Absorption of nicotine induces oxidative stress among bidi workers.

Chronic exposure to tobacco dust causes nasal inhalation and cutaneous absorption of tobacco alkaloids especially nicotine, therefore the considerable evidences showed that workers employed in bidi industries are at risk of cancer, lung diseases and other many health related common problems. Many references revealed that tobacco dust exposure induces mutations, damage to DNA etc. which are supposed to be the consequences of free radical generation. In present study attempt have been made to evaluate the status of oxidants and antioxidants and their relation with nicotine. 90 bidi workers were screened for serum lipid peroxide (MDA) and serum nitric oxide (NO*) as oxidant and erythrocytic-Superoxide Dismutase (RBC-SOD), Vitamin-C as antioxidant. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and urinary cotinine were also measured. These bidi workers were further divided in 3 groups, Group 1, 11 and III exposed to tobacco dust for about 10 to 14 yrs, 15 to 19 yrs and 20 to 24 yrs of exposure respectively. Highly significant excretion of Urinary cotinine was found in all groups of bidi workers as compared with control (p < 0.001). The levels of MDA, and NO* were found to be significantly elevated in all the three groups with progression of exposure, than the control (p < 0.001), where as the levels of RBC-SOD, Vitamin-C and TAC were significantly decreased in all the three groups as compared with controls (p < 0.001). From our findings it is evident that nicotine absorption might contribute to the disturbed oxidant and antioxidant balance leading to oxidative stress.

Correlation of serum lipids and lipoproteins in leprosy.

Serum lipids and lipoproteins were assessed in sixty leprosy and forty age and sex matched healthy controls. The study subjects included cases of LL with reactions, LL without reactions, BL with reactions, BL without reactions, BT and TT types of leprosy. The levels of serum phospholipids, triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL and VLDL fractions were significantly decreased in leprosy patients compared to control subjects. The levels of serum HDL cholesterol and HDL fraction were significantly elevated in leprosy patients. Maximum elevation in serum HDL cholesterol level and HDL fraction and maximum reduction in the levels of serum phospholipids, triglycerides, total cholesterol and LDL and VLDL fractions were observed in lepromatous leprosy (LL) patients with reactions.

Age dependent changes in human serum lipid peroxide levels in rural population around Ambajogai.

Serum lipid peroxide levels were estimated in 205 healthy human subjects. The serum lipid peroxide levels in terms of malondialdehyde/ml was 1.47 nmol in male subjects with 11-20 years and which rose to a peak 2.97 in subjects with 51-60 years. Male subjects exhibited significantly higher (P less than 0.01) values as compared to female subjects in whom this increase with age was not observed.