Rashmi Kulkarni

A Study of Serum Malondialdehyde and Cytokine in Tuberculosis Patients

INTRODUCTION Tuberculosis (TB) is a common and a deadly infectious disease which is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculi. Inflammatory cytokines play an important role during the course of the disease and they may be responsible for tissue damage which is caused by lipid peroxidation. METHOD The present study was conducted in the Department of Biochemistry and patients were selected from Department of TB and Chest Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences and also from Manorama Raje Tuberculosis Hospital, Indore. 32 healthy controls and 35 pulmonary TB patients were compared initially for their serum Malondialdehyde (MDA) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF α) levels. Serum TNF α and MDA levels were correlated. RESULT TNF α and MDA levels in serum were significantly increased (p<0.001) in pulmonary tuberculosis patients as compared to those of controls. Increased Serum TNF α was positively correlated to MDA levels and it was found to be statistically not significant (correlation coefficient r =0.282,p> 0.05 ). CONCLUSION The present study supports the view that there may be a link between lipid peroxidation and cytokine response and relative roles of cytokines and lipid peroxidation in the pathogenesis of tuberculosis.

Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect of ginger in tuberculosis.

Abstract Background: Tuberculosis (TB) has reemerged to become the world’s leading cause of death from a single infectious agent. Inflammatory cytokines play an important role during the course of the disease and may be responsible for tissue damage by lipid peroxidation. The study was aimed to explore the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect of ginger in pulmonary TB patients. Methods: A total of 69 pulmonary TB patients participated in a randomized and placebo-controlled study. The intervention group received 3 g of ginger extract daily for 1 month and placebo group was supplemented with starch capsule. Participants of both groups were taking standard antitubercular treatment during the study. The concentrations of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha, ferritin and malondialdehyde (MDA) in blood samples were analyzed before and after the intervention by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for TNF alpha and ferritin and spectrophotometry for MDA. Results: Ginger supplementation significantly reduced the levels of TNF alpha, ferritin and MDA in ginger supplemented group in comparison to baseline. Ginger supplementation with antitubercular treatment significantly lowered TNF alpha, ferritin and MDA concentrations in comparison to control group. Conclusions: Ginger was found to be effective as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant supplement along with anti-TB therapy as it possesses strong free radical scavenging property.

Prospects of poisoning – a multi facet study

Aim of the study is to find out demographic profile, clinical characteristics and analysis of poison in clinical set up. The study carried out in Sri Aurobindo Medical College and PG Institute Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Total 75 cases of poisoning were studied for demographic profile, vitals (BP, pulse, heart rate, pupils, etc.), clinical features (such as vomiting, salivation, consciousness, etc.), type of poison and its analysis. Results: Poisoning was more common in cases between 15 and 25 years of age, in males than in females and in Hindu religion. Poisoning cases were predominantly from rural areas and in married people. Majority of cases were discharged after proper treatment and counseling. Altered vitals and clinical features were found in most of the cases. Organophosphate and aluminum phosphide compound were evaluated in most of the cases. Conclusions: Preventive measures should be applied through educating people, proper counseling, promoting poison information centers, and introducing separate toxicological units in hospitals.