Aim: To assess the lipid profile and vitamin B12 levels in women having gestational diabetes mellitus. Study Design: Case Control study. Place and Duration: Department of Biochemistry and Gynecology/Obstetrics LUMHS Hospital Jamshoro total 1 year duration from January 2018 to December 2018. Methodology: A sample of 291 pregnant women was grouped as; 216 diagnosed gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and 75 non gestational diabetes mellitus were selected according to criteria. Sera were evaluated for glucose (hexokinase method), blood lipids and Vitamin B12 (ECLIA assay method) by Cobas chemistry analyzer. Triglyceride/high density lipoprotein (TAGs/HDLc) ratio was calculated as log of transformed TAGs to HDLc. TAGs/HDLc ratio was labelled as low risk (0.3 – 0.1), medium risk (0.1 – 0.24) and high risk (>0.24). Statistical SPSS software 21.0 (IBM, Inc USA) was used to analyze the research variables at 95% CI (P ≤ 0.05). Results: Age of cases was 37.9±5.19 years (P=0.051). Fasting and random blood glucose levels were elevated significantly (P=0.0001). Vitamin B12 in cases was low noted as 155.6±71.3 ng/mL compared to 251.5±33.1 in control (P=0.0001). Any type of vitamin B12 deficiency was present in 153 (70.51%) GDM cases compared to 37 (49.4%) control (P=0.0001). Low, medium and high atherogenicity risk was found in 56.01%, 37.5% and 6.4% GDM cases and 50.5%, 36.6% and 0% in control respectively (P=0.0001). Conclusion: It was found in the present study that triglyceride to HDLc ratio was found elevated in Gestational Diabetes mellitus women with vitamin B12 deficiency.

Background: Senile cataract is a common cause of blindness among older people. The problem is common among adults of age 40 and older. There are various factors that cause senile cataracts among adults. These factors include protein and lipid variations, genetic role, and the existence of trace elements like magnesium, zinc and copper. Aim and objectives: To evaluate the level of zinc and relationship between copper, and magnesium in patients with senile cataract by comparing with healthy subjects. Material and Methods: This study has a key focus on examining the effect of trace elements on senile cataract patients. We conducted experiments when 100 people (50 patients and 50 non-patients). Absorption spectrometry was used to examine the blood samples of the people who took part in the research. Results: It was noted during the results that most of the patients developed senile cataracts after crossing the age of 50. It was also noted from the results that the concentration of copper and zinc was higher in the patients as compared to the non-patients, while the concentration of magnesium was lower in the patients as compared to the non-patients. Based on these results, it can be stated that an increase in the concentration of copper and zinc increases the chances of senile cataracts. The decline in the concentration of magnesium increases the chances of senile cataracts. Also, out of these patients, a majority of them were females. Therefore, there are chances of biased results in this study that can be improved in future studies with the number of patients and an equal number of males and females. Conclusion: The concentrations of copper and zinc were significantly higher in patients than in the non-patients, whereas the concentration of magnesium was lower in the patients than in the non-patients. Based on these findings, it may be concluded that an increase in copper and zinc concentrations increases the risk of senile cataracts. Keywords: zinc, copper, magnesium, senile cataract, healthy subjects.

Present study compares the potential of Ficus carica and Allium sativum on triglyceride to HDL ratio in high fat diet fed male Wistar albino rats. A sample of 36 male Wistar albino rats was randomly divided into 6 groups (A, B, C, D, E and F). Hyperlipidemia was induced by high fat diet (HFD) (banaspati ghee + coconut oil) mixed in normal chow diet. After six weeks, blood was taken through retro – orbital capillary plexus, centrifuged to get sera, stored at -20°C temperature for biochemical analysis of blood lipids. TAG/HDLc ratio (atherogenic index of plasma) was measured as log TAG/HDLc. Statistical package (SPSS ver. 21.0, IBM, incorporation, USA) analyzed the results by 1- ANOVA and post – Hoc Benforinni test (p≤ 0.05). Cholesterol, TAGs, LDLc, and HDLc shows significant decrease in F. carica and A. sativum treated experimental groups C – F compared to positive controls (P=0.0001). A. sativum shows more potent hypolipidemic potential and more significant reduction in TAG/HDLc ratio compared to F. carica (P=0.0001). The present study concludes Ficus carica and Allium sativum show hypolipidemic potential with significant decrease in TAG/HDLc ratio and they may be used to prevent atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease as simple home remedy.

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