Age and Sex-related Chromogranin A Gene Polymorphisms and its Association with Metabolic Syndrome Components.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to determine the possible differences in genetic polymorphisms and serum levels of chromogranin A (CgA), according to age and sex, in subjects with and without metabolic syndrome (MetS). Methodology: The genotyping and serum level of CgA and biochemical parameters were measured by the T-ARMS-PCR and PCR-RFLP and ELISA and spectrophotometer methods, respectively. Results: A comparison of males with and without MetS showed significantly lower high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels than those of females.At ages 30-70 years, both sexes showed significant differences in triglycerides (TG), fasting blood sugar (FBS), CgA levels and waist circumference (WC) when compared to the two groups. Both sexes with MetS indicated significant differences in systolic blood pressure (SBP) at ages 40-70 years, while at ages 40-59 years, there was a significant difference in HDL-C level in males.There was a significant correlation between serum levels of FBS, TG, SBP and WC (in both sexes), and CgA in subjects with MetS. Significant correlation was found between HDL-C level and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and CgA level in males and females, respectively. CgA genotype frequency (T-415C and C+87T polymorphisms) showed no significant differences between males and females with and without MetS, while there was only a significant difference in frequency of the genotypes T-415C when compared to males with and without MetS. Conclusion: The CgA appears to be strongly associated with MetS components in both sexes. Variation in CgA gene expression may affect the T-415C polymorphism in males. This may mean that the structure of CgA genetics differs in different ethnic groups. Differences in the serum level and expression of CgA gene may show valuable study results that it may be expected a relationship between these variables and the MetS.

The association of paraoxonase I gene polymorphisms Q192R (rs662) and L55M (rs854560) and its activity with metabolic syndrome components in fars ethnic group.

OBJECTIVES: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) may cause premature development of some diseases. PON1 genes may be involved in the pathogenesis of MetS. The aim of study was to evaluate the association between Q192R and L55M gene polymorphisms and its enzyme activity with the MetS components in subjects with and without MetS. METHODS: Polymerase Chain Reaction and Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism analysis were performed to determine polymorphisms of the paraoxonase1 gene in subjects with and without metabolic syndrome. Biochemical parameters were measured by spectrophotometer. RESULTS: The MM, LM, and LL genotype frequencies of the PON1 L55M polymorphism were 10.5, 43.4, and 46.1%, and 22.4, 46.6, and 31% and; the QQ, QR, and RR genotype frequencies of the PON1 Q192R polymorphism were 55.4, 38.6 and 6%; and 56.5, 34.8 and 8.7% in subjects with and without MetS, respectively. The L and M allele frequencies were 68 and 53%; and 32 and 47% for PON1 L55M in subjects with and without MetS, respectively. The Q and R allele frequencies for PON1 Q192R were 74 and 26% in both groups. There were significant differences in HDL-cholesterol level and PON1 activity in the genotypes QQ, QR, and RR of the PON1 Q192R polymorphism in subjects with MetS. CONCLUSIONS: The PON1 Q192R genotypes had only effected on PON1 activity and HDL-cholesterol level in subjects with MetS. Different genotypes of the PON1 Q192R seem to be important candidates to make the subjects susceptible to MetS in the Fars ethnic group.

Association between Pro-oxidant-Antioxidant balance and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in type 2 diabetes mellitus: A Study on Postmenopausal Women.

INTRODUCTION: Oxidative stress known as a predictive marker for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases could be measured through pro-oxidant antioxidant balance (PAB). The present study aimed to evaluate PAB and its association with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in the serum of postmenopausal women with diabetes mellitus. METHODS: In this case-control study, 99 diabetic and 100 healthy postmenopausal women without diabetes mellitus were recruited. Serum PAB values, hs-CRP, lipid profile, insulin, and vitamin D levels were measured. Moreover, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR, HOMA-ß and QUICKI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and body mass index (BMI) were calculated. RESULTS: Serum PAB, hs-CRP, insulin resistance, HOMA-ß, QUICKI, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglycerides (TG) levels were significantly higher in the postmenopausal women with diabetes mellitus, while there was no significant difference in the total cholesterol (TC), serum insulin, WC, WHR, WHtR and vitamin D levels between the groups. Pearson correlation coefficient showed that HDL-C and insulin levels were directly correlated with serum PAB. Also, there was a significant direct relationship between LDL-C and insulin levels and hs-CRP. There was no meaningful relationship between serum insulin and vitamin D levels and other assessed parameters. Backward logistic regression showed a positive relationship between diabetes mellitus and serum PAB and an inverse relationship with serum HDL levels. CONCLUSIONS: Serum PAB, hs-CRP concentration, and lipid profile were significantly different between postmenopausal women with and without diabetes mellitus. These differences may contribute to the development of coronary complications.

Effects of Onosma dichroanthum Boiss. root extract on AGS human gastric cancer cell-line.

One of the cancer-related deaths is gastric cancer in this area. Onosma dichroanthum Boiss. roots have been used as an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory for wound healing treatment. The aim of this study was to assess the in vitro cytotoxic and anticancer effects of O. dichroanthum Boiss. roots from the Golestan province of Iran. After identification of the taxonomical effect of O. dichroanthum Boiss., different concentrations of the hydroalcoholic root extract were used. Three different time periods (24, 48, and 72 h) were used to treat AGS gastric cancer and L-929 normal fibroblasts cell lines. The evaluation of different concentrations of root extract was performed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The 48 h treatment affected cell survival, while the concentration of 64 µg/mL was determined as IC50 concentrations at 48 h incubation time. The 48 h incubation time with 64 µg/mL showed the best effectiveness on cancerous cell-line while being safe for normal cell-line. Our results show that O. dichroanthum Boiss. roots extract may have cytotoxic and safe effects on gastric cancer cell-line and normal cells in 48 h treatment periods, respectively. The results indicated the O. dichroanthum Boiss. may be as an effective anticancer agent (gastric cancer).