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SCD children have high oxidative stress, and conversely, decreased antioxidant activity. Decrease in antioxidant activity might explained the reduction in lipid peroxidation, protein carbonylation and increased inflammation, which in turn intensify the symptoms of SCD in children.

Hyperglycemia is a risk factor for cardiovascular mortality and morbidity, and directly responsible for exacerbating macrophage activation and atherosclerosis. We showed that gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) reduce the high glucose (HG)-induced atherosclerosis-related complications in macrophages via oxidative-nitrosative stress-regulated inflammation and apoptosis. The effects of AuNPs on oxidative-nitrosative stress markers such as cellular antioxidants were attenuated by HG exposure, leading to reduction in the accumulation of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species in cellular compartments. Further, these abnormalities of antioxidants level and reactive oxygen/nitrogen species accumulations initiate cellular stress, resulting in the activation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) via ERK1/2mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/Akt/tuberin-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathways. The activated NF-κB stimulates inflammatory mediators, which subsequently subdue biomolecules damage, leading to aggravation of the inflammatory infiltration and immune responses. Treatment of AuNPs inhibits the intracellular redox-sensitive signaling pathways, inflammation, and apoptosis in macrophages. Together, our results indicate that AuNPs may modulate HG-induced oxidative-nitrosative stress. These effects may be sealed tight due to the fact that AuNPs treatment reduces the activation of NF-κB by ERK1/2MAPK/Akt/tuberin-mTOR pathways-mediated inflammatory genes expression and cellular stress responses, which may be beneficial for minimizing the atherosclerosis.

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PurposeChildhood ocular morbidity involves a spectrum of eye diseases that critically impact the mental development, future education and quality of life. However, there is limited evidence about the early detection and appropriate treatment of ocular morbidity in children <20 years. This study was aimed to assess the prevalence and make a comparison between the different types of ocular morbidity in children of both sexes in the age group of 6–17 years in the eastern India.MethodsA cross-sectional survey of ocular morbidity among children <17 years of age who presented at the Department of Ophthalmology, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, and Vision Care Center for Retina, Bhubaneswar, in the eastern India between January 2015 and March 2018 was accomplished. Demographic information, visual acuity, type of eye injury, refractive errors and other detailed ophthalmic examination were screened.ResultsA total of 633 children (age 6–17 years) were examined in this study. The majority of cases were observed in children of age 12–17 years, accounting for almost close to half of all the cases. The prevalence of ocular morbidity was 45.92% in males and 53.97% in females. The most common ocular morbidity in children encountered was refractive error (54.62%), followed by congenital abnormalities (9%), allergic conjunctivitis (8.52%) and traumatic eye injury (7.1%). There was an increase in ocular morbidity with age, especially the refractive error and congenital abnormalities.ConclusionA large number of ocular morbidity was observed in children of age <17 years. Since most of this morbidity was preventable or treatable, reasonable service for ocular morbidity and early age screening are effective methods to reduce this load. Moreover, health education for the prevention of childhood ocular morbidity and, at the same time, early presentation of children to ophthalmic hospitals for the treatment of eye disorders are essential.