According to the World Health Organisation, as of 2019, globally around 50 million people suffer from dementia, with approximately another 10 million getting added to the list every year, wherein Alzheimer’s disease (AD) stands responsible for almost a whopping 60–70% for the existing number of cases. Alzheimer’s disease is one of the progressive, cognitive-declining, age-dependent, neurodegenerative diseases which is distinguished by histopathological symptoms, such as formation of amyloid plaque, senile plaque, neurofibrillary tangles, etc. Majorly four vital transcripts are identified in the AD complications which include Amyloid precursor protein (APP), Apolipoprotein E (ApoE), and two multi-pass transmembrane domain proteins—Presenilin 1 and 2. In addition, the formation of the abnormal filaments such as amyloid beta (Aβ) and tau and their tangling with some necessary factors contributing to the formation of plaques, neuroinflammation, and apoptosis which in turn leads to the emergence of AD. Although multiple molecular mechanisms have been elucidated so far, they are still counted as hypotheses ending with neuronal death on the basal forebrain and hippocampal area which results in AD. This review article is aimed at addressing the overview of the molecular mechanisms surrounding AD and the functional forms of the genes associated with it.

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major health problem which increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Zinc (Zn) has a number of antioxidant functions which neutralize the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated in patients with diabetes. ROS stimulate oxidation of low density lipoprotein (LDL), cholesterol, cholesterol derived species in atherosclerotic plaques in arteries in dyslipidaemia patients. The oxidized LDL (Ox-LDL) has been identified as a major cause of endothelial dysfunction leading to CVDs. Objective: In this study, the serum Zn levels, anthropometric and clinical parameters of diabetes patients with and without dyslipidaemia and CVDs were investigated. Method: The serum samples of 116 subjects which include 42 patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) alone, 55 patients with T2DM and dyslipidaemia and 19 patients with T2DM, dyslipidaemia and CVD from diabetes and endocrinology clinic were analysed. Results: The serum Zn levels of diabetes patients (944.69±241.53 ppb), diabetes with dyslipidaemia (991.45±265.50 ppb) and diabetes, dyslipidaemia and CVD (1,000.97±295.17 ppb) were not statistically significant {significance value of the ANOVA test was 0.619 (p=0.619 > α =0.05)}. Zinc deficiency was 27.27% among male patients and 16.00% among female patients. Zinc concentration among Type 2 diabetes patients was not affected by, gender, body mass index (BMI) and duration of diabetes. Conclusion: Serum zinc levels were not statistically different among diabetic patients with and without dyslipidaemia and CVD. The role of serum zinc levels in T2DM and CVDs need to be examined further in long term longitudinal trials.

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Algae are a great source of mineral salts, vitamins, proteins and trace metals necessary for human metabolism. Interest of introducing algae into human nutrition in western countries has increased in recent years. Humans can also consume algae indirectly because they are a source of different compounds used in the food industry such as agar, alginate, carrageenan, furcellaran, mannitol, pigments and fatty acids. These compounds are mainly utilized in the pharmaceutical and food industries with immense importance. In recent years, the application of algae extracts plays a major role as fertilizers in the enhancement of plant growth in agriculture industry. This review discusses the micro- and macroalgae applications in the industries for human and animal consumption, besides the use of algae extracts for the production of fertilizers.