MEAL INDUCED OXIDATIVE STRESS LEVELS IN CONTROLLED AND POORLY CONTROLLED DIABETES

Objective:  The postprandial metabolic derangements are accentuated in type-2 diabetes and are important risk factors for cardiovascular disease since they induce oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction. Aim of the study was to analyse meal induced oxidative stress levels in controlled and poorly controlled diabetes.Methods: Total 60 type 2 diabetic patients on oral hypoglycemics of duration 5-15 years were divided into two groups based on HbA1c values (£7.5% for controlled /Group-1 and ³7.6% for poorly controlled/ Group-2). They were assayed for serum/plasma glucose, thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS) and oxidised LDL (ox-LDL) parameters both in fasting and 2 hrs post meal in both the groups. Statistical analysis was done using independent t test between the groups and paired t test within each group.Results: The Postprandial TBARS was found significantly higher in both the groups, whereas no significant difference between the two groups. The ox-LDL levels were found similar at two points of time in both the groups.Conclusion: An exaggerated postprandial oxidative stress levels are associated with diabetes and its complications including endothelial dysfunction. Â

LIPIDS AND ISCHEMIA MODIFIED ALBUMIN IN MILD SUBCLINICAL HYPOTHYROIDISM: RESPONSE TO LEVOTHYROXINE REPLACEMENT

Objective: Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) with thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) less than 10 µIU/ml is a common finding discovered duringroutine thyroid function testing. Thyroxine substitution and its benefits to alleviate dyslipidemia and oxidative stress (OXs) markers at this stage area matter of debate.Methods: This study aimed to investigate the influence of thyroxine substitution on lipid profile and OXs markers in newly diagnosed SCH subjects.The study included a total number of 50 newly diagnosed (20 treated and 30 untreated), SCH subjects aged 20-50 years with (TSH<10 µIU/ml), andfree thyroxine (FT4) levels in the normal range. Patients on medications that could cause thyroid hormone dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, and currentor pregnancy during the last 2 years were excluded from the study. Serum TSH, T3, T4, FT4, anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies, total cholesterol (TC),high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), and ischemia modified albumin (IMA) weredetermined in all subjects at baseline and after 9 months.Results: After thyroxine replacement, a significant decrease in TSH, LDL, IMA and an increase in FT4 were observed. The decrease in TC was notstatistically evident. There was no significant change in T3, T4, TG, HDL, after treatment. The untreated group showed an insignificant increase onlyin TSH.Conclusion: Thyroid substitution therapy has a favorable influence on lipid profile and OXs, where it particularly reduced LDL and IMA

PREDOMINANCE AND INFLUENCE OF VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY ON GLYCEMIC AND LIPID INDICES IN TYPE 2 DIABETES SUBJECTS: A CASE CONTROL STUDY

Objective To investigate the existence of vitamin D deficiency (VDD) among type 2 diabetes, non-diabetes subjects and its effect on both glycemic and lipid profiles.MethodsA case control study was conducted on 200 subjects of both gender (100 type 2 diabetes and 100 non-diabetes individuals) aged 40 to 60 years. Fasting serum 25(OH) D levels, Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), HbA1C, lipid profile including total cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein TC/HDL and very low density lipoprotein were estimated. Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP) was calculated. Group comparisons were done by one way ANOVA followed by post hoc Tukey's test and Student's independent T test. Chi-square test was performed for categorical variables. Correlation was done by Pearson's analysis. P < 0.05 was considered significant.Results The average serum 25(OH) D levels were significantly (p<0.001) low in diabetes group. The prevalence of VDD and the percentage of insufficient and sufficient categories was significantly (p<0.001) high and low respectively in diabetes group. In the deficient category diabetes group had severe VDD with significantly low HDL and elevated triglycerides and there was an insignificant but negative association between serum vitamin D levels, FBS, HbA1c, TC, TG, LDL, TC / HDL and AIP among diabetes subjects.ConclusionThe occurrence of severe vitamin D deficiency coupled with the independent association of the same with the glycemic and lipid profiles in type 2 diabetes may further add to the aggravation of complications Keywords: Vitamin D deficiency, Type 2 diabetes, Glycemic and lipid indice

Gyrodactylus salinae n. sp. (Platyhelminthes: Monogenea) infecting the south European toothcarp Aphanius fasciatus (Valenciennes) (Teleostei, Cyprinodontidae) from a hypersaline environment in Italy

Background: Historically, non-native species of Gambusia (Poeciliidae) have been used to control larval stages of the Asian tiger mosquito, Stegomyia albopicta Reinert, Harbach et Kitching, 2004 throughout Italy. The potential utility of indigenous populations of Aphanius fasciatus (Valenciennes) (Teleostei: Cyprinodontidae) as an appropriate alternative biological control is currently being explored. A sub-sample of ten fish collected from Cervia Saline, Italy (salinity 65 ppt; 30°C) to assess their reproductive capability in captivity, harboured a moderate infection of Gyrodactylus von Nordmann, 1832 (Platyhelminthes, Monogenea). A subsequent morphological and molecular study identified this as being a new species. Results: Gyrodactylus salinae n. sp. is described from the skin, fins and gills of A. fasciatus. Light and scanning electron microscopical (SEM) examination of the opisthaptoral armature and their comparison with all other recorded species suggested morphological similarities to Gyrodactylus rugiensoides Huyse et Volckaert, 2002 from Pomatoschistus minutus (Pallas). Features of the ventral bar, however, permit its discrimination from G. rugiensoides. Sequencing of the nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacers 1 and 2 and the 5.8S rRNA gene and a comparison with all species listed in GenBank confirmed they are unique and represent a new species (most similar to Gyrodactylus anguillae Ergens, 1960, 8.3% pair-wise distance based on 5.8S+ITS2). This represents the first species of Gyrodactylus to be described from Aphanius and, to date, has the longest ITS1 (774 bp) sequenced from any Gyrodactylus. Additional sampling of Cervia Saline throughout the year, found G. salinae n. sp. to persist in conditions ranging from 35 ppt and 5°C in December to 65 ppt and 30°C in July, while in captivity a low level of infection was present, even in freshwater conditions (0 ppt). Conclusions: The ability of G. salinae n. sp. to tolerate a wide range of salinities and temperatures shows its potential to readily adapt to several environmental conditions. These findings, together with the fact that A. fasciatus is a protected species and is considered as a biological control organism, necessitate further studies on the ecology and virulence of G. salinae n. sp

The positive impact of red palm oil in school meals on vitamin A status: study in Burkina Faso

BACKGROUND: Vitamin A (VA) deficiency is widespread in sub-Saharan Africa and school-age children are a vulnerable group. In Burkina Faso, the production and consumption of red palm oil (RPO) is being promoted as a food supplement for VA. The objective of the study was to assess the impact on serum retinol of adding RPO to school lunch in two test zones of Burkina Faso. METHODS: Over one school year, 15 ml RPO was added to individual meals 3 times a week in selected primary schools in two sites. Serum retinol was measured with HPLC at baseline and exactly 12 months later to take account of seasonality. A simple pre-post test design was used in the Kaya area (north-central Burkina), where 239 pupils from 15 intervention schools were randomly selected for the evaluation. In Bogandé (eastern Burkina), 24 schools were randomised for the controlled intervention trial: 8 negative controls (G1) with only the regular school lunch; 8 positive controls (G2) where the pupils received a single VA capsule (60 mg) at the end of the school year; and 8 schools with RPO through the school year (G3). A random sample of 128 pupils in each school group took part in the evaluation. RESULTS: In Kaya, serum retinol went from 0.77 ± 0.37 μmol/L at baseline to 1.07 ± 0.40 μmol/L one year later (p < 0.001). The rate of low serum retinol (<0.7 μmol/L) declined from 47.2% to 13.1%. In Bogandé, serum retinol increased significantly (p < 0.001) only in the capsule and RPO groups, going from 0.77 ± 0.28 to 0.98 ± 0.33 μmol/L in the former, and from 0.82 ± 0.3 to 0.98 ± 0.33 μmol/L in the latter. The rate of low serum retinol went from 46.1 to 17.1% in the VA capsule group and from 40.4% to 14.9% in the RPO group. VA-deficient children benefited the most from the capsule or RPO. Female sex, age and height-for-age were positively associated with the response to VA capsules or RPO. CONCLUSION: RPO given regularly in small amounts appears highly effective in the reduction of VA deficiency. RPO deserves more attention as a food supplement for VA and as a potential source of rural income in Sahelian countries

CORRELATION OF THYROID-STIMULATING HORMONE AND PROLACTIN LEVELS IN NON-PREGNANT FEMALE

Objective: The objective of the study was to correlate prolactin (PRL) levels with different levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). Methods: The study included 221 non-pregnant females of the age group of 16–43 years. TSH and PRL were assayed. Subjects were divided into three groups based on TSH levels, namely, low, normal, and high TSH levels and results compared. Statistical analysis: The comparison between different groups was done using test ANOVA. Correlation between TSH and PRL was established using Pearson’s correlation test. Results: Five subjects in Group-1 with low TSH values (mean 0.096±0.08 μIU/ml) had PRL 9.8±6.25 ng/dl, 186 subjects in Group-2 with normal TSH values (mean 1.98±0.94 μIU/ml) had PRL 16.58±8.78 ng/dl, and in Group-3 with high TSH values (mean 6.45±3.91 μIU/ml) had PRL 26.53±15.98 ng/dl. p value for TSH is &lt;0.001 (significant) and for PRL also is &lt;0.001 (significant). Positive correlation has been found in overall 221 subjects between TSH and PRL with correlation coefficient r=0.239 and p=0.01 (significant). Conclusion: PRL levels were higher in group with high TSH values. In most previous studies (subjects with established subclinical or overt hypothyroid), PRL was found higher with higher TSH levels. This study showed strong positive association between TSH and PRL irrespective of the thyroid status

Interleukin-6 in impaired fasting glucose

424-428Prediabetes is associated with the features of metabolic syndrome and inflammation contributing directly to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study was conducted to explore the utility of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in determining the risk of CVD in prediabetes. It involves estimation of IL-6 & insulin along with its correlation with insulin, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), Insulin resistance (IR) and physical measurements. Eighty subjects were grouped into 40 prediabetes and 40 normoglycemic on the basis of FPG values. The mean insulin, IL-6, Homeostasis Model Assessment-Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) and anthropometric measurements were found to be significantly higher (P 0.05) in prediabetes group. IL-6 had a significant correlation with fasting insulin (r = −0.413) and HOMA-IR (r = −0.413), but no correlation with FPG (r = −0.227) in the prediabetes group. IL-6 also showed a positive correlation with body mass index BMI(r = −0.339), waist circumference WC (r = −484) and waist-to-hip ratio WHR (r = −0.430). This study concludes that prediabetes is associated with inflammation, increasing the risk of CVD in these individuals