Our study shows that diabetes and hypertension are common and related problems in people aged >/= 40 years in urban Nepal. The overall sensitivity of the 2-h PG criteria was greater than that of the FPG criteria for diagnosing diabetes, except in subjects aged >/= 60 years.

Our study observed further hypoadiponectinemia and IR in NAFLD with metabolic syndrome. The T45G and G276T of the adiponectin gene may not be the important determinants of NAFLD in Chinese people, but some of them still influence serum ALT, BMI, IR, lipid, glucose metabolism and plasma adiponectin concentration.

Obese and postmenopausal women have a high prevalence of NAFLD and severe metabolic disorders. The prevalence of NASH seems to be considerably higher in obese and postmenopausal women with NAFLD.

No abstract

Most patients with multiple myeloma (MM) will relapse eventually due to the acquired multidrug resistance (MDR). The objective of this study was to explore the reversal effect of curcumin on the MDR of human MM cell line, MOLP-2/R, and analyze the role of Fanconi anemia (FA)/BRCA pathway in this process. MOLP-2/R was selected by stepwise exposure of parental MOLP-2 cells to increasing concentrations of melphalan. The MTT assay was used to detect the reversal ratio of curcumin. The FANCD2 monoubiquitination expression was detected by western blotting to explore the role of FA/BRCA pathway. Cell cycle, apoptosis, and intracellular drug concentration were analyzed by flow cytometry. The results indicated that combination of melphalan with curcumin had stronger effects on the proliferation inhibition, inducement of apoptosis, G2/M phase arrest, and enhancement of intracellular drug concentration than melphalan alone in MOLP-2/R cells. These effects were accompanied with inhibition of FA/BRCA pathway by down regulation of FANCD2 protein monoubiquitination in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, curcumin reversed multidrug resistance of MOLP-2/R through inhibition of FA/BRCA pathway. The possible mechanisms include (1) reduction of DNA damage repair and stimulation of apoptosis of tumor cells through inhibition of FA/BRCA pathway, which is important for DNA repair, and (2) achievement of high concentration in target cells. Curcumin may be a safe reversal agent of multidrug resistance with low-dose DNA cross-linking agents.

Background: To evaluate fasting serum lipid profile and fundus changes in hypertensive patients,and grade the hypertensive status. Methods: One hundred consecutive subjects of hypertension, fitting inclusion criteria, with or without prior history of antihypertensive treatment were enrolled in a cross-sectional, descriptive study. Classification of hypertension was done based on The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee (JNC 7). All the subjects (200 eyes) were subjected to a detailed fundus examination Fundus changes were classified according to Keith, Wagener and Barker (KWB), and Modified Scheie’s grading system. Fasting serum lipids were measured using end point spectrophotometer. Data were collected using a prestructured proforma and analyzed using SPSS 19.0. Results:The mean age of participants was 58.5 years (SD=9.2 years; range= 33-84 years).One patient,according to the JNC 7 classification of hypertension was in stage 1 while 99 patients were in stage 2. Twenty eight subjects had electrocardiographic a b n o rma l i t y needing prompt treatment. According to KWB classification 54 patients had hypertensive retinopathy (HR), while by Scheie’s grading, 50 patients had HR. Statistically significant difference was found in mean cholesterol, LDL and triglyceride level was seen in different grades of HR. Conclusion: Significant number of hypertensive patients had HR on first presentation to department of Ophthalmology. Mean serum cholesterol, LDL and triglyceride levels were raised in patients with HR. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/njms.v1i2.6609 Nepal Journal of Medical Sciences. 2012;1(2): 103-7

Background: Lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB) is a common clinical condition associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The aims of our study were to determine the etiological profile, gender difference and age group patterns of LGIB in Nepal.

Our study showed the potential association between the PPAR-gamma C161T polymorphism and UC patients in the central Chinese population. This finding was not replicated in the Dutch population. Further studies are necessary to explore the functional implication of the PPAR-gamma C161T polymorphism in Chinese UC patients.