Objective: To determine the Anti hyperlipidemic effect of Oxyresveratrol and Zinc complex on Total Cholesterol in Hyperlipidemic rat Model. Study Design: Experimental study. Setting: Islamic International Medical College Rawalpindi. Period: Sep 2020 to Sep 2021. Material & Methods: In our study on high fat diet fed hyperlipidemic rats comparison of this standard drug with a novel compound oxyresveratrol was done. Forty rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, Group I was used as NC (Negative Control), group II Positive Control (PC), group III (OXY-Zn complex) and group IV SIM respectively. Groups III and IV were given orally 10 mg/kg body wt. OXY-Zn and SIM respectively. Terminal sampling was performed on day 57 for estimation of total cholesterol. Results: OXY-Zn complex showed significantly better control over total cholesterol compared with SIM. Total cholesterol of OXY treated group showed p < 0.001 like SIM treated group (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Our results showed that OXY-Zn complex is better than simvastatin because of its significantly positive effect on total cholesterol when compared with SIM.

Objective: To determine an association of single nucleotide polymorphism of the NRF2 gene (RS6721961) with semen parameters of primary male infertility patients in the Pakistani population. Study Design: Comparative cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biochemistry, Islamic International Medical College, Rawalpindi, in collaboration with two private infertility clinics (American Infertility Center, Rawalpindi and Mother and Child International Hospital and Research Institute, Mirpur, AJK) from Oct 2020 to Sep 2021. Methodology: A total of 288 participants were included in this study. There were 144 diagnosed cases of primary male infertility and 144 healthy fertile males, age and ethnicity matched controls. Blood samples were collected from participants after obtaining written informed consent. DNA was extracted by the Chelex TM Methodoogy. Multiplex PCR was done to determine the respective allelic frequencies of NRF2 (RS6721961) genotypes using specific primers. Results: There was no significant association between NRF2 genotypes and semen volume and semn colour in infertile males (p-value 0.32 and 0.84, respectively). Out of 144 cases, 111 (77%) had normal sperm count, 29 (20.1%) had oligospermia, while 4 (2.7%) patients had azoospermia. A significant association was observed between NRF2 genotypes and sperm concentration of infertile males (p-value <0.001). Out of 144 cases, 80 (55.5%) had normal motility, 57 (39.5%) had asthenospermia while 7 (8.4%) patients had necrospermia. A strong association was observed between NRF2 genotypes and sperm motility in infertile males (p-value <0.001). Conclusion: Single nucleotide polymorphism (RS6721961) of the NRF2 gene is significantly associated with sperm concentration and......

Objective: To determine association of TPH2 (rs7305115) gene polymorphism with age of MDD cases and controls in Pakistani population. Study Design: Case-control study. Setting: Multidisciplinary Lab in Islamic International Medical College Trust in Collaboration with Psychiatry Department, Railway General Hospital, and Rawalpindi. Period: September 2019 to September 2020. Material & Methods: After taking written informed consent blood samples were drawn from all the participants followed by extraction of DNA using ChelexTM method. Allelic frequencies of TPH2 (rs7305115) gene polymorphism in both cases and controls were determined using Multiplex PCR. Results: Number of participants included in the study were 240, out of which 120 were diagnosed cases of MDD whereas 120 were age and gender matched controls. Both the cases and controls were divided in to three groups on the basis of their ages. In group 1 both subjects aged 15 to 35 years were included and a total of 128 subjects fall under this age group out of which 64 (53.33%) were cases and 64 (53.33%) were controls. In group 2 subjects aged 36 to 55 years were included and a total of 86 individuals were found to be present in this age group out of which 45 (37.5%) were cases and 41(34.1%) were controls and in group 3 subjects aged 56 to 75 years were included and a total of 26 individuals were present in this group out of which 11(9.16%) were cases and 15(12.5%) were controls. Significant association was found between age group 1(15-35 years) and GG genotype with risk of development of MDD (OR: 0.3778, 95% CI: 0.1512-0.9349, P= 0.0338). Conclusion: We have found in the present study that age group 1(15-35 years) with GG genotype of TPH2 gene polymorphism have a significantly increased risk of developing MDD as compared to other age groups in our study.

Objective: To determine whether the ethnicity is associated with the risk of development of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in adult diabetic population with respect to the genetic association with single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) C(-1019)G. Material and Methods: A total of 400 subjects were included in the study, out of which 200 were cases and 200 were age, gender and ethnicity matched healthy controls. Out of 200 cases , 100 cases had diabetes mellitus (DM) only and 100 cases had DM with MDD. Both males and females were included in the study having ages 25 years and above. Cases of both type I and type II DM were included in the study. Blood samples were collected and DNA was extracted by Chelax method. Real-time PCR was carried out to determine respective allelic frequencies of C(-1019)G genotype using TaqMan SNP genotyping assays and master mix. Results: According to our results no significant association was found between C(-1019)G genotype and risk of development of MDD in Pakistani diabetic population with respect to Ethnicity but diseased genotype was found more in Pathan population. Conclusion: There is no significant association of SNP C(-1019)G of 5-Hydroxytryptamine 1A receptor gene with MDD in Pakistani diabetics with respect to ethnicity. Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, major depressive disorder, 5-hydroxytryptamine 1A receptor gene, single nucleotide polymorphism, polymerase chain reaction.