No abstract

The mechanical properties of extracellular matrix (ECM) and connective tissues is largely dependent on the collagen and elastin structure. Lysyl oxidase (LOX) plays a critical role in the formation and repair of the ECM by oxidizing lysine residues in elastin and collagen, thereby initiating the formation of covalent cross linkages which stabilize these fibrous proteins. Due to its multiple functions both extracellularly and intracellularly, lysyl oxidase is involved in several processes in the tumorigenic pathway, in many different cancer types and stages. Alteration in LOX activity is implicated in many diseases and disorders including inflammation and inflammatory diseases, fibrosis of distinct organs and fibrotic disorders, cancer promotion and progression. There are only sparse reports of mutations or epigenetic alterations in the LOX gene. This review provides the recent clinical developments in the molecular mechanisms and pathologic process, pointing out LOX as a potential therapeutic target in translational medicine.

There is accumulating evidence showing relationship between trace elements and Diabetes mellitus (DM). This study evaluated the role of magnesium, Zinc and other indices of peroxidative status ie MDA, Vitamin C and Vitamin E in pathogenesis of Retinopathy in type 2 diabetes. Seventy two type 2 diabetes cases were enrolled in the study, of which 42 were with retinopathy and 30 without. Patients with nephropathy were excluded. Forty age-and sexmatched subjects were served as health controls. The results showed that the mean values of Mg and Zn were significantly lower reduced in diabetes more so in diabetic retinopathy cases as compared to control subjects (p<0.05). Lipid peroxidation marker MDA was a significantly higher in both the diabetes groups whereas serum Vitamin C and vitamin E levels were significantly low (p<0.05) as compared to controls. Our correlation study revealed that MDA was negatively associated with serum Mg (r=-0.73, p<0.01) as well as serum Zn (r= -0.82, p<0.01), pointing towards the role of these trace elements in retarding the oxidative process prevailing in diabetic retinopathy.

Patients with higher stage tumours who underwent infratemporal fossa clearance showed better overall and disease-free survival than those who did not undergo infratemporal fossa clearance.