This study was done to evaluate clinical usefulness of cystatin C levels of serum and urine in predicting renal impairment in normoalbuminuric patients with type 2 diabetes and to evaluate the association between albuminuria and serum/urine cystatin C. Type 2 diabetic patients (n = 200) with normoalbuminuria (n = 45), microalbuminuria (n = 83) and macroalbuminuria (n = 42) were enrolled. Creatinine, urinary albumin levels, serum/urine cystatin C and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR by MDRD (Modification of Diet in Renal Disease) and CKD-EPI (Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration] equations)) were determined. The cystatin C levels of serum and urine increased with increasing degree of albuminuria, reaching higher levels in macroalbuminuric patients (p < 0.001). In multiple regression analysis, C-reactive protein (CRP), sex, albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR) and eGFR affected serum cystatin C. Urine cystatin C was affected by triglyceride, age, eGFR and ACR. In multivariate logistic analysis, cystatin C levels of serum and urine were identified as independent factors associated with eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 estimated by MDRD equation in patients with normoalbuminuria. On the other hand, eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 estimated by CKD-EPI equation was independently associated with low level of high-density lipoprotein in normoalbuminuric patients. The cystatin C levels of serum and urine could be useful markers for renal dysfunction in type 2 diabetic patients with normoalbuminuria.

The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the seed extracts from agro waste to examine the effectiveness of antimicrobial. Therefore, by using the disc diffusion assay, the antibacterial activity was evaluated along with two medically important bacterial pathogens such as methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) (MRSA) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) in the seed extracts of Cucurbita sp., Carica papaya L., Nephelium lappaceum, Mangifera indica, Durio zibethius and Artocarpus heterphyllus Lam seeds. Seed extracts of agro waste were analyzed for the phytochemical constituents. Analysis of the qualitative phytochemical indicated the importance of phytochemical compounds for instance glycosides, saponins, flavanoids, tannins and alkaloids. Variations had been seen in the inhibition zone depending on the species and different seed extracts concentrations used for bacteria, the highest inhibition zone observed for M. indica and C. papaya L. The obtained data of this study presented greater insights which allow the use of seed extracts that were obtained from the agro-waster, to be used as raw materials for food, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries.

Preparation of hydroxyapatite (HA) through natural sources, such as fish scales or synthetic HA produced from the chemical reaction has been widely used as biomedical materials because HA is bioactive, non-toxic and osteoconductive with a crystallographic structure almost similar to that of the bone mineral. In addition, HAwith particle size < 10 microns is classified as common inorganic filler used to improve the mechanical properties and biocompatibility of polymer composites. The purpose of this review is to collect information related to HA, and to provide readers with information about synthesis methods, advantages of hydroxyapatite as biomaterial,biomedical applications of polymer/HA composites.

The aims of this study were to prepare natural hydroxyapatite from fish scales (FsHAp) for potential use as a filler in polymer. The FsHAp was prepared from Tilapia fish scales using thermal method. The FsHAp was milled for 48 h and dried by spray method. The morphology was characterized using field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) which showed irregular shape of FsHAp particles with particle size around 7 μm. The analysis of FsHAp was carried out using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) to confirm chemical structure of FsHAp.