ABSTRACT
Ageing is a multi-factorial phenomenon which is considered as a major risk factor for the development of neurodegeneration, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, dementia, cancer, and other chronic diseases. Phenotypically, ageing is related with a combination of molecular, cellular, and physiological levels like genomic and epi-genomic alterations, loss of proteostasis, deregulation of cellular and subcellular function and mitochondrial dysfunction. Though, no single molecular mechanism accounts for the functional decline of different organ systems in older humans but accumulation of DNA damage or mutations is a dominant theory which contributes largely to the development of ageing and age-related diseases. However, mechanistic, and hierarchical order of these features of ageing has not been clarified yet. Scientific community now focus on the effect of obesity on accelerated ageing process. Obesity is a complex chronic disease that affects multiple organs and tissues. It can not only lead to various health conditions such as diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease but also can decrease life expectancy which shows similar phenotype of ageing. Higher loads of DNA damage were also observed in the genome of obese people. Thus, inability of DNA damage repair may contribute to both ageing and obesity apart from cancer predisposition. The present review emphasizes on the involvement of molecular phenomenon of DNA metabolism in development of obesity and how it accelerates ageing in mammals.
Subject(s)
Cardiovascular Diseases , Animals , Humans , Aged , Cardiovascular Diseases/genetics , Aging/genetics , Aging/metabolism , DNA Repair , DNA Damage , Obesity/complications , Obesity/genetics , DNA , Mammals/geneticsABSTRACT
In the present study effects of five commonly used calcium channel blockers (CCBs) belonging to different chemical classes have been investigated on stress-induced modulation of some visceral, endocrinological and immunological parameters in rats and mice. Restraint stress (RS) produced gastric mucosal lesions, increased plasma corticosterone levels and reduced antiSRBC antibody titre, a measure of humoral immune response and % leucocyte migration inhibition (% LMI) and foot pad thickness, measures of cell-mediated immunity. Nimodipine (10, 20 40 mg/kg, i.p.) and flunarizine (10, 20, 40 mg/kg, i.p.) antagonised the effect of RS on gastric ulcerogenesis and plasma corticosterone levels but failed to modulate the stress-induced suppression of both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. Thus, CCBs appear to modulate stress-induced visceral, endocrinological and immune responses, albeit in a differential manner.
ABSTRACT
Prevalence of asymptomatic Hepatitis B carrier state varies in different countries. Surgical procedures are an important mode of dissemination of Hepatitis B virus infection. Five hundred patients whose HBsAg status was not known and had undergone a major operative procedure in the Dhaka Medical College Hospital were screened for HBsAg. Of these, 43 (8.6%) were found to be HBsAg positive. Age, sex, and previous history of jaundice didn't show any relationship with the HBsAg status. But the HBsAg positivity was found to be positively related to the past history of blood transfusion, hospitalization and injections.
Subject(s)
Carrier State/epidemiology , Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/analysis , Hepatitis B/epidemiology , Surgical Procedures, Operative , Adult , Bangladesh/epidemiology , Blood Transfusion/statistics & numerical data , Carrier State/blood , Female , Hepatitis B/blood , Hepatitis B/etiology , Hospitals, University , Humans , Male , Mass Screening/methods , Middle Aged , Prevalence , Surveys and Questionnaires , Transfusion ReactionABSTRACT
One hundred consecutive hypertensive patients with stroke admitted to the medicine units of Dhaka Medical College Hospital were studied. The main objective was to study the extent of drug compliance and control of blood pressure in hypertensive patients who had suffered a stroke. Detailed history and clinical examinations were performed in all patients and outcome was recorded. Of the 100 patients studied there were 73(73%) males, 27 (27%) patients had no formal schooling and 53 (53%) had some education. 48 (48%) patients were from middle class and 36 (36%) were poor, 66 (66%) patients were aware that they were hypertensive though only 8 (12.9%) were taking anti-hypertensive drugs regularly. 62% of the patients had suffered from stroke within 5 years of detection of hypertension, and 15 (15%) patients died in the hospital.
