AIM:Glutathione S.transferases. (GSTs) are known to play a pivotal role in the detoxification of potential carcinogens, and their gene variation may alter susceptibility to colorectal cancer. (CRC). The aim of the study was to evaluate the genetic association of GSTM1 and GSTT1 gene deletion/null polymorphism with disease susceptibility and risk development in CRC patients of ethnic Kashmiri population.MATERIALS AND METHODS:Genotype frequencies of GSTM1 and GSTT1 gene deletion/null polymorphism were compared between 160 CRC patients and 200 healthy controls using polymerase chain reaction multiplex.RESULTS:The frequency of GSTM1-null was found to be 76.2% in cases and 81.5% in controls and odds ratio. (OR) = 1.37 (95% confidence interval. [CI]: 0.82-2.28). Likewise, the GSTT1-null genotype was found in 75.5% of cases and 77.5% of controls and the OR = 1.14 (95% CI: 0.76-1.8). The overall association between the GSTM1-null and GSTT1-null polymorphism and the CRC cases was found to be insignificant (P < 0.05). However, individuals with double-null genotype (GSTM1-/GSTT1-) were found to have 3.5-fold increased risk for the development of CRC. Further, the risk genotype (null) of GSTT1 was found to be associated with tumor grade (P = 0.001) and GSTM1 (null) genotype was significantly associated with smoking status (P = 0.004), when compared to the (present) genotype in CRC cases.CONCLUSION:Our results suggest that GSTM1 and GSTT1 gene deletion/null gene polymorphisms are not a key modulators of the risk of developing CRC in Kashmiri population.

Background: Even after adequate immunosuppression therapy, acute rejection continues to be the single most important cause of graft dysfunction after renal transplantation. Renal allograft biopsy continues to be the reference standard, though certain clinical and biochemical parameters are helpful in assessment of these patients. Renal allograft rejection is mediated by T lymphocytes, expressing cell surface interleukin-2 receptors (IL-2R) which has been suggested as a marker of acute rejection episodes after organ transplantation. Objective: To determine the pre- and post-transplantation serum soluble IL-2R levels in live related kidney transplant patients to predict acute rejection episodes. Methods: Serial serum samples from 75 recipients and 41 healthy controls were assessed for soluble IL- 2R levels by ELISA. The outcome of the graft was also determined for each recipient. Results: The mean±SD serum soluble IL-2R levels in renal allograft recipients with rejection were significantly (p<0.001) higher than those without rejection (329.85±59.22 vs 18.12±11.22 pg/mL). The elevation of serum soluble IL-2R was evident in acute rejection episodes and found before elevation of serum creatinine. The higher values of serum soluble IL-2R in the rejection group were significantly reduced after recovery of allograft function by adequate anti-rejection therapy. 36.4% of patients in the rejection group had proven positive biopsies for the rejection and higher creatinine values, which was found to be statistically significant (p<0.001). A cohort of 41 healthy controls showed significantly (p<0.05) lower serum soluble IL-2R concentrations (15.27±7.79 pg/mL) when compared with the rejection group. Conclusion: Serum soluble IL-2R concentrations showed significant correlation with the acute rejection episodes in the renal allograft recipients. Prediction of soluble IL-2R levels might help the early detection of rejection episodes, which may pave way for the management of immunosuppression regimes and better graft functioning.

Background: The pathogenesis of chronic spontaneous urticaria involves interplay between the genetic and environmental factors, most of which is still poorly understood. It is well-recognized that 30-40% of chronic spontaneous urticaria is autoimmune in nature. Chronic autoimmune urticaria is caused by anti-Fc epsilon R1 beta and less frequently, by anti-IgE auto antibodies that lead to mast cell and basophil activation, thereby giving rise to the release of histamine and other pro-inflammatory mediators. We investigated the association between SNP loci in Fc epsilon R1 beta and chronic spontaneous urticaria and to see its relation with serum IgE levels in Kashmiri population.Methods: The autologous serum skin test was used as a screening test for chronic autoimmune urticaria. PCR-RFLP was used to detect the genotype of the SNP loci. Serum IgE levels were assessed by ELISA kit.Results: No significant difference was found between the study population and control group in genotype distribution (wild and variant) among Fc epsilon R1 beta loci (P value= 0.06, odds ratio = 0.29). The frequency of Fc epsilon R1 beta (C109T) in autologous serum skin test positive chronic autoimmune urticaria patients with the CT genotype was found to be statistically non-significant when compared with the wild genotype (P=0.35). Carriers of Fc epsilon R1 beta (T allele) had a more significant risk of developing CAU than those with C allele (P = 0.01). In our population serum total IgE levels did not find any statistical significance with regard to ASST positive & ASST negative patients (P=0.26).Conclusions: There is statistically no significant association between Fc epsilon R1 beta gene polymorphism and CSU in Kashmiri population; however, there is a probability of developing CSU in patients carrying Fc epsilon R1 beta T allele. Furthermore, serum total IgE levels had no significant association with the development of CAU. (C) 2013 SEICAP. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

Objectives: Ankylosing spondylitis should be a diagnostic consideration in young patients with back pain, particularly young men. Simple clinical and diagnostic methods can distinguish between back pain due to ankylosing spondylitis and back pain caused by other factors. Early diagnosis allows the clinician to prescribe anti-inflammatory therapy, to identify extra-articular involvement, and to provide counseling on the importance of maintaining proper posture. Perhaps more important, early diagnosis can avoid the costly and unnecessary diagnostic or therapeutic procedures that may be performed if back pain is misdiagnosed as mechanical. Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an inflammatory rheumatic disease which is thought to be rarely seen in Kashmiri ethnic population. Its genetic predisposition has been stressed in Caucasians where the HLAB27 antigen is firmly linked to the disease. Methods : In the present study, HLAB27 antigen was determined in 266 patients suffering from low back pain from last six years referred to our Department from osteoarticular disease clinics. Results : Only 5 of these subjects were found to possess HLA-B27 antigen. Conclusions : This hospital based study correlates the low frequency of HLA-B27 with the observed scarcity of AS in patients attending tertiary care centre in Sheri Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences ,Srinagar, for osteoarticular diseases.

Kashmir valley has been witnessing an increase in a llergy related disorders usually due to aeroallergens present in the environment mostly dur ing spring and autumn seasons. The present study was aimed at finding total and specif ic IgE responses in serum sample of 257 patients, reporting to various health centers acros s the valley with symptoms of seasonal allergy. Samples were first screened for the total IgE levels by a sandwich ELISA method. All the samples showed presence of high levels of total IgE. Specific IgE levels were determined using grass and tree mix antigens by a two step cap ture ELISA method. The skin test reactions were interpreted and graded at 15 20 minutes.

In recent years AIDS has emerged as the biggest ever threat to humanity. Increasing number of women are being infected through their infected partners all over the world with an increasing proportion of cases attributed to heterosexual transmission. Prevalence of HIV in pregnancy would indicate HIV prevalence in female population and to some extent in general population. Definite cure for HIV is still far from reach but prevention of further spread of disease remains the only effective strategy. As HIV infection in women occurs primarily during their reproductive years pregnancy provides a unique opportunity for implementing HIV infection prevention strategies in women. Hence the study was planned to determine the seroprevalence of HIV infection in pregnant women attending antenatal care (ANC) clinics. Although antenatal screening of HIV has gained ground as a part of ANC various studies conducted worldwide conclude that HIV testing should be universal rather than selective because selective HIV testing may fail to detect majority of cases as is seen in our case. (excerpt)

OBJECTIVE:To study the clinical presentation and etiology of hyperprolactinemia, a common disorder encountered in endocrine practice.METHODS:We analyzed the clinical data, hormone profile and imaging reports of 187 females with documented hyperprolactinemia, over a period of 6 years (5 years retrospective analysis and one year prospective study).RESULTS:Majority of the 187 subjects studied presented in 3rd or 4th decade. Galactorrhoea was the commonest presenting symptom occurring in 159 subjects (85%), followed by amenorrhea in 68.9%; both amenorrhea and galactorrhea were seen in 45.4%. A microprolactinoma was demonstrated in 67 patients (35.8%), a nonfunctioning pituitary macroadenoma with stalk hyperprolactinemia occurred in 30 patients (16%) and polycystic ovarian disease was documented in 24 (12.8%). In 52 patients (27.8%) no apparent cause could be ascertained.CONCLUSIONS:Syndrome of amenorrhea and/or galactorrhea is the commonest presentation in hyperprolactinemia. Microprolactinoma was the most frequent identifiable etiology followed by idiopathic and stalk hyperprolactinemia in our series.