Association of Anthropometry With Nerve Conduction Parameters of Median Nerve: A Cross-Sectional Study in a North Indian Medical University Hospital.

Background Nerve conduction studies ease the understanding of the various pathologies of the peripheral nervous system. It helps physicians to delineate between the two principal types of peripheral etiologies: axonal degeneration and demyelination. An increase in weight in the form of excessive fat deposition or obesity could have a worrisome effect on nerve conduction. So, to find the association of various anthropometric parameters (age, gender, height, weight, waist-hip ratio and body mass index) with motor and sensory median nerve conduction parameters (latency, amplitude and velocity) this cross-sectional study was conducted. Materials and method A total of 87 subjects were taken and their height, weight, waist-hip ratio and body mass index were measured using standard techniques. Motor and sensory nerve conduction parameters were measured on an electromyography machine. Data was stored, tabulated and analyzed. Results The average height of male and female subjects ± SD was 1.699 ± 0.072 m and 1.589 ± 0.067 m respectively. The average weight of male and female subjects ± SD was 64.089 ± 11.497 kg and 52.949 ± 8.404 kg, respectively. The average BMI of normal, underweight and overweight subjects ± SD was 21.668 ± 2.048 kg/m2, 17.074 ± 0.794 kg/m2 and 26.595 ± 0.915 kg/m2 respectively. Weight showed a significant (p = 0.0025) correlation with the latency of motor median nerve conduction. Waist-hip ratio showed a significant (p = 0.042 and p = 0.036) correlation with motor median nerve conduction velocity in both male and female subjects, respectively. BMI in the overweight category showed a significant (p = 0.0156 and p = 0.0290) correlation with latency and amplitude of motor median nerve conduction study, respectively. Conclusions This study exemplifies that an increase in BMI of our body can affect nerve conduction. This could serve as a preliminary study to assess the effect of obesity on peripheral nerve conduction, especially in the Indian population.

Combinatorial effect of curcumin and tumor necrosis factor-α-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) in induction of apoptosis via inhibition of nuclear factor kappa activity and enhancement of caspase-3 activity in chronic myeloid cells: An In-vitro study.

BACKGROUND: Nuclear factor kappa B (NFkB-light-chain-enhancer of activated B-cells) expression and its regulation is a key role in the development of number of malignancies, as NFkB mediates the balance between cell death and its survival. Therefore, NFkB regulation constitutes an attractive target to overcome the resistance to chemotherapeutic agents in anticancer therapy. Curcumin, as a chemopreventive agent, has a potential role in inhibiting cell growth in a variety of malignancies. Thus, this study was aimed to investigate the efficacy of curcumin along with tumor necrosis factor-α-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) in KCL-22 myeloid cells along with an investigation of the mechanism by which both the agents exert their effects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: KCL-22 cells were exposed to different doses of curcumin and TRAIL alone and in combination. Cell viability was measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, caspase activity by fluorescent method, protein expression by western Blot, and NFkB activity by electrophoretic mobility shift assays, respectively. RESULTS: Cell viability assay revealed that when both the agents, curcumin and TRAIL, were used together, there was reduced cell viability in dose- and time-dependent manner as compared to each agent alone. Curcumin and TRAIL enhanced the caspase-3 activity as compared to caspase-8 and caspase-9. Both the agents induced apoptosis in KCL-22 cells by suppressing the IκB kinase and NFkB activity. CONCLUSION: Our results conclude that curcumin and TRAIL effectively induce the apoptosis through the inhibition of NFkB activity and by enhancing the caspase-3 activity. Thus, curcumin may prove as a potent inhibitor of NFkB by representing its role in cancer pathogenesis, especially in chronic myeloid leukemia cells.

Antiproliferative and Apoptotic Effect of Curcumin and TRAIL (TNF Related Apoptosis inducing Ligand) in Chronic Myeloid Leukaemic Cells.

INTRODUCTION: Curcumin, traditionally utilized as a flavouring zest as a part of Indian cooking, has been accounted to decrease the proliferation potential of most cancer cells. Apoptosis is a mechanism by which most anticancer therapies including chemotherapy, radiation and antihormonal therapy kill tumour/cancer cells. Novel agents that may sensitize drug-resistant tumour cells for induction of apoptosis by customary treatments could lead to the regression and improved prognosis of the refractory disease. Indeed, chemotherapeutic agents have been shown to sensitize cancer cells to killing by death ligands such as tumour necrosis factor-α. AIM: To investigate cytotoxicity and apoptotic effect of curcumin in chronic myeloid leukaemic cell line KCL-22. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In present study, different doses of curcumin (10,25,50,75,100µM) and tumour necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) (25,50 µM) alone and combine regimen were exposed to myeloid leukaemic cell KCL-22. The cell viability was monitored by MTT assay, apoptotic activity by binding of Annexin V-FITC using fluorescence microscopy and cell cycle check points by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Cytotoxic assay revealed that curcumin and TRAIL induced both dose and time-dependent decrease in cell viability. Significant cell cytotoxicity was seen in combine regimen of both curcumin and TRAIL at 48 h of exposure. Cells treated with curcumin and TRAIL was arrested at the S phase, as revealed by flow cytometric analysis. Subtoxic concentrations of the curcumin-TRAIL combination induced strong apoptotic response in KCL-22 cells as demonstrated by the binding of Annexin V-FITC. CONCLUSION: Our study conclude that curcumin inhibits the cancer cell growth by inducing apoptosis and enhance the therapeutic potential of TRAIL which recommends that both curcumin alone or in combination with TRAIL might be useful for leukaemic prevention and better therapeutic responses.

Salt preference across different phases of menstrual cycle.

It is well established that women experience food craving for particular foods and gain weight in relation to phases of menstrual cycle. In this study, the preference for different concentrations of salt sprayed on bland popcorn was assessed in 55 healthy women (age 18 to 22 yrs). Salt solutions of 0, 1, 2, 3 and +3 molar strength were used. Samples of sprayed popcorn were consumed in random order and preference marked on a Likert scale. It was observed that women preferred unsalted popcorn in the menstrual phase more than in the luteal phase. The preference for salted popcorn was most during the luteal phase and was proportionate to the strength of the salt solution used. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in the preference rating between the menstrual phase and the other two phases. There was no significant difference in preference between the luteal and follicular phases.