Objectives: To investigate the cord blood levels of adipokine and to assess their association with the fetal insulin resistance and fetal outcomes in newborns of gestational diabetic women (GDM). Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in 40 GDM women and 40 healthy pregnant women (HPW) in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) hospital in Puducherry, India, during the period from May 2016 to December 2017. Cord blood samples were collected at delivery from GDM and HPW groups. Cord plasma biochemical parameters such as insulin, C-peptide, adiponectin, leptin, resistin, and visfatin concentrations were measured. Leptin/adiponectin ratio (L/A), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA2-IR), insulin sensitivity (HOMA2-%S) and beta cell function (HOMA2-%B) were calculated. The pregnancy outcomes such as birth weight (BW), Ponderal index and Apgar scores of the baby were measured. Results: The BW and Ponderal index of the baby were found to be significantly higher in GDM newborns compared to HPW newborns. Cord plasma insulin, C-peptide, HOMA2 –IR, visfatin, leptin, and L/A ratio were significantly higher whereas adiponectin level was lower in GDM compared to HPW. A significant positive correlation was observed between L/A ratio and fetal HOMA2-IR. Conclusion: Altered adipokine levels with increased L/A ratio was observed among the new-borns of Indian gestational diabetic mothers. There was an association between increased L/A ratio, insulin resistance and increased Ponderal index among the new-borns.

Obesity, adiposity mediated oxidative stress and inflammatory response has been identified to have an etiological origin for most of the complications associated with ageing populace. However, there are limited studies addressing the metabolic role of adipose tissue in the pathobiology of postmenopausal complications with respect to oxidative stress and inflammation. Numerous studies have reported the beneficial effects of soy isoflavones on postmenopausal complications; however, its efficacy these complications in postmenopausal model of obesity remain unclear. In the present study we found that the both ovariectomy and high fat diet (30 per cent fat) in isolation and in combination developed adipose tissue oxidative stress as evidenced by the reduced level of total antioxidant status (TAS) in association with elevated levels of adipose tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) and MDA/TAS ratio. These rats also displayed with inflammation as showed by increased levels of plasma tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP). The expression of adipose tissue inflammatory proteins; cyclo-oxygenase 2 (COX2), monocyte chemo attractant protein (MCP1) and protein kinase C alpha (PKCα) were heightened in response to both ovariectomy and high fat diet. All these metabolic changes were further augmented when ovariectomy was followed by high fat diet. This suggests that there was a synergism between the postmenopausal state and intake of fat rich diet in the development of adipose tissue oxidative stress and inflammatory response. Treatment with soy isoflavones significantly inhibited these metabolic changes improved adipose tissue oxidative stress and inflammatory response suggesting the use of this natural phytoestrogen as an anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory agent for relieving metabolic consequences associated with postmenopausal women.

Objectives: Cleistanthins A and B (CAB), active phytochemicals present in Cleistanthus collinus, have been proven to have alpha 1-adrenoceptor blocking property. However action on alpha 2-adrenoceptor is not studied. We aimed to study the action of CAB on alpha 2-adrenoceptor by measuring platelet aggregation, insulin and blood glucose levels with yohimbine as a standard comparator control and alpha 1-adrenoceptor by measuring the blockade of relaxation induced by phenylephrine in the jejunum of Wistar albino rats. Materials and methods: Forty eight adult male Wistar rats were divided into eight drug groups of six each, namely control (CMC 0.5%), yohimbine 2 mg/kg, 10, 30 and 100 mg/kg doses of cleistanthin A and cleistanthin B. Blood samples were drawn at baseline, after 5 h and after high-epinephrine dose (5 mg/kg) from the retro-orbital sinus and used for estimation of platelet aggregation and plasma insulin levels. Blood glucose levels were estimated at six different time points. Degree of jejunal relaxation was studied by relaxing the acetylcholine pre-contracted jejunum with phenylephrine. Results: All groups, except control and cleistanthin A 10 mg/kg group, significantly inhibited the platelet aggregation when compared to the respective baseline values (p<0.05). No significant difference was observed between different drug groups in plasma insulin and blood glucose levels. With regard to phenylephrine induced jejunal relaxation, the median IC 50 for all three doses of cleistanthin A and cleistanthin B 100 mg/kg differ significantly from that of control (CMC 0.5%). Conclusion: CAB block both alpha 1 and 2-adrenoceptorand hence are non-selective alpha-adrenoceptor blockers.

Key words: Antioxidants, essential hypertension, oxidative stressSgd oqdu`kdmbd ne gxodqsdmrhnm g`r addm hmbqd`rhmf hm cdudknohmf bntmsqhdr:`mc bnlltmhsx rtqudxr g`ud cnbtldmsdc sg`s hs hrlnqdoqdu`kdms`lnmfsgdHmch`mradsvddm sgd sghqc`mc rhwsg cdb`cdr ne sgdhq khed- Z0\Gxodqsdmrhnm hr` l`inq lnch�`akd qhrj e`bsnq Nwhc`shud rsqdrr+ vghbg qdrtksr eqnl dhsgdq nudqoqnctbshnmneeqddq`chb`krnqcdokdshnmne `mshnwhc`ms qdrdqud+ g`r addm hlokhb`sdc hm sgd cdudknoldms ne b`qchnu`rbtk`q chrnqcdqr hmbktchmfgxodqsdmrhnm-Z2\

As per the third consensus meeting of Indian Menopause Society reports, the number of postmenopausal women in India is approximately 43 million and it is projected to be 103 million by 2026. While the average age for menopause in India is 47.5 years, there is an alarming increase of premature menopause among the Indian women has been reported recently. It has been observed that, nearly four per cent women of age group of 29-34 years attain menopause and its incidence increases to eight per cent in women of age group between 35 and 39 years. The reason for this early menopause is still unclear, but it is a major public health problem because of its influence on the development of components of metabolic syndrome. Despite HRT improves postmenopausal complications, the prolonged use of HRT was not recommended now due to its influence on the development of certain types of cancers; endometrial cancer and breast cancer in addition to its negative impact on cardiovascular diseases. Hence, understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms which amenable for the pathogenesis of postmenopausal complications may open new clinical therapeutic targets for the management of these complications. Soy isoflavones, a natural phytoestrogen, which shares the structural and functional homogeneity with estrogen. Several studies have reported that soy isoflavones have beneficial effects against ovariectomy (surgical menopause) as well as diet induced metabolic complications in animal models; however, its efficacy in terms of improving metabolic complications associated with postmenopausal state is largely unclear.