Background:Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a multisystem disorder presenting with menstrual irregularities, infertility, and features of hyperandrogenism. Hyperandrogenism predisposes to the critical clinical features of PCOS. This find aimed to study the association of androgenic hormones such as dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) and free testosterone with lipid profile in PCOS women. Methods:This case-control study was conducted in the Department of Biochemistry at a tertiary care hospital in Chennai. Patients were recruited from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Participants were aged 18-40 years. Blood samples were collected for analysis of lipid profile, DHEA-S, and free testosterone. DHEA-S and free testosterone were analyzed by ELISA. Ethics approval and written informed consent were obtained. Based on the distribution of the data, appropriate statistical tools were used. P-value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results:Most of the participants were aged between 21 and 30 years. HDL-c was decreased in PCOS patients compared to healthy individuals; however, no statistically significant difference was found. Free testosterone showed an association with triglyceride. The areas under the curves of DHEA-S and free testosterone were 0.638 and 0.765, respectively. Conclusion:DHEA-S and free testosterone showed good area under the curves. But free testosterone performed better with a higher area under the curve as well as its association with triglyceride. The cut-off values to diagnose PCOS were 3.0 μg/mL and 2.5 pg/mL for DHEA-S and free testosterone, respectively, with adequate sensitivity and specificity. Since free testosterone performed better in ROC curve than DHEA-S, free testosterone is considered to be a potential biomarker of identifying hyperandrogenism in PCOS women.

BACKGROUND Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are prevalent worldwide, and Escherichia coli (E. coli ) is the most common causative agent. The ability of the bacteria to form intracellular bacterial communities (IBCs) and biofilm is a major reason for UTIs. Studies have indicated that the persistence of uropathogenic E. coli as IBCs and biofilms has been implicated in UTIs. However, IBCs are not routinely identified by standard diagnostic methods. AIM To compare the various staining techniques for the detection of IBCs in urine samples from E. coli culture-positive UTI patients with the biofilm-forming capability of the isolates. METHODS The study included 73 patients with E. coli culture-confirmed UTI. Before antibiotic treatment midstream urine sample was collected, and the sediment was obtained by centrifugation. The samples were visualized using Sternheimer-Malbin, Wright-Giemsa, Safranin, and immunofluorescence staining to detect IBCs. Formation of biofilms was analyzed by the tube method. Descriptive statistics were used. RESULTS E. coli clusters were seen by light microscopy using various stains. However, immunofluorescence staining showed a better picture in the form of bright intracellular signals, which indicate bacterial aggregates. Biofilm assay showed an association with intracellular colonization. CONCLUSION The various staining techniques help in the identification of uropathogenic E. coli as IBCs inside superficial epithelial cells. These bacteria are also capable of forming biofilms, which resists action of antibiotics. Thus, IBCs and biofilms are rich reservoirs of organisms in the urinary bladder, paving the way for chronic treatment-resistant UTIs. This study requires further larger studies to substantiate these findings.

Introduction: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is diagnosed when pregnant women develop hyperglycaemia. GDM during pregnancy causes many complications in the mother and the foetus. Until now, GDM is diagnosed by an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) that becomes positive in the second trimester of pregnancy. Widespread inflammation is present in GDM. Inflammatory markers could help diagnose GDM. Aim: To evaluate the levels of inflammatory markers in women with GDM. Materials and Methods: The present case-control study was conducted at the Department of Biochemistry, SRIHER, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. The data were collected from medical records from January 2022 to December 2023. Data on plasma glucose and Complete Blood Count (CBC) were collected. Inflammatory indices such as Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), Monocyte Lymphocyte Ratio (MLR), Platelet Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR), Systemic Immune‑inflammation Index (SII), Systemic Inflammation Response Index (SIRI) were calculated. Pregnant women between the ages of 20 and 40 years without diabetes (n=119) and pregnant women with GDM (n=118) were included. Pregnant women with pre-existing diabetes mellitus, gestational hypertension, and inflammatory disorders were excluded. The obtained data were subjected to the normality of distribution. Student’s t-test and Chi-square test were used. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to compare the variables. The p-value ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean age of women in non-diabetic group was 32.5±7.51 years and in diabetic group was 30.9±8.9 years (p=0.13). Among the White Blood Cells (WBC), only monocyte count (%) showed a statistically significant difference (p=0.03) between the groups. All the derived variables showed statistically significant differences between the groups NLR (p=0.007), MLR (p=0.007), PLR (p=0.03), SII (p=0.03), and SIRI (p=0.02). Fasting plasma glucose, 1-hr OGTT, and 2-hr OGTT were positively correlated with RBC, PLR, and SII, which were statistically significant. Conclusion: All the derived variables, such as NLR, MLR, PLR, SII, and SIRI, showed higher values in GDM individuals than non-diabetic pregnant women. Plasma glucose was correlated with the systemic immune inflammation index and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio. Thus, inflammatory markers (NLR, MLR, PLR, SII, and SIRI) could serve as potential diagnostic markers of GDM.

Aims: Long-term stress is a contributing factor to the development of major depressive disorder. Persistent stress can lead to sleep disturbances, which in turn, sustain sympathetic nervous system activation and elevate cortisol levels. Stress, poor sleep quality, and depression adversely affect mental and physical health, leading to increased morbidity and mortality. This study aims to assess stress levels, sleep quality, and heart rate variability (HRV) among individuals with depressive symptoms. Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 80 participants (mean age of 23.4±5.57 years) comprising 40 individiuals diagnosed with the symptoms of depression by a psychiatrist and 40 healthy controls. Stress levels, sleep quality, depression levels, and cardiac autonomic function were measured using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Pittsburgh Quality of Sleep Index (PSQI), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) for depression, and HRV analysis for cardiac autonomic function. Results: Participants with depressive symptoms demonstrated significantly poorer HRV parameters compared to healthy controls (p<0.05), as indicated by lower root mean square of successive differences (31.74±18.74 vs. 44.57±23.79), higher low frequency (LF) power in normalized units (LF nu: 70.57±12.45 vs. 42.69±11.96), and lower high frequency (HF) power in normalized units (HF nu: 29.48±11.57 vs. 55.39±11.45). Depression severity was significantly higher in patients with depression compared to healthy participants including PHQ-9 scores (9.90±3.84 vs. 1.98±1.33) and HAM-D scores (12.05±2.83 vs. 4.10±1.68) (p<0.001). Additionally, patients with depression exhibited significantly elevated PSS scores (27.42±3.21 vs. 13.35±2.68) and PSQI scores (8.62±2.12 vs. 3.67±1.67), indicating higher stress levels and poorer sleep quality (p<0.001). Conclusions: Individuals with depressive symptoms exhibited significantly lower HRV parameters, higher perceived stress levels, and poorer sleep quality compared to healthy controls. The findings suggest that depression is associated with altered autonomic function and increased stress perception. These results highlight the importance of monitoring HRV, stress, and sleep quality as potential biomarkers for depression severity and treatment response.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative organism of coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 disease. It is associated with systemic inflammatory response characterized by multiorgan involvement. Depending on the extent of involvement of the lungs, the infection can be categorized as mild, moderate, and severe. This retrospective case-control study aimed to assess the severity of COVID-19 infection using hematological parameters like total and differential white blood cell, platelet, and certain derived indices like neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte lymphocyte ratio (MLR), platelet lymphocyte ratio (PLR), systemic inflammatory index (SII), and systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI). The study was carried out at the tertiary care teaching hospital in Chennai, India. The study included 455 COVID-19 patients who underwent treatment in the year 2020 (pre-vaccination period), aged more than 18 years, confirmed by reverse transcriptase PCR of nasopharyngeal swabs for SARS-CoV‑2. There were mild (n=320), moderate (n=70), and severe (n=65) COVID-19 cases. Around 270 patients who attended the Department of General Medicine for ailments other than COVID-19 and who were negative for COVID-19 testing were treated as controls. NLR, SII and SIRI were noticeably elevated and were associated with severe form of the disease, reflecting heightened immune activation and dysregulation. Hematological abnormalities of white blood cells and platelets, highlight the impact of cytokine-mediated inflammation. SIRI and SII showed good receiver operating characteristics curve performances. SIRI was associated with other inflammatory variables better than SII. Thus, NLR, SII, and SIRI may serve as reliable, and cost-effective laboratory tests for assessing the severity of COVID-19 infection.

BACKGROUND Tuberculosis (TB) is a common infection causing huge morbidity and mortality to mankind. The analytical methods used in diagnosing TB are not sensitive in paucibacillary infections and also require trained technical personnel. MicroRNAs are stable in serum and other body fluids, and hold great potential in the diagnosis of TB. AIM To analyze the dysregulated microRNA profiles among patients with cavitatory and non-cavitatory pulmonary TB. METHODS The prospective study will be conducted in a tertiary care center in India. Adult patients with newly diagnosed pulmonary TB will be included. There will be two groups: Patients with sputum positive pulmonary TB with cavity and without cavity (group1), and apparently healthy individuals (group 2). The participants will undergo sputum examination, Xpert Mycobacterium TB complex/resistance to rifampin (Mtb /RIF) assay, chest X-ray, and blood investigations and serum microRNA detection. Ethics approval has been obtained. Written informed consent will be obtained. Appropriate statistical analyses will be used. RESULTS MicroRNAs will be correlated with sputum positivity, Xpert Mtb /RIF assay, radiological involvement, inflammatory markers, and course of the disease among cases and controls. CONCLUSION MicroRNAs could serve as potential diagnostic biomarkers in diagnostically challenging TB patients.

Introduction: ‎Heart failure (HF) poses a global health challenge with decreased quality of life. HF can be HF ‎with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) or preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Oxidative ‎stress is implicated in the pathophysiology of heart failure. The study aimed to find the ‎association of the oxidative biomarker 8-iso-prostaglandin F2 Alpha (8-iso-PGF2α) with the ‎severity of heart failure. ‎ Methods:‎ The case-control study was conducted in the Departments of Cardiology and Biochemistry at ‎Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, India. The study involved 80 HF ‎patients (HFpEF: n=40, HFrEF: n=40) aged between 30 and 75 years of both genders. ‎Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay analyzed 8-iso-PGF2α. Institutional ethics committee ‎approval was obtained. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software version 16. P ≤ ‎‎0.05 was considered statistically significant.‎ Results:‎ HFpEF was more prevalent in the 46-60 age group, whereas HFrEF was more common in the ‎‎61-75 age group. Among HFpEF and HFrEF, 8-iso-PGF2  levels were 910.07 ± 286.97 and ‎‎1185.02 ± 396.75 (p=0.001). 8-iso-PGF2 showed correlation with NT-proBNP and ‎echocardiography.‎ Conclusions: ‎Elevated 8-iso-PGF2α levels suggested a potential link between oxidative stress and heart ‎failure severity, contributing to our understanding of oxidative stress in heart failure

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common bacterial infections. Escherichia coli is the most common cause of UTIs, accounting for 50% of hospital-reported and 90% of community-reported cases. Also, this includes species of Klebsiella, Proteus, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and Enterococcus. Patients experience cystitis, polyuria, and dysuria. If untreated, this affects the kidneys, further leading to septicemia. UTIs majorly affect adult females (40%-60%). Microbiological culture has been proven to be the standard method. However, it takes 48-72 hours for the tests to be reported. In cases of recurrent UTI, it is mandatory to have a quick, sensitive, and specific diagnostic procedure. Dipstick tests are considered early methods for diagnosing UTIs; however, they have limitations. Recently, biomarkers are being used to assess the severity of the disease. To achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 8, the expertise from General Medicine, Biotechnology, and Microbiology come together in achieving the set targets by 2030. In addition to diagnosis of UTI, resistance to antibiotics should not be neglected. This review aimed to examine the clinical relevance of biomarkers such as neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, kidney injury molecule-1, interleukin (IL) 6, IL-8, heparin-binding protein, procalcitonin, lipopolysaccharide-binding protein, xanthine oxidase, cell-free DNA, and transrenal DNA.

BackgroundHeart failure (HF) is a growing health problem and around two percent are affected in the general population. Accurate diagnostic markers that have the potential for early diagnosis of HF are lacking. This study aimed to compare the expression levels of microRNA-210-3p with biomarkers NT-proBNP, sST2, and galectin-3, in heart failure patients with preserved and reduced ejection fractions.Materials and methodsThe cross-sectional study was conducted on 270 hypertensive heart failure patients in the age group of 30 to 75 years of both genders. The participants with evidence of HF were recruited from the Department of Cardiology in a tertiary care hospital in Chennai, India. MicroRNA-210-3p was analyzed by qRT-PCR in a stratified sample of 80 HF patients and 20 apparently healthy individuals. Biomarkers were analyzed by ELISA. Institutional ethics committee approval and written informed consent were obtained. Statistical analysis was performed using R software (4.2.1). Based on the type of distribution of data, appropriate statistical tools were used. p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.ResultsAll the biomarkers including microRNA-210-3p were significantly higher in HFrEF than in HFpEF. MAGGIC score showed a positive correlation with all the biomarkers. The cut-off of microRNA-210-3p was 5.03.ConclusionAll the biomarkers were significantly elevated in HFrEF compared to HFpEF. However, microRNA-210-3p could be an early marker in the diagnosis of heart failure. The strategy of employing a multi-marker approach could help in the early diagnosis as well as in stratifying the HF patients.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is thought to be common worldwide among middle-aged women. Increased androgen production, recurrent anovulatory cycles and ovaries with multiple cysts are symptoms of this multiorgan endocrine condition. MicroRNAs (miRs) and several candidate genes, including CYP11A, CYP21 and CYP17, have been linked to PCOS. Singlestranded non coding RNAs known as microRNAs have been shown to alter several cell cycle processes, including metabolism, apoptosis, differentiation and proliferation. By targeting hormone receptors and their release, microRNAs influence the production of steroid hormones and play a significant role in the formation and regulation of follicular growth in the ovaries. Physiological development, including physical growth and embryonic development of the ovaries, alter the levels of microRNA expression. It has been discovered that the altered pattern of microRNAs under pathological circumstances is specific to certain disorders. Therefore, a variety of medications that are either agonists or antagonists of microRNAs may be useful in initiating tailored treatments. The profiles of microRNAs differ depending on the tissue from which they originate. Due to ribozyme activity, microRNAs are persistent and resistant to hydrolysis. Since serum microRNAs are present in various bodily fluids, they are novel markers for diseases like PCOS. The microRNA profile constantly changes depending on the pathogenic stage of the disease. There are correlations between the levels of established biomarkers and the up- and down-regulation of certain microRNAs. Furthermore, it has been found that microRNAs are more specific and sensitive than conventional biomarkers. This article was created to address the altered microRNA profiles in systemic circulation and in different ovarian tissues.

BACKGROUND:Post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) occurs due to cartilage degeneration caused by injuries like bone fractures, ligament tears, and soft tissue injuries in and around the joint. It is diagnosed by X-ray in the later stages. Early diagnosis may be possible by analyzing biochemical and molecular markers, facilitating early management. AIM:To characterize inflammatory, genetic, and epigenetic markers that aid in the diagnosis and prognosis of knee PTOA. METHODS:The prospective cohort study is conducted at a tertiary care hospital, India. The study includes 140 participants: 70 (controls), and 70 (cases) sustained trauma to knee. Written informed consent is obtained. Serum interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, IL-10, cartilage oligomeric matrix protein, transforming growth factor-β1, matrix metalloproteinase-13, and oxidized-LDL and urine C-terminal cross-linked telopeptides of type II collagen are analyzed by ELISA. Genetic and epigenetic studies are done. Ethics approval is obtained. Statistical analysis by SPSS software version 16. RESULTS:Biomarkers will be correlated with the X-ray grading as per the Kellgren-Lawrence scale. CONCLUSION:These mediators can be potential markers to assess the disease burden, prognosis, and severity. They may also help as therapeutic targets to customize personalized therapy.

Objectives: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a long-standing metabolic disease manifested by renal impairment, high morbidity and mortality, and causing a huge financial burden. Systemic inflammation and local intrarenal inflammation are found to exacerbate this irreversible condition. White blood cells, platelets, and their derived indices may aid in the assessment of the progression of CKD. This study aimed to assess the alterations of complete blood count and their derived indices in the various stages of chronic kidney disease. Methods: The retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Biochemistry at a tertiary care hospital, Chennai, India. The data were collected from the Medical Records Department from July 2022 to June 2023. The study included chronic kidney disease patients aged 35 to 70 years of both genders. Children, pregnant women, and patients with heart and liver diseases were excluded. The data of the renal profile and complete blood count were collected. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software version 16. A p <= 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Among the study participants, 65% were male and were more than 50 years of age. All the derived inflammation index parameters, such as neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), platelet-to-lympho-cyte ratio (PLR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), and systemic inflammation response index (SIRI). were significantly increased in stage 5 of CKD. Also, SII and SIRI were found to be correlated with other inflammatory variables. Conclusion: Chronic inflammation is considered to be prevalent among CKD patients. Inflammatory markers such as SII and SIRI are simple and cost-effective parameters to routinely assess the staging of CKD and thus initiate appropriate management to improve the quality of life.

Abstract Background Major surgeries are being carried for certain ailments. Surgeries can be major or minor depending on the extent of intervention. Major surgeries are prone to cause lots of complications such as shock, haemorrhage, wound infection, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary complications, organ rejection, reactions to anaesthetics etc. Early identification of complications could reduce morbidity and mortality. Laboratory variables used in the assessment of hypovolemia include blood urea nitrogen, sodium, osmolality, hematocrit, and arterial blood gas. This study was undertaken to assess the utility of blood urea nitrogen: creatinine ratio (BCR) in the utility of assessment of hypovolemia in the first post-operative day in individuals who had major surgeries. Methods and materials The retrospective cross-sectional study included participants from the Departments of Orthopedic Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynecology, General Surgery and Cardiothoracic Surgery. Patients who underwent major surgeries between January 2019 and January 2020 were included. Study participants of 30 to 60 years of both genders were recruited into the study. Data were collected from the Medical Records of a tertiary care hospital in Chennai, India. Ethics approval was obtained, the institutional ethics committee (Ref: CSP/21/SEP/99/479 dated 30–12-2021). Waiver of consent was obtained since the patients were treated and discharged from the hospital. The data were analyzed by SPSS version 16. P value ≤ 0.05 was taken to be significant. Results BCR showed statistically significant difference across the groups with P = 0.02. BCR showed statistically significant difference between cardiac patients with total knee replacement and total abdominal hysterectomy surgeries. BCR showed positive correlation with age, fluids intake and negative correlation with pulse rate and respiratory rate. Conclusion BCR is a simple diagnostic tool for identifying hypovolemia in individuals who undergo major surgeries especially in the first postoperative day. It is significantly altered across the groups with highest value in individuals who have undergone knee replacement surgeries. BCR has high specificity and positive predictive value.

Introduction: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is characterised by hyperglycaemia, insulin secretion defects, or resistance. Most T2DM drugs help to improve glycaemic status, but the response varies among individuals. The modern lifestyle with unhealthy eating habits leads to gut dysbiosis. Altered gut microbiota can disrupt the host’s metabolic and signaling pathways, intestinal barrier integrity, and function. Probiotics could restore a healthy microbiota in the intestine, thus improving glycaemic status. Need of the study: Probiotics may assist in re-establishing a healthy microbiota composition in the intestine. Limited studies have evaluated the supplementation of probiotics for effectively managing T2DM. Aim: To investigate the effects of probiotics on biomarker levels in type 2 diabetic male Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: This interventional case-control study will be conducted at the Centre for Toxicology and Developmental Research (CEFTE) at Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. The study will involve 46 male Wistar rats divided into five groups. Diabetes will be induced by feeding the animals a High-Fat Diet (HFD) and administering a low dose of Streptozotocin (STZ) injection. Groups 1 and 2 will be on basal and HFDs, serving as negative and positive controls, respectively. Groups 3, 4 and 5 will be the intervention groups. The study duration will be four weeks and three days for diabetes induction and six weeks for intervention. Blood samples will be collected periodically to assess biomarkers, and at the end of the study, internal organs will be harvested for histopathological examination. Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC) approval has been obtained. Categorical variables will be analysed using Chi-square or Fisher’s exact test, while continuous variables will be analysed using repeated measures Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). A p-value of ≤0.05 will be considered statistically significant, and statistical analysis will be performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16.0.

Osteoporosis is asymptomatic, in which low bone-mass and micro-architectural deterioration of bone tissue leads to increasing bone fragility and fracture. Vertebral and hip fractures lead to increased mortality, resulting in enormous health care costs. BMD testing by DEXA is used in diagnosis of osteoporosis. However, low-and middle-income populations are unable to conduct periodic examinations of bone mineral status. Thus, current study is mainly aimed at finding a cost-effective diagnostic-marker for osteoporosis. 170 participants, of whom 51 had osteoporosis, 62 had osteopenia and 57 had normal bone-mass. Selection of individuals was based on DEXA scan BMD. Sclerostin was determined by ELISA. The variables were compared using ANOVA test and ROC analysis was performed. Sclerostin levels were significantly decreased in osteoporosis (4.62 ą 1.6 ng/mL) and osteopenia (4.92 ą 1.4 ng/mL) compared with controls (5.74 ą 1.3 ng/mL), (p < 0.0001). Sclerostin level 5.6 ng/mL is the cut-off value for diagnostic purpose, according to good sensitivity and specificity. In patients with osteopenia and osteoporosis, decreased sclerostin levels were associated with an increased disease risk. These relationships were independent of BMD and bone turnover, suggesting that Sclerostin levels may reflect disease-severity in osteoporosis. Sclerostin measurements could become a useful clinical index for diagnosis of osteoporosis.

OBJECTIVES: Osteoarthritis is an inflammatory and degenerative disorder characterized by the degradation of the extracellular matrix. It commences with injuries to the knee that activate inflammatory pathways. Trauma may predispose to osteoarthritis, called post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA). The disease is diagnosed in the later stages with (KL grade>2) as seen by X-ray; measuring the biomarkers present in the body fluids holds significant promise for the early detection and evaluation of PTOA. The study aimed to establish the role of inflammatory and collagen markers such as serum interleukin 6 (IL-6), transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1), and urine C-terminal cross-linked telopeptide of type II collagen (CTX-II) in the diagnosis of early post-traumatic osteoarthritis of the knee. METHODS: This case-control study was conducted among 80 participants, of which 40 were apparently healthy individuals, and 40 were cases with a history of trauma to the knee joint in the past ten to 12 weeks. Baseline characteristics, body mass index (BMI), Visual Analog Score (VAS), and Western Ontario McMasters Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) were collected from all the participants. X-ray and MRI were done in the cases. Serum IL-6 and TGF-beta 1, and urine CTX-II were analyzed by ELISA. Statistical analysis was done with SPSS version 16. A P value <= 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The mean serum IL-6, TGF-beta 1, and urine CTX-II levels were significantly higher in cases than in controls, with P values of 0.025, 0.033, and 0.040 respectively. IL-6 showed correlations with age, WOMAC score, and urine CTX-II values. TGF-beta 1 showed a positive correlation with VAS. CONCLUSION: Individuals with previous knee joint trauma exhibited notably elevated serum IL-6, TGF-beta 1, and urine CTX-II levels. Among the three biomarkers, IL-6 seemed to be a potential biomarker of early post-traumatic osteoarthritis in patients with knee injuries.

Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disorder with low-bone mass causing micro-architectural deterioration and an increase in bone fragility and susceptibility to fractures. According to a worldwide report by IOF, 1 in 3 females and 1 in 5 males will experience fractures due to the osteoporotic changes in their bones. Fractures may be the first clinical manifestation of the disease. They have been causes for morbidity and mortality imposing economic burden to osteoporosis. Bone marrow fat is a negative regulator of bone-turnover and a key integrator of bone and energy metabolism. Hence we assess the bone marrow fat and BMD in patients with osteoporotic bone fractures. This cross-sectional study was conducted in 30 patients from the department of orthopaedic surgery. Biopsy samples were received from excised bone during surgery. Biochemical parameters and bone marrow fat were quantified by established methods. A negative correlation between BMD versus serum adiponectin, FGF21 and similar observation with BMD versus bone marrow fat is seen. Therefore, increased bone-marrow fat and adiponectin, FGF21 levels and decreased BMD in osteoporosis. This observation might be useful for prevention, management and therapeutic potential of osteoporosis. Based on our study findings, understand the bone-fat relationship to implications with low BMD in patients with osteoporosis.

Introduction and Aim: Heart failure (HF) with increased morbidity and mortality is a critical condition where the cardiac pumping capacity fails to meet up with the body’s demand. Its development is silent due to slow, progressive remodeling presenting with symptoms later. Brain Natriuretic peptides (BNP) denotes ventricular loading status which do not reveal other mechanisms whereas a novel marker Galectin-3 (Gal-3) provides information about cardiac structural changes which includes inflammation, fibrosis, remodeling for guiding treatment. Research studies demonstrated that there is upregulation of Galectin- 3 in both acute and chronic heart failure (CHF) individuals. The objectives of our study were to compare Galectin- 3 levels in moderate and severe LVD CHF patients and determine whether serum Galectin -3 can be used as an independent cardiac marker of ventricular structural remodeling in such HF individuals. Materials and Methods: 80 patients between 20 - 80 years diagnosed with CHF using Framingham criteria with ejection fraction (EF) of 45% and classified into two groups:(i) moderate LVD and (ii) severe LVD. Those with abnormal kidney functions were excluded. Comparison was done between serum Galectin - 3 and BNP; Gal- 3 was determined to be an independent marker of structural remodeling of LV between the two categories. Results: Galectin-3 and BNP were significantly increased in HF with severe LVD than moderate LVD. Multivariate linear regression showed Galectin-3 as an independent predictor of LV remodeling with respect to changes in LV end- diastolic dimension with statistically significant p 0.001 whereas BNP did not show any such significance. Conclusion: Galectin -3 and BNP levels were elevated in severe LV dysfunction than moderate LVD and concluded that Gal-3 is an independent cardiac biomarker of LV remodeling in Chronic heart failure.

Introduction: Stress activates hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis leading to the release of glucocorticoid that mediates the stress response. This adaptive response is self-limited but if persistent for prolonged periods can lead to disease states. Nature has endowed the body with efficient buffer systems to attenuate the stress effects and Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a steroid hormone with neuromodulatory functions is implicated as an efficient candidate to buffer stress. Aim: To assess the effect of prophylactic administration of DHEA in the attenuation of acute stress in male Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: This interventional study was carried out at centre for Toxicology and Developmental Research, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, between June 2021 and August 2021, in compliance with the animal welfare guidelines of CPCSEA, and in accordance to the protocol approved by Institutional animal ethics committee. The 18 male Wistar rats approved for the study were segregated into 3 groups with 6 animals in control (no stress) group, 6 in stress group and 6 in intervention group that received DHEA prophylactically 30 min before stress procedure. Animals in stress and intervention groups were subjected to one hour immobilisation stress. Blood samples were collected from all animals after the stress period and serum corticosterone, the stress marker, was estimated. The data were expressed as mean±standard error of mean (mean±SEM) and Mann-Whitney U test was used to test the significant difference between the: (i) control & stress groups; (ii) stress & study groups; and (iii) control & study groups. The p-value<0.05 was considered significant. The analysis was done using SPSS version 23.0. Results: The values of corticosterone in control, stress and intervention groups were 26.6±4.4 ng/mL, 51.6±3.9 ng/mL and 23.4±3.6 ng/mL, respectively. Significant difference in the mean serum corticosterone levels with p-value 0.013 between control and stress groups and with p-value 0.008 between stress and DHEA groups were observed. Conclusion: It could be observed from the findings that prophylactic DHEA administration attenuated acute stress efficiently in male Wistar rats as reflected by the significant decrease in serum corticosterone levels in the group that received DHEA intervention, thus inferring the efficiency of DHEA in stress buffering.