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Introduction: Osteoporosis is a global health problem, asymptomatic and noticed only after a fracture. Ten years after the cessation of ovarian function due to hormonal imbalance, women show an accelerated phase of reduction in bone mass known as primary osteoporosis. Determination of Bone Mineral Density (BMD) and Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) are the gold standard diagnostic approaches for osteoporosis. However, they are costly; hence Bone Turnover Markers (BTMs) have been suggested to detect the risk of osteoporotic fractures. Aim: To assess the potential of BTMs as a diagnostic tool for primary osteoporosis in order to reduce the associated morbidity and mortality. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 105 women who were divided into Group I with 35 pre-menopausal women, Group II with 35 post-menopausal women without fractures and Group III with 35 post-menopausal women with wrist, spine or hip fractures. Serum osteocalcin (OC), calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase, total protein, albumin and 24 hour urinary hydroxyproline were estimated. Statistical analysis was done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 16.0. ANOVA test was done to compare variables among the groups. Tukey’s test was applied for intergroup comparison. Student’s t-test was used to compare two groups and correlation studies were done using Pearson’s correlation. Statistical significance was considered as p

Introduction: Sialic acid levels are increased in type-2 diabetes mellitus and its estimation helps in predicting the occurrence of microvascular complication such as diabetic nephropathy. The present study compared the levels of sialic acid, glycated haemoglobin, serum creatinine and urine microalbumin: in type-2 diabetics without any complications; in type-2 diabetics with nephropathy; and in age and sex matched healthy individual (controls). Results: The study observed an increased level of sialic acid in type-2 diabetics without any complications and type-2 diabetics with nephropathy. Serum sialic acid levels in type-2 diabetics without any complications was 64.44 ± 3.93 mg/dl, in type-2 diabetics with nephropathy was 73.88 ± 4.41 mg/dl, and in controls it was 53.16 ± 3.40 mg/dl. Urine sialic acid levels in type-2 diabetics without any complications was 6.62 ± 0.70 mg/ dl, in type-2 diabetics with nephropathy was 8.46 ± 0.97 mg/ dl, and in controls it was 4.44 ± 0.62 mg/dl. Correlation of sialic acid levels with glycated haemoglobin and urine microalbumin was statistically significant but with serum creatinine was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Sialic acid is an important component of vascular cell membrane. Their increased levels indicate extensive vascular damage in type-2 DM. Therefore, estimation of sialic acid levels help in early prediction and prevention of microvascular complications occurring due to diabetics, thereby decreasing the mortality and morbidity in them.

Introduction: Diabetic patients have higher prevalence of thyroid disorders than the general population which may have an influence on diabetic management. The present study compared the levels of thyroid hormones, serum creatinine, glycated haemoglobin and urine microalbumin between type 2 diabetics without any complications, type 2 diabetics with nephropathy and age and sex matched normal controls. Result: The mean serum T3 level in type 2 diabetics without any complications was 91.27 ± 14.56 ng/dl , in type 2 diabetics with nephropathy was 88.5320 ± 30.87 ng/dl and in controls was 134.98 ± 28.55 ng/dl. The mean serum T4 level in type 2 diabetics without any complications was 7.73 ± 1.42 µg/dl, in type 2 diabetics with nephropathy was 7.25 ± 2.72 µg/dl and in controls was 8.61 ± 1.73 µg/dl. The mean serum TSH level in type 2 diabetics without any complications was 3.99 ± 1.87 µIU/ ml, in type 2 diabetics with nephropathy was 4.27 ± 1.62 µIU/ml and in controls was 2.07 ± 1.09 µIU/ml. Correlations between T3, T4, TSH with serum creatinine, glycated haemoglobin were not statistically significant in type 2 diabetes without any complications and diabetic nephropathy. We found a statistically significant correlation between T3 and urine microalbumin in patients with diabetic nephropathy. Conclusion: Failure to recognize the presence of abnormal thyroid hormone levels may be a primary cause of poor management of diabetes mellitus type 2. Therefore there is a need for the routine assay of thyroid hormones in type 2 diabetics and diabetic nephropathy in order to improve the quality of life and reduce the morbidity.