A STUDY OF ASSOCIATION OF SERUM FOLIC ACID LEVEL WITH PRE ECLAMPSIA IN DEPARTMENT OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY AT SMS MEDICAL COLLEGE, JAIPUR

Background: In this study was carried out to determine the relation between serum levels of Folic Acid and preeclampsia among pregnant women. Methods: Methods- Hospital based comparative study was conducted at Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, SMS medical college, Jaipur. Results: In PIH group, 20.00% women folic acid level was 3.1-7.8 ng/ml, 40.00% women folic acid level was 7.9-12.6 ng/ml, 35.00% women folic acid level was 12.7-17.5 ng/ml and 5.00% women folic acid level was 17.6-20.00 ng/ml. In normotensive group, 5.00% women folic acid level was 3.1-7.8 ng/ml, 25.00% women folic acid level was 7.9-12.6 ng/ml, 50.00% women folic acid level was 12.7-17.5 ng/ml and 20.00% women folic acid level was 17.6-20.00 ng/ml. Conclusion: We conclude that folic acid is not the only element in preventing the preeclampsia, however, its serum level in case group is significantly less than control group. Keywords: Eclampsia, Folic acid, Hypertension

Efficacy of Oral Low-Dose Isotretinoin in the Treatment of Acne Vulgaris in Vietnam

BACKGROUND: Oral isotretinoin is an effective therapy for acne. However, isotretinoin can induce hyperhomocysteinemia and decreased serum folic acid level, which may be a risk for cardiovascular disease and thrombosis, as well as psychoses. Besides, many recent types of research emphasise the safety and effects of the low dose isotretinoin therapy. AIM: The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of the low-dose isotretinoin on the plasma homocysteine and serum folic acid level in the Vietnamese population. METHODS: We conducted a longitudinal study to evaluate the effectiveness of the low-dose therapy on the plasma homocysteine and serum folic acid level of 52 acne patients after 6-8-week treatment at University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam. Patients had moderate-severe acne with the prolonged course, and most of them had a scar. RESULTS: With a low dose of oral isotretinoin (0.37 ± 0.11 mg/kg/day), after 6-8-week treatment, patients dropped the severity of disease, increased the plasma homocysteine level and decreased the serum folic acid level with significant differences in comparison to those before treatment. However, these changes do not exceed the normal range. CONCLUSION: In overall, low dose isotretinoin treatment had effectiveness in decrease the severity of disease and no increasing the plasma homocysteine level as well as the serum folic acid level.

The Level of Zinc is Increasing, while the Serum Folat Level is Decreasing, after Multi-Micronutrient Supplementation in Pregnant Woman

Objective: To measure the changes of serum iron, folic acid, zinc and selenium level on pregnant woman after multi-micronutrient supplementation. Method: First trimester pregnant woman whom attended Maternal- Fetal Policlinic at Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital from July 2011 till October 2011 was considered into the study. The intervention was consumption of multi-micronutrient tablet once a day for three months period. The outcomes were the measurements of serum level of iron, folic acid, zinc and selenium before and after supplementation. We used paired T Test and Wilcoxon test for statistical analysis. Results: Twenty-eight pregnant women in their first trimester participated in the study. The micronutrient serum level was measured before and after supplementation during the time period. Before supplementation, serum iron and zinc level were below normal. Serum selenium level was normal with higher than normal serum folic acid level. After supplementation, serum zinc level was found to be below normal. Both level of serum iron and selenium increased to normal. Serum folic level was higher than normal. We found a decrease in serum zinc level with an increase in serum folic acid level that was statistically significant (p 0.009; p 0.003 respectively). We also found a slight decrease of serum iron level and an increase of serum selenium level that were not statistically significant (p 0.295; p 0.333). Conclusion: There is a decreased level of serum zinc with an increase in serum folic acid level after multi-micronutrient supplementation. [Indones J Obstet Gynecol 2012; 36-4: 171-5] Keywords: multi-micronutrient, supplementation

Association of Serum Folic Acid with Ischemic Stroke

Background: Stroke is the third commonest cause of death in developed countries and is responsible for the physical disability of a large population. The study was designed to see the association of serum folic acid with ischemic stroke. It was concluded that the low levels of folic acid are associated with ischemic stroke. Aim and objectives: To evaluate the association of serum folic acid level with ischemic stroke and to measure and compare the serum folic acid level among the cases and control subjects. Material and method: This study was a case-control study which was conducted in the Department of Neurology and Department of Biochemistry of BSMMU, Dhaka, between the period of 1st January 2010 and 31st December 2011 for duration of two years. A total number of 60 patients presented with ischemic stroke and 60 control person were enrolled in this study. All patients of both sexes, aged between 20 years and above presented with ischemic stroke, from 0 day to 1 month that was confirmed by CT scan of head/MRI of brain. Blood sample was collected from the cases and the controls and analyzed at the Dept. of Biochemistry, BSMMU for estimation of serum folic acid, serum homocysteine fasting blood sugar. Fasting lipid profile for cases only. Result: The mean ± SD of age of the cases was 58.42 ± 11.47 and among the cases 45 (75.0%) were male and 15 (25.0%) were female. Among the control male and female were 43 (71.7%) and 17 (28.3%) respectively. The mean (±SD) serum folate level of case and control group was 6.26(± 4.06) and 8.07(± 4.70) respectively. Statistically significant differences was observed between case and control group in term of Serum folate (p<0.05). This study showed serum folate level was deficient at the early period of ischemic stroke. Conclusion: Low serum folate concentration is significantly and independently associated with increased risk for ischemic stroke. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjn.v28i2.17173 Bangladesh Journal of Neuroscience 2012; Vol. 28 (2): 74-80

Brief Report: Effect of Incubation Time on the L. Casei Bioassay of Folic Acid in Serum

It has been shown that the growth rate of L. casei differs in PGA and serum enriched media. Since the serum folic acid level is derived from a comparison of the optical densities in these media it follows that this comparison will yield changing results until growth has stopped due to exhaustion of the available folate. If the assay is terminated before this stage is reached, then nonreproducible results can be easily obtained. Variations in the number of viable organisms in the inocula from assay to assay (which are not easily avoidable) accentuate the possible error. Both these problems appear to be controlled if the usual incubation period is extended to the stage at which growth of the organism has ceased. Our normal range under these conditions is 4.5 ng./ml. to 12.4 ng./ml. with a mean of 7.1 ng./ml.

MEGALOBLASTIC ANEMIA ASSOCIATED WITH THE INGESTION OF PHENOBARBITAL AND PRIMIDONE

A new case of megaloblastic anemia which occurred in a 6-year-old girl receiving anticonvulsant therapy with primidone and phenobarbital is described. Low serum folic acid activity was found on admission. A prompt clinical and hematological remission occurred following the administration of 500 µg of folic acid per day, associated with a rise in serum folic acid activity to normal. Anticonvulsant therapy with phenobarbital was continued without supplemental folic acid, and 12 months following the correction of the anemia the serum folic acid level was again found to be low. This is further evidence for a relationship between folic acid deficiency and anticonvulsant drug therapy.