Association of Oxidative Stress with Disease Activity and Damage in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Cross Sectional Study from a Tertiary Care Centre in Southern India

To study oxidative stress in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) by estimating serum oxidised LDL (OxLDL), 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), malondialdehyde (MDA), and total anti-oxidant status and to correlate with SLE disease activity and disease damage. Eighty SLE patients satisfying the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology (SLICC/ACR) 2012 criteria and 80 healthy controls were studied. Exclusion criteria were infections, renal insufficiency, other connective tissue diseases, drug-induced lupus, smoking, alcohol consumption. Disease activity was measured by SLE disease activity index-2 K (SLEDAI), disease damage was quantified by SLICC-Damage Index (SDI). Sera was tested for OxLDL, 8-OHdG, and total antioxidant status (TAS) by double-antibody sandwich ELISA; MDA measured by Colorimetric assay. Oxidative stress markers were compared between group1- controls, group 2-mildly active SLE (SLEDAI ≤ 5), group 3- moderate to highly active SLE (SLEDAI ≥ 6). SLE patients had significantly higher MDA, 8-OHdG and lower TAS when compared to healthy controls, while OxLDL was similar in the three groups. MDA, 8-OHdG were significantly higher, TAS lower in group 3 compared to group 2. MDA had positive correlation with SLEDAI, TAS negatively correlated with SLEDAI. SLE with neuropsychiatric manifestations, vasculitis, anti-sdDNA antibodies had higher MDA, MDA/TAS ratio. SLE patients with thrombocytopenia, and vasculitis had higher OxLDL. Only OxLDL was significantly higher in those patients who have SDI > 1. SLE patients have increased oxidative stress measured by increases in MDA, 8-OHdG, and lower total antioxidant status that was associated with disease activity and some disease manifestations. However only OxLDL was associated with damage.     

What Is Right About Special Education

Abstract

Promoting self-determination has become an important aspect of the educational programs of students with disabilities. There is now a sufficient literature base to support some syntheses that enable researchers to judge their progress in this area to date and to provide direction for future research and practice. For this study, we conducted a literature review of studies that measured or examined global self-determination.     

The determinants of the scientific revolution

This article gives an indepth insight into the path leading to the Scientific Revolution which includes ancient theories of science and modern science and technology. This article is reproduced from the bookScience in the West and India: Some Historical Aspects, Editors B V Subbarayappa and N Mukunda, Published by Himalaya Publishing House, ’Ramdoot’, Dr Bhalerao Marg, Kelewadi, Girgaon, Mumbai 400 004, India.     

A simple experiment to study the statistical properties of a molecular assembly with two or three state dynamics

A dice throwing game is used to develop the key concepts in statistical thermodynamics of systems with two or three energy states. The experiment will demonstrate how, according to the second law of thermodynamics, an increasing number of molecules in an assembly produces a particular distribution of microstates. It will also lead to a statistical definition of temperature.     

An example of regional co-operation: APEID

Increasingly, as has been seen in other contributions to this ‘dossier’, developing countries are realizing that one way to increase the value of international aid and to improve their own selfsufficiency, is to co-operate among themselves. The United Nations system, in turn, has increasingly supported efforts on a regional level to exchange experience, information and know-how. At a recent meeting, ‘Technical Co-operation among Developing Countries’ (UNDP/ESCAP regional meeting, Bangkok, Thailand, March 1976), the Director of the Asia Programme for Educational Innovation for Development (the main thrust of the programme has previously been described inProspects, Vol. IV, No. 4, p. 535) made the following statement about the specifically Asian aspects of the question, as reflected through the activities of APEID.     

Assessment of glycemic potential of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Musa paradisiaca</Emphasis> stem juice

The present study reveals the effect of Musa paradisiaca stem juice on blood glucose level (BGL) of normal & diabetic rats. The dose of 500 mg/kg bodyweight produces a significant rise of 28.3% in blood glucose level after 6h of oral administration in normal rats. Whereas, in sub diabetic rats the same dose produces a rise of 16.4% in blood glucose levels within 1h during glucose tolerance test (GTT) and a rise of 16% after 4 h in fasting blood glucose levels of severe diabetic cases. These results were unexpected and important to report as other species of Musa like Musa sapientum has been reported for its hypoglycemic effect.     

Serum markers for early diagnosis of non-‘Q’ wave and ‘Q’ wave myocardial infarction

The present study conducted on twenty-five uncomplicated cases of acute myocardial infarction diagnosed by clinical and electrocardiographic findings indicated significantly increased level of cardiac Troponin-T and increased activities of the enzymes total creatine kinase, creatine kinase-MB, aspartate transaminase and lactate dehydrogenase as compared to the twenty-five healthy control subjects. The level of cardiac Troponin-T and the activities of the enzymes total creatine kinase, creatine kinase-MB, aspartate transaminase and lactate dehydrogenase was found to be higher in “Q” wave myocardial infarction patients as compared to the non-“Q” wave and the controls. Since cardiac Troponin-T has been shown to increase in unstable angina and renal failure without cardiac disease and creatine kinase-MB activity has been found to be normal in patients with unstable angina and increase very slightly in patients with renal failure, it was concluded that a combination of cardiac Troponin-T and creatine kinase-MB activity was sufficient for the early diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction.     

Effect and feasibility of wearable physical activity trackers and pedometers for increasing physical activity and improving health outcomes in cancer survivors: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Purpose:This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effect of wearable devices for improving physical activity and healthrelated outcomes in cancer survivors.Methods:CINAHL,Cochrane,Ebscohost,MEDLINE,Pubmed,ProQuest Health and Medical Complete,ProQuest Nursing and Allied Health Source,ScienceDirect,and SPORTDiscus databases were searched for randomized controlled trials published before September 1,2020,that evaluated interventions involving wearable devices in cancer survivors.Standardized mean differences(SMDs)were calculated to assess effects on physical activity and health-related outcomes.Subgroup analyses were conducted to assess whether the effects differed by interventions and cancer characteristics.Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool.Results:Thirty-five trials were included(breast cancer,n=15,43%).Intervention durations ranged between 4 weeks and 1 year.Most trials(n=25,71%)involved pedometer-based physical activity interventions.Seven(20%)involved Fitbit-based interventions,and 3(9%)involved other wearable physical activity trackers(e.g.,Polar,Garmin).Compared to usual care,wearable devices had moderate-to-large effects(SMD range 0.54-0.87,p<0.001)on moderate-intensity physical activity,moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity,total physical activity,and daily steps.Compared to usual care,those in the intervention had higher quality of life,aerobic fitness,physical function,and reduced fatigue(SMD range=0.18-0.66,all p<0.05).Conclusion:Wearable physical activity trackers and pedometers are effective tools that increase physical activity and improve health-related outcomes in individuals with cancer.Identifying how these devices can be implemented for longer-term use with other intervention components remains an area for future research.