Standardization of homocysteine on HPLC using DTT as reductant

Determination of plasma total homocysteine by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) usually requires reduction of protein bound or free homocysteine-disulphides into thiols by a reducing agent and the liberated thiols are then derivatized by a fluorescent marker. In this study we have standardized the HPLC method for homocysteine measurement using dithiothreitol (DTT) as reductant. The results of plasma total homocysteine values obtained by HPLC were compared with IMx method. The difference between the two means was statistically insignificant [P=0.616847 (two tail)] Linear regression analysis showed strong correlation between the two methods (r=0.983). Using this method we have analyzed 132 controls and 130 Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) patients for plasma total homocysteine, wherein, the mean plasma total homocysteine levels were 10.51±8.36 and 11.51±10.06 μmol/L respectively. Our research study suggests that DTT method is a simple and inexpensive assay for homocysteine determination in human plasma for research application.     

Association of Estrogen Receptor-α Gene &; Metallothionein-1 Gene Polymorphisms in Type 2 Diabetic Women of Andhra Pradesh

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is a multifactorial disease where both genetic and environmental factors contribute to its pathogenesis. Estrogen plays an important role in type 2 DM pathogenesis. A number of polymorphisms have been reported in the estrogen receptor (ESR1), including the XbaI and PvuII restriction enzyme polymorphisms of ESR1,which may be involved in disease pathogenesis. Metallothioneins (MT) act as potent antioxidants against various oxidative damages. Very few studies have indicated the association between Estrogen Receptor-α, MT1 gene polymorphisms with type2 DM. A total of 100 type 2 diabetic women and 100 age, sex matched controls were recruited. Using the PCR based RFLP method, the PvuII and XbaI polymorphisms of ESR1 and in MT1A (rs8052394 and rs11076161) gene polymorphisms were analysed. The genotype distribution and frequency of mutated allele showed no significant differences between diabetic and non-diabetic groups in PvuII (χ2 = 2.443; P = 0.1181) or XbaI (χ2 = 1.789; P = 0.1812) and rs8052394 (χ2 = 1.154; P = 0.2840) or rs11076161 (χ2 = 0.4141; P = 0.5199), polymorphisms. This is the first Indian study to conclude that ESR1 and MT1 gene polymorphisms are not associated with increased susceptibility to type 2 diabetes in Indian women.     

Serum and tissue levels of zinc,copper, magnesium and retinol in prostatic neoplasms

Zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), magnesium (Mg) and retinol levels were studied in serum and tissue of the patients with prostatic carcinoma (Ca), benign hyperplasia (BHP) and control subjects. Zinc and retinol levels were low in both serum and tissues of patients with carcinoma, while in BHP, both zinc and retinol level were decreased. Copper levels were high in serum and tissues of both BHP as well as carcinoma patients. Magnesium levels were elevated in both serum and tissues of cancerous patients. The results indicate that Zn, Cu, and Mg metabolism is disturbed in malignancy.     

Residue matrices and related properties in two-variable reactance functions

In this paper, the characterization of a two-variable reactance polynomial φ(λ,μ) is given in terms of the residue matrices of a single variable reactance matrix, Y(λ). Specificially, if Y(λ) is expressed in terms of its partial fraction as Y(λ)=λH_∞+Σ$\text{H}{}_{\mathrm{i}}\text{+jβ}{}_{\mathrm{i}}\text{λ+jω}{}_{\mathrm{i}}$+G where the residue matrices in general are p.s.d. Hermitian, then the ranks of these residue matrices are fixed in relation to the construction of φ(λ,μ) as the determinant of the two-variable reactance matrix μ1+Y(λ). Three theorems concerning these ranks—one each corresponding to the finite poles, poles at ∞ and the behaviour at λ=0 of Y(λ) are stated and proved. Several properties following from these theorems are studied. Also, implications of these theorems from a network theoretic point of view, like the minimum number of gyrators required to synthesize Y(λ) to yield the specific type of φ(λ,μ) etc., are studied. In the sequel, the concept of “generalized compact pole conditions” is introduced. Finally, these results are applied for the generation of two-variable reactance functions and matrices.     

Antihyperglycemic effect of water extract of dry fruits of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Terminalia chebula</Emphasis> in experimental diabetes mellitus

Water extract of dry fruits ofTerminalia chebula (Hindi-Harda, Telugu-Karakkaya) at a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight improved the glucose tolerance as indicated by 44% of reduction in the peak blood glucose at 2^nd hour in glucose tolerance test in diabetic (streptozotocin induced) rats. Treatment of diabetic rats with an initial fasting blood glucose of 253±9.4 mg/dl daily once with the water extract (200 mg/kg) for two weeks brought down the fasting blood glucose to 123±8.4 mg/dl which is only slightly above the normal value. These results indicate that water extract of Terminalia chebula improves glucose tolerance and brings down fasting blood glucose in diabetic rats.     

Hypocholesterolemic effect of water extract of the bark of banyan tree,Ficus bengalensis

The hypocholesterolemic effect of the water extract of the bark ofFicus bengalensis was investigated in 3 groups of rabbits, 5 in each group. Group 1 rabbits served as healthy controls and were fed with groundnut oil 1 ml/kg body wt. (bw) for five weeks. Groups 2 and 3 were made hypercholesterolemic by feeding orally cholesterol suspended in groundnut oil (1 ml/kg bw) at a dose of 100 mg/kg bw/day. Group 2 animals (untreated) continued to get the same amount of cholesterol for another four weeks. Group 3 animals received water extract of the bark (50 mg/kg bw/day) in addition to cholesterol as above. At the end of the 5th week, water extract not only prevented the elevation of serum cholesterol in the treated animals (Group 3) but also brought down its level to 160±14 mg% as compared to untreated animals (Group 2) 290±42 mg%. There was improvement in other parameters of lipid profile namely HDL & LDL+VLDL cholesterol and triacylglycerol.     

Evaluation of environmental influences of Rock phosphate Mines: Water Quality and Serum Chemistry

Jhamarkotra is located a distance of 25 kms from Udaipur city. It has richest deposits of phosphorite ore (Rock phosphate) in our country. The mine has been under operation for the last several years. However, the effect of environmental influence have not been investigated. In the present study water analysis from 8 points of delivery in mine area along with pathological and biochemical parameters is reported. The water is relatively hard and has significantly high content of fluoride and chloride. The miners were divided into four groups on the basis of their exposure in the mining area. The group were; a) non exposed, b) indirectly exposed, c) transiently exposed and d) directly exposed. These were compared with controls. The results indicate that serum uric acid, GPT, alkaline phosphatase level were elevated in directly exposed miners.