Lipoprotein associated phospholipase A2 activity & its correlation with oxidized LDL & glycaemic status in early stages of type-2 diabetes mellitus.

Background & objectives: Lipoprotein associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) is an important risk predictor of coronary artery disease (CAD). This study was aimed to evaluate Lp-PLA2 activity and oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL) in newly diagnosed patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus and to determine the correlation of Lp-PLA2 activity with oxLDL and plasma glucose levels. Methods: Blood samples were collected in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (n=40) before any treatment was started and healthy controls (n=40). These were processed for estimating plasma glucose: fasting and post prandial, ox LDL, and Lp-PLA2 activity. The parameters in the two groups were compared. Correlation between different parameters was calculated by Pearson correlation analysis in both groups. Results: Lp-PLA2 activity (24.48 ± 4.91 vs 18.63 ± 5.29 nmol/min/ml, P<0.001) and oxLDL levels (52.46 ± 40.19 vs 33.26 ± 12.54 μmol/l, P<0.01) were significantly higher in patients as compared to those in controls. Lp-PLA2 activity correlated positively with oxLDL in both controls (r=0.414, P<0.01), as well in patients (r=0.542, P<0.01). A positive correlation between Lp-PLA2 activity and fasting plasma glucose levels was observed only in patients (r=0.348, P<0.05). Interpretation & conclusions: Result of this study implies that higher risk of CAD in patients with diabetes may be due to increase in Lp-PLA2 activity during the early course of the disease. A positive correlation between enzyme activity and fasting plasma glucose indicates an association between hyperglycaemia and increased activity of Lp-PLA2. This may explain a higher occurrence of CAD in patients with diabetes. A positive correlation between oxLDL and Lp-PLA2 activity suggests that Lp-PLA2 activity may be affected by oxLDL also.

Association between serum paraoxonase and plasma nitric oxide in pre-eclampsia.

It is well accepted that oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the development of endothelial dysfunction leading to Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH). However, studies related to altered levels of paraoxonase and nitric oxide in PIH subjects are still in obscure. In this context, the present study was undertaken to assess serum Paraoxonase (PON), Nitric Oxide (NO) levels along with other markers of oxidative stress i.e. erythrocyte Malondialdehyde (MDA), plasma ascorbic acid levels in the blood samples of PIH subjects and to determine their relation in etio-pathogenesis of PIH complication. Methods: Markers of oxidative stress (PON, MDA, and ascorbic acid) and endothelial dysfunction (serum NO) were estimated in 20 normotensive pregnant women (Group I) and 20 PIH women (Group II) by using standard methods. Data obtained from both the groups were statistically compared with age matched 20 healthy non pregnant women (Control group) by using student’s t-test. Results: Serum PON and erythrocyte MDA levels were increased significantly whereas marked depletion in plasma NO and vitamin C levels (P <0.05, P <0.001) were observed in PIH subjects. In addition, PON levels were inversely correlated with endothelial dysfunction. However, only plasma NO levels were decreased significantly in group I subjects whereas other parameters were altered insignificantly (P <0.1) in group I subjects. Conclusion: These findings reflects the importance of antioxidant rich diet in the prevention of PIH complication and emphasizes the early assessment of serum paraoxonase and NO levels as efficient diagnostic marker to predict future risk of PIH development.