Association of Obesity with Cardiovascular Diseases

ABSTRACT Obesity is distinct as pro-inflammatory/ pro-oxidative state related with malfunctioning of adipose tissue. Impairment of the function of endocrine and paracrine systems results to disruption of homeostasis of endothelium and vascular system. This pathology along with atherosclerosis shows coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular problems. Obesity may be related to aging, diet, childhood and adulthood. It is also related with old age, sex steroids and may also be linked with metabolic impairments. Along with types of obesity, obesity paradox is also discussed. This narrative review covered an extensive literature search on PubMed, Google Scholar and Medline for papers on the impact and association of obesity with cardiovascular diseases since December 2022. Keywords: Obesity, Cardiovascular disease, Obesity paradox

The Diagnostic Value of Biochemical Cardiac Markers in Acute Myocardial Infarction

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. The role of cardiac markers in the diagnosis, risk stratification, and treatment of patients with chest pain is vital. Patients with elevated cardiac troponin levels but negative CK-MB who were formerly diagnosed with unstable angina or minor myocardial injury are now reclassified as non–ST-segment elevation MI (NSTEMI) even in the absence of diagnostic ECG changes. CK-MB is both a sensitive and specific marker for myocardial infarction. Cardiac troponin T is a cardio-specific, highly sensitive marker for myocardial damage. Cardiac troponin I is a contractile protein exclusively present in the cardiac muscle. The absolute cardiospecificity of cTnI allows the diagnosis of myocardial infarction distinct from muscle lesions and non-cardiac surgery. In 2000, the European Society of Cardiology and the American College of Cardiology redefined AMI with a particular advocacy on troponin. The 2002/2007 American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) Guideline Update for the management of these patients strongly recommend to include cTnI. Specifically, with rare exception, the diagnosis cannot be made in the absence of elevated biomarkers of cardiac injury

Correlation of Immunoglobulin G With Severity Of Psoriasis

Objectives:  To find the correlation of immunoglobulin G with severity of psoriasis. Methodology: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital Lahore/Niazi Teaching Hospital Sargodha. Study duration was six months from January 2020 to June 2020. One hundred patients of psoriasis (confirmed by Dermatologist) were included in the study. Questionnaire based on age, gender, duration of illness, type and severity of problem etc and biochemical test including immunoglobulin G were filled by consented patients. The study comprised into patients and controls groups. Fifty age matched Subjects with no history of skin disease were taken as controls. For immunological assessment, IgG was measured by the technique of ELISA. Results: Mean age of developing of disease was in the range of 36 to 43 years. A few patients have family history with a problem of asthma. High severity of index (59 to 61) in both genders with duration of disease was 4 to 6 years. A direct correlation between level of IgG and disease severity was observed. Conclusion: Increased level of immunoglobulin G and its direct correlation with severity of psoriasis may suggest an activation of 2nd immune defense that try to reduce the severity of disease

Phosphorylation sites of HER2/c-erbB-2: role in cell growth and in disease

The protein kinase c-erbB-2 belongs to the family of receptor tyrosine kinase and is involved in oncogenesis. The present study predicts different phosphorylation sites of HER2/c-erbB-2 which are important in preventing or developing cancer, especially breast cancer. Sequence homology showed highest homology (77%) with epidermal growth factor receptor kinase domain. According to PROSITE search result, active sites of c-erbB-2 are N-lobe (glycine rich phosphate binding loop). Catalytic loop with presumptive catalytically active of Asp108 is phosphorylated by tyrosine protein kinase. A-loop, activation loop, becomes phosphorylated and activates the substrate binding. The study strengthens our knowledge regarding HER2 signaling by the detection of uncharacterized signaling proteins, establishing phosphorylation of an activation loop and helps us to make assumptions about the role of such previously unidentified proteins. On the basis of importance of HER2 in breast cancer as well as in other diseases, this study provides fruitful information for designing new therapeutic strategies

Heavy Metal Ion and Haptoglobin Association with Career Duration in Pharmaceutical Industries: A Potential Occupational Hazard?

Introduction: Due to the increase growth of industrialization, the problem of environmental pollution has increased worldwide. Aims & Objectives: A cross-sectional comparative study was designed to find out association between heavy metal ion (lead & nickel), haptoglobin and years of working in Pharmaceutical inddustries. Place and duration of study: Pharmaceutical industry located at Quaid-e-Azam Industrial Estate Kot Lakhpat, Lahore, Punjab. Duration of study was January 2019 to June 2019. Material & Methods: A total of 58 workers of a pharmaceutical industry were included in the study.35 age matched subjects with no history of any disease were taken as controls. A brief questionnaire was filled by each participant. Heavy metals present in serum sample of patients were digested by concentrated Nitric Acid. The digested samples were analyzed to estimate the level of lead and nickel using atomic absorption spectrophotometry available at the Department of IMBB University of Lahore.Data was entered and analyzed by SPSS 20, p ? 0.05  was taken as significant. Results: Mean age of workers was 40.64 years with BMI 23.52 kg/m2. Their work of experience or duration of work in industries was 1-5 years, 6-10 years and > 10 years. Majority had dry cough followed by running nose, breathless end of day and headache. Levels of lead, nickel and haptoglobin was significantly raised compared to controls. Association of lead and nickel exposure with years of working experience showed that with increasing working experience or duration of workers the levels of lead and haptoglobin was markedly raise (5.9 ± 2.8 mg/l) as compared to the level of nickel (2.58 ± 1.05 mg/l). Conclusion: Exposure of lead and nickel increases the level of haptoglobin and causes health issue in the workers of Pharmaceutical factors. Levels of these heavy metals increased in circulation of workers with the increasing of their duration of work or work experience

Oxidative Stress Mediates the Association between Thyroid Dysfunction and Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND: Breast Cancer (BC) and thyroid dysfunction are commonly observed ailments in females, and two may occur synchronously. The present study was conducted to find the role of oxidative stress and its association with thyroid dysfunction and BC. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 288 and 100 subjects were included in case and control groups, respectively. Serum samples were obtained from consented subjects. Thyroid profile, thyroid antibodies, antioxidant and oxidant profiles, as well as cathepsin S (CTSS), prolactin, and estradiol levels were estimated using specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. The data was analyzed using independent Student's t-test and Pearson correlation test. RESULTS: BC cases had higher levels of thyroid antibodies and thyroid stimulating hormone than controls. Prolactin and estradiol levels were also deranged in the case group. Higher oxidative stress biomarkers were evident in the case group; 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), a DNA damage marker, increased concomitantly. Correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between the antioxidant (catalase) and the oxidant (8-OHdG) levels. Furthermore, the higher level of CTSS in BC cases than in the controls is the hallmark of this study, demonstrating the pathogenesis and progression of the disease. CONCLUSION: Results suggest the mediating role of oxidative stress in the association between thyroid dysfunction and BC. It concludes that the parameters assessed in this study could be indicative of disease progression and metastasis in BC as well as thyroid dysfunction. KEYWORDS: breast cancer, thyroid, oxidant, antioxidant, RO

Screening of Pneumococcal Pneumonia by Amplification of Pneumolysin Gene in Children Visiting Hospitals in Lahore, Pakistan

Objective: Streptococcus pneumoniae is a common worldwide potential pathogen causing pneumonia among children and the detection of pneumococcal infections by conventional culturing techniques is cumbersome. The present study describes a comparative analysis of sensitive nested-PCR and bacterial culture in pediatric patients with clinical and radiological indication of S. pneumoniae infection. Methods: PCR was performed using outer primers to amplify a 348-bp region and inner primers a 208-bp region of the pneumolysin gene. For pneumolysin PCR assay, DNA from peripheral blood and middle ear fluid (MEF) samples was extracted by salting out method. The sensitivity of the assay was evaluated with about 0.06 pg of purified S. pneumoniae genomic DNA. Findings: Among 90 MEF culture negative samples from acute otitis media pediatric patients, 8.8 % pneumolysin-PCR positivity was detected, demonstrating the sensitivity and reliability of PCR for rapid pneumonia evaluation. Binomial test of proportionality performed on (SPSS 17) gives P<0.05 indicating that PCR technique is statistically significant and sensitive in the diagnosis of S. pneumoniae infection. Conclusion: The research work evaluated the effectiveness and efficacy of nested-PCR for detecting S. pneumoniae in pediatric patients with clinical and radiological confirmation of bacterial infection. This simplified method permitted quick selection of the patients and played a significant role in preliminary management of pneumococcal infections