Biojournal of Science & Technology

7

Authors: Md. Bayejid Hosen, Hasan Al Banna, Yearul Kabir and M Zakir Hossain Hawlader

Preeclampsia (PE) is a leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Our aim of the study was to evaluate the association of hypothyroidism with preeclampsia during pregnancy and after delivery. The study comprises a total of 52 subjects including PE women (n=27) and uncomplicated pregnant women (n=25) matched by age. The serum hormone levels were estimated by ELISA methods. The demographic data and hormone levels were analyzed using unpaired t test and pearson two tailed analysis was used for correlation. Over all, significantly decreased concentrations of total triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) were observed in the preeclamptic group (p<0.001; p<0.01, respectively) compared with the normal pregnant group while the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level was significantly (p<0.001) high. On the other hand, significant differences in T3 (p<0.05) and T4 (p<0.001) levels were found during pregnancy and after delivery among PE patients while TSH level non-significantly (p>0.05) increased. There were negative correlations of TSH with T3 (r=-0.16; p>0.05) and T4 (r=-0.11; p>0.05) observed though these were not statistically significant. Our findings suggested that hypothyroidism is associated with preeclampsia, and after delivery thyroid function become more deteriorated. Therefore, identification of thyroid abnormalities and appropriate measures might affect the occurrence and severity of the morbidity and mortality associated with preeclampsia.

10

Authors: AHM Nurun Nabi, Mahfuzur Rahman and Laila N Islam

Objectives: Our previous study demonstrated neutrophil dysfunction in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. This study was aimed to investigate the biochemical indices such as plasma levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, creatinine, urea, alanine transaminase and aspatate transaminase in diabetic and control rats and thus, investigate their relationship with the previously studied neutrophil functions. Methods: Diabetes was induced in Long Evans rats by an intraperitoneal injection of citrate buffer dissolved streptozotocin (STZ). Age matched control rats were injected with citrate buffer only. Neutrophils were isolated from blood using standard dextran sedimentation followed by Ficoll-Hypaque centrifugation; morphological changes in neutrophils, their ability to reduce nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) dye and phagocytic activity from both the groups of rats were evaluated formerly. Biochemical indices were measured by standard colorimetric methods. Results: The average levels of glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, creatinine, urea in the plasma of diabetic and control rats were 302.6 ± 87.5 vs 100.7 ± 11.5 mg/dL, 174.9 ± 18.6 vs 82.2 ± 10.2 mg/dL; 250.8 ± 22.3 vs 165.2 ± 24.1 mg/dL; 0.94 ± 0.19 vs 0.81 ± 0.05 mg/dL; 77.1 ± 9.7 vs 26.8 v 5.8 mg/dL, respectively. The mean values of aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) in diabetic and control rats were 141.4 ± 28.0 vs 61.6 ± 18.6 IU/L and 61.4 ± 13.6 vs 48.5 ± 6.0 IU/L, respectively. Biochemical parameters measured in diabetic rats varied significantly (p < 0.001) compared to those of control rats. Plasma indices such as triglycerides, cholesterol, creatinine, urea, AST and ALT had no relation with the functions of neutrophils. However, multidimensional scaling found a close relation between plasma cholesterol and phagocytic activity of neutrophils from diabetic rats. Ability to reduce NBT dye was closely related to the morphology of the activated neutrophils. On the other hand, levels of plasma glucose were distantly related to the functions of neutrophils. Conclusion: Thus, important liver and kidney functions indices, lipid profile parameters were significantly altered in diabetic rats and plasma cholesterol modulated the phagocytic activity of neutrophils.