Background: Global increase in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has affected about 6% of the population and is one of the major healthcare challenges worldwide. Apart from other factors, genetics play a pivotal role in the development of diabetes. Recent studies have drawn attention to the role of leptin (LEP) and leptin receptor (LEPR) gene polymorphisms in the pathogenesis of T2DM, that being the reason for the uptake of this study.Methods: A total of 390 T2DM cases and 408 controls matched with respect to age and gender were taken for the study. Biochemical analysis was performed on all study subjects. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the genomic regions encompassing the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) under study was followed by digestion using specific restriction enzymes to analyze the SNP genotype through restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP).Results: Serum leptin levels were elevated in 57.9% (226 of 390) of cases as compared to 11.8% (48 of 408) of controls (P < 0.0001). Cases had significant homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) as compared to controls (5.3 ± 5.9 vs. 1.4 ± 0.4; P < 0.0001). In case of LEP G2548A SNP, the frequency of a variant genotype (GA + AA) was found to be higher for cases than controls (69.7% vs. 29.4%; P < 0.0001). For LEPR Q223R SNP, the frequency of a variant genotype (AG + GG) was found to be higher for cases than controls (69.2% vs. 23.6%; P < 0.0001). Conclusion:We observed a significant association between the LEP/ LEPR polymorphisms and T2DM in the ethnic population of Kashmir indicating that genetic susceptibility may play an important role in the pathogenesis of T2DM.

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Introduction: Worldwide, cancer has become a public health problem and one of the leading causes of death. Gastric cancer develops in stomach and may spread to other parts of the body, particularly the liver, lungs, bones, lining of the abdomen and lymph nodes. Kashmir is a high prevalence zone of stomach cancer. Incidence of gastric cancer in Kashmir has been reported to exceed 40% of all cancers and the incidence is 3 to 6 times higher than that at various metropolis cancer registries in India. Hence, the aim of the present study was to assess the serum lipid levels of the gastric cancer patients in Kashmir. Material and Methods: This study was conducted in Department of Biochemistry Govt. Medical College, Srinagar on sixty patients diagnosed with gastric carcinoma and admitted in Shri. Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital. Venous blood samples were collected in green top tubes and were transported to the laboratory and the samples were centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 10 minutes and serum was separated for the estimation of Lipid profile. Each sample was processed on the same day of its collection and was analyzed for total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-Cholesterol and LDL-Cholesterol. Results: The mean total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-Cholesterol and LDL-Cholesterol levels were found to be 157.14 mg/dl, 136.85 mg/dl, 38.96 mg/dl and 91.52 mg/dl respectively. The level of total cholesterol ranged from 90 to 212 mg/dl while the level of triglyceride ranges between 77 to 291 mg/dl and that of HDL-Cholesterol from 28 to 70mg/dl and LDL-Cholesterol from 35-140 mg/dl. Conclusion: The serum triglycerides, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels fall in the normal reference range in gastric cancer patients while the mean HDL-cholesterol level is slightly lower than the normal reference range.