Indian prevalence of familial hypercholesterolemia demystified by applying Dutch lipid clinic network criteria

Background:Dyslipidemia is a growing problem in India, with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) being an under diagnosed and under treated cause of the same. FH is a common genetic disorder associated with high LDL cholesterol, leading to premature CAD and peripheralvascular diseases. The prevalence of FH is 1 in 250 individuals. True global prevalence of FH is underestimated. The prevalence of FH in Indian population is still unknown. Methods:A total 4000 patients who had tested their lipid profile at Max hospital, between Aug 2017-Aug 2019 were screened. Out of these we found 530 patients with LDL cholesterol ?155 mg/dl. Amongst these, 90 patients consented for clinic visit and examination, and thus enrolled and assessed for FH using the Dutch lipid clinic network (DLCN) criteria. Based on scores, patients were diagnosed as definite, probable, possible, or no FH. Other risk factors known to cause dyslipidemia such as smoking, diabetes mellitus and hypertension were excluded.Results:In a general population of 4000 patients, 4 individuals were detected with definite FH, showing a prevalence of 1 in 1000 (0.1%). Out of the enrolled 90 patients with high LDL cholesterol, 4 (4.44%) were diagnosed as definite, 14 (15.56%) as probable, 33 (36.67%) as possible, and 39 (43.33%) as unlikely FH.Conclusions:Prevalence of FH appears to be much higher among Indians with high LDL cholesterol. Therefore, it should not be ignored in individuals with high LDL cholesterol. To detect patients with FH, routine screening with simple DLCN criteria may be effectively used

Approaches for targeted proteomics and its potential applications in neuroscience.

An extensive guide on practicable and significant quantitative proteomic approaches in neuroscience research is important not only because of the existing overwhelming limitations but also for gaining valuable understanding into brain function and deciphering proteomics from the workbench to the bedside. Early methodologies to understand the functioning of biological systems are now improving with high-throughput technologies, which allow analysis of various samples concurrently, or of thousand of analytes in a particular sample. Quantitative proteomic approaches include both gel-based and non-gel-based methods that can be further divided into different labelling approaches. This review will emphasize the role of existing technologies, their advantages and disadvantages, as well as their applications in neuroscience. This review will also discuss advanced approaches for targeted proteomics using isotope-coded affinity tag (ICAT) coupled with laser capture microdissection (LCM) followed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) analysis. This technology can further be extended to single cell proteomics in other areas of biological sciences and can be combined with other ‘omics’ approaches to reveal the mechanism of a cellular alterations. This approach may lead to further investigation in basic biology, disease analysis and surveillance, as well as drug discovery. Although numerous challenges still exist, we are confident that this approach will increase the understanding of pathological mechanisms involved in neuroendocrinology, neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders by delivering protein biomarker signatures for brain dysfunction.

Temporal phase relation of circadian neural oscillations as the basis of testicular maturation in mice: A test of a coincidence model.

To study the underlying mechanism of gonadal growth during the attainment of puberty and to test a coincidence model, 7 experimental groups of 2-week-old male mice, Mus musculus, were administered the serotonin precursor, 5-hydroxytryptophan, followed by the dopamine precursor, L-dihydroxyphenylalanine at hourly intervals of 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 h (5 mg/100 g body weight per day for 13 days). At 11 days post-treatment, a suppression of gonadal activity was seen in the 7-h mice and a maximum suppression in the 8-h mice, along with a signifi cantly increased degree of gonadal development in the 12-h mice, as compared with the controls. In addition to its known regulation of seasonal gonadal cycles, the relative position of two circadian neural oscillations may also affect the rate of gonadal development during the attainment of puberty in mice. Moreover, the present study provides an experimental paradigm to test the coincidence model of circadian oscillations.