Study of single nucleotide polymorphism rs13266634 in zinc transporter solute carrier family 30, member 8 [SLC30AS] gene in type 2 diabetes patients resident in Ismailia city

Several genome-wide association studies identified a strong association of SLC30A8 with type 2 diabetes in individuals of European ancestry The effect of the association of rs 13266634 with type 2 diabetes or related glycemic traits has not been fully extended to non-European populations, and a comprehensive examination of common variants in the gene has not yet been carned out in our population. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association among the polymoiphisms of SLC30A8, and the risk of T2DM and to determine the presence and frequency of single nucleotide polymorphism [SNP] rs13266634 in SLC30A8 gene in T2D patients resident in Ismailia city. SLC30A8 SNP was genotyped using real time PCR allelic discrimination TaqMan assay. A case control study was conducted in 68 cases of type 2 diabetes [51 women and 17 men] and 29 control subjects [13 women and 16 men] from out-patients diabetic clinic of Suez Canal hospital and age and gender were matched. The SNP rs13266634 was evaluated in SLC30A8 C > T genotype. The genotypes of control subjects were 27[93%, CIT], 1 normal homozygot [3.5% C/C] and 1 mutant homozygous [3.5%, T/T]. In diabetic subjects, there were 58 subjects carriers of heterozygous [C/T. 85%], 6 normal homozygots [C/C, 9%] and 4 mutant homozygous [T/T, 6%]. There was significant difference in fasting blood glucose levels in control subjects compared to diabetic subjects' P<0.05, and between control carriers of[CT] genotype compared to genotype [CT] diabetic subjects' P<0.05, also there was significant associations between polymorphisms and the risk of type 2 diabetes in women or men, as there were significant associations in lipids profile [serum high density lipoprotein between control carrier CT genotype compared to diabetic subjects' carrier CT P<0.005, also we found significant difference in body mass index [BMI] between control and diabetic subjects' P<0.05. In addition, none of the SLC30A8 polymorphisms was significantly associated with the age and sex in the control and diabetic subjects. Also, we found higher non significant difference in triglyceride levels, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels in diabetic subjects carrying the C/T genotype comparing to control subjects carrying the C/T genotype. In summary, the data in this study support substantial associations between the common SLC30A8 polymorphisms in gene and the risk of type 2 diabetes. Our results may provide evidence that SLC30A8 is a susceptible locus for type 2 diabetes in our population, and its variant can influence insulin secretion

Effect of vitamin E on the biochemical and haematological changes produced by cadmium toxicity in kidneys of albino rats

Kidneys are the main excretory organ of the body, performing its function through elimination of nephrotoxicants as Cadmium [Cd]. We carried out this study to investigate the effects of vitamin E "alpha tocopherol", as an antioxidant compound, on Cd induced toxicity in the kidneys of albino rats. In experimental albino rats, intraperitoneal administration of Cd [0.4 and 0.6 mg/kg/day] for 12 weeks induced renal damage, which was evident from the increased levels of serum urea and creatinine with significant decrease in total proteins, body weight and hematological parameters. This was associated with a significant rise in Cd concentration both in kidneys and blood. Co-administration of alpha tocopherol as antioxidant resulted in improvement of the kidney functions. The present study suggests that the physiological, biochemical and cytoprotective potential effects of vitamin E in Cd toxicity might be due to its antioxidant properties, which could be useful for achieving optimum effects in treating Cd induced renal damage

C-Reactive protein, Tumor Ncrosis Factor-alpha, interleukin-6 and cortisol in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Recently an abundance of evidence has emerged demonstrating a close link between immunity, inflammation, obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Activation of innate immunity with production of inflammatory markers was suggested to provide a new model for the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes and the metabolic syndrome. This may result in new approaches for predicting and managing of type 2 diabetes and its complications. We evaluated the state of obesity and diabetes mellitus of thirty nine male type 2 diabetic patients and nineteen age-matched male healthy subjects as control. This evaluation was performed via assessment of the body mas index [BMI], fasting and postprandial [PP] blood glucose and insulin, insulin resistance and fasting C-peptide. Then we assessed the plasma levels of the most important inflammatory markers; C-reactive protein [C-RP], tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-alpha], interleukin-6 [IL-6] and the total leucocytic count as well as the stress hormone cortisol. Our results showed BMI above 30 for both patients and controls which indicated obesity of the two groups. Both fasting and PP glucose were 167.9 +/- 10.3 and 289.8 +/- 16 mg/dl respectively for patients and 96.4 +/- 1.96 and 108.47 +/- 4.6 rng/dl respectively for the control whish confirmed the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. The C-RP was significantly higher in diabetics. Although the difference did not reach statistical significance fasting and PP-insulin, insulin resistance levels were higher in the diabetic patients compared to the control. Regarding the results of the acute phase reactants and the biornarkers for inflammation, we found a significant increase in C-RP, TNF-alpha, IL-6 and cortisol in the diabetic patients compared to the control. But no change could be detected in the total leucocytic count. This association between hyperglycemia and increased inflammatory markers may indicate a relationship between them. But the question which of them preceded and led to the other is still uncertain. Further studies with different approaches may be needed to solve this puzzle

Genetic characterization of Giardia lamblia isolates from Egyptian patients with relation to clinical giardiasis

Investigators tried to correlate clinical presentation of giardiasis to the different genotypes, but controversial data were described through the last decade. The clinical manifestations of 89 Giardia patients were classified into:- GI: 52 symptomatic patients and GII: 37 asymptomatic patients. Genetic characterization of G. lamblia of the patients' fecal samples was performed by polymerase chain reaction [PCR] and restriction fragment length polymorphism [RFLP] technique b using triose phosphate isomerase gene [tpi]. Forty-two patients had genotype Al [47.19%], 16 had genotype A2 [17.98%], 10 had genotype B [11.23%] and 19 had mixed genotype infection [21.35%]. However, PCR-RFLP failed to determine Giardia genotype of only two cases [2.25%]. The 20 control fecal samples obtained from healthy subjects showed negative results for G. lamblia by PCR-RFLP method. Of 52 cases in GI, the prevalence genotype Al was 44.23%, genotype A2 was 19.23%, genotype B was 13.46%, mixed genotype infection was 21.15% and undetermined genotype was 1.92% as compared to 51.35%, 16.21%, 8.11%, 21.62% and 2.70% in GII, respectively. There was no significant difference between both groups as regard the different Giardia genotypes [p>0.05]. Statistical analysis of each symptom in different genotypes revealed insignificant [p>0.05]. The results denied any correlation between G. lamblia genotype and the clinical presentation of giardiasis

Effects of some antioxidants on induction and course of streptoztocin-induced diabetes mellitus in albino rats

Blood glucose, serum insulin and C-peptide levels were determined as parameters of diabetic status and pancreatic beta cell functions. The antioxidants were administered daily orally to sixty-five male rats with weight ranging 170-200 g for ten days prior to induction of diabetes mellitus. Most of the studied antioxidants produced a highly significant low blood glucose compared with thirteen control diabetic rats. Blood glucose level [mean +/- SD] was 469.5 +/- 37.8 mg/dl in the control group compared with 365 +/- 36.1 mg/dl in vitamin C group, 379.9 +/- 42.0 mg/dl in vitamin E group, 179.3 +/- 28.7 mg/dl in combination group and 184.5 +/- 19.1 mg/dl in the melatonin group. The serum insulin and C-peptide levels were significantly higher in the antioxidants groups than the control group. The study also investigated the effects of the antioxidants on attenuation of the diabetic status. For this aim, another five groups of rats [ten each] with established induced diabetes mellitus were given the above- mentioned antioxidants for four weeks and compared with ten control diabetic rats. The study observed favorable significant effects on the blood glucose, serum insulin and C-peptide levels in the groups receiving the antioxidants. The results also demonstrated preventive and potential therapeutic effects of antioxidants on the streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus in albino rats