Oxidative stress in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients.

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia. The oxidative stress in diabetes was greatly increased due to prolonged exposure to hyperglycemia and impairment of oxidant/antioxidant equilibrium. Proteins and lipids are among the prime targets for oxidative stress. In the present study, the oxidative stress was evaluated in 55 diabetic patients and 40 healthy subjects by measuring the levels of protein oxidation, lipid peroxidation and some enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants. The oxidative products of protein (PCG) and lipid peroxidation (MDA) and nitric oxide levels in plasma of NIDDM patients were significantly increased. However, the levels of enzymatic (GPx, SOD, catalase in RBC) and nonenzymatic (beta-carotene, retinol, vitamin C & E and uric acid) antioxidants of RBC showed a significant decrease in NIDDM patients compared to normal subjects. Serum protein analysis by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) showed the significant difference in the ceruloplasmin, transferrin, albumin, retinal binding protein, etc. in diabetic patients compared to healthy controls. In conclusion, the results suggest that increased protein oxidation, lipid peroxidation and NO levels, decreases the levels of enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants and playing a major role in diabetic complications.

Evaluation of oxidative stress in Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM) patients.

BACKGROUND: Free radical mediated oxidative stress is mainly involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. Proteins and lipids are among the prime targets for oxidative stress. In the present study, we evaluated the oxidative stress in chronic IDDM patients by estimating the lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, and antioxidants status. SUBJECTS AND DESIGN: A total of 35 (15 IDDM + 20 normal healthy) children were examined in the study and estimated the lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, and antioxidants - vitamin A (beta-carotene, retinol), vitamin C, vitamin E and enzymatic antioxidants and nitric oxide. RESULTS: A statistically significant higher values of protein carbonyl groups and MDA as lipid peroxides were observed in diabetic patients with slight reduction in the synthesis of nitric oxide. It is interesting to note that there was a decrease in the antioxidant levels with corresponding increased protein and lipid oxidation. On PAGE under native conditions, we observed decreased levels of proteins - albumin, transferrin, ceruloplasmin and heptoglobulins and variable GC globulin fractions in IDDM compared to normal healthy controls. CONCLUSION: Hyperglycemia induces the overproduction of oxygen free radicals and consequently increases the protein oxidation and lipid oxidation. A significance difference in the mean plasma concentration of total antioxidant status was observed in IDDM patients. The findings of the present study suggest that diabetes in an altered metabolic state of oxidation-reduction and that it is convenient to give therapeutic interventions with antioxidants.

Hospital based preliminary study on osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

The awareness of osteoporosis has grown world wide in recent years. This silently progressing metabolic bone disease is widely prevalent in India, and osteoporotic fractures are a common cause of morbidity and mortality in adult Indian men and women. Rapid bone loss occurs in postmenopausal women due to hormonal factors which lead to increased risk of fractures. Biochemical markers of bone metabolism are used to assess skeletal turnover. A cross-sectional study of 150 pre- and post menopausal women was carried out at S.D.M College of Medical Sciences and Hospital, Dharwad, during the period of May 2005 to September 2005. The study group consisted of 75 Premenopausal women in the age group of 25-45 years and 75 Postmenopausal women in the age group of 46-65 years. Bone formation markers (Total Calcium, lonised calcium, Phosphorus, Alkaline phosphatase), and bone resorption markers (Urinary Hydroxyproline) were analysed in pre and post menopausal women. Bone formation markers, Total and lonised calcium were significantly decreased (p<0.001) and Alkaline phosphatase was significantly increased (p<0.001) in postmenopausal women compared to premenopausal women. Bone resorption markers, Urinary hydroxyproline excretion was significantly increased (p<0.001) in postmenopausal women. The results from this study suggest that simple, easy, common biochemical markers can still be used to assess the bone turnover in postmenopausal women and hence their risk of developing osteoporosis and fractures.

Effect of lead (Pb) exposure on the activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase in battery manufacturing workers (BMW) of Western Maharashtra (India) with reference to heme biosynthesis.

The aim of this study was to estimate the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase in erythrocytes and malondialdehyde (MDA) in plasma of battery manufacturing workers (BMW) of Western Maharashtra (India) who were occupationally exposed to lead (Pb) over a long period of time (about 15 years). This study was also aimed to determine the Pb intoxication resulted in a disturbance of heme biosynthesis in BMW group. The blood Pb level of BMW group (n = 28) was found to be in the range of 25.8 - 78.0 microg/dL (mean + SD, 53.63 + 16.98) whereas in Pb unexposed control group (n = 35) the range was 2.8 - 22.0 microg/dL (mean + SD, 12.52 + 4.08). The blood level (Pb-B) and urinary lead level (Pb-U) were significantly increased in BMW group as compared to unexposed control. Though activated d- aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activities in BMW group did not show any significant change when compared to control group but activated / non activated erythrocyte - ALAD activities in BMW group showed a significant increase. Erythrocyte- zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP), urinary daminolevulinic acid (ALA-U) and porphobilinogen (PBG-U) of BMW groups elevated significantly as compared to control. A positive correlation (r = 0.66, p < 0.001) between Pb-B and ALA-U were found in BMW group but no such significant correlation (r = 0.02, p> 1.0) were observed in control group. Hematological study revealed a significant decrease of hemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume (%) and other blood indices and a significant increase of total leucocytes count in BMW group in comparison to control group. The serum MDA content was significantly increased (p < 0.001) and the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as erythrocyte- SOD (p < 0.001) and erythrocytecatalase (p < 0.001) were significantly reduced in BMW group as compared to control group. A positive correlation (r = 0.45, p < 0.02) between Pb-B and serum MDA level was observed in BMW group (Pb-B range 25.8 - 78.0 microg / dL) but such significant correlation did not notice in control group (Pb-B range 2.8 - 22.0 microg / dL). The study clearly showed an adverse effect of heme biosynthesis and imbalance of pro-oxidant / antioxidant status in lead exposed battery manufacturing workers resulting in increase in lipid peroxidation associated with decrease in erythrocyte-SOD and erythrocyte-catalase activities.