Genetically Modified Crop vs Hybrid Crops and their Impact on Health and Environment

Genetically modified crop (GMC) is a technology which includes transferring Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in plant cells. On the other hand, Hybrid Crops are naturally occurring crops but it also involves manmade crosses to have at least 15-20% higher yield potential over high yielding inbred crop varieties using almost the same level of inputs and also can perform better even under unfavourable environments like drought and saline condition. These days, hybrid crops are one of the most commonly consumed foods for humans. In line with this GM crops have high yield potential and adaptive capability under wide range of environments even under fragile ecosystems. There are different aspects of both these types of crops. Human consumption of these crops has been a highly debatable topic in recent times. In this study, a brief discussion on GM crops and hybrid crops will be presented. Additionally, a comparison between them, in terms of health and productivity, will also be discussed.

Neuropathic changes in young type 2 diabetes mellitus related to high serum t-PA.

Background and Aims: A substantial number of diabetic patients, diagnosed at relatively younger age, who don’t fit to typical type 2 and type 1 class of diabetes. These patients usually present with very high level of glycemia. The uniqueness of this group of patient provide the opportunity to explore the pathophysiology of nerve functional status at an early stage of diabetes. The present study was aimed to determine markers of endothelial dysfunction and evaluate nerve functional status of a group of newly diagnosed clinically uncomplicated young diabetic patients. Material and Methods: A total number of 32 (male-13 and female-19) newly diagnosed young (diabetes diagnosed under 30 yrs) were consecutively recruited from BIRDEM Out-patient department and 30 age-, BMI-matched healthy subjects with no family history of diabetes up to second generation served as controls. Serum fructosamine was measured by reduction test with NBT method. Serum C-peptide, endothelin-1 and tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) by ELISA and von Willibrand factor (vWF) by Radial Immunodiffusion (RID) methods. Urinary albumin measured by immunoturbidimetry method. Nerve functional status was evaluated by nerve conduction velocities (NCV), distal latencies (DL), compound muscle action potential (CAMP), F wave latencies (FWL), nerve action potential (SNAP) for motor and sensory nerve as appropriate following the standard protocol. Results: Severe hyperglycemia in the diabetic group was reflected in their mean (SD) fasting C-peptide and fructosamine level. Altered endothelial dysfunction, as evidenced by significantly high tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) (p<0.001) in the diabetic group. Albumin creatinine ratio (ACR) was almost similar in the two groups. Ulnar distal latency was similar in both the groups. But its CAMP and NCV were significantly lower in the diabetic group (p<0.02-0.001). Ulnar F wave latency were significantly higher (p=0.016) in the diabetic group. Ulnar sensory conduction parameters did not show any difference between two groups. Peroneal motor and sural sensory functional status of the diabetic subjects showed similar trend like that of ulnar motor and sensory status. Peroneal nerve motor NCV was significantly negtively correlated with fasting glucose [r=- 0.456, p=0.001]. Peroneal motor distal latency was significantly correlated with fasting fractosamine [r=0.439, p=0.012]. Fasting fructosamine showed significant negative correlation with motor peroneal NCV [r=-0.572, p=0.001], motor ulnar NCV [r=-0.468, p=0.007], both ulnar and sural sensory NAP (p=0.02 for both]. On the basis of F wave latency 53% of diabetic subjects had diabetic neuropathy and markedly higher t-PA compared to nonneuropathy groups (p=0.001). Conclusions: The data suggest that (i) Young type 2 diabetic subjects had endothelial dysfunction at the time of diagnosis even in the presence of normoalbuminuria state; (ii) Motor nerve conduction parameters are affected more than the sensory component; (iii) F wave latencies are more frequently and early to be involved in these subjects and linked to high serum t-PA.

A Case of Congenital Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation in a 10 Years Old Boy.

Congenital Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation (CCAM) is a relatively rare congenital pulmonary cystic disease. By ultrasonography prenatal diagnosis can be made and most baby born without complication. Some babies need surgery at the first year of life for recurrent respiratory tract infection. Here a case of CCAM in a 10 year old boy is reported who presented with recurrent respiratory tract infection and underwent surgical resection successfully.

Thyroid Status in Patients with Low Serum Ferritin Level.

Iron deficiency is the most important but preventable nutritional problem in Bangladesh. Thyroid peroxidase, an iron containing enzyme, is essential for initial two steps of thyroid hormone synthesis which is a component of tissue iron. Tissue iron diminishes early in the course of iron deficiency. So thyroid hormone level may be altered in iron deficient patients. This case-control study was carried out in the Department of Biochemistry, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) from July 2006 to June 2007. This study was done to find out the changes of thyroid hormonal activity in iron deficiency. In this study 72 subjects were selected from the out-patient department of the hospital. Patients with low serum ferritin level <12 mgm/L were selected as cases (n=36) and healthy persons with normal serum ferritin level were taken as controls. Serum ferritin, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4) and free triiodothyronine (FT3) were measured in all study subjects. Values were expressed as mean ± SD. Unpaired 't' test and Pearson's correlation test were performed to see the level of significance and p value <0.05 was taken as significant. Serum ferritin level in cases and controls were 6.78±4.05 mgm/L and 79.04±28.08 mgm/L respectively which showed significant difference (P<0.0001). Serum TSH concentration in cases and controls were 3.32±1.54 mIU/L and 1.89±0.86 mIU/L respectively. Serum FT4 concentration in cases and controls were 11.66±1.77 pmol/L and 13/10±1.36 pmol/L respectively and that of FT3 were 3.00±0.68 and 3.31±0.61 pmol/L respectively. All showed significant difference between groups. Serum ferritin and Serum TSH showed significant negative correlation in controls whereas in cases they showed negative correlation which was not statistically significant. Both serum FT4 and FT3 revealed positive correlation with serum ferritin but that too was not significant statistically. Though the study failed to show any significant positive correlation between serum ferritin and thyroid hormones, lower level of thyroid status in iron deficient patients suggest that it could be a reflection of disturbed activities of iron dependent enzymes such as thyroid peroxidase that impairs thyroid hormone synthesis. However, a large scale study is recommeded to establish the fact. This study showed that there was significant difference in thyroid hormonal status between iron deficient patients and normal healthy persons. Therefore it can be concluded that iron deficiency may impair normal thyroid hormone status.

Study of serum non-HDL cholesterol in cerebrovascular disease.

Background: Non-HDL cholesterol is a potential newer risk factor for cerebrovascular diseases (CVD). Objective: To explore the association of non-HDL cholesterol with cerebrovascular disease. Methods: This case control study was carried out in the Department of Biochemistry, BSMMU, Dhaka during the period of January to December 2007 to evaluate the association of non-HDL cholesterol with CVD in Bangladeshi population. A total number of 135 subjects of both sexes were grouped as Group-􀇿 (CVD cases) and Group-II (Healthy controls). Group-I include 85 cases of which 59 were ischaemic cerebrovascular diseases (ICVD) and 26 were haemorrhagic cerebrovascular diseases (HCVD). By taking the history and doing clinical examination and laboratory investigations, diabetes mellitus, malignant disease, renal disease, liver disease and diuretic medication were excluded from study subjects. Serum non-HDL cholesterol was measured in all study subjects. Statistical analysis was performed by using SPSS for windows version 12.0. Mean values of the findings were compared between groups. One way ANOVA test and multiple comparison (Bonferroni‘t’) test were used to see the level of significance. Results: Serum non-HDL cholesterol found significantly increased in CVD, ICVD and HCVD cases in comparison to control subjects. But ICVD and HCVD cases did not differ with respect to serum non-HDLcholesterol. Conclusion: The result shows that elevated non-HDL cholesterol is associated with CVD. Prospective study with large sample size is required to evaluate the elevated Non-HDL cholesterol as a risk factor of CVD.

Arsenic contamination in food-chain: transfer of arsenic into food materials through groundwater irrigation.

Arsenic contamination in groundwater in Bangladesh has become an additional concern vis-à-vis its use for irrigation purposes. Even if arsenic-safe drinking-water is assured, the question of irrigating soils with arsenic-laden groundwater will continue for years to come. Immediate attention should be given to assess the possibility of accumulating arsenic in soils through irrigation-water and its subsequent entry into the food-chain through various food crops and fodders. With this possibility in mind, arsenic content of 2,500 water, soil and vegetable samples from arsenic-affected and arsenic-unaffected areas were analyzed during 1999-2004. Other sources of foods and fodders were also analyzed. Irrigating a rice field with groundwater containing 0.55 mg/L of arsenic with a water requirement of 1,000 mm results in an estimated addition of 5.5 kg of arsenic per ha per annum. Concentration of arsenic as high as 80 mg per kg of soil was found in an area receiving arsenic-contaminated irrigation. A comparison of results from affected and unaffected areas revealed that some commonly-grown vegetables, which would usually be suitable as good sources of nourishment, accumulate substantially-elevated amounts of arsenic. For example, more than 150 mg/kg of arsenic has been found to be accumulated in arum (kochu) vegetable. Implications of arsenic ingested in vegetables and other food materials are discussed in the paper.