Changes in diabetic and renal profile of people exposed to fluoride in south India.

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is leading cause of Diabetic microvascular complications. India stands second across the globe in prevalence of diabetes mellitus. Due to deficit rain fall, the water table is exposed to more of salts and minerals from the rocks underground. One of the minerals is the Fluoride. Fluoride in negligible amount is good for dental health, chronic exposure to higher range of fluoride causes various metabolic disturbances. Aim: To study the effect of chronic fluoride exposure on diabetes mellitus. A total of 288 study subjects were recruited. The blood samples and urine samples were collected from all the study subjects. Study groups; Group1: Healthy Controls, Group2: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Group3: Diabetic Nephropathy. The serum (0.313± 0.154) and urine (0.3±0.6) fluoride values of diabetic nephropathy group were significantly decreased in comparison between groups. The primary objective of the fluoride with insulin (-0.06) levels are inversely correlating and fluoride with microalbumin (0.083) levels are directly correlating. Results of the study gave a clear picture of effect of fluoride on insulin action and renal damage. In conclusion, though there is no significant effect of fluoride on FBS, PPBS and HbA1c, insulin is the determining factor for glucose homeostasis which is decreased. Microalbumin is yet another marker for renal clearance which is increased. Therefore, fluoride shall be considered as a parameter in prognosis of metabolic disorder especially Diabetes mellitus in fluoride endemic areas.

Quantitative ELISA for SERPINA4/kallistatin.

Background: SERPINA4/kallistatin is a multifunctional protein expressed from the liver; its concentration in blood circulation reflects the degree of liver dysfunction and may serve as a diagnostic/prognostic biomarker for chronic liver diseases (CLD). Materials & methods: Antibodies specific for SERPINA4/kallistatin were used for the development of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). For correlative studies, blood samples from patients with cirrhotic liver and healthy patients were collected from R.L. Jalappa Hospital & Research Centre, Kolar. Results: Interference of other SERPINs was ruled out using western blot analysis. Quantitative ELISA was developed using monospecific antibodies as capture antibodies. Conclusion: The accuracy of the developed ELISA was determined by inter- and intra-assay precision. Linearity was defined using a spiked sample with serial dilutions. Reduced levels of SERPINA4/kallistatin were observed in patients with CLD compared with healthy controls.

Risk factors, lipid profile, and histopathological study of oral cancers in Kolar district: a case-control study.

AIMS: To estimate serum lipid profile in oral squamous cell carcinoma and correlate the risk factors and lipid profile with oral squamous cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Lipid profile was done in agriculturists/laborers in the age group of 30-70 years; 56 subjects (cases = 28, control = 28) were included. Study was carried out for a duration of four months; statistical analyses applied were mean, standard deviation, and independent 't' test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Eleven cases had buccal mucosa cancer, nine had tongue carcinoma, and eight had gingivobuccal sulcus carcinoma. Lipid profile such as total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, non-high-density lipoprotein (non-HDL) cholesterol, and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) were marginally and slightly elevated in cases compared to controls. HDL was grossly decreased in cases compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant association between HDL and squamous cell carcinoma; maximum number of SCC had a history of smoking in the range of 10-19 years, irrespective of other lipid parameters, constrained to the fact that lipids are genetically determined, have geographical variation, and are highly skewed.