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Background: Prostate cancer (CaP) has a varied occurrence across the globe. Serum Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) level is influenced by various factors which include race and ethnicity, environmental factors, lifestyle, metabolic changes, physiologic changes and advancing age. Data is scarce regarding reference range for Indian population. Aim and Objectives: To determine age specific serum PSA level in apparently healthy south Indian men. Material and Methods: Reports of 5199 adult males tested for serum total PSA were screened. Persons with PSA >20ng/ml were excluded from the study. A total of 4583 apparently healthy adult men from tertiary care hospital in Mangaluru, India were included as subjects. The median serum PSA levels were calculated in each 10- year age group for Indian males. These were compared with age specific reference range reported in different populations across the country and also among different ethnicities across the globe. The data was analysed using SPSS 16.0, Inc, Chicago, IL. Results: The median PSA value was 0.76 ng/ml in subjects younger than 50 years; 0.97 ng/ml in 50-59 years group; 1.38 ng/ml in 60-69 years group; 1.89 ng/ml in 70-79 years group and 2.19 ng/ml in persons older than 80 years. We found a positive correlation between age and serum PSAlevels. Conclusions: PSA is influenced by various factors which makes depending on a single reference for all age groups a questionable practice. This study highlights the need to establish age specific reference ranges for different populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a global health problem with rising incidence. Serum Creatinine (SCr) is insensitive to moderate reductions in Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR). Low molecular weight proteins like Beta2-Microglobulin (BMG) are cleared by the plasma through glomerular filtration. Hence serum concentrations increase progressively with reduction of GFR. Aim and Objectives: To correlate serum concentrations of BMG with creatinine and estimated GFR (eGFR) in patients with early stages of CKD. Material and Methods: Seventy four adults in early stages of CKD were included based on eGFR, calculated using the 4 variable Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equation and albumin creatinine ratio. They were divided into four groups based on the stages of CKD. SCr was measured using Jaffes reaction with Rosche Hitachi P800 autoanalyser and serum BMG was measured using Calbiotech ELISA kit and compared using one way ANOVA, followed by post hoc Tukey's test and Pearson's correlation tests with SPSS version 16 software. Results: Levels of serum BMG were significantly elevated in all groups, (p<0.01) while SCr levels were in normal range in patients with eGFR >60 ml/min/1.73m2. Both BMG (r=-0.792) and SCr (r=-0.913) increased with reduction of eGFR (p<0.01). Correlation with eGFR in Stage 1 CKD showed serum BMG (r=-0.824, p<0.01) and SCr (r=-0.362) and in Stage 2 CKD, BMG (r=-0.705 p<0.01) and SCr (r=-0.609, p<0.01). Conclusion: Serum beta2-microglobulin is elevated in asymptomatic patients with normal creatinine, thereby demonstrating its reliability in detecting early stages of CKD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]