Betel Quid Addiction: Blessing or curse, A study of North East Population of India

Introduction: Oral cancer is most common cancer in males and third most common in females, one of the main causative agent being use of chewing betel quid (BQ). Areca nut (Areca catechu), a major component of BQ, contains certain alkaloids that give rise to nitrosamines. CYP2A6 genetic polymorphism were studied among the Eastern and North eastern indian population .Methods : In this present study subjects were screened from Department of E.N.T. Oral and Maxillofacial surgery of RKMSP hospital, Kolkata and different areas of Eastern and North Eastern states of India.  Polymorphism of CYP2A6 gene was studied from EDTA blood .Results: Some of the cases had more than one addiction. It has been found that most of the subjects had betel quid chewing habit. Early metabolizer are susceptible to oral cancer where as in case of poor metabolizers chances are less.Conclusion: Betel quid has an immense role in changing the oral pathology and developing oral cancer.

Study of the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at the palindromic sequence of hypersensitive site (HS)4 of the human β-globin locus control region (LCR) in Indian population

LCR, a genetic regulatory element, was examined in β-thalassemia patients who do not show any mutation in the β-globin genes. We sequenced LCR-HS2, HS3, and HS4 in samples from 16 such patients from the Indian population and found only one SNP A-G in the inverted repeat in HS4. A significant association was observed between the G allele and occurrence of β-thalassemia by Fisher's exact test. The AG and GG genotypes showed higher relative risk as compared to the AA genotype. We also observed linkage disequilibrium between the A/G polymorphism and the AT-rich motif of the LCR HS2 region, suggesting that the G allele could be an evolutionarily new mutation in the study population

ANTIOXIDANT ENZYMES STATUS AND THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE LEVEL OF DOWN SYNDROME PATIENT IN WEST BENGAL, INDIA: A CASE-CONTROL STUDY

Objective: The copper-zinc superoxide dismutase gene resides on chromosome 21 and is over expressed in Down syndrome patients. Reactive oxygen species can initiate lipid peroxidation and DNA damage leading to mutagenesis, carcinogenesis and cell death, if the antioxidant system is impaired. Down syndrome is associated with various forms of thyroid dysfunction, hypothyroidism being the most common. The additive effects of both co-morbid conditions lead to further amplification of the clinical problems in the children with Down syndrome. So the objective of the current study is to evaluate the activity of some antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase and level of thyroid stimulating hormone among Down syndrome cases and then compare with healthy control group. Methods: The present work aimed to study the changes in the quantitative in vitro activities of the antioxidant enzymes – glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase in the erythrocyte and thyroid stimulating hormone level of the study group. This study group included both Down syndrome patients and age, sex matched healthy controls. Results: It was found that significant increase in the activities of both glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase and thyroid stimulating hormone level in patients as compared with healthy controls. This study has revealed that increased antioxidant enzymes activity and thyroid stimulating hormone level are the three significant indicators of Down syndrome patients. Conclusion: Study of biochemical parameter reveals that Thyroid stimulating hormone level, Glutathione peroxidase and Superoxide dismutase activity is increased among DS cases.  KEY WORDS Down syndrome, Glutathione peroxidase, Superoxide dismutase, Thyroid stimulating hormone, Trisomy 21