Cerebral hypometabolism of glucose, weight loss, and decreased food intake are characteristic features of sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD). A systematic study on the serum levels of adipokines and insulin, the major hormones regulating energy metabolism, food intake, and body weight, in sporadic AD is necessary. The present study compares the serum levels of leptin, adiponectin, and insulin, measured by commercially available immuno-assay kits, between controls and sporadic AD subjects. The results show a conspicuous decrease in the level of leptin, a dramatic rise in the level of adiponectin, and also a statistically significant increase in insulin level, in the blood of AD subjects, with respect to controls. The changes in the serum levels of adiponectin and insulin in AD are positively correlated with the severity of dementia. Likewise, the serum level of leptin in AD subjects is negatively correlated with the degree of dementia. The changes in the levels of adipokines and insulin have implications in the amyloid pathology, neurodegeneration, and hypometabolism of glucose existing in the AD brain.

The purpose of the present study was to identify the changes in the levels of proinflammatory cytokines like IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in peripheral circulation in Alzheimer's disease (AD) subjects and to correlate these with associated depression and cognitive deficit. Fifty five AD subjects and thirty seven age and sex matched controls were included in the study. The AD patients were grouped as AD with depression (n= 31) and AD without depression (n= 24). The serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α were determined by immunoassay by commercially available kits. The serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-α were elevated in AD patients with depression compared to control (p<0.001) or AD without depression (p<0.001). The serum level of IL-1β was higher in AD patients with or without depression as compared to controls. Furthermore, a strong inverse correlation was observed between the MMSE scores and serum levels of IL-6 or TNF-α in AD subjects with depression. The study highlights the important role of peripheral IL-6 and TNF-α in AD associated depression and cognitive deficits.

The role of inflammation being minimal in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in nonobese patients; the aim of the study was to investigate the role of adenosine deaminase (ADA) and see its association with diabetes mellitus. The preliminary case control study comprised of 56 cases and 45 healthy controls which were age and sex matched. 3 mL venous blood samples were obtained from the patients as well as controls after 8–10 hours of fasting. Serum ADA and routine biochemical parameters were analyzed. Serum ADA level was found significantly higher among nonobese T2DM subjects with respect to controls (38.77 ± 14.29 versus 17.02 ± 5.74 U/L; P < 0.0001). Serum ADA level showed a significant positive correlation with fasting plasma glucose (r = 0.657; P < 0.0001) level among nonobese T2DM subjects, but no significant correlation was observed in controls (r = −0.203; P = 0.180). However, no correlation was observed between serum ADA level compared to BMI and HbA1c levels. Our study shows higher serum ADA, triglycerides (TG) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels in nonobese T2DM patients, and a strong correlation between ADA and FPG which suggests an association between ADA and nonobese T2DM subjects.

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Context: Cardio vascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in diabetes mellitus (DM) contributing to 65% of all deaths with diabetic complications. The most important cause of CVD is atherosclerosis, and dyslipidemia acts as a marker of developing atherosclerosis. The derangement of lipid profile and atherogenic indices start in the prediabetic state, much before the development of DM. Detection of the deranged lipid profile and atherogenic indices in the prediabetic state can help devise the aggressive treatment strategy right from this stage, so as to arrest the development of CVD as a complication of diabetes. Aims: To compare the lipid profile and atherogenic indices of prediabetics with controls and diabetics. Settings and Design: The electronic medical records of 239 subjects were reviewed retrospectively. Materials and Methods: About 187 cases consisting of 137 diabetics and 50 prediabetics were evaluated for serum fasting blood sugar, post prandial blood sugar, HbA1c, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TGs), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc). Atherogenic indices [TC/HDLc, LDLc/HDLc, (TC-HDLc)/HDLc, TG/HDLc] were also evaluated in the two groups. Rest 52 age- and sex-matched subjects were taken as controls. Statistical Analysis Used: The comparisons were evaluated using SPSS statistical package version 20. Results: TC, TG, LDLc, and the atherogenic indices were significantly increased in prediabetics as compared with controls. HDLc was significantly decreased in prediabetics. Conclusions: The altered lipid profile and atherogenic indices in prediabetics signify the increased susceptibility of prediabetics to CVD in the long run. Hence, we recommend screening of prediabetics for dyslipidemia to arrest the development of cardiovascular complications.

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