PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M S Devgun

Publications and source records attributed to M S Devgun.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Importance of diurnal variations on clinical value and interpretation of serum urate measurements.

AIM: To show the extent of diurnal variations in serum urate concentration and the possible consequences on the clinical interpretation. METHODS: Nineteen controls and 40 patients took part in this study. Preliminary investigations on selected subjects provided blood samples at regular intervals between the hours of 0800 and 2300 hours. From these observations the timing of venepuncture for the remaining subjects was chosen at 0800-0900 hours, with a second sample taken between 1700 and 1800 hours. Analytical quality was monitored using quality control procedures and all samples were analysed in a single batch to minimise errors. RESULTS: All subjects, except some hypertensive elderly women, showed a diurnal rhythm. The mean serum urate value between 0800-0900 hours was higher than that observed between 1700-1800 hours. A decrease of up to 30% was observed in a group of diabetic patients. Nine subjects in the study had hyperuricaemia in the morning, but only six in the afternoon, indicating the requirement of a reference interval that takes account of diurnal variations. CONCLUSION: When studying the temporal relation for the medical importance, or when attempting to interpret the serum urate concentration, it is important to consider the diurnal rhythms of this analyte.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D in Wistar rats fed vitamin D deficient or normal diet: effect of ultraviolet irradiation and temperature.

Weanling Wistar rats were studied to examine the effects of vitamin D deficient diet, lack of ultraviolet irradiation, and lowering of environmental temperature, on the production of serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Results suggest that dietary vitamin D, sunlight, and ambient temperature may also be contributory factors in the maintenance of adequate levels of vitamin D.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Alcohol consumption, blood alcohol level and the relevance of body weight in experimental design and analysis.

In healthy male subjects, intake of alcohol is not closely related to body weight although there is a significant correlation between consumption and body weight in the younger age group. No association was observed between age and alcohol consumption. Age did show a significant association when expressed in terms of intake per weight. Eight hours after consumption blood alcohol did not vary significantly in people with different body weight; total body water is probably the key factor. This study raises doubts about experimental designs and calculations of blood alcohol whereby assumption is made that correcting alcohol dose for body weight would give precise information. Conclusions from such studies could in fact be misleading.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Delay in centrifugation and measurement of serum constituents in normal subjects.

It is a fairly common practice to issue biochemical results of multichannel analysers containing many analytes, irrespective of the number of tests requested by the physician. Abnormal results in such profiles may occur from presentation of artefacted blood samples; it is sometimes not possible to differentiate the abnormality arising as a result of pathological process from that due to a poor sample quality. In this study normal volunteers were studied to examine changes occurring when centrifugation was delayed for a few hours to a few days. Analyses on stored serum samples over the same period were also studied. If haemolysis is present, lactate dehydrogenase (hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase), aspartate transaminase, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate, phosphate and creatinine estimations are not valid. Accurate data, however, can be obtained on sodium, urea, proteins, albumin, alkaline phosphatase and gammaglutamyl transferase. The very concept of efficient and cost-effective testing by multichannel profiles may generate further unnecessary investigations with a consequent waste of health service resources if pre-analytical factors are not taken into consideration.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Measurement of blood levels of 7-dehydrocholesterol in man by high-performance liquid chromatography.

A high-performance liquid chromatography procedure was established to measure 7-dehydrocholesterol (7DHC) in the blood. Interference studies were performed using 20 similar compounds likely to give analytical errors. 7DHC was extracted with a methanol chloroform mixture. Extraction recoveries were reproducible and acceptable, with low methodological variations from batch-to-batch. Results show that 7DHC is not detectable in the blood, contrary to the previous reports. Possible explanations for its absence in the blood are: (1) it is confined to the skin and is not present in the blood in this form; (2) because the molecule is labile, it is destroyed by the methods applied; (3) previous reports on 7DHC levels were based on non-specific methods.

Cholestadienols↗
PubMed1986

Biochemical investigation of vitreus: applications in forensic medicine, especially in relation to alcohol.

Vitreus biochemistry is useful in subjects dying with uraemia, dehydration, hyponatraemia; and in the presence of osmotically active substances such as alcohol and drugs. Useful tests include sodium, potassium, chloride, urea, creatinine, osmolality, osmolar gap estimation and ethanol. The significance of calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper, pH, phosphate and urate is still not clear. Transaminases and lactate dehydrogenase are found to be significantly raised; these may be associated with sudden release of hyalocyte contents at death.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Are problem drinkers dangerous drivers? An investigation of arrest for drinking and driving, serum gamma glutamyltranspeptidase activities, blood alcohol concentrations, and road traffic accidents: the Tayside Safe Driving Project.

Serum gamma glutamyltranspeptidase activity was measured in 440 drivers at the time of arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol. The results were compared with information gathered by the arresting police officer. One third of drivers over the age of 30 had abnormal gamma glutamyltranspeptidase activities at the time of arrest. Among drivers who required a driving license for their work, and older drivers, a disproportionately high number had raised gamma glutamyltranspeptidase activities indicating problem drinking. In drivers over the age of 30 a strong association was found between gamma glutamyltranspeptidase activities and road traffic accidents but not alcohol concentrations or previous convictions. These findings argue against the Department of Transport's criteria for high risk offenders and indicate a clear need for new measures against problem drinkers among drinking and driving offenders.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1983

Ultraviolet radiation, weather and the blood levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D.

Assays of plasma levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D are widely used to assess vitamin D nutrition in health and disease. In interpreting the results it is important to take into account not only details of analytical technique but also environmental conditions including latitude, season, occupation and weather. This paper presents new data which show that climatic variations from year to year may make appreciable differences to the reference ranges which are appropriate for the interpretation of results from patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Tanning, protection against sunburn and vitamin D formation with a UV-A 'sun-bed'.

There are many types of sun-beds, sun-benches and sun-panels containing fluorescent tubes which, because of their predominantly UV-A emission, are advertised to the public as a means of obtaining a tan without sunburn. This study reports the effects of a sun-bed on skin colour, on the protection afforded against sunburn, and on vitamin D formation. Side-effects are also recorded. It was shown that the sun-bed emits mainly UV-A but very little UV-B and some tanning occurred in most subjects. However, no correlation was observed between the subjects' stated ability to tan and the degree of pigmentation achieved at the end of the treatment. Most subjects also had itching and erythema, and three had polymorphic light eruption. Although very little UV-B irradiation was present, a significant increase in serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D occurred, and possible explanations of this surprising finding are discussed. While the sun-bed proved popular with the subjects, only a modest tan was achieved and the incidence of side-effects appeared to limit the value of this type of appliance, especially with regard to the prevention of vitamin D deficiency.

25-Hydroxyvitamin D 2↗