Serum levels of leptin, zinc and tryptophan in obese subjects with sleep deficits

Obesity is an important risk factor for sleep disorders. This study aimed to evaluate the association of leptin, zinc and tryptophan [TRP] in obese subjects with sleep deficits [sleep apnea [SA], insomnia [IN]]. In this cross sectional case control, with the verbal and written consent 206, obese with sleep deficits and 30, non-obese/normal identified from various areas of Karachi, Pakistan. The socio-demographic data including; age, body mass index [BMI], education and residence, of participants was collected. After providing informed consent, fasting blood samples were taken and serum was collected. The serum concentration of leptin, zinc and TRP were analyzed by ELISA [Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay], FAAS [Flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer] and HPLC [High performance liquid chromatography] respectively. A significant correlation was found between BMI [body mass index] and leptin, BMI and zinc, BMI and TRP. The correlation between leptin consecutively was significantly associated with zinc and TRP in obese patients. Sleep deficits elevated circulatory levels of leptin while lower zinc and TRP levels compared to levels seen in non-obese [Normal] subjects with no sleep deficits. Obese subjects exhibited significantly higher levels of leptin with sleep deficits compared with non-obese subjects with normal sleep pattern, while obese subjects with SA had significantly high levels of leptin than obese subjects with IN and IN+SA. Patients with sleep deficits had significantly lower levels of serum TRP and zinc than non-obese subjects with normal sleep pattern. Obese subjects with SA had significantly lower levels of zinc and elevated levels of TRP than obese subjects with IN. Obese patients with IN+SA had significantly lower levels of leptin and zinc than IN and SA , while TRP levels were significantly lower in subjects with IN than obese subjects with IN+SA and IN. These results suggest that elevated levels of leptin which are possibly by adiposity and lessened levels of zinc and TRP have a great impact on progression of obesity and their association can contribute to tempt sleep disorders

Comparative anti-glycation and alpha-glucosidase inhibition studies of microbial transformed compounds of dydrogesterone

Anti-glycation and alpha-glucosidase inhibition activities of microbial transformed compounds of dydrogesterone [1]; 20R-hydroxy-9 beta,10 alpha-pregna-4,6-diene-3-one [2], 17 beta-hydroxy-9 beta,10 alpha-androsta-4,6-diene-3-one [3] and 9 beta,10 alpha- androsta-4,6-diene-3,17-dione [4] were evaluated. Compounds 1 and 4 showed potent alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activities, while 2 and 3 were found to be weak inhibitors, whereas anti-glycation activities of 1-4 were not observed

Assessment of hyperlactatemia and acidosis in patients with cardiac dysfunctions

Background: It has been postulated that hyperlactatemia is not the only cause of acidosis in cardiac dysfunction and there are other factors such as un-measured anions also that significantly participate in its development

Aim: The present study is designed to determine different components of metabolic acidosis in cardiac dysfunctions and cardiac arrest patients in order to assess the degree to which lactate is responsible for the acidosis

Methods and Materials: Forty two patients with out-of-hospital cardiac dysfunctions and cardiac arrest, admitted to the hospital were included in present study. All arterial blood gases and plasma biochemical parameters were estimated by standard methods on automated analyzers. Modified [by Figge and colleagues] form of Stewart's quantitative biophysical methods including formula for apparent strong ion difference AEurooeSIDaAEuro and strong ionic gap AEurooeSIGAEuro were used to evaluate un-measured and measured ions

Results: The mean age of patients were 57.2 years and included 33 [78.6%] males and 9 [21.4%] females. Except for sodium, ionized calcium and SIDa, all variables were significantly different between the two groups. Patients with cardiac dysfunctions and arrest were also hyperkalemic, hypochloremic and hyperlactatemic. The anion gap and SIG were also higher in patients with cardiac arrest. Lactate was the strongest determinant of academia

Conclusion: It was concluded that lactate accounts for only less than 50% of the metabolic acidosis and consequent acidemia seen in such patients and that an increase in unmeasured anions and phosphate also accounts for major portion of acidemia