Urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine as a marker of oxidative stress induced genetic toxicity in oral cancer patients

CONTEXT

Recently, non-communicable diseases have snatched the lead from infectious diseases in causing mortality. Of these, oral cancer accounts for a significant proportion of deaths. Every year in India significant percentage of newly diagnosed malignancy is oral cancer attributed to various reasons.

AIMS

The aim of this study was to assess the extent of oxidative stress and its effect on modification of DNA by urinary nucleoside 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels in oral cancer subjects. To see the relationship between the nucleoside 8-OHdG and antioxidant capacity ferric reducing ability plasma (FRAP) in oral cancer subjects.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN

Case-control study included three groups with 60 volunteers, who were divided into 30 controls, and equal number of clinically diagnosed oral cancer male patients: (Subdivided into newly diagnosed [n = 15] and 1-year treatment follow-up oral cancer subjects [n = 15]).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A random urine sample was used for analysis of 8-OHdG concentration. Serum triglycerides, lipid peroxidation, protein thiols, and FRAP assay were performed by spectrophotometric technique.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED

Student's t-test and one-way analysis of variance were performed for group comparison and Pearson's correlation analysis were used. A P < 0.05 was considered the optimum level of significance.

RESULTS

The urinary 8-OHdG and serum malondialdehyde levels were significantly elevated in newly diagnosed oral cancer subjects in their 1-year treatment compared to the control group (P < 0.05). A significant correlation was observed between urinary 8-OHdG and FRAP in both groups of oral cancer subjects.

CONCLUSIONS

Urinary 8-OHdG can be a useful diagnostic marker of oxidative DNA damage in oral cancer subjects.

Association of Salivary Osteopontin Levels with Glycaemic Status and Microalbuminuria - in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

INTRODUCTION

The monitoring of glycaemic status in patients with T2DM is mainly through blood tests (Fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c), which are invasive and involves painful pricks. This leads to poor patient compliance and soon could lead to various micro and macro vascular complications, which hamper the quality of life. There are no sensitive and specific markers to predict these complications at the earliest. Sialochemistry has recently gained attention for monitoring chronic diseases. Osteopontin is a phospho-glycoprotein molecule, elevated in many inflammatory conditions.

AIM

The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of serum and salivary osteopontin in Type 2 Diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this case-control study, we recruited 33 cases of T2DM and 31 age and gender matched healthy controls. Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist/Hip Ratio (WHR), Waist Circumference (WC) and blood pressure was recorded. Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG), salivary glucose, HbA1c, microalbuminuria, systolic BP, serum and salivary osteopontin levels were estimated.

RESULTS

FPG, salivary glucose, HbA1c, microalbuminuria, systolic BP, BMI, waist / hip ratio serum and salivary osteopontin levels were significantly high in T2DM cases compared to control subjects. Serum and salivary osteopontin levels were significantly correlated with HbA1c and microalbuminuria in T2DM cases.

CONCLUSION

Serum and salivary osteopontin levels are significantly elevated in subjects with T2DM and are associated with glycaemic control and microalbuminuria.

Gender Difference in the Role of Posterodorsal Amygdala on the Regulation of Food Intake, Adiposity and Immunological Responses in Albino Wistar Rats

Lesion of posterodorsal amygdala (PDA) has been known to produce hyperphagia and obesity in animal models. However, the influence of gender on food intake (FI), body weight (BW) and immunological parameters following PDA lesion is not yet known. The present work was carried out to study the effect of gender on the regulation of FI, BW and immunological parameters following lesions of PDA in albino Wistar rats. Twenty-four albino Wistar rats were divided equally into 2 groups - PDA group and control group - with 6 male and 6 female rats in each. In the experimental group, bilateral electrolytic lesion of the respective nuclei was performed by stereotaxy and post-lesion parameters were recorded. In the control group, sham lesion was made. Male-female difference in each parameter was determined. Following PDA lesion, FI increased significantly in both male (p < 0.001) and female rats (p < 0.01) but the percentage increase in FI was significantly more in female rats (p < 0.001). BW also increased in both the sexes but the increase in BW was significant only in male rats (p < 0.05). Both male and female rats showed increase in the concentration of cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4), but the significant increase in CD4 concentration (p < 0.01) was seen only in male rats. CD8 concentration increased significantly in male rats (p < 0.05). The liver weight-BW ratio was significantly greater in female rats (p < 0.001) following PDA lesions. Lesion of PDA results in accentuation of FI and BW gain and activation of immunity. There is a gender difference in the inhibitory control of PDA on FI, BW and immunity.

Diagnostic utility of heat stable alkaline phosphatase in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

BACKGROUND

Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDP) complicate 3-10% of all pregnancies. Though there are several biochemical parameters which aid in predicting hypertension of pregnancy, human placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP), synthesized in placenta during pregnancy by placental syncytiotrophoblast, assumes diagnostic relevance. The purpose of this study was to compare the total alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and heat stable placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) levels in the serum of normotensive and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and to evaluate the clinical utility of ALP and PLAP as a reliable, sensitive, specific and economical biochemical marker of HDP.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a case control study, carried out on pregnant women with hypertension, of south Indian population. Study included pregnant women, 60 patients with hypertension and 60 controls. Biochemical assays were carried out by the IFCC approved procedures based on spectrophotometric method and using fully automated random access chemistry analyser. Data was compared by using student t-test. ROC was drawn to find out optimum cut off for ALP, PLAP and PLAP/ALP ratio in HDP. Pearson's correlation was performed to ascertain the association among markers.

RESULTS

Serum total ALP, PLAP and PLAP/ALP ratio levels were significantly higher in hypertensive pregnant women when compared to controls (p<0.05). There was significant correlation among ALP, PLAP and DBP. ROC analysis of ALP (169.5), PLAP (69) and PLAP/ALP (0.44) ratios showed optimum cut-offs in diagnosis of hypertension in pregnancy.

CONCLUSION

Serum heat stable ALP isoenzyme and PLAP/ALP ratio could be useful adjuvant markers in diagnosis of HDP in association with other relevant and economically viable biochemical tests.

Biosensors in clinical chemistry: An overview

Biosensors are small devices that employ biological/biochemical reactions for detecting target analytes. Basically, the device consists of a biocatalyst and a transducer. The biocatalyst may be a cell, tissue, enzyme or even an oligonucleotide. The transducers are mainly amperometric, potentiometric or optical. The classification of biosensors is based on (a) the nature of the recognition event or (b) the intimacy between the biocatalyst and the transducer. Bioaffinity and biocatalytic devices are examples for the former and the first, whereas second and third generation instruments are examples for the latter. Cell-based biosensors utilizing immobilized cells, tissues as also enzyme immunosensors and DNA biosensors find variegated uses in diagnostics. Enzyme nanoparticle-based biosensors make use of small particles in the nanometer scale and are currently making a mark in laboratory medicine. Nanotechnology can help in optimizing the diagnostic biochips, which would facilitate sensitive, rapid, accurate and precise bedside monitoring. Biosensors render themselves as capable diagnostic tools as they meet most of the above-mentioned criteria.

The prospect of serum magnesium and an electrolyte panel as an adjuvant cardiac biomarker in the management of acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

Ischemic heart disease accounts 12.2% deaths worldwide. Serum magnesium (Mg+) status is often ignored in Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI). Studies showed alterations in the levels of serum electrolytes including magnesium in AMI.

AIM

To evaluate serum Mg+ and other electrolytes as adjuvant markers in the diagnosis of AMI.

DESIGN AND SETTINGS

Case control study was conducted in South Indian male population with AMI within six hours of onset of symptoms.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Study includes sixty patients with AMI and 100 controls. Serum electrolytes were estimated using electrolyte analyzer. Data were compared by using student't' test. ROC was drawn to find out optimum cutoff for diagnosing AMI. Pearson's correlation was done to see the association among the markers.

RESULTS

Serum Ca, Mg, K and Na electrolytes were significantly lower ('p'<0.001) in AMI. Ca:Mg, K:Mg, and Na:K ratios were significantly higher when compared to controls ('p'<0.001). There was significant correlation of serum Mg levels with other cardiac markers (Total CK, CK-Mb, Troponin -T) of AMI ('p' <0.05).ROC analysis of Na:Mg (40.9), Ca:Mg (3.43) and K:Mg (2.74) ratios showed optimum cutoffs in diagnosis of AMI.

CONCLUSION

Serum Mg, Ca:mg, K:mg and Na:K ratios could be useful adjuvant markers in diagnosis of AMI.

Planning an objective and need based curriculum: the logistics with reference to the undergraduate medical education in biochemistry

PURPOSE

The medical education is recently being transformed into several domains in order to adapt to the need and the value based academics which is required for the quality doctors who serve the community. Presently, the biochemistry curricula for the graduate students of medicine have been questioned by as many experts, because of their multiple lacunae. In this review, we would like to highlight the scenario which is related to the existing biochemistry curricula for graduate medical students, which have been followed in several medical schools and universities and we also hope to share our ideas for implementing objective and pragmatic curricula. Evidence based research, wherein the articles which are related to innovative teaching-learning tools are collected and the pros and cons which are related to the different methods analyzed in biochemistry point of view.

CONCLUSION

Rapid changes in the content of the curriculum may not be required, but a gradual introduction of the novel approach and the methods of teaching biochemistry can be adopted into the curriculum.