Serum nutritional status of tocopherol and retinol normalized to lipids of persons living in the southern rural Terai region in Nepal

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The present study examined the levels of serum α-Tocopherol (Toc), retinol (Ret), cholesterol (Chol) and triglycerides (TG), and their correlations in the sera of people in Nepal.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The survey was conducted on the general populace in the agricultural Terai region in southern Nepal. The study population consisted of 93 males and 83 females aged 10-68 years. Serum Toc and Ret were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No significant differences were observed between the genders for the average of total Chol (T-Chol) (140 and 145 mg/100 ml, respectively), HDL-C (45 and 47 mg/100 ml), LDL-C (94 and 97 mg/100 ml), and TG (106 and 110 mg/100 ml), and the ratio of LDL/HDL (2.16). The levels of mean Toc (4.32 and 4.27 μg/ml) were about the same for both genders, while the mean Ret levels were significantly higher for males (624 ng/ml) than for females (535 ng/ml) (p<0.001). A direct relationship was found between the levels of Toc and Ret (r=0.46, p<0.001 and r=0.28, p<0.05 for males and females, respectively). Serum levels of Toc and Ret were positively related to the levels of Chol (r=0.48 and r=0.58, p<0.001 for males and r=0.49, p<0.01 and r-0.28, p<0.05 for females, respectively). The ratio of Toc/TG normalized to serum TG was directly correlated to the ratio of Ret/TG (r=0.79 for males, and r=0.72 for females, p<0.001, respectively) and the ratios of Toc/TG and Ret/TG were negatively related to the LDL/HDL levels (r=-0.49 and r=-0.43, for males, and r=-0.46 and r=-0.57 for females, p<0.001, respectively).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The levels of Toc and Ret were low in the sera of people living in the southern rural Terai region in Nepal, and it was found that lower levels of Toc and Ret normalized to TG increased the ratio of LDL/HDL. These results suggest that greater intake of foods rich in Toc and Ret should be encouraged to reduce the erisk of coronary heart disease.</p>

Serum Nutritional Status of Tocopherol and Retinol Normalized to Lipids of Persons Living in the Southern Rural Terai Region in Nepal

Objective: The present study examined the levels of serum α-Tocopherol (Toc), retinol (Ret), cholesterol (Chol) and triglycerides (TG), and their correlations in the sera of people in Nepal. Methods: The survey was conducted on the general populace in the agricultural Terai region in southern Nepal. The study population consisted of 93 males and 83 females aged 10–68 years. Serum Toc and Ret were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. Results: No significant differences were observed between the genders for the average of total Chol (T-Chol) (140 and 145 mg/100 ml, respectively), HDL-C (45 and 47 mg/100 ml), LDL-C (94 and 97 mg/100 ml), and TG (106 and 110 mg/100 ml), and the ratio of LDL/HDL (2.16). The levels of mean Toc (4.32 and 4.27 μg/ml) were about the same for both genders, while the mean Ret levels were significantly higher for males (624 ng/ml) than for females (535 ng/ml) (p<0.001). A direct relationship was found between the levels of Toc and Ret (r=0.46, p<0.001 and r=0.28, p<0.05 for males and females, respectively). Serum levels of Toc and Ret were positively related to the levels of Chol (r=0.48 and r=0.58, p<0.001 for males and r=0.49, p<0.001 and r=0.33, p<0.01 for females, respectively) and TG (r=0.23 and r=0.28, p<0.05 for males and r=0.29, p<0.01 and r=0.28, p<0.05 for females, respectively). The ratio of Toc/TG normalized to serum TG was directly correlated to the ratio of Ret/TG (r=0.79 for males, and r=0.72 for females, p<0.001, respectively) and the ratios of Toc/TG and Ret/TG were negatively related to the LDL/HDL levels (r=−0.49 and r=−0.43, for males, and r=−0.46 and r=−0.57 for females, p<0.001, respectively). Conclusion: The levels of Toc and Ret were low in the sera of people living in the southern rural Terai region in Nepal, and it was found that lower levels of Toc and Ret normalized to TG increased the ratio of LDL/HDL. These results suggest that greater intake of foods rich in Toc and Ret should be encouraged to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.

Serum protein and immunoglobulin levels among nepalese living in southern Nepal

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>This study examined the levels of serum protein fractionation, immunoglobulin (Ig) and antistreptolysin O (ASO) of people (91 males and 84 females aged 10-68 years) living in the Terai region of southern Nepal, as there has previously been no information available about them.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Blood samples were collected early in the morning after overnight fasting. Serum protein fractionation was carried out by cellulose-acetate electrophoresis. IgG, IgA, IgM and ASO were measured by immuno-turbidimetry with clinical kits.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean proportion of albumin (Alb) was rather low due to increased globulin (Glb). The Alb level of males was significantly higher than that of females, while the male γ-Glb level was significantly lower than that of females. The mean values of IgG, IgM and ASO for males were lower than those values for females, although the difference was significant only for the IgM value. The mean values of IgM for female age groups of 30-39 years or less were significantly higher than those for the corresponding male age groups. Age correlated positively with IgA, and negatively with ASO in both sexes. γ-Glb and IgG correlated significantly with TP, AlB, α(1)-Glb and IgA in both sexes. ASO correlated with β-Glb and IgA in males, and with γ-Glb and IgG in females.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The fact that the level of γ-Glb, a major component of serum globulin, was high suggested exposure to a highly bacterial and viral environment. These results point to the need to prevent infectious diseases as well as improve their nutritional status, especially for children and young adults.</p>

Serum Protein and Immunoglobulin Levels among Nepalese Living in Southern Nepal

Objective: This study examined the levels of serum protein fractionation, immunoglobulin (Ig) and antistreptolysin O (ASO) of people (91 males and 84 females aged 10−68 years) living in the Terai region of southern Nepal, as there had previously been no information available about them. Methods: Blood samples were collected early in the morning after overnight fasting. Serum protein fractionation was carried out by cellulose-acetate electrophoresis. IgG, IgA, IgM and ASO were measured by immuno-turbidimetry with clinical kits. Results: The mean proportion of albumin (Alb) was rather low due to increased globulin (Glb). The Alb level of males was significantly higher than that of females, while the male γ-Glb level was significantly lower than that of females. The mean values of IgG, IgM and ASO for males were lower than those values for females, although the difference was significant only for the IgM value. The mean values of IgM for female age groups of 30-39 years or less were significantly higher than those for the corresponding male age groups. Age correlated positively with IgA, and negatively with ASO in both sexes. γ-Glb and IgG correlated significantly with TP, Alb, α1-Glb and IgA in both sexes. ASO correlated with β-Glb and IgA in males, and with γ-Glb and IgG in females. Conclusions: The fact that the level of γ-Glb, a major component of serum globulin, was high suggested exposure to a highly bacterial and viral environment. These results point to the need to prevent infectious diseases as well as improve their nutritional status, especially for children and young adults.

Identification of a Novel Restriction Enzyme from Helicobacter Pylori that Recognzes and Clevages 5'GATC-3' 3'CTAG-5'

No Abstract Available.

Serum Mineral Levels among Nepalese Living in the Southern Agricultural Terai Region

The physical status and serum mineral concentrations for people aged 10 to 68 years living in an agricultural southern region of Nepal were determined. Systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) for both sexes in the 10−14 year age group were low (p<0.05, vs the other age groups) and those for the over 50−year−olds tended to be higher than the other age groups. The mean values of total proteins (TP) (8.6±0.5 g/dl for males and 8.7±0.6 g/dl for females) were high due to an increase of globulin (3.9±0.4 g/dl for males and 4.1±0.5 g/dl for females). More than three−fourths of the subjects of both sexes showed calcium (Ca) levels of 9.0−11.2 mg/dl and about 65% of them showed potassium (K) Ievels of 4.8−5.4 mEq/l. A significant positive correlation between DBP and serum K was observed (p<0.05). Serum inorganic phosphorus (IP) correlated with age (p<0.001) and body mass index (BMI) (p<0.001). The serum Ca levels correlated with TP (r=0.31, p<0.001), albumin (Alb) (r=0.50, p<0.001), IP (r=0.31, p<0.001), K (r=0.32, p<0.001) and chlorine (Cl)(r=−0.37, p<0.001). Cl was associated with TP (r=−0.21, p<0.05), Alb (r=−0.36, p<0.001) and IP (r= −0.21, p<0.05). These results suggested that Ca intake for the subjects seemed to be insufficient although their serum Ca level was within normal.