Potential sensing of toxic chemical warfare agents (CWAs) by twisted nanographenes: A first principle approach.

The toxic chemical warfare agents (CWAs) are extremely harmful to the living organisms. Their efficient detection and removal in a limited time span are essential for the human health and environmental security. Twisted nanographenes have great applications in the fields of energy storage and optoelectronics, but their use as sensors is rarely described. Therefore, we have explored the sensitivity and selectivity of twisted nanographene analogues (C32H16, C64H32) towards selected toxic CWAs, including phosgene, thiophosgene and formaldehyde. The interaction between CWAs and twisted nanographenes is mainly interpreted by considering the optimized geometries, adsorption energies, natural bond orbital (NBO), frontier molecular orbital (FMO), non-covalent interaction (NCI) and quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) analyses. The structural geometries show that the central octagon of twisted nanographenes is the most favorable site of interaction. The interaction energies reveal the physisorption of selected CWAs on tNGs surface. The average energy gap change (%EH-La) and % sensitivity are quantitatively determined to evaluate the sensing capability of the twisted nanographenes. Among the selected CWAs molecules, the sensitivity of tNG analogues (C32H16 and C64H32) is superior towards thiophosgene (ThP), which is revealed by the high interaction energies of -8.19 and - 12.17 kcal/mol, respectively. This theoretical study will help experimentalists to devise novel sensors based on twisted nanographenes for the detection of toxic CWAs which may also work efficiently under the humid conditions.

Association analysis of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms in North England population with Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Numerous diabetes susceptibility loci, include a region consisting vitamin D receptor gene found in chromosome 12q, have been known using genome wide screens. AIM: The aim of present study is to probe the relationship between polymorphism of vitamin D receptor gene (single nucleotide polymorphisms) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Five hundred T2DM patients and 200 healthy subjects with normal HbA1c (≤ 5.0 %), fasting blood sugar (≤ 120 mg/dL) and random blood sugar (≤ 140 mg/dL) were enrolled. METHOLODGY: The genotypes were found by polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism and DNA sequencing. RESULTS: revealed that no considerable differences in frequencies of genotype and allele of the Bsm I and Fok I polymorphisms between healthy and patients in the North England (For Fok I: OR = 1.11, 95% CI: 0.72-1.12; for Bsm I: OR = 1.35, 95% CI: 0.79-1.98). CONCLUSION: It is recommended that both following polymorphisms of vitamin D receptor gene may not considerably add to the progression of T2DM in the North England.

Vitamin D receptor FokI polymorphism in a Pakistani population with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Present research was undertaken with the aim to assess the association of VDR gene FokI polymorphism with T2DM in local population. The study comprised of 100 T2DM patients (DG) and 50 normal individuals (CG) groups. Demographic parameters; age, gender, BMI and blood pressure were recorded. Fasting glucose (FG), HbA1c, vitamin D, liver function parameters, renal function parameters and lipid profile were measured. Significantly higher (P<0.05) BMI (34.6±11.3 vs. 24.9±4.0kg/m2), sBP (141±16 vs. 124±14mm Hg), dBP (81±8 vs. 76±7mm Hg), FG (145±5.54 mg/dL vs. 80±3.55mg/dL, HbA1c (7.43±0.69 % vs. 4.85±0.33%) were evident in DG as compared to CG. Prominent reduction (P<0.05) in vitamin D levels (13.69±1.85mg/dL) manifested in case subjects than that of control subjects (22.36±2.34mg/dL) as a negative correlation existed between HbA1c and vitamin D. Compared to control participants, substantially different FokI allele distribution was observed in T2DM patients. Current study s also showed no significant link between FokI genotype and the biochemical parameters. Present study endorsed the fact that diabetic patients have hypovitaminosis D and variable VDR polymorphisms. However, confirmational studies are indecisive and warrants further research.

Association of Vitamin D receptor gene BsmI polymorphism with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Pakistani population.

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a complex metabolic disorder with strong genetic components. The reported association of vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms varies among ethnic groups. OBJECTIVES: The present study was conducted to determine association of vitamin D receptor gene BsmI (rs1544410 A>G) polymorphism with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Pakistani population. METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 150 T2DM patients and 100 non-diabetic engaged by convenient sampling method. After collection of demographic data, assessment of fasting glucose (FG), vitamin D, HbA1c, renal function tests, liver function tests and lipid profile was done. Candidate gene polymorphism was analyzed by DNA amplification with polymerase chain reaction and endonuclease digestion. RESULTS: Biochemical parameters were significantly different among case and control groups. Associations of BsmI genotype with T2DM, related complications and biochemical variables were not significant. CONCLUSION: The current study did not provide evidence for the association of VDR gene BsmI polymorphism with T2DM in Pakistani population.

Complications of Diabetes: An Insight into Genetic Polymorphism and Role of Insulin.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is an advanced and chronic endocrine disorder characterized by an insufficiency of insulin secretion from pancreatic ß-cells and liver, adipose tissues, and skeletal muscles. OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study is to understand the mechanism and genes which are responsible for the prevalence of diabetes. The study also covers various types of diabetic complications with special reference to insulin role and defects. METHODS: The scientific literature and patents were reviewed and analyzed based on their suitability and relevance to the theme of the study. The scientific literature was covered from the authentic databases such as Elsevier, Springer, and Bentham Science. The patents were reviewed from http://www.freepatentsonline.com. RESULTS: Glucokinase (ATP: D-glucose-6-phosphotransferase; GCK), initiates glycolysis and acts as a glucose sensor and metabolic signal producer in liver and pancreas. PCR-sequencing showed qualitative differences in diabetic patients in comparison to healthy subjects. Glucokinase is the most important component in glucose detection of pancreatic islet beta cells in diabetes because glucokinase mutations can be one of the most common single gene disorders described. It is known that a genetic variation of a human glucokinase gene, including a point mutation, causes MODY, the concentration of plasma glucose increased and it is supposed to be the cause of diabetes of the present study subjects. Owing to hyperglycemia and individual components of the insulin resistance (metabolic) syndrome, people with Type II DM are prone to the high threat for microvascular complications (including nephropathy, retinopathy, and neuropathy) and macrovascular complications (such as Ischemic Heart Disease). There were also significant differences (P < 0.0001) in glycation levels (0.90, 0.4838mole/mole), random blood sugar (348.8, 105.8mg/dL), cholesterol levels (235.3, 161.8mg/dL), low density lipoprotein in diabetic subjects (155.3, 28.46mg/dL) and in healthy donors. GCK gene mutations were found in 70% of the patients while 30% are non-mutated. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, lipids, glucose, and protein play an essential role in the initiation of AGE's or diabetic complications (Micro and Macrovascular Complications). The importance of the clinical results should also be recognized in the genetic analysis of heterogeneous disorders as NIDDM/ Type II DM.

Determination of in vitro antidiabetic effects of Zingiber officinale Roscoe

Aqueous extracts of Zingiber officinale rhizomes were studied to evaluate their antidiabetic effects on protein glycation and on the diffusion of glucose in vitro in the present study. Zingiber officinale rhizome aqueous extract were examined at concentrations of 5, 10, 20 and 40 g/L. The antidiabetic effects were found to be dose-dependent. Antidiabetic potential of Zingiber officinale was mainly through inhibition of the glucose diffusion and to a limited extent by reducing the glycation. However, further studies are needed to determine in vitro effects of therapeutic potential by restraining postprandial glucose absorptions and plasma protein glycations in diabetic subjects.

Extratos aquosos de rizomas Zingiber officinale foram estudados para avaliar os seus efeitos antidiabéticos em glicação de proteínas e sobre a difusão de glicose in vitro, no presente estudo. Extratos aquosos de Zingiber officinale foram examinados nas concentrações de 5, 10, 20 e 40 g extrato de planta/L. Os efeitos antidiabéticos observados eram dependentes da dose. O potencial antidiabético de Zingiber officinale se verificou, principalmente, através da inibição da difusão de glicose e, em menor extensão, através da redução da glicação. Estudos adicionais são necessários para elucidar se efeitos in vitro representam potencial terapêutico, restringindo a absorção de glicose pós-prandial e a glicação de proteínas plasmáticas em indivíduos diabéticos.