Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry最新文献

Aging is an inevitable, multifaceted biological process characterized by the progressive decline of physiological functions, ultimately leading to increased susceptibility to chronic diseases and mortality. A combination of genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors, including dietary habits, exposure to pollutants, and ultraviolet radiation, influence this natural phenomenon. The consequences of aging manifest as various health complications, such as cardiovascular diseases, Type 2 diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders, malignancies, and visible signs like dermal dryness and wrinkles. An imbalance between the body's antioxidant defenses and the production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species leads to oxidative stress, which is a key part of the aging process. This imbalance induces cellular damage, apoptosis, and tissue dysfunction, accelerating age-related decline. Antioxidants, both endogenous and exogenous, play a pivotal role in mitigating oxidative stress by scavenging harmful free radicals. Micronutrients from food, such as certain vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals, have gotten a lot of attention as exogenous antioxidants that may slow down or fix age-related problems. This review synthesizes findings from comprehensive literature searches on platforms such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, encompassing studies published between 2018 and mid-2024. It looks into the biochemical roles and cell mechanisms that these micronutrients use to fight oxidative stress and support healthy aging. Micronutrients that are high in antioxidants, like vitamins A, C, and E; essential trace minerals, like zinc, copper, and selenium; and phytochemicals, like flavonoids, curcumin, and resveratrol, can help restore the body's oxidative balance. But, even though they seem to have good effects, there isn't enough solid scientific evidence to support the use of these micronutrients as anti-aging agents on their own. This review talks about how eating antioxidant-rich foods every day might be a safer and more long-lasting way to help people live longer and lessen the effects of age-related problems.

Graphical abstract:

Investigating the impact of liposomal Cisplatin on oral cancer cell line seeks to optimize drug delivery efficiency, decrease systemic toxicity, and amplify cytotoxicity specifically against malignant cells. Cisplatin was encapsulated within liposomal nanoparticles through thin-film hydration and extrusion methodologies. The physical and chemical characteristics of the nanoparticles, including zeta potential, size, drug load, and polydispersity index (PDI), were examined to evaluate their properties. The release of the drug was studied in a simulated body fluid environment in vitro. The stability of the nanoparticles was evaluated over a period of 45 days under normal bodily conditions. Ultimately, the liposomal formulations' efficacy was assessed in comparison to free drugs through cell viability assays conducted on the human tongue squamous cell carcinoma cell line CAL 27. The liposomal nanoparticles developed exhibited a favorable size range of 170 nm, a zeta potential of - 30 mV, and a low PDI of under 0.19, demonstrating uniform particle sizes. The encapsulation efficiencies were about % 90, and the drug loading capacities were sufficient. The in vitro release profiles displayed a sustained release pattern over 72 h. The liposomal formulations showed improved stability, with no notable changes in physicochemical properties throughout the study period. Cytotoxicity evaluations revealed that the liposomal Cisplatin formulation exhibited a remarkably higher cytotoxic effect on an oral cancer cell line relative to the unencapsulated drug. This research showcases the promise of liposomal formulations in optimizing the clinical efficacy of oral cancer treatments under superior drug delivery, diminished toxicity, and augmented cytotoxicity.

Methotrexate is used to manage moderate to severe psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Methotrexate acts by inhibiting the enzymes involved in nucleotide synthesis. Methotrexate polyglutamates (MTXPGs) have a higher potency to inhibit Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide transformylase (ATIC), and thymidylate synthase (TS), compared to naïve methotrexate. Among all the MTXPGs, methotrexate polyglutamate three (MTXPG-3) is a more potent inhibitor of DHFR, ATIC, and TS enzymes. MTXPG-3 is anticipated to allow therapeutic drug monitoring in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. We aim to study MTXPG-3 levels as a biomarker for both efficacy and adverse events among psoriatic patients treated with methotrexate monotherapy. We used the LC-MS/MS (Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrophotometry) system for measuring erythrocyte MTXPG-3. We recruited 106 patients with psoriasis who were treated with methotrexate. Sixty-one of them had psoriatic arthritis (concomitant or in the past). The mean age was 45.08 ± 13.04 years. After twenty-four weeks of methotrexate treatment, 73(69%) were responders, and 33(31%) were non-responders. Thirty-nine (36%) experienced adverse effects, and 67(64%) did not experience any adverse effects. We observed a significant positive correlation between erythrocyte MTXPG-3 and methotrexate dose per week at weeks 12 and 16 but not at week 24. Erythrocyte MTXPG-3 did not correlate with response or adverse effects. It can be used as a marker of compliance.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12291-024-01269-x.

Many studies showed Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in healthy individuals. We planned to study the normal levels of Vitamin D in healthy individuals and make recommendation for defining deficiency of 25(OH)D in Indian population. Normal healthy subjects 18 to 60 years of age were included. Estimation of serum calcium, serum phosphorus, iPTH and bone alkaline phosphatase levels with vitamin D (25(OH)D) levels were done to study the normal 25(OH)D levels and make recommendation for defining deficiency of 25(OH)D in Indian population. Meta-analysis was performed of studies which estimated the mean vitamin D levels in healthy individuals. There was significant positive correlation of serum 25(OH)D levels with calcium levels (r = 0.148; p-value = 0.003). The normal mean values of 25(OH)D levels in total population was 13.5 ± 7.83 ng/ml, iPTH was 59.8 ± 28.84 pg/ml, bone ALP was 14.6 ± 6.66 microg/ml. The normal upper bound of 25(OH)D in 97.5% of total population in our study is less than 33.19 ng/ml. The normal upper bound of iPTH and bone ALP in 97.5% of total population in our study was less than 123.97 pg/ml and 32.19 microg/ml, respectively. Pooled analysis of 33 studies revealed overall mean 25(OH)D levels in total population to be 13.95 ng/ml (95%CI - 12.37-15.54). The concept of initializing treatment based on serum Vitamin D levels using the RDA (20ng/ml) and EAR (16ng/ml) values as "cutoff-points" is not recommended as per Institute of Medicine Committee on Dietary Reference Intakes, Washington DC. Vitamin D levels less than 12.5ng/ml in a symptomatic individual should be the sole criteria for treatment rather than Vitamin D levels alone. Trial Registration: CTRI/2018/02/011820; CTRI/2018/02/011913.

The increasing incidence of gastric cancer (GC) in the Kashmir Valley is concerning, but its root causes are largely unknown. Dysregulated activation of the Hedgehog signaling pathway has been linked to various cancers, and the Human Hedgehog Interacting Protein (HHIP), a tumor suppressor, is frequently dysregulated in malignancies. However, the expression of the HHIP gene in GC is inconsistent and poorly understood. This study aimed to examine HHIP gene expression in gastric cancer. We used methylation-specific PCR, Western Blot analysis, and quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) to assess the hypermethylation and expression levels of HHIP gene promoters. The correlation between these results and clinical parameters (e.g. age, gender, histological type, class, stage, and lymph node metastasis) was studied with samples from 53 GC patients confirmed by histology. In 69.81% (37 out of 53) of the tumor tissue, HHIP hypermethylation was found. Of the 45 cases examined for mRNA expression, 53.33% (24 out of 45) showed a decrease in the HHIP mRNA level compared to the normal sample. In addition, 49.05% (26 out of 53) showed a decline in the expression of HHIP proteins. Almost all GC samples with reduced protein expression also showed a reduction in mRNA levels. These results suggest that the hypermethylation of the HHIP promoter leads to a decrease in the regulation of HHIP, which contributes to the activation of the hedgehog signal path and may play a critical role in the progress of GC. Our study highlights the significant link between HHIP hypermethylation and reduced gene expression at both mRNA and protein levels, suggesting that target HHIP gene methylation could be a promising treatment strategy for gastric cancer.

The first two vaccines administered in the COVID-19 vaccination campaign of India were Covaxin (BBV152) and Covishield (ChAdOx1-nCoV-19). In this study, we evaluate the longevity and sustainability of the humoral immune response after vaccination and various factors influencing it. An observational study was conducted in individuals who received both doses of Covaxin or Covishield vaccine, and their blood samples were analyzed for total-antiRBD-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Then, antibody titers were classified based on monthly time-intervals up to 360 days and their trend was analyzed. In addition, the correlation between antibody titers and factors such as previous SARS-CoV-2-infection status, vaccine type and presence of comorbidities was examined. Of the 2069 participants, most (1767;85.4%) had been vaccinated with Covaxin, but the higher antibody titers were induced by Covishield vaccine at all time points. However overall, antibodies persisted for at least 1 year, although a drop in antibody titers occurred in the 3rd and 6th months. In addition, 430 (20.8%) participants had prior SARS-CoV-2 infection (hybrid immunity) with a significantly higher humoral immune response compared with vaccine-induced immunity (naive immunity). No significant differences were observed in antibody titers related to age, sex and presence of comorbidities. We concluded that vaccine-mediated immunity lasts for at least one year. However, antibody titers decrease over time, which may be more pronounced in certain groups such as Covaxin vaccine, vaccine-induced-immunity, presence of comorbidities and > 60 years which should be considered when recommending booster vaccination, as these individuals may have a stronger and longer-lasting immune response to the virus.

Oral cavity cancer poses a significant health threat due to its aggressive nature and limited responsiveness to traditional therapies like chemotherapy and radiation, highlighting the need for more effective treatment options. To address this, researchers have explored a novel approach using niosome nanoparticles to co-encapsulate curcumin (CUR) and cisplatin (Cis), to enhance therapeutic efficacy. While CUR has anti-cancer properties, its poor bioavailability limits its effectiveness. Cis, on the other hand, is hindered by severe side effects and resistance. A dual-drug delivery system that encapsulates both CUR and Cis in niosome nanoparticles seeks to leverage the synergistic effects of these agents to improve treatment outcomes. The study synthesized Cis and CUR co-loaded nanoparticles (Cis/CUR-NPs) using reverse microemulsion and film dispersion methods, resulting in nanoparticles with an average size of 220.9 nm and a consistent size distribution. In vitro experiments demonstrated that the nanosized Cis/CUR-NPs could release both Cis and CUR, achieving a synergistic effect on OECM-1 cells at an optimal ratio (1:6) of the two drugs. Overall, the findings suggest that Cis/CUR-NPs offer a promising and effective strategy for leveraging the synergistic effects of Cis and CUR in treating oral cancer.