Evaluation of serum zinc level and plasma SOD activity in senile cataract patients under oxidative stress

An imbalance in the systemic redox status leading to oxidative stress has been an important factor in development of senile cataracts, which is reflected by an increase in serum TBARS and a decrease in plasma SOD activity. Zinc has been an important cofactor required for structural stability of SOD. In the present study the role of serum zinc level and plasma SOD activity was analyzed in senile cataract patients showing significant oxidative stress. Serum TBARS, plasma SOD and serum zinc level was measured in thirty randomly selected senile cataract patients against properly matched controls. Although, the analysis of means showed a significant increase in serum TBARS and decrease in plasma SOD and serum zinc level in cases, but plasma SOD was found to be just significantly correlated (p=0.05) with the serum zinc only in the cases. The results of partial correlation studies and multiple regression analysis, also, showed only a significant correlation and predictable dependence between serum TBARS and plasma SOD, excluding any role of serum zinc level. The present study concludes that it is chiefly the plasma SOD activity, but not the serum zinc level, that determines the proneness of the patients for development of senile cataract.     

Nitric oxide: The wonder molecule

Nitric oxide, a newly discovered biological messenger molecule that is produced from different kinds of cells has diversified and has significant effects on various pathological and physiological events ranging from the prevention of cancer and diabetes mellitus to coronary artery disease (heart attack) and hypertension. Kushal Chakraborty is a doctoral student at Department of Life Sciences and Biology at Jadavpur University. Presently he is working on the stimulatory effects of various kinds of NSAIDs on different kinds of cells and isolation of that protein from those cells.     

Classroom

In this section of Resonance, we invite readers to pose questions likely to be raised in a classroom situation. We may suggest strategies for dealing with them, or invite responses, or both. “Classroom” is equally a form for raising broader issues and sharing personal experiences and viewpoints on matters related to teaching and learning science.     

Interplay Between Inflammation and Hemostasis in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a global epidemic currently. This study was planned to evaluate markers of inflammation and hemostasis and their possible association, if any, in patients with CAD. The study was carried out in 60 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and 60 age and gender matched controls. The following parameters were assayed in all study subjects-inflammatory-interleukin (IL)-10, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, fibrinogen; hemostatic-fibrinogen, fibrin D-dimer and a novel risk factor—homocysteine. Inflammatory markers (hs-CRP, TNF-α and IL-10), fibrinogen, fibrin D-dimer and homocysteine levels were significantly higher in the patients with AMI, as compared with controls. A positive correlation was observed between D-dimer and the inflammatory markers—hs-CRP and TNF-α. Upon multivariate analysis, TNF-α emerged as the best determinant of CAD in our study. Our results indicate that there is a possible interplay of inflammation and hemostasis in CAD, underlining their synergistic role in the pathogenesis of CAD.