Varying Doses of Rare-Earth-Metal-Based Neodymium Zirconate Zinc Sulfide Nanocomposite Disrupt Blood and Serum Parameters, as well as Markers of Oxidative Stress in the Selected Organs of Albino Mice.

Despite extensive industrial use, the biocompatibility of nanocomposites has not been extensively explored. The present study was designed to report the effect of variable doses of a newly synthesized nanocomposite, Neodymium Zirconate Zinc Sulfide, on selective serum and complete blood count parameters and on the oxidative stress markers from the vital organs of albino mice. Albino mice (C57BL/6 strain, 5 weeks old) of both sexes were orally treated for 11 days, either with 10 mg (low dose) or 20 mg/mL saline/kg body weight (high dose) of Neodymium Zirconate Zinc Sulfide nanocomposite. A control group that was not treated with the nanocomposite but with saline solution was also maintained. Data analysis revealed that high-dose nanocomposite-treated male mice had significantly reduced hemoglobin concentration as compared to the control males. Female mice treated with both doses of nanocomposite had higher serum triglyceride levels than controls. High-dose-treated female mice had elevated serum cholesterol concentration compared to their saline-treated controls. Oxidative stress marker analysis from selected organs indicated that concentrations of malonaldehyde (MDA) in the kidney and liver, Superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in the brain and catalase in the kidney of male mice treated with the nanocomposite were significantly higher than in the control group, whereas SOD in the heart, MDA in the heart and kidney and catalase levels in the kidney were significantly disrupted in female mice compared to their respective controls.

Single nucleotide polymorphism (rs7543472) in EPHA2 gene is associated with age-related cataract in subjects enrolled from Multan in southern Punjab: A case-control study.

OBJECTIVES: To examine whether Ephrin type A receptor 2 gene polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to age-related cataract. METHODS: The case-control study was conducted from January to May 2014 in Multan, Pakistan, and comprised patients of age-related cataract enrolled from Nishtar Hospital, Multan, and age-matched healthy controls without any type of cataract from the local population. A questionnaire was used to gather clinical and epidemiological data. Deoxyribonucleic acid was extracted from blood samples, and analysis of rs11260867, rs3568293 and rs7543472 single nucleotide polymorphisms was performed by using tetra amplification-refractory mutation system polymerase chain reaction protocol. Data was analysed using SPSS 17. RESULTS: Of the 230 subjects, 129(%) were patients and 101(%) were controls. Among the three polymorphisms analysed, rs7543472 was associated with age-related cataract. Among the epidemiological and clinical factors, age, diabetes, blood pressure, smoking, radiation exposure, steroids usage and use of tranquilisers were associated with age-related cataract (p<0.05 each). CONCLUSIONS: Polymorphism rs7543472 was found to be associated with age-related cataract.

Synthesis and characterization of newly synthesized neodymium zirconate zinc sulfide nanocomposite and its effect on selected aspects of albino mice behavior.

Present study was conducted to report the effect of variable doses of neodymium zirconate zinc sulfide nanocomposite on behavior of albino mice of both sexes. Five-week-old albino mice (C57BL/6 strain) of both sexes were orally treated either with 10 mg (low dose) or 20 mg/ml saline/kg body weight (high dose) of neodymium zirconate zinc sulfide nanocomposite for 11 days. An untreated control group was maintained in parallel for same duration that received saline solution orally. A series of neurological (rotarod, light and dark box, open field, and novel object recognition) tests were conducted in all treatments. Oral supplementation of both low and high dose of nanocomposite significantly reduced the rotarod test performance as well as stretch attend reflex in male mice during light dark box test. Male mice treated with high dose of neodymium zirconate zinc sulfide nanocomposite had significantly increased time mobile and decreased time immobile than control group during open field test. Female mice treated with 10 mg/ml saline/kg body weight of neodymium zirconate zinc sulfide nanocomposite had significantly more line crossing during trial 1, and they spend more time with object A during trial 2 of novel object recognition test than their saline-treated control group. Change in body weight remained unaffected when compared between nanocomposite treated and untreated albino mice. In conclusion, we are reporting that both the applied doses of neodymium zirconate zinc sulfide nanocomposite are drastically affecting the muscular activity and exploratory behavior in male albino mice, while the studied behavioral tests, in general, remained unaffected in female albino mice.

Oral supplementation of Lanthanum Zirconate nanoparticles moderately affected behavior but drastically disturbed leukocyte count, serum cholesterol levels and antioxidant parameters from vital organs of albino mice in a gender specific manner.

Lanthanum Zirconate nanoparticles (NPs) are used in blades of gas turbine engines to thermally insulate them and to protect them against hot and corrosive gas streams. However, the information regarding their biocompatibility is limited. The present study was aimed to report the effect of Lanthanum Zirconate NPs on selected aspects of behavior, serum biochemistry, complete blood count and antioxidant parameters from vital organs of albino mice in a gender specific manner. Albino mice, seven weeks old, were orally treated with 75 mg/ml solvent/Kg body weight of Lanthanum Zirconate nanoparticles for consecutive 22 days. Saline treated control groups were maintained in parallel. It was observed that rearing frequency was significantly decreased (P = 0.01) in NPs treated male mice. Complete blood count analysis indicated that NPs treated female mice had significantly reduced white blood cells (P = 0.05) and lymphocytes count (P = 0.03). NPs treated male had significantly reduced serum cholesterol levels (P = 0.05) than control group. It was observed that Superoxide dismutase concentrations in liver (P = 0.025) and kidney (P = 0.008), Malondialdehyde concentrations in liver (P = 0.044) of female and Malondialdehyde concentrations in kidney (P < 0.001) and brain (P < 0.001) and catalase concentrations in liver (P = 0.05) of NPs treated male mice were significantly higher than their respective control groups.. In conclusion, we are reporting that oral supplementation with 75 mg/ml solvent/Kg body weight of Lanthanum Zirconate nanoparticles can affect the behavior, leukocyte count, serum cholesterol and antioxidant metabolites from vital organs of albino mice in a gender specific manner.

Association of single nucleotide polymorphism in CD28(C/T-I3 + 17) and CD40 (C/T-1) genes with the Graves' disease.

OBJECTIVE: To find out a correlation between the single nucleotide polymorphisms in cluster of differentiation 28 and cluster of differentiation 40 genes with Graves' disease, if any. METHODS: This case-control study was conducted at the Multan Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Radiotherapy, Multan, Pakistan, and comprised blood samples of Graves' disease patients and controls. Various risk factors were also correlated either with the genotype at each single-nucleotide polymorphism or with various combinations of genotypes studied during present investigation. RESULTS: Of the 160 samples, there were 80(50%) each from patients and controls. Risk factor analysis revealed that gender (p=0.008), marital status (p<0.001), education (p<0.001), smoking (p<0.001), tri-iodothyronine (P <0.001), thyroxin (p<0.001) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (p<0.000) levels in blood were associated with Graves' disease. CONCLUSIONS: Both single-nucleotide polymorphisms in both genes were not associated with Graves' disease, either individually or in any combined form.

Association of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in XRCC1 (194) and XPD (751) with Age-related cataract.

PURPOSE: Age-related cataract (ARC) is a multifactorial disease and different risk factors, including genetic and environmental, are responsible for the development of its various types. The aim of this study was to find out a correlation, if any, between ARC and the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in DNA repair genes XRCC1 (X-ray repair cross-complementary-1) [Arg194Trp (rs1799782)] and XPD (xerodermapigmentosa complementation group D) [Lys751Gln (rs13,181]. METHOD: The genotype at these two SNPs was analyzed in 260 subjects (125 control and 135 patients) from Southern Punjab population (Pakistan) by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. Genotype at both analyzed codons was correlated either individually or in various combinations with the studied epidemiological factors known to be associated with ARC. RESULTS: Our results indicated that both SNPs Arg194Trp in XRCC1 (P = 0.967) and Lys751Gln in XPD (P = 0.995) were not associated with ARC whether they were analyzed individually or in combined form (P > 0.05). Analysis of epidemiological factors revealed that age (P < 0.001), cast of subjects (P = 0.001), diabetes (P < 0.001), hypertension (P = 0.001), smoking habit (P = 0.01), drug abuse (P < 0.05), steroid use (P = 0.001) and body weight (P < 0.001) can influence the incidence of ARC in enrolled subjects. After applying Binary logistic regression it was found that the weight (P < 0.01), family history (P = 0.05), drug abuse (P = 0.05), smoking (P < 0.05) and steroid use (P < 0.05) has a significant association with the phenotype of the subjects. All epidemiological factors were also studied in association with various genotypic combinations of both SNPS, diabetes was the only factor that had a significant association (P < 0.001) association with ARC. Hypertension (P = 0.01), body weight (P < 0.05) and cast (P < 0.001) were found associated with ARC when epidemiological factors were individually correlated with ARC. Result of the two proportion test indicated that gender had no influence on the incidence of disease. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that studied SNPs in XRCC1 and XPD have no association with the incidence of age related cataract in the analyzed group of subjects.