Relationship between Selected Socio-Demographic Factors and Cancer of Oral Cavity - A Case Control Study

The aim of this study was to recognize factors associated with cancer of oral cavity considering socio-demographic characteristics. The cases were 350 with squamous-cell carcinoma of oral cavity diagnosed between 2005 and 2006 in Morbai, Narandia, Budharani Cancer Institute, Pune, India. Similar number of controls match for age and sex selected from the background population. Cases and controls were interviewed for tobacco related habits and general characteristics; age, gender, education and possible socio-demographic factors. Chi-square test in uni-variate analysis and estimate for risk showed that education, occupation and monthly household income were significantly different between cases and controls (P < 0.001). Irrespective to gender, relative risk, here odds ratio, (OR) of low level of education (OR = 5.3, CI 3.7–7.6), working in field as a farmer (OR = 2.5, CI 1.7–3.7), and monthly household income less than 5000 Indian Rupees currency (OR = 1.7, CI 1.2–2.3) were significant risk factors for oral cancer. While, there was no significant relationship between religious and or marital status either in males or females

EXTRACTION, IDENTIFICATION AND ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL OF SECONDARY METABOLITES OF WHOLE FRUITS OF SANTALUM ALBUM LINNBY GC-MS

Objective: In order to study the antioxidant potential responsible secondary metabolites the fruit pulp and kernels of Santalum albumwere extracted in different solvents and tried to identify by GC-MS. Methods: The extraction was carried out in various organic solvents by soxhlet by successive manner. The antioxidant capacity of all extracts was determined by FRAP. Identification of various secondary metabolites in the extracts was done by analysing them by GC-MS. Results: Ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of fruit pulp and kernel have shown antioxidant activity. GC-MS identification has shown the presence of many secondary metabolites. Among many compounds cholest-4-en-3-one [11.86 %] obtained as the major constituent in fruit pulp di-chloromethane extract. While kernel methanol extract have showed presence of pyrazinamide [63.70%] and Acetamide-2-cyano [55.40%] in acetonitrile as major compounds. Conclusion: The present study suggests that fruit pulp and kernels of Santalum album can be a new and rich source of medicinally useful secondary metabolites

Retinitis pigmentosa genetics: A study in Indian population

A total of 151 retinitis pigmentosa (RP) patients from 83 families were screened and the frequencies of different genetic categories studied. One hundred and ten patients out of 151 had a positive inheritance pattern, and autosomal recessive (AR) emerged as the predominant (53 out of 151), genetic pattern followed by isolated or sporadic (41 out of 151) cases. Further study of autosomal recessive cases revealed consanguinity as the main characteristic (49 out of 53) in the Indian population studied. Early onset and severe progression of disease was seen in the consanguineous group

Risk for oral cancer associated to smoking, smokeless and oral dip products

Oral cancer is one of the most common life threatening diseases in India. Tobacco and alcohol are considered to be the most risk factors for oral cancer. This study was conducted to investigate the association of tobacco and poly-ingredient oral dip products with oral cancer. A case-control study of 350 cases and 350 controls, over a period of 19 months, between February 2005 and September 2006 was carried out in Pune, India. The self-reported information about the consumption of tobacco, poly-ingredient oral dip products, alcohol, dietary habits and demographic status were collected by a researcher made questionnaire. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to identify the risk of substances abuse. The frequency of smoking, smokeless and oral dip products in cases were significantly higher than controls (P < 0.0001). Among smoking types, bidi (P < 0.0001, OR = 4.1 95% CI = 2.4 - 6.9), of smokeless types, chewing tobacco (P < 0.0001, OR = 8.3, 95% CI = 5.4 - 13.0) and mishiri (P < 0.0001, OR = 3.3, 95% CI =2.1 - 5.4), and of oral dip products, consumption of gutkha (P < 0.0001, OR = 12.8, 95% CI =7.0 - 23.7) and supari (P < 0.0001, OR = 6.6, 95% CI =3.0 - 14.8) indicated strong association with oral cancer upon adjustment. This study provides strong evidence that gutkha, supari -areca nut- chewing tobacco (tobacco flakes), bidi smoking and mishiri (tobacco powder, which applied as a tooth and gum cleaner) are independent risk for oral cancer

Evaluation of lipid peroxidation and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase in hemodialysis patients

Oxidative stress often occurs in chronic hemodialysis (HD). The aim of the present study was to determine plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) level for lipid peroxidation product and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities as enzy-matic antioxidants. Thirty-one HD patients (aged 50.3 ± 14.9 years) who were dialyzed three times per week and 31 healthy subjects (aged 47.8 ± 13.9 years) were enrolled. The results showed lower enzymatic antioxidants activity (GPx, SOD) and higher MDA levels in comparison with control subjects. In addition, SOD and GPx activities significantly decreased and MDA increased after HD. We also found that there was a significantly negative correlation between SOD and GPx with MDA. The results suggest that elevated level of plasma MDA and reduced activities of SOD and GPx can be caused oxidative stress, which may play a critical role in HD complications

Tetrodotoxin: Chemistry, Toxicity, Source, Distribution and Detection

Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a naturally occurring toxin that has been responsible for human intoxications and fatalities. Its usual route of toxicity is via the ingestion of contaminated puffer fish which are a culinary delicacy, especially in Japan. TTX was believed to be confined to regions of South East Asia, but recent studies have demonstrated that the toxin has spread to regions in the Pacific and the Mediterranean. There is no known antidote to TTX which is a powerful sodium channel inhibitor. This review aims to collect pertinent information available to date on TTX and its analogues with a special emphasis on the structure, aetiology, distribution, effects and the analytical methods employed for its detection