Oxidative stress, α-tocopherol, ascorbic acid and reduced glutathione status in schizophrenics

A disturbance in the antioxidant defense system including α-tocopherol, ascorbic acid and reduced glutahtione metabolism due to free radical induced oxidative injury has been implicated in various neuro-psychiatric disorders. The roles of these antioxidants, changes in their blood levels and correlation with oxidative stress were studied in a common psychiatric illness Schizophrenia. Fifty-eight subjects of either sex ranging in age from 18–60 years divided into two age groups (≤40 and >40 years) diagnosed for schizophrenia, and forty age and sex-matched normal subjects as controls were included in the study. Blood samples were analyzed for malondialdehyde (MDA), α-tocopherol, total ascorbic acid (TAA), dehydro ascorbic acid (DHAA), reduced ascorbic acid (RAA), leucocyte ascorbic acid (LAA) and reduced glutathione (GSH). A decrease in the levels of α-tocopherol, total ascorbic acid and reduced glutathione was found in schizophrenics compared to normal controls. Further a significant rise in oxidative stress and decreased antioxidant status was observed in the chronic stage of schizophrenia as compared to those in acute condition. A significant rise in dehydroascorbic acid with concomitant fall in reduced ascorbic acid suggests scavenging action of ascorbic acid and its utilization with increased oxidative stress as indicated by high blood malondialdehyde levels. Leucocyte ascorbic acid, a better index of ascorbic acid status was also found to be reduced in schizophrenics, suggesting depletion of body stores of ascorbic acid and the condition worsened with advancing age.     

Oxidative stress in metabolic syndrome

As antioxidants play a protective role in the pathophysiology of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, understanding the physiological status of antioxidant concentration among people at high risk for developing these conditions, such as Metabolic Syndrome, is of interest. In present study out of 187 first degree non-diabetic relatives and 192 non-diabetic spouses, 33.1% and 19.7% were found to have metabolic syndrome respectively. Subjects with metabolic syndrome (≥3 risk factors) had poor antioxidants status as reflected by significantly low levels of vitamin A, C & E and significantly increased (p<0.01) oxidative stress as compared to those without metabolic syndrome. At the same time serum insulin levels and insulin resistance were found to be significantly high (p<0.001) in metabolic syndrome. A strong positive correlation (r=0.946; p<0.001) between oxidative stress and insulin resistance was observed in metabolic syndrome. Low levels of antioxidants and increased oxidative stress with insulin resistance in metabolic syndrome suggests that besides therapeutic life style changes (TLC) as suggested in ATP III guidelines inclusion of antioxidant vitamins, fruits and vegetable could be beneficial to ward off the consequences of metabolic syndrome.     

Increased erythrocyte resistance to osmotic lysis in the acute hepatitis caused by true hepatotropic viruses non-A, non-B (nanb)

An unexpected increase in erythrocyte osmotic resistance during viral hepatitis in two patients prompted study of effects of hepatitis (in Karad) on osmotic resistance. The test was performed by placing erythrocytes in saline solutions of decreasing osmolarity and osmotic fragility defined in terms of the saline concentration at which hemolysis begins. Study included 44 infected subjects (acute viral hepatitis non-A non-B). All forty four infected subjects showed abnormal results when compared to normal subjects. increased erythrocyte osmotic resistance i.e. hemolysis begins between 0.45% to 0.40% of NaCl and is completed between 0.25% to 0.20% NaCl, whereas in normal subjects. hemolysis begins between 0.50% to 0.45% NaCl and is completed between 0.35% to 0.30% NaCl. Osmotic resistance was observed with increase in total bilirubin (mean±SD) (4.6 ±3.6), direct bilirubin (3.0±2.5), SGOT (58.8±55.5) SGPT (114.2±150.3) activity. Physiologic shifts in erythrocyte osmotic resistance may be due to changes in membrane lipid ratio.     

Quality assurance strategies for affiliated institutions of HE: a case study of the affiliates under National University of Bangladesh

Presently, education is considered as the main weapon for national development. However, this tenet has been challenged by several economists. Their findings give rise to a further question: whilst expansion of education increases globally, what is it exactly that continues to hinder a country’s progression? There is no short answer, but one major area of concern is the quality and relevance of the education available. Research for this paper, the first of its kind in Bangladesh, has been carried out by interviews and observation in the affiliates of the National University of Bangladesh, where 80 % of the students in higher education are the underprivileged. The findings show that the legislators ignore the fact that quality of education in the affiliates is perceived as important.