A Novel Technique of Synthesis of Highly Fluorescent Carbon Nanoparticles from Broth Constituent and In-vivo Bioimaging of C. elegans.

Here we have demonstrated a novel single step technique of synthesis of highly fluorescent carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) from broth constituent and in vivo bioimaging of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) with the synthesized CNPs has been presented. The synthesized CNPs has been characterized by the UV-visible (UV-Vis) absorption spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Raman studies. The sp (2) cluster size of the synthesized samples has been determined from the measured Raman spectra by fitting it with the theoretical skew Lorentzian (Breit-Wigner- Fano (BWF)) line shape. The synthesised materials are showing excitation wavelength dependent tunable photoluminescence (PL) emission characteristics with a high quantum yield (QY) of 3 % at a very low concentration of CNPs. A remarkable increase in the intensity of PL emission from 16 % to 39 % in C. elegans has also been observed when the feeding concentration of CNPs to C. elegans is increased from 0.025 % to 0.1 % (w/v). The non-toxicity and water solubility of the synthesized material makes it ideal candidate for bioimaging.

Enhancement of lipid production and fatty acid profiling in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, CC1010 for biodiesel production.

Lipid from microalgae is one of the putative oil resources to facilitate the biodiesel production during this era of energy dissipation and environmental pollution. In this study, the key parameters such as biomass productivity, lipid productivity and lipid content were evaluated at the early stationary phase of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, CC1010 cultivated in nutrient starved (nitrogen, phosphorous), glucose (0.05%, 0.1%, 0.15% and 0.2%) and vitamin B12 supplementation (0.001%, 0.002% and 0.003%) in Tris-Acetate-Phosphate (TAP) medium. The lipid content in nitrogen starved media was 61% which is 2.34 folds higher than nutrient sufficient TAP medium. Glucose supplementation has lead to proportional increase in biomass productivity with the increasing concentration of glucose whereas vitamin B12 supplementations had not shown any influence in lipid and biomass production. Further, fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) profiling of C. reinhardtii, CC 1010 has revealed more than 80% of total SFA (saturated fatty acid) and MUFA (mono unsaturated fatty acid) content. Quality checking parameters of biodiesel like cetane number, saponification value, iodine number and degree of unsaturation were analyzed and the biodiesel fuel properties were found to be appropriate as per the international standards, EN 14214 and ASTM D6751. Conclusively, among all the treatments, nitrogen starvation with 0.1% glucose supplementation had yielded high lipid content in C. reinhardtii, CC 1010.

Federated Learning in Healthcare: A Privacy Preserving Approach.

A need to enhance healthcare sector amidst pandemic arises. Many technological developments in Artificial Intelligence (AI) are being constantly leveraged in different fields of healthcare. One such advancement, Federated Learning(FL) has acquired recognition primarily due to its decentralized, collaborative nature of building AI models. The most significant feature in FL is that, raw data remain with the data sources throughout the training process and thus preventing its exposure. Hence, FL is more suitable and inevitable in healthcare domain as it deals with private sensitive data which needs to be protected. However, privacy threats still exist in FL, necessitating a requirement for further improvement in privacy protection This paper discusses about the concepts and applications of FL in healthcare and presents a novel approach for enhancing privacy preservation in Federated Learning.

Blockchain and IoT Technology in Healthcare: A Review.

The tremendous shift in technology has led to many unconnected things getting interconnected via IoT. IoT is one of the major modes of collecting data from various networked resources and other connected devices. The broad range of IoT, with its huge heterogeneity in handling data, addresses many challenges in the realm of healthcare. Blockchain technology has elevated the use of distributed storage in a positive way. The recent emergence of this technology has paved way for potentially enormous utilization in various fields. Blockchain technology in the fields of IT, finance, industries, government, healthcare, media, and law enforcement has altered the service quality levels to an ethical ideal. Blockchain, in conjunction with IoT, facilitates decentralized collection and storage of data. Integrating blockchain with IoT has emerged as a cutting-edge tool for the decentralized sharing of medical records, monitoring of patients, ensuring the privacy of patient records, predicting the quantum of insurance, and managing supply chains.

Diagnosis of Parkinson's disease from hand drawing utilizing hybrid models.

Parkinson's disease is a nervous system abnormality marked by decreased dopamine levels in the brain. Parkinson's disease inhibits one's ability to move. Speech difficulty, changes in movement and handwriting, and other symptoms are common with Parkinson's disease. A collection of hand drawings is employed to predict Parkinson's disease. There are 102 spiral images in the hand drawing dataset. Due to the minimal size of the dataset, augmentation is utilized to increase it. After that, the augmented images are utilized to train several machine learning and deep learning models, as well as pre-trained networks like RESNET50, VGG16, AlexNet, and VGG19. The performance metrics of hybrid models of deep learning with machine learning and hybrid models of deep learning (for feature extraction) with deep learning (for classification) are then compared. It was observed that the hybrid model of RESNET-50 and SVM performed well with better performance measures compared to other Machine Learning, Deep Learning and Hybrid Models with an accuracy score of 98.45%, sensitivity score of 0.99 and specificity score of 0.98.

A Survey on Security and Privacy Issues in Contact Tracing Application of Covid-19.

In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Government and public health authorities around the world are developing contact tracing apps as a way to trace and slow the unfold of the virus. There is major divergence among nations, however, between a "privacy-first" approach that protects citizens' information at the price of very restricted access for public health authorities and a "data-first" approach that stores massive amounts of knowledge that, whereas of immeasurable price to epidemiologists. Contact tracing apps work by gathering information from people who have tested positive for the virus and so locating and notifying individuals with whom those people are in shut contact, oftentimes by use of GPS, Bluetooth, or wireless technology. All of the user's information is employed and picked up, the study found that users' information would be created anonymous, encrypted, secured, and can be transmitted on-line and stored solely in an aggregated format. Contact tracing apps use either a centralized or a decentralized approach to work the user's information. Apps that use a centralized approach have high privacy risks. In this paper, the researcher's contributions related to the security and privacy of Contact tracing apps have been discussed and, later research gaps have been identified with proposed solutions.

Optimization of ultrasound assisted extraction of pectin from custard apple peel: Potential and new source.

Pectin was extracted from the waste custard apple peel using ultrasound technique and optimized the extraction process by RSM. The various significant process parameters such as liquid-solid ratio, ultra-sonication time, temperature and pH of solution were studied in the range of 10-25 mL g-1, 10-30 min, 50-80 °C, and 1-3, respectively. The maximum yield of pectin (8.93%) was attained at the optimum condition of 23.52 mL g-1 of liquid-solid ratio, 18.04  min of ultra-sonication time, 63.22 °C of temperature and 2.3 pH of solution. The extracted and commercially available fresh pectin (for comparison purposes) were characterized by various analytical techniques namely, FTIR, DSC, XRD, SEM, and NMR to evaluate their functional groups, thermal properties, crystallinities, morphological and structural characteristics, respectively. The extracted pectin was a toxic free compound as determined by its anti nutritional property study and about 20 mg/mL of antioxidant presented in it.

Effect of DL-alpha-lipoic acid on cyclophosphamide induced lysosomal changes in oxidative cardiotoxicity.

Cyclophosphamide (CP), one of the widely prescribed antineoplastic drugs can cause fatal cardiotoxicity. The present study is aimed at evaluating the cardioprotective role of lipoic acid in CP induced toxicity. Male albino rats of Wistar strain were divided into four groups and treated as follows: Group I served as control, Group II received a single dose of CP (200 mg/kg b.wt., i.p.), Group III received lipoic acid (25 mg/kg b.wt., orally) for 10 days, and Group IV received CP immediately followed by lipoic acid for 10 days. In CP administered rats, the levels of protein carbonyl and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine were increased significantly (P<0.001) indicating oxidative changes in the heart tissue. The activities of lysosomal acid hydrolases, beta-Glu, beta-Gal, NAG, Cat-D and ACP increased significantly (P<0.001) in the serum as well as in the heart tissue after CP administration. An increase in hydroxyproline was observed in CP induced rats. Lipoic acid effectively reverted these abnormal biochemical changes to near normalcy. These observations highlight the protective role of lipoic acid in CP induced cardiotoxicity.

Protective effect of Withania somnifera root powder in relation to lipid peroxidation, antioxidant status, glycoproteins and bone collagen on adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats.

The present investigation was carried out to evaluate the protective effect of Withania somnifera Linn. Dunal (family-Solanaceae), commonly known as Ashwagandha, on adjuvant-induced arthritic rats. Results were compared with those for Indomethacin, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Arthritis was induced by intradermal injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (0.1 mL) into the right hind paw of Wistar albino rats. Withania somnifera root powder (1000 mg/kg/day) and Indomethacin (3 mg/kg/day) were orally administered for 8 days (from 11th to 18th day) after adjuvant injection. The anti-arthritic effect of W. somnifera root powder was assessed by measuring changes in lipid peroxidation, antioxidant status, and glycoprotein levels in plasma and spleen of arthritic animals. In addition, cartilage degradation was also assessed by estimating bone collagen, and urinary constituents in arthritic animals. Results of the present investigation showed significant increase in the level of lipid peroxides, glycoproteins, and urinary constituents with the depletion of antioxidant status and bone collagen in arthritic animals. These biochemical alterations observed were ameliorated significantly by oral administration of W. somnifera root powder (1000 mg/kg body weight) in arthritic animals. The results of this study clearly indicate that W. somnifera root powder is capable of rectifying the above biochemical changes in adjuvant arthritis.

Effect of sulphated polysaccharides on erythrocyte changes due to oxidative and nitrosative stress in experimental hyperoxaluria.

Kidney stones are known to haunt humanity for centuries and increase in oxalate is a predominant risk factor for stone formation. The present study was initiated with a notion to study the oxidative and nitrosative stress on erythrocytes under oxalate stress and the putative role of sulphated polysaccharides. Hyperoxaluria was induced in two groups by the administration of 0.75% ethylene glycol in drinking water for 28 days and one of them was treated with sulphated polysaccharides from Fucus vesiculosus from the 8th day to the end of the experimental period of 28 days at a dose of 5 mg/kg body weight subcutaneously. Control and drug control (sulphated polysaccharides alone) were also included in the study. Glycolic and glyoxylic acid levels of urine were analyzed as an index of hyperoxaluria. The plasma enzymic markers of cellular integrity, redox status of red blood cells, osmotic fragility, and (14)C-oxalate binding were investigated. Urine and plasma nitric oxide metabolites, expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase protein, and mRNA were assessed in kidney to evaluate the nitrosative stress. Increased levels of glycolic and glyoxylic acid in urine indicated the prevalence of hyperoxaluria in ethylene glycol-administered groups. Plasma aspartate and alanine transaminase were not altered, but alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase of hyperoxaluric group were increased indicating tissue damage. Activities of antioxidant enzymes were decreased, whereas erythrocyte membrane lipid peroxidation was increased in hyperoxaluric rats. Moreover, an altered fragility with an increase in oxalate binding activity was observed in hyperoxaluric group. Increase in nitric oxide metabolites levels in urine and plasma along with an increase in expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase protein and mRNA in kidney were observed in hyperoxaluric rats. Administration of sulphated polysaccharides to hyperoxaluric rats averted the abnormal increase in urinary glycolic and glyoxylic acid levels and enzyme activities, decreased lipid peroxidation, and increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes. Furthermore, increased nitrosative stress accompanying hyperoxaluria was also normalized on sulphated polysaccharides treatment. To conclude, sulphated polysaccharide administration was able to maintain the integrity of erythrocyte membrane and decrease the damage to erythrocytes in hyperoxaluria.

Epitaxial deposition of calcium oxalate on uric acid rich stone matrix is induced by a 29 kDa protein.

BACKGROUND: Association of macromolecules particularly the role of proteins in urolithiasis has been studied for last few centuries, but still a complete profile of stone matrix proteins that mediate co-precipitation of uric acid and calcium oxalate has not been characterized. We isolated and characterize proteins from uric acid rich stone matrix, which have oxalate binding activity. METHODS: Matrix proteins were isolated from uric acid rich stone matrix using EDTA as a demineralizing agent. The radiolabelled solubilized proteins were fractionated with increasing ionic concentration by DEAE cellulose column chromatography to identify the oxalate binding protein. It was purified using Sephadex G-200 column chromatography. Amino acid composition was determined and monoclonal antibody was produced against the oxalate binding uric acid rich stone matrix protein. Urinary uric acid binding proteins were isolated from stone formers urine, their oxalate binding activity assayed and cross reactivity with the produced monoclonal antibody were checked using ELISA and Western blotting. RESULTS: Matrix on DEAE column chromatography elution yielded 3 protein peaks and they were named as fraction I, II and III among which fraction I had higher oxalate binding activity which was further purified with Sephadex G-200 column which yielded 2 protein peaks designated as Ia and Ib. Fraction Ib with molecular weight 29 kDa exhibited the maximum oxalate binding activity. Forty percent of this 29 kDa protein is comprised of basic amino acids. Monoclonal antibody (IgG1) was produced against the 29 kDa stone matrix protein. Urinary uric acid binding proteins were isolated from stone formers, 4 protein peaks were obtained named as fraction I to IV. Among them, fraction IV having molecular weight of approximately 29 kDa cross reacted up to 85.6% with 29 kDa stone matrix protein. Moreover, urinary 29 kDa protein exhibited oxalate binding activity of 94.16 +/- 6.08 pmol/mg protein at pH 5.5. CONCLUSION: The 29 kDa protein isolated from uric acid rich stone matrix and urine are one and the same, thereby insinuating that 29 kDa protein might play a major role in epitaxial deposition of calcium oxalate over uric acid core, consequently favoring the lithogenic events like uric acid and calcium oxalate nucleation, aggregation and retention.

Influence of a low-molecular-weight heparin derivative on the nitric oxide levels and apoptotic DNA damage in adriamycin-induced cardiac and renal toxicity.

The spectrum of the anti-apoptotic potential of heparin is currently under scrutiny in various tissues and under various pathological situations. In this study, the role of a low-molecular-weight heparin derivative (LMWH), certoparin in adriamycin-induced oxidative DNA damage has been evaluated in the cardiac and renal tissues. Two groups of male albino rats of the Wistar strain (140+/-10 g) received a single intravenous injection of adriamycin (7.5mg/kg), and one of them received low-molecular-weight heparin (Certoparin Sodium, 300 microg/day/rat s.c.) treatment, commencing on day 8, continued for a week. The nitrosative stress in ADR cytotoxicity is indicated by the 1.51-fold cardiac and 2.36-fold renal increase in reactive nitrogen species (RNS), while LMWH treatment restores normalcy (p<0.001). The influence of LMWH on the pro-inflammatory and pro-apoptotic cytokine, TNF-alpha was studied. Renal and cardiac levels of TNF-alpha showed a significant rise (p<0.001) in the ADR cytotoxic group, while the TNF-alpha values departed towards control levels in the LMWH treated group (p<0.001). DNA damage indicated by the fragmentation pattern (agarose gel electrophoresis) and the significantly increased comet tail length (p<0.001) observed after alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis confirmed the toxicity induced by ADR on DNA in the untreated group. In the LMWH-treated group, the observation of intact DNA band after agarose gel electrophoresis, and the finding of comet tail length being comparable with that of the control substantiated the protection rendered by the LMWH, certoparin. In short, the results suggest that the low-molecular-weight heparin derivative, certoparin exerts beneficial effects on the nitrosative status, and on the biological macromolecules as DNA and curtails the rise of the pro-apoptotic and pro-inflammatory cytokine, TNF-alpha in the cardiac and renal tissues.

Salubrious effects of lipoic acid against adriamycin-induced clastogenesis and apoptosis in Wistar rat bone marrow cells.

Adriamycin (ADR), an anthracycline antibiotic, which is widely used as an antineoplastic drug in the treatment of various solid tumors, has been shown to induce genotoxicity in erythropoietic system. The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective efficacy of DL-alpha-lipoic acid (LA) on ADR-induced clastogenicity and apoptosis in the bone marrow of rats. The animals were randomly divided into eight groups consisting of six rats each. Five groups were administered ADR (20 mg/kg body weight, i.v.) to induce genotoxicity; four of these groups received a single intraperitoneal injection of LA at a dose of either 100 or 200 mg/kg body weight, and either 30 or 60 min prior to ADR administration. A vehicle treated control group and LA control groups were also included. The beneficial effects of LA were monitored by DNA strand breaks, chromosomal aberrations, micronucleus assay and apoptotic studies in the bone marrow cells of rats after 24 h following single dose of ADR treatment. ADR treatment caused significant clastogenicity and apoptosis in rat bone marrow cells. The treatment with LA showed significant reduction in the frequency of chromosomal aberrations, DNA strand breaks and apoptosis in bone marrow cells as well as decreased the micronuclei formation in bone marrow and peripheral blood of rats treated with ADR. The protective effect of LA was found to be stronger at a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight than 100 mg/kg body weight dosage with respect to the above results, indicating the dose dependent effect of LA. However, the protection by LA was not dependent on the time intervals between LA and ADR administration. The results of this study illustrate the protective effect of LA on ADR-induced clastogenicity and apoptosis in the erythropoietic system of rats.

Immunomodulatory role of Withania somnifera root powder on experimental induced inflammation: An in vivo and in vitro study.

The aqueous suspension of Withania somnifera root powder was investigated for their in vivo and in vitro immunomodulatory properties. W. somnifera showed potent inhibitory activity towards the complement system, mitogen induced lymphocyte proliferation and delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction. Administration of W. somnifera root powder did not have a significant effect on humoral immune response in rats. Our results report immunosuppressive effect of W. somnifera root powder, thus it could be a candidate for developing as an immunosuppressive drug for the inflammatory diseases.

Favourable modulation of the inflammatory changes in hypercholesterolemic atherogenesis by a low-molecular-weight heparin derivative.

BACKGROUND: In the hypercholesterolemic state, the net result of combined oxidative and nitrosative stress is a pro-inflammatory phenotype that is manifested as increased adhesion molecule expression, enhanced leucocyte trafficking, and increased vascular permeability. The present work explores the inflammatory aspects of hypercholesterolemic atherogenesis, and also evaluates the role of a low-molecular-weight heparin derivative (LMWH), Certoparin, on a biochemical basis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Two groups of male Wistar rats were fed an atherogenic diet (normal rat chow plus 4% cholesterol, 1% cholic acid and 0.5% thiouracil-CCT diet) for 2 weeks. While one was left untreated, the other was administered LMWH (300 microg/day/rat commencing on day 8 and continued for a week). Increased concentrations of plasma C-reactive protein and fibrinogen and cardiac TNF-alpha indicated severe inflammation in the atherogenic diet fed rats. In comparison, these biochemical indices of inflammation diminished significantly in the LMWH treated group (p < 0.001). Significant depletion of thiols, along with accentuated activities of the glutathione metabolising was observed in the cardiac and hepatic tissues of the untreated atherogenic rats, indicating heightened oxidative response. Tissue damage was marked by elevated levels of plasma and tissue hexose, hexosamine, hexuronic acid and sialic acid, which were reversed towards normalcy on LMWH administration. The activities of lysosomal enzymes (N-acetyl glucosaminidase, beta-glucuronidase, beta-galactosaminidase and cathepsin-D) showed a marked increase in the CCT-diet fed rats, while LMWH treated rats showed normal activities (p < 0.001). The osmotic fragility test revealed that the untreated hyperlipidemic rat erythrocytes were significantly fragile at high salt concentrations, while the response was normalized in the LMWH treated group (p < 0.05). Further, hypercholesterolemia induced downregulation of physiological nitric oxide levels was corrected upon treatment with heparin-derivative. CONCLUSION: The results of this work highlight the inflammatory changes in atherogenic conditions and that the low-molecular-weight heparin derivative affords substantial protection.

Modification of cyclophosphamide-induced clastogenesis and apoptosis in rats by alpha-lipoic acid.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective efficacy of alpha-lipoic acid (LA) on the cyclophosphamide (CP)-induced chromosomal aberrations (CA) and apoptosis in the bone marrow of rats. Male Wistar rats of 140+/-20 g were categorized into eight groups. Five groups were administered CP (40 mg/kg body weight, intraperitoneally) to induce toxicity; four of these groups received a single intraperitoneal injection of LA at a dose of either 100 or 200 mg/kg body weight, and either 30 or 60 min prior to CP administration. A vehicle-treated control group and LA control groups were also included. Twenty-four hours after CP treatment, the frequency of CA in bone marrow cells were significantly increased in comparison with the controls. The CP-induced CA were associated with significant increase in DNA damage in the bone marrow as evidenced by increased single strand breaks, whereas in rats treated with LA and CP, the frequency of CA and single strand breaks were significantly decreased in comparison to those given CP alone. CP administration distinctly triggered the apoptotic and necrotic cell death, and LA pretreatment affected cell death by decreasing the number of apoptotic and necrotic cells. The protective effect of LA was found to be stronger at a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight than 100 mg/kg body weight dosage, indicating the dose dependent protective effect of LA. However, the protection by LA was not dependent on the time intervals between LA and CP administration. The results of this study illustrate the protective effect of LA on the CA and apoptosis induced by CP in the erythropoietic system of rats.

The effects of vitamin B-6 deficiency and hepatectomy on the synthesis of oxalate from glycolate in the rat.

The interrelationship between vitamin B-6 deficiency, liver and extrahepatic tissues with respect to oxalate biosynthesis from [14C1]glycolate in the rat has been investigated. Separate groups of vitamin B-6 deficient and control rats were subjected to total hepatectomy and the metabolism of injected [14C1]glycolate was followed by measuring the respired 14CO2 and analyzing the urine and blood for radioactive metabolites. Vitamin B-6 deficient and control rats were subjected to sham hepatectomies and used as controls. Vitamin B-6 deficient rats showed elevated urinary oxalate compared to controls. Hepatectomy reduced [14C]oxalate excretion and eliminated the B-6 effect. Respiratory 14CO2 was significantly lowered in hepatectomized rats and vitamin B-6 deficiency enhanced the reduction. A difference in oxalate metabolism between normal and vitamin B-6 deficient rat kidneys and possibly other tissues is indicated. The results suggest that the influence of vitamin B-6 on oxalate metabolism is mediated mainly through the liver and supports earlier observations that liver, which contains two oxalate synthesizing enzymes, glycolic acid oxidase and glycolic acid dehydrogenase, is a primary site for the synthesis of oxalate from glycolate.

Atheroprotective effect of exogenous heparin-derivative treatment on the aortic disturbances and lipoprotein oxidation in hypercholesterolemic diet fed rats.

BACKGROUND: The present work explores the myriad of biochemical and cellular changes that are featured in the early stages of atherosclerosis; if unchecked these changes lead to the complicated atherosclerotic plaque formation. The influence of a low-molecular-weight heparin derivative on the aortic aberrations and lipoprotein oxidation has been assessed in an experimental model of hypercholesterolemic atherogenesis. METHODS: Two groups of male Wistar rats (140+/-10 g) were fed a hypercholesterolemic atherogenic diet (rat chow supplemented with 4% cholesterol, 1% cholic acid and 0.5% thiouracil; CCT diet) for 2 weeks; one of these groups received LMWH (Certoparin) treatment of 300 microg/day/rat, s.c. for 7 days. An untreated control and a LMWH drug control group were also included. RESULTS: Abnormal increase in the aortic lipids -glycosaminoglycans levels (p<0.001) in CCT-diet fed group was circumvented by the exogenous glycosaminoglycan (LMWH) treatment (p<0.001). The escalation of oxidative stress (markers-lipid peroxidation and thiol levels, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities) in the atherogenic aorta was minimised by LMWH treatment. Further, an increased susceptibility of the apo B-containing lipoproteins (LDL+VLDL) to oxidation in vitro, induced by copper ions and Fenton's reagent, was observed in the untreated CCT diet fed group. This paper reports the favorable modulation of these oxidative changes by LMWH administration. Vascular protection by LMWH is further substantiated by the normal aortic histologic findings as against the appearance of foam cells in the untreated atherogenic group. CONCLUSION: The exogenous heparin-derivative (LMWH) treatment attempted in this experimental model of hypercholesterolemic atherogenesis affords substantial protection against abnormal levels of aortic lipids and glycosaminoglycans, aortic oxidative stress and also stunts the lipoprotein peroxidative process, thereby proving its multi-faceted anti-atherogenic effects.

Uric acid: an abettor or protector in calcium oxalate urolithiasis? Biochemical study in stone formers.

BACKGROUND: Free radical induced renal damage leads to crystal retention and formation of large stones. However, the scenario behind uric acid (UA) stone formation is still a mystery, as uric acid, a risk factor of stone formation, seems to be a potent antioxidant that can protect cells from damage by reactive oxygen species. This study was intended to evaluate the role of uric acid in stone formers by assessing the oxidative stress status of the stone patients. METHODS: Determination of urinary stone forming risk factors and oxidative stress factors like plasma lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyls of stone formers and histopathological changes and uric acid deposition in stone patients kidney biopsy were studied. RESULTS: Increased concentrations of urinary uric acid and oxalate in both uric acid as well as calcium oxalate stone formers were observed, whereas calcium is increased in calcium stone formers and not in the uric acid stone patients. Inhibitors such as citrate and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) were found to be significantly decreased in all the stone patients. Histopathological studies confirmed the deposition of crystals in the damaged tubules and De Galantha staining authenticates that the damage is caused due to uric acid crystals. Increased oxidative stress is dictated by the concentrations of lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyls in stone formers. Moreover, increased activities of urinary marker enzymes substantiate the tubular damage. CONCLUSION: We speculated that uric acid acts as a calculi forming salt rather than an antioxidant and it has no role in preventing oxidative stress pertaining to urolithiasis.

Beneficial cardio-renovascular effects of a low-molecular-weight heparin-derivative on adriamycin-induced glycosaminoglycanuria and tissue lipid abnormalities.

The present work includes a study on the glycosaminoglycanuric condition induced by adriamycin (ADR, a chemotherapeutic agent) and the accompanying secondary hyperlipidemia, wherein the treatment with a low-molecular-weight heparin-derivative (LMWH), certoparin, is evaluated for its protective role (if any) on these parameters. Two groups of male albino rats of the Wistar strain (140+/-10 g) received a single intravenous injection of adriamycin (7.5 mg/kg), and one of these groups was treated with a low-molecular-weight heparin-derivative (Certoparin Sodium, Troparin; 300 microg/day/rat s.c.), commencing on day 8, for a week. Urinary total glycosaminoglycans excretion of the untreated ADR-induced group was found to increase on the 8th and the 15th days of observation, when compared with the controls. The LMWH treatment commencing on day 8 resulted in minimising the glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) excretion by day 15 (p<0.001). Plasma, cardiac, hepatic and renal lipids (cholesterol, triglycerides and phospholipids) showed a sharp increase in the pathologic group, along with a rise in plasma LDL and VLDL cholesterol and drop in HDL cholesterol levels, paralleled by abnormal activities of the enzymes involved in lipid metabolism. LMWH treated group showed a normalised lipid profile and the activities of the lipid-metabolising enzymes was close to that of controls. It is concluded herein that adriamycin administration resulted in severe nephropathy manifested by increased glycosaminoglycanuria and abnormal lipid metabolism, and that LMWH treatment afforded substantial protection by restoring glomerular structure and function, and normalised the plasma and tissue lipid levels, lipoprotein profile and the activities of lipid-metabolising enzymes.