. For each study subject the blood pressure was recorded. Complete blood picture was done and CA125 levels were done of the study subjects. Results: Mean CA125 among normal subjects was 24.24±13.71 IU/ml and Mean CA125 among pre-eclampsia subjects was 30.61±15.69 IU/ml. There was a statistical significance found between two groups with respect to CA125. Conclusions: In pre-eclampsia, CA125 was increased more compared to normotensive group. This indicates the importance in estimation of CA125 level in preeclampsia. The same has been determined with significant p value.