Effect of MTHFR (rs1801133) and FTO (rs9939609) genetic polymorphisms and obesity in T2DM: a study among Bengalee Hindu caste population of West Bengal, India

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) susceptibility has increased due to the independent risks of genetic polymorphism and obesity as well as combinations of these. Despite recent advancements in T2DM management and diagnosis, the challenges of susceptibility and prognosis still remain. The present work is attempted to understand the association of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) (rs1801133) and FTO (rs9939609) genetic polymorphisms and obesity with T2DM among the Bengalee Hindu caste population of West Bengal, India. One hundred and four clinically diagnosed T2DM male patients and 176 healthy males, without family history of T2DM, (control group) of the endogamous linguistic group (Bengalee Hindu caste) participated. Genotyping was performed using the PCR-RFLP method following the isolation of genomic DNA. MTHFR (rs1801133) genetic polymorphism with CT genotype revealed significantly higher risk (OR = 3.44; p = .01) of T2DM compared to the CC genotype. The attenuation of MTHFR-T2DM risk after adjustment for age and waist circumference revealed obesity and age effects in progression of T2DM. T2DM patients also had significantly (p < .05) higher overall obesity, central obesity, and SBP compared to the controls. However, FTO (rs9939609) genetic polymorphism demonstrated no significant (p= .854) effect on T2DM and obesity. The present study identified that MTHFR genetic polymorphism and obesity might be used as screening tools for early prognosis of T2DM

Association of fat patterning, type 2 diabetes mellitus and MTHFR gene polymorphism: a study among the two ethnic groups of Tripura, North-East India

Introduction. Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a group of metabolic disorders resulting from insufficient action of insulin. The etiology of T2DM is multi-factorial that includes genetic factors, obesity and lifestyles. Recent reviews of overall and stratified meta-analyses demonstrated the association between MTHFR polymorphism (C677T) including fat distribution and risk of T2DM. Publications of Indian context regarding fat patterning and MTFHR genetic polymorphism of the North East Indian population are insufficient and scant among the ethnic population of Tripura. Aim. In this backdrop, the present study is the first attempt to understand the relationship of fat patterning, MTHFR gene polymorphism and T2DM among two Tibeto-Burman speaker endogamous ethnic populations (Chakmas-the migrant group and Tripuris – the aboriginal group) of Tripura, North East India. Material and methods. The present study consists of age matched 280 males (Chakmas 147 and the Tripuris 133) from Tripura. Anthropometric and metabolic (Fasting Blood Glucose) variables and to discern obesity, blood glucose level and genotyping of MTHFR was performed following standard techniques. Results. The result revealed significant (p<0.05) association of obesity, TT genotypes and fasting blood glucose among the Chakmas with in comparison to the Tripuris. Conclusion. In this first attempt from North East India on the aspects of association of fat Patterning, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and MTHFR gene polymorphism suggests that the Chakmas are more diabetic, and this might be due to the concomitant effects of T alleles and higher central obesity and Percent Body Fat (PBF). More population screening from other under-represented indigenous populations of North East India is needed for prevention of metabolic disorders

Estimation of optimal obesity cut-offs among Tripuri and Halam women of Tripura, Northeast India

Obesity is one of the risk assessments for various non-communicable diseases (NCDs), while anthropometric measurements are one of the measures of obesity, which has been demonstrated as a time-tested important technique for risk assessment of NCDs. Due to variation of anthropometric measurements, it seems difficult to classify obesity using world cut-offs in different population groups. The objective of the present study is to discern the population-specific obesity cut-offs and the best obesity predictor among two indigenous ethnic groups (Tripuri and Halam women) of Tripura, North East India. The subjects of the present study were 88 Tripuri and 98 Halam adult women whose anthropometric measurements were obtained by using standard techniques. The area under curve (AUC) and Youden index (YI) were used to evaluate the performance of each anthropometric adiposity indicator as well as optimal obesity cut-offs. The age and waist-hip ratio (WHR) was significantly higher (p &lt; 0.05) in Tripuris compared to Halams. However, no significant (p &gt; 0.05) differences were observed in obesity categorized by body mass index (BMI) using the WHO 2004 cut-off between the populations. Waist stature ratio (WSR) (AUC = 0.959) and waist circumference (WC) (AUC = 0.804) were better obesity predictors for Halams and Tripuris respectively. The present study envisaged the optimal cut-off points, which were 84.95 cm for WC, 96.45 cm for hip circumference (HC), 29.95% for the percentage of body fat (PBF), 0.89 for WHR, 0.57 for WSR and 1.27 for conicity index (CI) in Halams, while for the Tripuris, the optimal cut-off points were 89.6 cm for WC, 97.5 cm for HC, 33.1% for PBF, 0.95 for WHR, 0.55 for WSR and 1.02 for CI. In conclusion, the present study indicated the optimal anthropometric cut-offs which could be the redefined the parameters for assessment of obesity in Halam and Tripuri women

Design of a Molecular Architecture via a Green Route for an Improved Silica Reinforced Nanocomposite using Bioresources

Synthesis of sustainable polymers from terpenes via a facile and green approach has evolved as a high-impact research field. In this work, we have designed a new molecular architecture and synthesized a highly reactive epoxy group-functionalized biobased elastomer, poly­(myrcene-<i>co</i>-glycidyl methacrylate), by an environmentally friendly emulsion polymerization technique with the ultimate aim to have better reinforcement ability for silica reinforced tires. The copolymers displayed molecular weights in the range of 71 500–105 870 Da and a subambient glass transition temperature between −48 and −8 °C. By combining the molecular structure with nonpetroleum based silica, a silica/elastomer green nanocomposite was designed to investigate the effect of the epoxy groups on the interfacial interaction, morphology, and performance of the nanocomposites. The silica reinforced elastomer vulcanizate exhibited better silica dispersion, higher mechanical properties, and greater traction and wet skid resistance than the pristine elastomer. The current approach provides an effective route to make sustainable elastomers for diverse applications replacing petroleum-based analogues, which would be particularly useful to the automobile industry