Cigarette smoke has always been considered as a risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD). In this study, we have examined the effect of ten individual cigarette smoke compounds (nicotine, benzo[]pyrene, naphthalene, formaldehyde, ammonia, acrylic acid, toluene, benzene, -xylene, and hexamine) on glutathione transferase (GST) activity, an important Phase II metabolic enzyme and their possible role in inflammatory pathophysiology leading to COPD. Lower Glutathione (GSH) levels and GST activity and higher CRP, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels were observed in COPD patients compared to age and gender-matched controls. Using human recombinant GST and plasma as well as erythrocytes collected from normal subjects this study demonstrates that out of the ten compounds, nicotine (5 mg mL), benzo[]pyrene (10 ng mL), naphthalene (250 μg mL), and formaldehyde (5 pg mL) caused a significant decrease in recombinant, plasma, and erythrocyte GST activity. Further cell culture studies show that exposure to nicotine, benzo[]pyrene, naphthalene, and formaldehyde caused a significant decrease in GSH levels and GST activity and its protein expression and an increase in intracellular ROS production in THP-1 monocytes. Interestingly, treatment with benzo[]pyrene and naphthalene significantly up regulated the phosphorylation of the p65 subunit of NF-κB and increased the secretion of TNF-α and CRP compared to control. This study suggests the potential role of benzo[]pyrene and naphthalene in the activation of the inflammatory signaling pathway leading to cigarette smoke-induced COPD.

Aims and Objectives: To find out the presence of Sst I polymorphism in APOC3 gene in patients of diabetes mellitus with Hypertriglyceridemia. To find out the correlation between serum triglyceride levels and Sst I polymorphism. To find out the correlation between serum levels of various lipoprotein fractions and Sst I polymorphism. Methods: The present study is a hospital-based observational case-control study, carried out in 300 patients of diabetes mellitus. Of these 300 subjects, 150 were hypertriglyceridemic and served as cases, while the other 150 who were normotriglyceridemic served as controls. PCR for APOC3 gene was done in all subjects. Result: In a total of 300 subjects, 26.33% (n=79) had shown presence of Sst I polymorphism in APOC3 gene. Polymorphic gene was present in 35.33% of cases while only in 17.33% of controls. The mean cholesterol level in the group with Sst I polymorphism was significantly higher than in group with S1 allele only. The mean triglyceride in the group with S1 allele only was 152.97±45.86 mg/dl and that in the group with Sst I polymorphism was 212.84±103.07 mg/dl, and this increased mean triglyceride level was statistically significant as determined by chi-square test. Mean HDL level was also significantly lower in the group with Sst I polymorphism as compared to that with S1 allele only. The odds ratio of developing hypertriglyceridemia was 2.6059 in those carrying the Sst I polymorphism as compared to those with only S1 allele. The association between increasing levels of triglyceride and the increasing percentage of Sst I polymorphism was also statistically significant. Conclusion: This is the first study from North-East India to determine the Sst I polymorphism in APOC3 gene, and demonstrate a clear association between the polymorphism and serum levels of various lipoprotein fractions, including triglycerides. A prospective study comprising of a wide population group will help us in forming a definite conclusion. Disclosure B.C. Kalita: None. R.K. Kotokey: None. S. Das: None. A. Chakravorty: None. H. Soni: None.

Background: Hyperuricemia maybe an independent risk factor for renal dysfunction in diabetic patients. On the other hand, albuminuria is considered as an indicator for early stages of diabetic nephropathy. The aim of our study was to find out any association between hyperuricemia and simple renal function tests to detect early renal involvement in type 2 diabetes mellitus for its early treatment and prevention for diabetic nephropathy. Methods: This hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted in 265 patients coming to medicine OPD and IPD in a tertiary care hospital in Assam, India. The subjects included were patients complaining of signs and symptoms of gout with or without Type 2 diabetes mellitus. The subjects were divided into two groups A and B, with and without type 2 diabetes respectively. They were selected randomly under the age group of 20 -70 years old of both genders. Tests performed were serum uric acid, serum creatinine, blood urea, microalbuminuria, FBS and HbA1c estimated by standard methods. Results: In both diabetic and non-diabetic group, serum uric acid correlated positively and significantly with serum creatinine (>1.3mg/dl), blood urea (>40mg/dl) and microalbuminuria (p<0.05). Though serum uric acid did not correlate with HbA1c and FBS (p>0.05) in both the group. In non-diabetics, males were 6.95 times likely to have hyperuricemia than females. Conclusions: Hyperuricemia may be associated with early onset or incipient nephropathy in both diabetes and nondiabetic patient.

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