Rachna Agarwal

Publications (8)5.01 Total impact

• Article: "Relation between Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and Lipids in North India."

  Chhillar, Neelam, Sarbjeet Khurana, Rachna Agarwal, Deepika Sharma
  International journal of medical sciences 02/2013; 1.(no. 4 (2012).). · 2.24 Impact Factor
• Source

  Available from: ijcb.co.in

  Article: Serum copper in Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia

  Rachna Agarwal, Suman S. Kushwaha, C. B. Tripathi, Neeraj Singh, Neelam Chhillar
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  ABSTRACT: Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia in the elderly and it’s prevalence is rapidly rising. Oxidative stress plays important role in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease. Metals like copper, iron derived through diet can act as pro-oxidant under oxidative stress. In the present study, serum copper levels were evaluated in 50 patients with Alzheimer’s disease, 24 patients with Vascular Dementia and 30 controls. All the groups were also investigated for serum ceruloplsmin levels. The mean copper levels in Alzheimer’s disease and Vascular Dementia were significantly raised compared to controls. An attempt has been made to study the relationship of serum copper with ceruloplasmin. Our study found weak correlation between copper and ceruloplasmin levels in Alzheimer’s disease and Vascular Dementia.
  Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry 04/2012; 23(4):369-374.
• Article: Vitamin B₁₂ deficiency & cognitive impairment in elderly population.

  Rachna Agarwal
  The Indian journal of medical research 10/2011; 134:410-2. · 1.84 Impact Factor
• Source

  Available from: PubMed Central

  Article: Diagnostic Utility of CSF Tau and Aβ(42) in Dementia: A Meta-Analysis.

  Rachna Agarwal, Chandra Bhushan Tripathi
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  ABSTRACT: CSF tau and Aβ42 are considered as important markers to diagnose Alzheimer's disease in early stages. Hence, it is important to assess their status in different types of dementia. The main objective of this study was to assess whether these CSF biomarkers can be used to make the differential diagnosis of AD. In the present study, articles published from 1998 till 2009 were taken and meta-analysis was performed to clarify the consistency in trends of biomarkers- CSF tau and Aβ(42) in AD and other dementias and whether the same can be used as diagnostic biomarkers for its early diagnosis. 11 out of 60 for CSF tau and 07 out of 40 for CSF Aβ(42), dementia case-control studies were selected for final analysis. Descriptive statistics shows that median effect size (raw mean difference) of CSF tau was 429 pg/mL (range: 32 to 910 pg/mL) in AD whereas in Dementia due to other causes (DOC) studies it was 69 pg/mL (range: -53 to 518 pg/mL). Similarly the median effect size of CSF Aβ(42) levels was -442 pg/mL (range: -652 to -41.200 pg/mL) whereas in DOC studies it was -193 pg/mL (range: -356 to -33 pg/mL).
  International journal of Alzheimer's disease. 01/2011; 2011:503293.
• Source

  Available from: Sarbjeet Khurana

  Article: Effect of pre-analytical errors on quality of laboratory medicine at a neuropsychiatry institute in north India.

  Neelam Chhillar, Sarbjeet Khurana, Rachna Agarwal, Neeraj Kumar Singh
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  ABSTRACT: Advances in instrument technology and automation have simplified tasks in laboratory diagnostics reducing errors during analysis thereby improving the quality of test results. However studies show that most laboratory errors occur in the pre-analytical phase. In view of the paucity of studies examining pre-analytical errors, we examined a total of 1513 request forms received at our laboratory during a 3 month period. The forms were scrutinized for the presence of specific parameters to assess the pre-analytical errors affecting the laboratory results. No diagnosis was provided on 61.20% of forms. Type of specimen was not mentioned in 61.60% of the forms and 89.25% of all forms were illegible. Critical results were encountered in 17.30% of patients, and of these 76.60% were not communicated due to incomplete forms. Thus, by following standard operating procedures vigorously from patient preparation to sample processing the laboratory results can be significantly improved without any extra cost.
  Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry 01/2011; 26(1):46-9.
• Article: Role of vitamin B(12), folate, and thyroid stimulating hormone in dementia: A hospital-based study in north Indian population.

  Rachna Agarwal, Neelam Chhillar, Suman Kushwaha, Neeraj Kumar Singh, Chandra Bhushan Tripathi
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  ABSTRACT: Vitamin B(12) and folate represent modifiable risk factors for dementia. They may increase the risk of Alzheimer's dementia (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD) as their deficiency can increase the homocysteine level due to slowed methylation reaction. Homocysteine has a neurotoxic effect that could lead to neurologic disturbances. Hence, it is important to explore the status of serum B(12) and folate in AD and VaD to evolve the treatment strategies for the same. A retrospective study was conducted to assess the levels of vitamin B(12), folate, and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in serum and the relationship of these factors, including age and sex to cognitive decline in VaD, AD, and dementia due to other causes (DOC). Serum vitamin B(12), folate, TSH, and total cholesterol were studied in 32 AD patients (mean age: 65 years), 12 VaD patients (mean age: 61 years), 83 DOC (mean age: 65 years), and 127 control subjects (mean age: 49 years). In AD, VaD, and DOC, the levels of vitamin B(12) and folate were significantly lower (P < 0.002; 0.026; 0.002 for vitamin B(12) and P < 0.000 in all the 3 groups for folate) as compared with the controls. Similarly, TSH levels were significantly lower in AD and DOC (P < 0.008; 0.038) as compared with the controls. Vitamin B(12) and folate were significantly low in both AD and VaD patients. Hence, B vitamin supplementation should be considered as possible targets for the therapeutic intervention in dementia.
  Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology 10/2010; 13(4):257-62. · 0.93 Impact Factor
• Article: Role of vitamin B ₁₂ , folate, and thyroid stimulating hormone in dementia: A hospital-based study in north Indian population

  Rachna Agarwal, Neelam Chhillar, Suman Kushwaha, Neeraj Singh, Chandra Tripathi
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: Background: Vitamin B 12 and folate represent modifiable risk factors for dementia. They may increase the risk of Alzheimer′s dementia (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD) as their deficiency can increase the homocysteine level due to slowed methylation reaction. Homocysteine has a neurotoxic effect that could lead to neurologic disturbances. Hence, it is important to explore the status of serum B 12 and folate in AD and VaD to evolve the treatment strategies for the same. Objectives: A retrospective study was conducted to assess the levels of vitamin B 12 , folate, and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in serum and the relationship of these factors, including age and sex to cognitive decline in VaD, AD, and dementia due to other causes (DOC). Materials and Methods: Serum vitamin B 12 , folate, TSH, and total cholesterol were studied in 32 AD patients (mean age: 65 years), 12 VaD patients (mean age: 61 years), 83 DOC (mean age: 65 years), and 127 control subjects (mean age: 49 years). Results: In AD, VaD, and DOC, the levels of vitamin B 12 and folate were significantly lower (P < 0.002; 0.026; 0.002 for vitamin B 12 and P < 0.000 in all the 3 groups for folate) as compared with the controls. Similarly, TSH levels were significantly lower in AD and DOC (P < 0.008; 0.038) as compared with the controls. Conclusion: Vitamin B 12 and folate were significantly low in both AD and VaD patients. Hence, B vitamin supplementation should be considered as possible targets for the therapeutic intervention in dementia.
  Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology. 01/2010;
• Source

  Available from: medind.nic.in

  Article: Hyperammonemia and hepatic status during valproate therapy.

  Rachna Agarwal, Sangeeta Sharma, Neelam Chhillar, Kiran Bala, Neeraj Singh, C B Tripathi
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  ABSTRACT: The present study was conducted to assess correlation of ammonia levels with valproate levels in epileptic patients presenting with valproate toxicity and also whether liver enzymes and ammonia levels could serve as biochemical marker of valproate toxicity. 100 patients with epilepsy who had received valproate therapy for more than 12 months and had presented with valproate toxicity and 100 controls were included in the study. The serum valproate, ammonia and liver enzymes were measured in these subjects. In patients with valproate toxicity, the mean level of serum valproate was 110.91 ± 28.68 mg/dL (therapeutic range 50-100 mg/dL). Serum ammonia was higher (86.37 ± 39.90 µg/dL) in patients with valproate toxicity compared to controls (68.73 ± 30.07 µg/dL). Out of 100 patients, only 37 patients had serum valproate level > 120 mg/dL and 22 patients had raised levels of valproate as well as ammonia. Age < 30 years and serum ammonia > 69 μg/dL is risk factors for valproate toxicity. Serum ammonia, liver enzymes should be regularly investigated in patients on valproate therapy for early diagnosis of valproate toxicity.
  Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry 10/2009; 24(4):366-9.