High prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its correlates in two tribal populations of India and the impact of urbanization.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Metabolic syndrome is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in the world. The prevalence of this syndrome is high among Asians, including Indians, and is rising, particularly with the adoption of a modernized life style. Whether traditional societies in India have a low prevalence and the extent to which a transition to a modern life style contributes to the increase in prevalence are unknown. To examine the role of environmental and genetic factors in metabolic syndrome we conducted a study in two sub-Himalayan tribal populations with shared ancestry (Toto and Bhutia). The Toto live exclusively in a rural area, whereas a section of the Bhutia has adopted a modern life style. METHODS: Fasting (12 h) blood samples of Toto (n=258); rural Bhutia (n=75) and urban Bhutia (n=230) were collected, with written informed consent. Lipid profile, blood pressures, body fat and other anthropometric parameters were assessed. Criteria suggested by National Cholesterol Education Programme (NCEP) Adult Treatment Panel III (2001) were used for assessment of metabolic syndrome. RESULTS: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was high (about 30-50%) among the Bhutia, with no significant rural-urban difference. Among the Toto, though the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was low (about 4-9%), their lipid levels were alarmingly adverse (about 37-67% had low HDLcholesterol or high triglyceride levels). There was an additional adverse impact of adoption of urban life-styles (perhaps primarily mediated through dietary changes) on cardiovascular risk factors. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSION: Our study suggested that metabolic syndrome and its correlates could be a major health problem even in traditional societies, indicating that this syndrome was not necessarily a result of modernization. Further, our study indicates that genetic factors that adversely affect the levels of such variables have long antiquities in Indian ethnic groups.

Differential C-heterochromatin distribution in two species of freshwater fish, Anabas testudineus (Bloch.) and Puntius sarana (Hamilton.).

Anabas testudineus (2n = 46) had the more conserved pattern of its C-heterochromatin distributed mainly in the centromeric region, whereas Puntius sarana (2n = 50) exhibited a rather unorthodox pattern, many chromosomes showing interstitial, some telomeric and a few chromosomes showing centromeric C-band localization. Further, lateral asymmetry in distribution of heterochromatin was also noted in two pairs of chromosomes in P. sarana. The possible implications of the differential distribution noted in these two species has been discussed.

Effects of jambolan seed treatment on blood sugar, lipids and urea in streptozotocin induced diabetes in rabbits.

In New Zealand rabbits a single intravenous injection of streptozotocin (STZ 65 mg/kg) elevated the levels of blood sugar to 340 mg percent, which was associated with glycolysis, ureamia, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia and loss of body weight. Oral administration of jambolan seed (1 g/kg) in casein diet significantly lowered the elevated postmeal (1 1/2 hr after) values of blood sugar, cholesterol, FFA and triglyceride down to levels comparable to phenformin. Jambolan seed treatment failed to check ureamia. Weight loss was checked by phenformin and jambolan seed but the gain was not equivalent to that recorded in nondiabetic control. Like phenformin, jambolan seed too failed to control glycogenolysis in STZ-induced diabetes.

Changes in the activity of some hepatic enzymes during organophosphorus insecticide-acephate (orthene) treatment in albino rats.

Acephate, an organophosphorus insecticide (60 mg/day/rat) disturbed the carbohydrate metabolism in albino rats (wt. between 100-150 gms). Changes in the enzyme activities in the liver were estimated in the rats after oral administration of Acephate. The specific activities of succinic dehydrogenase was decreased in experimental rats than control. A gradual decrease in blood and liver glutathione was also observed. Increase in total lactate dehydrogenase was also noted. It has been observed that in the liver homogenate of treated rats, the isoenzymes LDH4+5 were increased, LDH1+2 were decreased while LDH3 remain unchanged with respect to control value.

Effect of acephate (orthene) on tissue levels of thiamine, pyruvic acid, lactic acid, glycogen and blood sugar.

Effect of Acephate, an organophosphorus insecticide, on tissue levels of thiamine, pyruvic acid, lactic acid, glycogen and blood sugar, has been studied. The albino rats, injected subcutaneously with Acephate (25 mg/10 gm body wt./day) for 4 weeks and 8 weeks, showed appreciable depletion of thiamine in liver, heart, kidney, brain and blood. The depletion of thiamine was found to be more after 8 weeks of Acephate injection. There was concomitant increase in pyruvic acid and lactic acid in various tissues. There was enormous depletion of glycogen in liver and slight rise in blood sugar concentration. The animals injected thiamine (120 micrograms/100 gm body wt./day) along with Acephate, showed more or less normal levels of thiamine, pyruvic acid, lactic acid, liver glycogen and blood sugar. The increase in pyruvic acid and lactic acid in tissues has been attributed to depletion of thiamine which is required of pyruvic acid oxidation. The increase in blood sugar has been attributed to the excess breakdown of glycogen.