The altered levels of adiponectin - leptin as predictive biomarkers to estimate the severity of prostate cancer

Introduction and Aim: Prostate is one of the commonest sites of malignancy affecting elderly male population & is increasingly becoming a significant public health issue especially in countries having aging population. We hypothesized that altered levels of adiponectin-leptins may be an underlying connection between incidence of prostate cancer (PCa) and aged matched males.   Materials and Methods: This study was designed to comparatively corelate circulating serum levels of adiponectin & leptin in 160 elderly patients with PCa to their serum levels in 160 healthy controls. The age and body mass index in all groups were dissimilar in case and control. Based on the Gleason score of 7, =7 >7, patients were further subdivided into low, intermediate, high grades of PCa, respectively.    Results: No significant statistical variance was identified in terms of age, Body mass index (BMI), Radom blood glucose, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, total cholesterol, creatinine, and BUN levels within the compared groups. In PCa patients’ group, concentration levels of serum adiponectin were significantly lower, and levels of serum leptin was significantly greater compared to healthy controls (P<0.001). Statistical analysis revealed a significant positive inverse association between PSA and adiponectin levels (r=0.285, P<0.001) and significant association between serum levels of PSA and leptin (r=0.285, P<0.001). Significant statistical correlation was also evident between BMI, PSA, TG, and leptin were whole group. However, there was no significant association observed between adiponectin or leptin level and grade of the disease.   Conclusion: Evaluation of data in our study suggests that patients of PCa exhibit low concentration of serum adiponectin levels and high concentration of leptin levels. Further, this association was independent of histological grading of disease of disease/disease progression as well as other biochemical parameters.

Healing of Apical Periodontitis after Nonsurgical Treatment in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this prospective study was to compare the success of primary root canal treatment between type 2 diabetic and nondiabetic patients and to investigate the effect of periapical healing on glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in type 2 diabetic patients with apical periodontitis.

METHODS

Sixty mandibular molars with necrotic pulps and apical radiolucency (size ≥ 2 mm × 2 mm) were included in the study. Based on the HbA1c levels, patients were divided into 2 groups: type 2 diabetic (HbA1c ≥6.5%) and nondiabetic (HbA1c <6.5%). Forty-six teeth were evaluated at the 12-month follow-up time period. The primary outcome measure was the change in apical bone density as determined by the periapical index.

RESULTS

Both the diabetic and nondiabetic group depicted a significant reduction in the periapical score after endodontic treatment at the 12-month follow-up (P < .05). Significantly less periapical healing was observed in the diabetic group (43%) compared with the nondiabetic group (80%) at the 12-month follow-up (P < .05). HbA1c levels in the diabetic group increased at each follow-up after endodontic treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Diabetes mellitus may have a negative impact on the outcome of endodontic treatment in terms of periapical healing. Nonsurgical endodontic treatment did not improve HbA1c levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Correlation of 2 hour, 4 hour, 8 hour and 12 hour urine protein with 24 hour urinary protein in preeclampsia

OBJECTIVE

To find shortest and reliable time period of urine collection for determination of proteinuria.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

It is a prospective study carried out on 125 pregnant women with preeclampsia after 20 weeks of gestation having urine albumin >1 using dipstick test. Urine was collected in five different time intervals in colors labeled containers with the assistance of nursing staff; the total collection time was 24 hours. Total urine protein of two-hour, four-hour, eight-hour, 12-hour and 24-hour urine was measured and compared with 24-hour collection. Data was analyzed using the Pearson correlation coefficient.

RESULTS

There was significant correlation (p value < 0.01) in two, four, eight and 12-hour urine protein with 24-urine protein, with correlation coefficient of 0.97, 0.97, 0.96 and 0.97, respectively. When a cut off value of 25 mg, 50 mg. 100 mg, and 150 mg for urine protein were used for 2-hour, 4-hours, 8-hour and 12-hour urine collection, a sensitivity of 92.45%, 95.28%, 91.51%, and 96.23% and a specificity of 68.42%, 94.74%, 84.21% and 84.21% were obtained, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Two-hour urine proteins can be used for assessment of proteinuria in preeclampsia instead of gold standard 24-hour urine collection for early diagnosis and better patient compliance.

Impact of iron deficiency anemia on chronic periodontitis and superoxide dismutase activity: a cross-sectional study

PURPOSE

Both chronic periodontitis (CP) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) induce oxidative stress in the body and cause an imbalance between reactive oxygen species and antioxidants, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD). This study explored the SOD enzyme activity of saliva and serum in CP patients with and without IDA and analyzed the impact of IDA on CP.

METHODS

A total of 82 patients were divided into four groups: control group (CG, 22), periodontally healthy IDA patients (IDA-PH, 20), CP patients (CP, 20), and IDA patients with CP (IDA-CP, 20). After clinical measurements and samplings, serum and salivary SOD levels were determined using an SOD assay kit.

RESULTS

IDA-CP patients exhibited a higher gingival index, bleeding on probing, probing pocket depth, and percentage (%) of sites with a clinical attachment loss (CAL) of ≥6 mm (P<0.008) than CP patients. The mean salivary and serum SOD levels were significantly lower in the IDA-PH, CP, and IDA-CP patients than in the CG group (P<0.008). A significant positive correlation between salivary and serum SOD activity was observed in IDA (P<0.05). Furthermore, serum and salivary SOD levels were significantly and negatively correlated with all periodontal parameters including the percentage of sites with CAL of 4-5 and ≥6 mm (P<0.05) except the significant correlation between salivary SOD activity and mean CAL and the percentage of sites with CAL of 4-5 mm (P>0.05) in these patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Within the limits of this study, it may be suggested that IDA patients with chronic periodontitis have more periodontal breakdowns than patients with chronic periodontitis. Serum and salivary SOD activity levels were lower in the IDA-PH, CP and IDA-CP groups than in the CG. Iron deficiency anemia influenced the serum SOD activity but did not seem to affect the salivary SOD activity in these patients.

Correlation of lipid peroxidation and alpha-tocopherol supplementation in patients with cervical carcinoma, receiving radical radiotherapy

Vitamin E acts as antipromoter of carcinogenesis and MDA is a byproduct of lipid peroxidation inherent in carcinogenesis. Reduced serum levels of vitamin E have been found to be associated with higher risk of oral, gastrointestinal and breast cancers. This study was designed to evaluate status of serum vitamin E levels in carcinoma cervix patients receiving radical radiotherapy (RRT).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Fifty patients with biopsy-proven carcinoma of the cervix were divided into two groups. Group I received vitamin E supplement (100 mg orally daily) in addition to RRT. Group II received RRT only. Serum vitamin E and MDA levels were compared in the two groups pre- and post-RRT using Duggans and Beuges methods, respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Serum vitamin E levels were statistically lower in 50 patients than in controls. Post-RRT serum vitamin E levels increased in group I (p < 0.02) and group II (p < 0. 01) while serum MDA levels decreased in group I (p < 0.01) and group II (p < 0.05) meaning thereby that oxidative stress and consequent lipid peroxidation was reduced with decrease in tumour mass. Mean post-RRT serum vitamin E levels in the two groups was not statistically different. We found that serum vitamin E levels in the patients did not correlate with oral supplementation of vitamin E.

Serum malondialdehyde levels in Indian women

Mean MDA level in the fifty women was 3.41 +/- 0.75 nmol/ml [table: see text]

Engineering the CA(2+)-activated photoprotein aequorin with reduced affinity for calcium

Two stage PCR has been used to introduce single amino acid substitutions into the EF hand structures of the Ca(2+)-activated photoprotein aequorin. Transcription of PCR products, followed by cell free translation of the mRNA, allowed characterisation of recombinant proteins in vitro. Substitution of D to A at position 119 produced an active photoprotein with a Ca2+ affinity reduced by a factor of 20 compared to the wild type recombinant aequorin. This recombinant protein will be suitable for measuring Ca2+ inside the endoplasmic reticulum, the mitochondria, endosomes and the outside of live cells.