Reactive oxygen species (ROS) cause damage to the DNA producing mutations and formation of tumours such as carcinoma of breast. Tumour cells are known to produce ROS at a greater pace than the non-transformed cells. The increased production of reactive oxygen species causes oxidative stress leading to cell proliferation and hence increased inflammatory conditions. The present study was aimed to investigate the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of breast cancer. Females suffering from breast cancer had significantly decreased Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in comparison to normal females. The compromised antioxidant defence system produces the oxidative stress which in turn creates the inflammatory response shown by concomitant increased adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity in female patients. ADA diminishes the protective molecule adenosine. There were significant variations (p \ 0.01) in ADA activity with different clinical stages (stage 1-4) of breast cancer suggesting thereby that estimation of ADA activity can be used as a diagnostic tool to detect the stage of cancer along with cytological studies. Mastectomy was performed and post-operatively serum SOD and ADA activity and plasma GSH levels were estimated. There was a statistically significant increase in activity of SOD and levels of GSH while serum ADA activity decreased significantly, suggesting thereby that oxidative stress is responsible for increased cell proliferation and hence the inflammatory conditions in CA breast that got ameliorated post-operatively.

Background:Androgenic alopecia (AGA) is a common cosmetically and psychosocially distressing condition. High androgen level contributes to the development of atherosclerosis, thrombosis leading to hypertension and hypercholesterolemia.Objectives:To study the clinico-epidemiological profile of AGA and the presence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and carotid artery atherosclerosis in male patients with early onset AGA as compared to controls.Materials and Methods:In this case-control study, 100 male patients of age 18-35 years with AGA and an equal number of age-matched healthy controls attending skin and STD OPD were included. Assessment of the degree of hair loss, evaluation of MetS and carotid artery color Doppler for the atherosclerotic plaque was done in all patients.Results:Statistically significant number of patients with early onset AGA 22/100 (22%) (P < 0.05) fulfilled the criteria for MetS compared to 8/100 (8%) in the control group. There were statistically significant differences in mean values of waist circumference, serum triglycerides, serum cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, fasting glucose concentration, and very low-density lipoprotein (LDL). However, no significant differences were observed in the mean values of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. The atherosclerotic plaque was found in two patients of the study group, and no plaque was found in control patients.Conclusion:We suggest that all men with AGA should be thoroughly investigated, and lifestyle changes should be started in the early period of life so as to reduce the risk of various problems associated with MetS. AGA can be considered as an early marker for MetS.

High concentration of apolipoprotein B (apoB) is a risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). The association of the APOB gene polymorphism c.12669G>A, p.Gln4154Lys with the risk of CAD varies considerably in different populations. The present study represents the first investigation regarding the role of this APOB gene polymorphism with CAD in the Indian Punjabi population. We have studied the APOB gene polymorphism c.12669G>A, p.Gln4154Lys and its relationship with lipid, apoB, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) heterogeneity and oxidation in subjects suffering from CAD. The study was conducted on 87 patients with CAD; 75 healthy subjects served as controls. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was used to determine the DNA polymorphism in the APOB gene. Frequency of R− (mutant) allele was significantly high (p <0.05) in CAD patients when compared to controls. Variations in serum lipid levels in the R+R+ and R+R− APOB genotypes were insignificant (p >0.05). However, serum apoB levels were significantly raised (p <0.05) in CAD patients with the R+R− genotype as compared to those with the R+R+ APOB genotype. Coronary artery disease patients had raised significantly raised (p <0.01) Log triglyceride/high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio, apoB carbonyl content and increased malondialdehyde-low density lipoprotein (MDA-LDL levels, irrespective of APOB genotype as compared to controls. Carriers of the R− allele are at higher risk of CAD, probably because of elevated serum apoB levels in the Indian Punjabi population. Overall, it may be concluded that the R− allele might be associated with increased susceptibility towards CAD development in the Indian Punjabi population, and one of the linking factor is the elevation in serum apoB levels. However, this association needs further evaluation in a larger population. Secondly, the robust mechanism behind the positive association of the R− allele with raised serum apoB levels needs to be explored, which might be helpful in the strengthening the observed results.

Background. Menopause, a form of reproductive aging, is marked by many hormonal variations which cause imbalance in the oxidative processes resulting in onset of endothelial dysfunction leading to cardiovascular disease (CVD). We aimed to analyze the effect of oxidative stress in an early detection of CVD in all menopausal women both normolipidemic and hyperlipidemic. Methods and Results. Study included 523 menopausal women (265 CVD and 258 non-CVD). They were screened for lipid profile, serum malondialdehyde (MDA), serum LDL carbonyl protein, and serum superoxide dismutase (SOD). Pearson's correlation was observed between MDA and atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) in both normolipidemic (r = 0.650; p < 0.001) and hyperlipidemic (r = 0.207; p < 0.01) CVD group as compared to non-CVD menopausal women. Significant correlation was also observed between LDL carbonyl content and AIP in normolipidemic (r = 0.650; p < 0.001) and hyperlipidemic (r = 0.248; p < 0.01) CVD menopausal women as compared to non-CVD ones. Conclusion. Strong correlation between atherogenic index of plasma and oxidative stress in CVD menopausal women reveals oxidative stress as an effective prognostic tool for an early detection of cardiovascular risk.

The objective of this study was to investigate apolipoprotein B (apoB) carbonyl content as a parameter for studying low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation in coronary artery disease (CAD) risk assessment and to explore the relationship between apoB carbonyl content (an index of protein oxidation) and paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activity in CAD patients and controls. A total of 200 patients suffering from CAD and 150 normal individuals were included in the present study. CAD patients were classified into two groups on the basis of associated risk factors (diabetes mellitus, hypertension): group 1 (n = 120; CAD patients with associated risk factors) and group 2 (n = 80; CAD patients with no associated risk factors). All subjects were assayed for apoB carbonyl content, LDL-malondialdehyde (LDL-MDA), PON1 activity, and lipid and apolipoprotein levels. ApoB carbonyl content was significantly (p < 0.01) raised in CAD patients (with or without associated risk factors) as compared to controls. Patients also had relatively raised LDL-MDA levels. Serum PON1 activity was significantly low (p < 0.01) in CAD patients. A significantly (p < 0.01) negative coefficient of correlation was observed between apoB carbonyl content and PON1 activity in both patients and controls. CAD patients with associated risk factors had highly raised (p < 0.01) apoB carbonyl content and considerably depressed PON1 activity compared to those with no associated risk factors. LDL-MDA levels did not differ significantly (p > 0.05) between the two groups. CAD patients in group 1 also had significantly raised apoB levels and low HDL-cholesterol and apoA1 levels as compared to patients in group 2, while the other lipid variables did not show any significant difference. A significantly negative coefficient of correlation was observed between apoB carbonyl content and PON1 activity in both patients and controls. This is a new piece of information that needs to be further explored. Quantification of apoB carbonyl content may act as a suitable parameter for studying LDL oxidation in the evaluation of CAD risk, especially when confounding risk factors are present.

Uric acid an endogenous aqueous antioxidant in normal humans is present in much higher

High density lipoprotein (HDL) has been considered to possess antioxidant properties in addition to its antiatherosclerotic effects. Paraoxonase1 (PON1) associated with HDL has been considered to be responsible for its antioxidant potential. Present investigation aimed to study PON1 activity in relation to oxidative stress in Indian (Punjabi) population suffering from coronary artery disease (CAD). Significantly reduced serum PON1 activity was observed in CAD patients compared to normal individuals. Reduced PON1 activity was also observed in CAD positive diabetics, hypertensives, smokers and alcoholics in comparison to CAD negative diabetics, hypertensives, smokers and alcoholics and controls. Activity of PON1 varies significantly among patients in different risk groups, may be leading to different susceptibility towards disease development and its progression in various CAD risk factors. Patients were also having increased oxidative stress as indicated by their significantly raised serum MDA levels. Significant variation in serum MDA levels was also observed in different risk groups. Of all the risk factors, smoking was associated with highly reduced PON1 activity and significantly raised serum MDA levels. A significant negative coefficient of correlation (r 2 0.71) was observed between serum PON1 activity and serum MDA levels. Activity of another antioxidant enzyme i.e. superoxide dismutase (SOD) was also reduced in CAD patients. However SOD activity did not vary significantly among patients in different risk groups. Depressed PON1 activity in CAD patients may reduce their ability to protect LDL from oxidation. In conclusion, significantly reduced paraoxonase1 activity has been associated with CAD and its various risk factors in Indian (Punjabi) population. Smoke may extensively modify serum PON1 activity in a negative direction.

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