RBC membrane composition in insulin dependent diabetes mellitus in context of oxidative stress

Glyco-oxidation is considered as a source of permanent, cumulative, oxidative damage to long lived proteins in ageing and in diabetes. Although RBC depends solely on glucose for energy purpose, hyperglycemic state glycosylates hemoglobin, creates oxidative stress and puts the cellular components at risk. In view of this, RBC membrane composition was analyzed in diabetic patients. The results were compared with healthy age and sex matched control groups. When RBC membrane components such as protein, sialic acid, phospholipids and cholesterol were determined in insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, a significant rise in phospholipids and cholesterol and significant fall in sialic acid and protein content was noted. RBC membrane composition showed pronounced alterations in insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. These changes were accompanied by higher levels of lipid peroxidation products like Malondialdehyde.     

Hypomagnesaemia in type-2 diabetes mellitus patients: A study on the status of oxidative and nitrosative stress

This study was undertaken to evaluate the levels of plasma magnesium, lipid peroxides, nitric oxide end products, erythrocyte membrane lipid peroxides, erythrocyte reduced glutathione and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity in type-2 diabetes mellitus patients. 60 patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus and 30 healthy control subjects were included in this study. Among 60 type-2 diabetic patients, 30 patients were without complication and 30 patients were with various complications. Decreased levels of plasma magnesium, erythrocyte reduced glutathione and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity while increased levels of plasma lipid peroxides, nitric oxide end products and erythrocyte membrane lipid peroxides were observed in patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus. We propose that, under the shadow of hypomagnesaemia, there is excessive production of reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species as reflected by elevated lipid peroxides and nitric oxide end products concomitant with dwindled antioxidants and suggest their association with late complications in type-2 diabetes mellitus.     

Prevalence of insulin resistance in first degree relatives of type-2 diabetes mellitus patients: A prospective study in north Indian population

A total of 172 first degree relatives (FDRs) and 178 controls were included in this study. All the cases and controls were subjected to various anthropometric measurements, fasting and postprandial glucose estimation, fasting insulin measurement and fasting lipid profile. Results revealed the prevalence of Impaired Fasting Glucose (IFG) (cases 37% Vs controls 11.6%), Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT) (cases 34.3% Vs controls 11.2%) and diabetes (cases 11.05% controls 3.37%) was significantly higher in first degree relatives. Insulin resistance was measured using various methods, which included fasting plasma insulin (FPI), Homeostasis Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA_IR), insulin sensitivity index (ISI) (Mffm/l). Prevalence of insulin resistance (Insulin Resistance) as observed comparing FPI and HOMA_IR in cases and controls was 43.6% and 11.24% (P=0.005) and 37.8% and 12.47% (P=0.000) respectively. Prevalence of IR (Insulin Resistance) observed in cases having Normal Glucose Tolerance (NGT), Impaired Fasting Glucose (IFG), Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT) and diabetes mellitus measuring FPI Vs HOMA_IR was 37.5% vs 30.2%, 45% vs 40%, 38.98% vs 37.28% and 36.84% vs 31.57% as accordingly. However, ISI (Mffm/l) was not found to be a promising index for IR due to its poor specificity. Though HOMA is taken as gold standard for measurement of IR globally, our study observed fasting plasma insulin representing high sensitivity (89.7%) and specificity (93.3%) as compared to HOMA. Thus FPI had emerged in this work as a simple and reliable test for diagnosing insulin resistance across the population susceptible to develop diabetes including FDRs.     

国际科技评价改革十年评述

2013年5月,以《科研评价的旧金山宣言》（DORA）发布为标志,拉开了国际科技评价改革的序幕。10年来,国际科技评价改革经过大量理论准备和倡议,正在走向实践,40多个国家的350多家机构签署《改革科研评价的协定》并进行改革试点,效果初显。文章从改革目标、举措及案例3个方面,对国际科技评价10年改革进行了系统总结和分析,并从与我国科技评价改革比较的角度,得出研究结论和启示。     

六盘山生态旅游区水质变化对人类旅游活动干扰的动态响应

本文以水质动态监测数据为基础,从旅游水环境干扰指数和旅游者可接受改变限度（Limits of Acceptable Change,LAC）的双重视角来分析六盘山生态旅游区水质变化对人类旅游活动干扰的响应。分析结果表明：①在旅游季节内,旅游区水质主要指标在Ⅱ类水质标准范围内,个别指标达到Ⅲ类。但部分区段水质干扰程度达到3级和4级严重干扰的水平;②在旅游区不同采样点,水质变化差异较大。其中核心区维持在正常水平,随着旅游方式的改变,干扰逐渐加大,民俗村、宾馆变化最剧烈;③旅游者对水体浊度的可接受改变程度为8.95NTU;④旅游水环境干扰指数与其它响应变量显著相关,可作为评估旅游系统干扰响应程度的一项简易而有效的指标。目前六盘山旅游活动已开始对部分地区水质以及旅游者的游憩体验产生负面影响,规范旅游区开发建设十分迫切。     

论缔约方科学机构在履行《濒危野生动植物种国际贸易公约》中的作用

《濒危野生动植物种国际贸易公约》（CITES）旨在确保濒危野生动植物的生存免受国际贸易的威胁，是保护野生动植物资源最有力的国际公约之一。作为缔约方履约机构的重要组成部分，科学机构肩负着确保国际野生动植物贸易满足公约可持续性、合法性及可追溯性要求的责任。科学机构的工作范围广、涉及领域多，包括：组织开展动植物种科学研究，掌握物种基础科学信息，了解公约贸易政策，为野生动植物进出口贸易提供科学咨询，熟悉公约谈判规则，参与国家履约谈判，开展履约科普宣传，提高全社会的野生动植物保护意识等。中华人民共和国濒危物种科学委员会（简称“国家濒科委”）作为我国的CITES科学机构，自成立以来，依托中国科学院，依靠广大科学家，与相关部门密切合作，取得了一系列重要成绩，得到国内外的高度评价。目前，面对履约新形势，国家濒科委也面临着一系列挑战，需要在物种科学研究、促进领域协作、深化履约合作、专家智库建设、信息平台建设等方面得到进一步提升，以期为全球濒危野生动植物保护作出更大贡献。