Markers of inflammation in obese pregnant women: Adenosine deaminase and high sensitive C - reactive protein.

Introduction: The worldwide increase in the prevalence of obesity over the years has emerged as a global health concern. The growing rate of obesity in women of child bearing age is particularly a matter of concern. Obesity is considered a risk factor that predisposes an individual to a proinflammatory state through the release of the inflammatory mediators. Recent studies have shown a positive correlation between the severity of inflammation and an increase in adenosine deaminase (ADA) and high sensitivity C- reactive protein (hs-CRP). Obese pregnancy women are at a higher risk for developing inflammation-mediated pregnancy complications like gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and preterm delivery. Considering the fact that pregnancy, obesity and inflammation are closely linked, this study evaluated the inflammation associated with obesity during pregnancy by estimating changes in ADA and hs-CRP. Materials and methods: The current study aimed to evaluate the levels of inflammation in obese pregnant women compared to non-obese pregnant women by correlating BMI with levels of ADA / hs-CRP. The study also aimed to examine the change in ADA and hs-CRP levels with gestational age (between the 1st and the 3rd trimester) in obese pregnant women as compared to non-obese pregnant women. We also examined whether changes in the levels of ADA correlate with changes in the levels of hs-CRP particularly in obese pregnant women.Blood samples were collected from obese and non-obese pregnant women. ADA activity and hs-CRP levels were estimated by biochemical assays. BMI was evaluated in the 1st trimester and those women with BMI > 30 kg/m2were considered as obese. Thirty subjects were included in each of the two groups. Results: ADA and hs-CRP levels were significantly higher in obese pregnant women in both the 1st and 3rd trimesters compared to non-obese participants (P value<0.05). Statistically significant higher values of ADA and hs-CRP were seen in obese participants in the 3rd trimester compared to the 1st trimester.A significant linear positive correlation was found between BMI and 3rd trimester ADA, and a linear positive correlation between BMI and hs-CRP both in the 1st and 3rd trimester. The relationship between ∆ ADA and ∆ hs-CRP was non- significant. Conclusions: The observations of this study reveal increased inflammatory responses in obese pregnant women and suggests the importance of ADA and hs-CRP as early indicators of obesity-related complications prevailing thereafter, these markers can be useful for clinical diagnosis of impending maternal and neonatal complications.

Natural Radioprotectors on Current and Future Perspectives: A Mini-Review.

Radiation therapy is used as the primary treatment for cancer. Eighty percent of cancer patients require radiation therapy during treatment or for medical purposes. During treatment, radiation causes various biological defects in the cells. The prevalence of cytotoxicity limits the dose used for effective treatment. This method is designed to strike a balance between removing cancer cells and protecting normal tissues. Unfortunately, effective radiation is unavailable once acute toxicity occurs during clinical radiation therapy. Therefore, a lot of research interest is needed in the discovery of radioprotective drugs to accelerate treatment to reduce this toxicity (i.e., normal tissue toxicity to cancer cell death). Radiation protectors may be chemicals or drugs that minimize the damage caused due to radiation therapy in living organisms. The determination of effective and nontoxic radiation protection is an essential goal for radiation oncologists and basic radiobiologists. However, despite the advantages, many radioprotectors were found to have disadvantages which include cost, less duration, toxicity, and effect on the central nervous system. Therefore in recent years, the focus has been diverted to finding out optimal natural products to act as radioprotectors. Natural radiation protectors are plant compounds that protect normal (noncancerous) cells from damage from radiation therapy. Natural herbal products are nontoxic with proven therapeutic benefits and have long been used to treat various diseases. In conclusion, we find that there are various radiation protectors with different purposes and mechanisms of action.

The Prevalence and Pathophysiology of Chemical Sense Disorder Caused by the Novel Coronavirus.

Emerging viral infections are a ceaseless challenge and remain a global public health concern. The world has not yet come back to normal from the devastating effects of the highly contagious and pathogenic novel coronavirus, or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Olfactory and taste dysfunction is common in patients infected by the novel coronavirus. In light of the emergence of different coronavirus variants, it is important to update the prevalence and pathophysiology of these side effects. In this review, articles published on the prevalence of olfactory and taste dysfunction from coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and their possible pathophysiologic mechanisms have been reviewed and reported. The modulatory role of different SARS-CoV-2 variants on the chemical senses is then described. The clinical relevance of chemical sense disorder and its long-term morbidity and management is also discussed.

Palliative effects of lutein intervention in gamma-radiation-induced cellular damages in Swiss albino mice.

OBJECTIVES: Radiation-induced hematological, biochemical, and cytogenetic damages to the normal cells are major concerns in the field of radiotherapy. The carotenoids and their derivatives have been the source of antioxidants with wide range of medicinal applications. The objective is to evaluate the protective effects of lutein, a carotenoid, against radiation-induced cellular and tissue damages. METHODS: Swiss albino mice were grouped into 5, 50, 250, and 500 mg/kg b.wt. of lutein treatment groups, a sham and vehicle control group. The groups were irradiated with a lethal dose of 10 Gy y'-radiation. The mortality was recorded for 30 days to optimize the protective dose against radiation. The mice were administered with the compound orally for 15 consecutive days and irradiated with a sublethal dose of 6Gy. The hematological changes in blood and antioxidant parameters were determined in liver, kidney homogenates, and hemolysate/serum. The hematological parameters were recorded using an automated cell counter. The antioxidants such as malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase were spectrophotometrically determined. RESULTS: The red blood cell, white blood cell count, lymphocyte count, hemoglobin, platelet levels, and hematocrit value were found to be decreased in the irradiated groups. Lutein pretreatment maintains near-normal levels of these parameters indicating resistance/recovery from the radiation-induced damages. The antioxidant levels were found to be reduced in all the irradiated groups. However, lutein pretreatment (50 mg/kg b.wt.) has increased the catalase activity of hemolysate. Lutein pretreatment has reduced the MDA levels in hemolysate, when administered at doses of 5, 250, and 500 mg/kg b.wt. in comparison to its control. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrates the radioprotective potential of lutein by maintaining the hematological and antioxidant homeostasis.