BackgroundVitamin D deficiency reportedly is associated with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). We aim to examine whether 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) has clinically significant influence on hemoglobin glycation (HbA1c) and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in T2DM subjects.MethodsPresent study was carried out in 912 subjects (429 T2DM cases and 483 non-diabetic controls) from Western India. The enrolled study subjects were investigated for biochemical parameters like FBS, PPBS, HbA1c, FI, HOMA-IR and 25OHD levels in blood.ResultsVitamin D deficiency was seen in 91.4% and 93.0% of T2DM cases and control subjects respectively. There was no association of serum 25OHD deficiency on HbA1c or HOMA-IR in T2DM cases (p = 0.057 & p = 0.257 respectively) and in control subjects (p = 0.675 & p = 0.647 respectively).ConclusionOur findings suggests that though vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in T2DM and non-diabetic subjects, its role in hemoglobin glycation and insulin resistance could not be established.

BackgroundDyslipidemia and obesity are the most common complex metabolic disorders taking the highest toll of health resources globally by its increasing incidences. This consequently leads to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular disorders (CVDs) with variable reports about the role of metabolic factors on glycemic control. The current study is designed to determine the association of dyslipidemia and obesity with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in T2DM and non-diabetic subjects.MethodsThe present study was carried out in 931 subjects from urban Western India including 430 diabetic and 501 non-diabetic subjects with detailed anthropometric parameters. All subjects were investigated for HbA1c and lipid parameters like TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C and non-HDL-C.ResultsDyslipidemia, central- and peripheral- obesity were observed (50.27 %; 75 % and 59.83 %) in all the study subjects respectively. Additionally, hyper-non-HDL-C was detected in 23.49 % and 22.56 % in T2DM and non-diabetic subjects. Significant linear associations of hyper-TC, hyper-LDL-C and hyper-non-HDL-C were observed with HbA1c in T2DM and non-diabetic control subjects respectively. Centrally- and peripherally- obese dyslipidemic subjects also showed a significant association with HbA1c in T2DM and control subjects respectively.ConclusionThis study demonstrates the high prevalence of dyslipidemia and obesity in all subjects irrespective of their disease status in a Western Indian population. The dyslipidemic obese subjects had significant linear association with HbA1c in T2DM subjects.

ROLACTIN appears to have a major role in the growth, P development, and function of the human breast' as well as in the initiation and propagation of mammary cancer in rodents.* In humans, too, there is now some published evidence which incriminates high circulating prolactin levels to poor prognosis both in early and advanced breast ~a r c i n o m a .~-~ Studies on have also demonstrated the correlation between high prolactin receptor levels to a shorter survival. These and other studies",'* point toward a significant role for prolactin in the pathogenesis of human breast carcinoma.In a recent unpublished study' we found that prolactin had a linear correlation with histologic grade and an inverse correlation with (1) estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor levels, and (2) survival. The current study addresses the following issues: (1) relation between the changes in serial plasma prolactin and disease status; and (2) existence of lead time (if any) from a rise in prolactin level to the appearance of recurrence of disease. Materials and Methods PatientsOne hundred forty-four female breast cancer patients treated at the Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute, Ahmedabad, India, were included in the study between September 1984 and May 1988. They were grouped as premenopausal (N = 64) and postmenopausal (N = 80). Agematched healthy controls of either menopausal groups (N = 30 each) were also examined. Patients and controls were considered postmenopausal who had ceased menstruating for 5 or more years. Perimenopausal patients and controls (within 5 years of menopause) were excluded from the study. Blood samples were collected in ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), disodium salt ( 1-2 mg/ml)-coated tubes for prolactin estimation between 9.0 and 11.0 AM preoperatively and at monthly intervals thereafter. The plasma was separated within 1 to 2 hours and stored at -70°C. until assayed, usually within 1 month.

Transforming growth factor betas (TGF-ßs) are multifunctional cytokines with a biphasic role in breast tumorigenesis, acting as tumor suppressors at early stages while stimulating tumor progression at later stages (TGF-ß switch). Among the 3 human isoforms, TGF-ß1 is known to be overexpressed in several tumor types including breast tumors. TGF-ß signaling and "crosstalk" in the tumor microenvironment presents a unique challenge and an opportunity to develop novel therapies. We assessed circulating TGF-ß1 levels by ELISA in blood samples from 117 previously untreated breast cancer patients in this prospective study to explore the TGF-ß switch at the forefront. The levels were correlated with clinicopathological prognosticators like age, menopausal status, nodal status, histological type, histological grade, necrosis, stromal involvement, and survival. Higher mean preoperative serum TGF-ß1 was observed in early-stage patients than controls (p=0.05) as revealed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Elevation of TGF-ß1 was evident in patients with advanced-stage breast cancer compared with those having early-stage disease (p=0.0001). Prognosticators of an aggressive phenotype were associated with higher TGF-ß1 levels, and higher levels thus announced the likelihood of relapse, marking the role of TGF-ß1 as a tumor promoter and evidencing the existence of a TGF-ß switch. Moreover, higher levels of TGF-ß1 shortened the overall survival in breast cancer patients (p=0.010). The results indicate that circulating TGF-ß1 may be used as a predictive and prognostic marker in breast carcinoma.

Background Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare, complex, life-threatening hyper-inflammatory condition due to over activation of lymphocytes mediated secretory cytokines in the body. It occurs as a primary HLH due to genetic defect that mostly occurs in the childhood and associated with early neonatal death. Secondary HLH is triggered by secondary to infection and can occur at any age. Case presentation The current report presents two cases of HLH. Case 1, three-months-old boy born to second degree consanguineous parents was clinically suspected with HLH. A pathogenic variant in exon 2 of PRF1 gene [c.386G > C (p.Trp129Ser); FLH-type2] was detected. The parents and the fetus under investigation were shown to be heterozygous carriers, while Case-1 was homozygous for the said variant. Case 2, a one and half-year old male child referred for work-up was born to non-consanguineous young parents. His HLH suspicion was in accordance with HLH-2004 Revised diagnostic guidelines (fulfilling 5/8 criteria). Molecular study revealed hemizygous likely pathogenic variant c.138-3C > G in intron 1 of SH2D1A gene. Both the mother and younger sister were confirmed to be the carrier of the same variant. Conclusion This study has represented two rare cases of HLH carrying missense variant in PRF1 and splice site variant in SH2D1A gene. Detailed molecular analysis has helped the families with precise genetic counselling and prenatal diagnosis during subsequent pregnancy. It is advocated that male patients presenting with EBV-associated HLH may be screened for XLP that may lead to early diagnosis and therapeutic implication if any. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12887-019-1444-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.