After administration, ethanol and its metabolites go through the kidneys and are excreted into urine. The kidney seems to be the only vital organ generally spared in chronic alcoholics. Therefore, we investigated the multiple effects of chronic ethanol exposure on renal function tests and on oxidative stress related parameters in the kidney. Chronic ethanol (1.6 g ethanol/ kg body weight/ day) exposure did not show any significant change in relative weight (g/ 100g body weight) of kidneys, serum calcium level or glutathione s-transferase activity. However, urea and creatinine concentration in serum, and TBARS level in kidney elevated significantly, while reduced glutathione content and activities of glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and superoxide dismutase diminished significantly after 12 weeks of ethanol exposure. Catalase activity showed increased activity after 4 weeks of ethanol exposure and decreased activity after 12 weeks of ethanol exposure. Genesis of renal ultrastructural abnormalities after 12 weeks of ethanol exposure may be important for the development of functional disturbances. This study revealed that chronic ethanol exposure for longer duration is associated with deleterious effects in the kidney.

Alcohol consumption and health outcomes are complex and multidimensional. Ethanol (1.6g / kg body weight/ day) exposure initially affects liver function followed by renal function of 16-18 week-old male albino rats of Wistar strain weighing 200-220 g. Chronic ethanol ingestion increased in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances level and glutathione s-transferase activity; while decreased reduced gluatathione content and activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase in a time dependent manner in the hemolysate. Though superoxide dismutase activity increased initially might be due to adaptive response, but decreased later. Elevation of serum nitrite level and transforming growth factor-b(1) activity indicated that long-term ethanol consumption may cause hepatic fibrosis and can elicit pro-angiogenic factors. However, no alteration in vascular endothelial growth factor-C activity indicated that ethanol consumption is not associated with lymphangiogenesis. Therefore, we conclude that long-term ethanol-induced toxicity is linked to an oxidative stress, which may aggravate to fibrosis and elevate pro-angiogenic factors, but not associated with lymphangiogenesis.

Chronic pancreatitis, an irreversible inflammatory disease of the pancreas, is associated with the replacement of the destroyed parenchyma by extended development of fibrosis. Despite marked progress in diagnostic tools, no consensus has been reached in diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis. In this study we examined the hematological and biochemical parameters among 40 chronic pancreatitis patients within 18 to 67 yrs. ESR level and ALP activity was elevated in 40% cases. Serum amylase activity increased in 32 patients and it showed significant correlation with ALP (r=0.458, p=0.003), CA-19.9 (r=0.556, p<0.001), and calcium level (r=-0.472, p=0.002). Type IV collagen level in chronic pancreatitis also elevated (164.4 ± 55.5 ng/ml) and showed negative significant correlation with calcium level (r= -0.505, p=0.001). However, no significant correlation was observed between amylase activity and type IV collagen (r=0.289, p= 0.07).

Background: Oxidative stress in ACS patients results in oxidation of lipoproteins. Resultant oxLDL (oxidized Low Density Lipoprotein) is a marker for lipid peroxidation. OxLDL/HDL ratio can be used as predictor of oxidative stress and inflammation in atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. Myeloperoxidase (MPO), oxidative stress related enzyme, increases in inflammatory conditions. Aim and Objectives: To evaluate oxLDL/HDL ratio in ACS patients. Correlation analysis of oxLDL/HDL ratio to oxidative stress markers, MPO and Malondialdehyde (MDA) were also attempted. Materials and Method: 60 ACS patients from Hospital’s Cardiac Care Unit and 60 controls from Hospital’s Health Checkup were selected. Results: oxLDL and oxLDL/HDL ratio were significantly higher in ACS patients. Significant increase was observed in Myeloperoxidase, MDA, Total cholesterol, Low Density Lipoprotein and Triglycerides in ACS patients. Significant positive correlation was observed between oxLDL/HDL and MPO and also between oxLDL/HDL and MDA. Conclusion: Increase in MPO, oxLDL and oxLDL/HDL ratio in ACS is indicative of the significance of MPO in oxidative damage to lipoproteins in cardiovascular disease (CVD) and in incidence of acute events in CVD. We suggest that oxLDL/HDL ratio and MPO can be used as predictive markers to monitor the precipitation of acute events in CVD.

Background: High-density lipoprotein (HDL) has a reverse relation with incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD). Paraoxonase (PON) is an HDL associated enzyme responsible for antioxidant capacity of HDL. Oxidative modification of LDL results in formation of oxLDL. This can be reduced by Paraoxonase, which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant function. Aim: To evaluate and compare the level of HDL, oxLDL and Paraoxonase (PON) activity in Coronary Artery Disease patients with controls. Effort was also made to correlate HDL with PON, also to correlate OxLDL with PON and HDL. Materials and Method: 60 clinically proven CAD patients within the age group of 35 to 70 were selected from OPD of Dr. Somervell Memorial CSI Medical College, Kerala. 60 controls within the same age group without any history of CAD was selected from subjects coming for Health Checkup. Results: HDL and PON were significantly lowered in CAD patients than in controls (P<0.05). OxLDL, Total Cholesterol, Triglyceride, LDL and VLDL were significantly higher in CAD patients than in controls (P<0.05). Correlation Analysis showed a positive correlation of HDL and PON. Statistically significant negative correlation was observed in case of oxLDL with PON and HDL.