Objective To study the putative effects of Advanced Oxidation Protein Products (AOPPs) and Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs) in the development and progression of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Methodology AGEs, AOPPs, e-NOS, lipid profile, circulating stress and inflammatory biomarkers were evaluated among fifty cardiovascular patients and fifty controls. Independent student’s t -test was done for statistical analysis. Results The malondialdehyde mean level in CVD patients (5.45 nmol/ml) was significantly higher than control (1.36 nmol/ml) (p value = 0.018). Nitric oxide in CVD patients (55.72 ng/ml) was remarkably increased as compared to normal subjects (19.19 ng/ml). A significant change in the mean serum level of AGEs in CVD patients (2.74 ng/ml) and normal individuals (0.85 ng/ml) was recorded (p value = 0.000). The AOPPs also showed significant increased levels in CVD group (132.07 ng/ml) in comparison with normal subjects (83.05 ng/ml) (p value = 0.011). The mean eNOS serum level in CVD group (15.50 U/L) was higher than control group (11.28 U/L) (p value = 0.004). Cardiovascular disease patients, in comparison with healthy controls, showed increased level of total cholesterol (5.48 mmol/L vs 4.45 mmol/L), triglycerides (2.59 mmol/L vs 1.24 mmol/L), and low density lipoprotein (2.47 mmol/L vs 2.31 mmol/L) along with decrease in high density lipoprotein (1.39 mmol/L vs 1.74 mmol/L). The mean MMP-11 serum levels in CVD group (98.69 ng/ml) was almost double of control group (45.60 ng/ml) (p value = 0.017). The mean serum level of TNF-α and IL1-α were 32.16 pg/ml and 6.64 pg/ml in CVD patient. The significant decreasing trend of SOD (p value = 0.041), CAT (p value = 0.018), GSH (p value = 0.036) and GRx (p value = 0.029) but increasing drift of GPx (0.023) level was observed in CVD patients. Conclusion This study provides strong evidence that CVD patients presented with elevated oxidative stress, enhanced inflammation and lipid profile in their serum. Therefore, the study strongly approves that AGEs, AOPPs, inflammatory and lipoxidative biomarkers hold predictive potential in causing and aggravating the disease, thus by controlling these factors CVD progression can be inhibited.

BackgroundCancer patients when treated with different chemotherapeutic drugs often develop mild to severe sight threatening diseases during or after chemotherapy. The mechanism involved in the pathogenesis of ocular toxicities is poorly understood. Oxidative stress, inflammation and MMPs (angiogenic factor) are involved in the progression of chemotherapy related ocular disorders.Materials and methodsThe concentration of oxidative stress markers such as MDA, NO and levels of different antioxidant molecules such as SOD, CAT, GSH, GPx, GPr, VIT A, VIT E and VIT C present in the serum of chemotherapy treated patients (n = 50) and in normal persons (n = 20) were estimated by the direct spectrophotometric method while the concentration of TNF-α and MMP-9 activity were determined using human TNF-α and MMP-9 ELISA kits.ResultsThe concentration of SOD and CAT (0.356 ± 0.05 μg/dl and 1.26 ± 0.01 μmol/mol of protein) was significantly lower as compared to that (1.09 ± 0.03 μg/dl and 3.99 ± 0.04 μmol/mol of protein) in controls. The levels of GPx (0.06 ± 0.01 mmol/dl) in the cancer patients were much lower than those in the controls (0.78 ± 0.06 mmol/dl). Lower level of GSH (0.96 ± 0.003 μg/dl) in serum of the diseased group was observed as compared to healthy group (7.26 ± 1.40 μg/dl). The level of Vit A, Vit C and Vit E was lower in systemic circulation of cancer patients (109.99 ± 6.35 μg/ml, 1.26 ± 0.36 μg/ml and 1.29 ± 0.191 μg/ml) as compared to control subjects (166.35 ± 14.26 μg/ml, 3.25 ± 0.099 μg/ml and 6.354 ± 2.26 μg/ml) respectively. The concentration of nitric oxide was significantly higher in the cancer patients (45.26 ± 6.35 ng/ml) than that in the normal subjects (16.35 ± 3.26 ng/ml). The higher concentration of MDA (8.65 ± 3.26 nmol/ml) was observed in the patients than normal ones (1.254 ± 0.065 nmol/ml). The quantity of TNF-α was significantly higher in chemotherapy treated patients (32.68 ± 4.33 pg/ml) as compared to the control group (20.979 ± 1.98 pg/ml). Significantly higher concentration of MMP-9 (40.26 ± 3.26 ng/ml) was observed in the cancer patients than the controls (7.256 ± 1.95 ng/ml).ConclusionLower levels of antioxidant enzymes and non-enzymatic small molecules and higher levels of oxidative stress and inflammatory clinical parameters such as NO, MDA, TNF-α and MMP-9 may be involved in the pathogenesis of systemic chemotherapy related ocular complications such as cataract, glaucoma, blepharitis, retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration, pterygium and retinal degeneration.

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Background Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) may be utilized to augment plant growth and suppress the plant pathogens. Objective: The present study was conducted to isolate and characterize the antagonistic bacteria indigenous to cotton and sugarcane rhizosphere in Pakistan, and to evaluate their ability to suppress phytopathogenic Fusarium spp. Out of 63 isolates 37 different morphotypes were studied for their antagonistic activity against Fusarium monoliformae , Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium solani. Among these 31 strains showed the percentage suppression ranging from 40 to 66% against Fusarium spp. Objectives The antagonistic bacteria having antifungal activity were studied for different morphological and physiological characteristics using Gram staining and light microscopy. Most of them were Gram negative and tentatively identified as Pseudomonas spp. The selected strains were screened in vitro for plant growth regulation and antifungal traits. Material and Methods Our study included 1000 premature CAD patients that classified into two groups with history of MI (n = 461) and without of MI (n = 539). The polymorphism variants in 10% of samples were determined by PCR-RFLP technique and genotyping of the polymorphism in all subjects was conducted by High Resolution Melting method. Given the two conditions of patients residing in Tehran and also faced with their first episode of MI, 640 out of 1000 study samples that had been previously followed-up were assessed in a retrospective cohort phase regarding long-term major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Results Four bacterial strains were able to produce the chitinase enzyme while four other bacterial strains showed protease production. Ten strains were positive for HCN production. Out of 37, eight strains showed phosphate solubilization ranging from 13 to 24 µg/ml. eighteen strains produced indole acetic acid ranging from 5 to 19 µg/ml. Conclusions This study identified specific traits in the isolated rhizobacteria which make them good candidates as PGPR and might contribute to enhance growth of crop plants. This information is of general interest and also helpful for devising strategies to manage diseases caused by Fusarium in cotton and sugarcane.

Introduction: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), commonly found in 5% of all women of reproductive age is a heterogeneous endocrine disorder in which woman's levels of estrogen and progesterone are imbalance leading to the growth of benign masses in the ovaries (ovarian cysts). Rotterdam criteria used to diagnose PCOS include two of three clinical features: 1) oligo-or anovulation, 2) hyperandroginism e.g., hirsutism, acne etc. and 3) sonographic morphologic evidence of polycystic ovaries. Aim: To investigate the relationship between circulating biomarkers and their heterogeneity in PCOS. Material and methods: A prospective case control study was conducted including 70 females of age ranging from 20 to 35 y out of which 20 served as healthy controls and 50 were patients of PCOS. Lipid levels, renal profile and antioxidative status of Malondialdehyde (MDA), Catalase (CAT), Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Reduced glutathione (GSH) was analysed quantitatively. Serum electrolytes (Na + , K + , Mg 2+ , PO 4-3), anti-oxidants vitamins C and E and steroidal hormones like Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) were measured by the commercially available kits. Results: A total of 70 patients were enrolled to the study. Serum electrolytes level like potassium (K) and Phosphorus (P) were significantly increased while antioxidants were decreased in the study group as compared to the control group. Oxidative stress was also increased with higher levels of MDA. Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) were decreased in the study group. The PCOS patients showed statistically significant correlation among the circulating biomarkers like FSH vs. prolactin (r=0.400 **).