Relationship between Glycated Hemoglobin and Serum Lipid Profile in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus – A Case-control Study.

Aims: The aim of the study is to find whether there is any relationship between glycated hemoglobin level and serum lipid profile in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Study Design: A total of 128 study participants were approached during a period 6 months of which 72 were confirmed cases of type-2 diabetes mellitus and remaining 56 were non- diabetic, and served as control subjects under the age group of 30-60 years. Methodology: Fasting blood samples were collected from all the subjects. Body Mass index (BMI) was calculated. Fasting plasma glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) Total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) was measured using commercially available kits. Statistical analysis was performed by use o f SPSS version l6. Results: Plasma FBS level of diabetic group was significantly higher (p=0.001) than that of the non diabetic subjects as shown in table. TC, TG, LDL and VLDL were higher in diabetic group when compared to that of non-diabetic group, except for HDL which was lower in dian=betic group when compared to non-diabetic greoup. LDL was statistically significant between the non-diabetic and diabetic groups. HbA1c levels of both diabetic and non- diabetic groups showed a significant correlation with TG, HDL, LDL and VLDL (p<0.05) except for cholesterol. Conclusion: The findings of this study clearly indicate that HbA1c as a useful biomarker for long-term glycaemic control and also as a good predictor of lipid profile.

Modulatory effect of Allium sativum Ethanolic Extract on Cultured Human Lymphocytes.

Allium sativum (Garlic) have been known since from ancient years for its medicinal properties. It is widely used as antibacterial, antifungal, anticoagulant, anticancer, hypoglycaemicand hypocholesteromic. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of different concentration ofethanolic extract of Allium sativum extract on cultured human lymphocytes. Cytotoxicity was assessed by tryphan blue dye exclusion assay, single strand DNA damage was studied by alkaline comet assay and apoptosis was assessed by DNA diffusion assay. The percentage of live and dead cells was counted in cell viability assay. In comet assay tail length, percentage tail DNA and olive tail movement were considered as parameters for DNA damage. In DNA diffusion assay number of apoptotic cells counted comparing the normal cell nucleus and apoptotic cell nucleus. The study was performed in 3 concentrations of Allium sativum extract, 10, 50 and 100μg/ml including untreated control group. The results showed that all the comet parameters was significantly (p<0.05) increased by the effect of Allium sativum extract, which was dose dependent. Percentage of apoptotic cells also increased with higher concentration of the garlic. These results conclude, the cytotoxicity induced by the garlic extract is directly proportional to the single strand DNA break. The increase in the DNA damage positively correlates to the number of apoptotic cells present in the culture medium.

Validation of DNA Damage Progression with Days after Single Exposure of Sublethal Dosage of Electron Beam Radiation.

The aim of this study was to asses the DNA damage progression with days after single exposure of 6Gy electron beam radiation (EBR). Molecular DNA damage in lymphocytes of mice was assessed using alkaline comet assay and in bone marrow cells by micronucleus assay. In comet assay %DNA in tail, Comet length, Olive Tail Moment (OTM) served as a measure of DNA damage and in micronucleus test, frequency of micronucleus formation in bone marrow cells was measured to evaluate the DNA damage. The experiment was performed by taking 24 healthy Swiss albino mice with body weight 30+5g. The animals were grouped into four. Group1 served as control, Group 2, 3 and 4 were irradiated by 6Gy EBR. Animals of Group 2, 3 and 4 were sacrificed on 5th, 10th and 15th day post irradiation respectively. The comet assay procedure was carried out for all these groups by using lymphocytes separated from EDTA treated blood. The micronucleus test was performed in bone marrow cells (PCE-Poly chromatic erythrocytes, NCE-normochromatic erythrocytes). The slides prepared for this were scored for the measure of DNA damage. The results showed all comet parameter were significantly (P<0.05) affected by prolonging the post irradiation days from zero (control) to 5, 10 and 15. There was an alteration found in the PCE/PCE+NCE ratio in irradiated mice. A linear increase in the micronucleus formation was observed in post irradiated days. These results conclude a progression in DNA damage with days, post irradiation.

Antioxidant status and serum total protein levels in elderly women.

Background and Objective: The imbalance between reactive oxygen species production and antioxidant defense determines the degree of oxidative stress. Vitamin C and GSH are important antioxidants, protects the cells from toxins such as free radicals. A total serum protein test measures the total amount of protein in the blood. The objective of the present study was to analyze the oxidative stress in elderly women, by evaluating the antioxidant status (vitamin c and glutathione), total protein and albumin levels. Materials and Methods: The study group includes, Group 1 and Group 2 with 50 institutionalized and 50 non- institutionalized women’s belonging at the age group of 50-65 years respectively. 2ml of venous blood was collected for the analysis of the level of Vitamin C, Total protein, Albumin and Glutathione by standard methods. Data were analyzed for the statistical significance using one way ANOVA. p<0.05 was considered significant. Result: The level of Vitamin C, Total proteins and Glutathione were significantly declined (p=0.03, p=0.01 and p=0.006) in institutionalized women’s as compared to non-institutionalized women’s. Conclusion: Antioxidant and Total proteins are considered to be important in the maintenance of health. Antioxidant and Total protein levels were showing general tendency to decrease during ageing.