Browsing by Author "Kulsoom Zahra"

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A study of oxidative stress in cervical cancer- an institutional study
(Elsevier B.V., 2021) Kulsoom Zahra; Sandeep Patel; Tulika Dey; Uma Pandey; Surendra Pratap Mishra
Cervical cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related death among women worldwide, especially in developing countries. Oxidative stress has been associated with cervical cancer. Many studies demonstrated that the low level of antioxidants induces the production of free radicals that cause lipid peroxidation, DNA, and protein damage leading to mutations that favors malignant transformation. This is a case-control institutional study conducted to evaluate the level of oxidative stress in cervical cancer patients and the age-matched healthy controls. We measured level of TBARS expressed as MDA, activity of SOD and GSH level by the spectrophotometric method, and level of 8-OHdG was estimated using a competitive sandwich ELISA assay. Our results showed a significant increase in the level of lipid peroxidation in group IV when compared to the control, group II and group III (p < 0.001). The activity of SOD was also significantly higher in group IV when compared to the control group (p < 0.001), group II (p < 0.001), and group III (p < 0.001). The level of GSH was also significantly lower in group IV when compared to the control group (p < 0.01), group II (p < 0.01), and group III (p < 0.01). The level of 8-OHdG was significantly higher in group IV than in the other groups (p < 0.01). The results suggest that oxidative stress is involved in the pathogenesis of cervical cancer, which is demonstrated by an increased level of lipid peroxidation and higher levels of 8-OHdG and an altered antioxidant defense system. © 2020
An assessment of serum oxidative stress and antioxidant parameters in patients undergoing treatment for cervical cancer
(Elsevier Inc., 2021) Anju Shrivastava; Surendra Pratap Mishra; Satyajit Pradhan; Sunil Choudhary; Saurav Singla; Kulsoom Zahra; Lalit Mohan Aggarwal
Objectives: Oxidative stress and antioxidants are involved in all aspects of cervical cancer. The present study evaluated serum levels of oxidative stress and antioxidant biomarkers in cervical cancer patients and healthy controls. Moreover, the effect of Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) on these biomarkers and their association with treatment outcome was investigated. Design: This study included ninety-seven cervical cancer patients and thirty controls. Three oxidative stress parameters (8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine, Protein Carbonyl, and Malondialdehyde) and four antioxidant parameters (Superoxide Dismutase, Catalase, Glutathione Peroxidase, and Total Antioxidant Status) were measured. The analysis was conducted using repeated measures ANOVA for comparing among the phases (before, during, and follow-up) of treatment. The control group was compared using the Dunnet test. Logistic regression analysis was also conducted between oxidative stress and antioxidant parameters to study their association. Results: Significant rises in oxidative damage markers were observed in cervical cancer patients of all stages, compared to controls. There was a further increase in oxidative stress markers during CCRT among complete responders. However, among non-responders, the oxidative stress biomarkers like Protein Carbonyl and Malondialdehyde were unaltered during CCRT. Simultaneously, there was a significant decrease in antioxidant parameters in cervical cancer patients of all stages compared to controls. During CCRT, antioxidant levels continuously depleted among complete responders. Nevertheless, in non-responders, antioxidant parameters like Superoxide Dismutase and Total Antioxidant Status were consistent. The oxidative stress markers and antioxidant parameters normalized among complete responders at six months follow up. While in non-responders, the normalization of these parameters was not observed. Conclusion: Our results indicate that increased oxidative stress and diminished antioxidants among patients were associated with carcinoma cervix. Induced oxidative stress and decreased antioxidant parameters during CCRT among the complete responders show the treatment's efficacy. Oxidant-antioxidant profile merits investigation as markers of diagnosis, treatment response, survival, and recurrence in extensive prospective studies. © 2021 Elsevier Inc.
Correlative study of serum hepcidin levels and serum iron reserve parameters in preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome
(National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources (NISCAIR), 2018) Tapan Kumar; Kulsoom Zahra; Tulika Dey; Anup Singh; Uma Pandey; S.P. Mishra
HELLP syndrome is described as a special group of severe preeclampsia characterized by haemolysis (H), elevated liver enzymes (EL) and low platelets (PL), whereas preeclampsia is a disease of unknown etiology characterized by hypertension and proteinuria after the 20th week of gestation. The objective of the study was to evaluate the level of hepcidin in the serum of the patient suffering from HELLP syndrome and preeclampsia. It was done by competitive sandwich ELISA which assesses the serum level of hepcidin in the forty patients suffering from preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome (as cases) and forty healthy individuals (as control). The results of our study showed that serum hepcidin levels were significantly increased among the cases (P =0.00171) in comparison to control (P <0.05) and transferrin saturation levels were significantly decreased (P <0.05) among the cases (P =0.001) in comparison to controls. The decrease in transferrin saturation indicates that there is low serum iron level among the cases. It was concluded that increased hepcidin level may be the cause of anemia among the cases. © 2018, National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources (NISCAIR). All rights reserved.
Epigenetic aspects of engineered nanomaterials: Is the collateral damage inevitable?
(Frontiers Media S.A., 2019) Mallikarjuna Rao Gedda; Piyoosh Kumar Babele; Kulsoom Zahra; Prasoon Madhukar
The extensive application of engineered nanomaterial (ENM) in various fields increases the possibilities of human exposure, thus imposing a huge risk of nanotoxicity. Hence, there is an urgent need for a detailed risk assessment of these ENMs in response to their toxicological profiling, predominantly in biomedical and biosensor settings. Numerous “toxico-omics” studies have been conducted on ENMs, however, a specific “risk assessment paradigm” dealing with the epigenetic modulations in humans owing to the exposure of these modern-day toxicants has not been defined yet. This review aims to address the critical aspects that are currently preventing the formation of a suitable risk assessment approach for/against ENM exposure and pointing out those researches, which may help to develop and implement effective guidance for nano-risk assessment. Literature relating to physicochemical characterization and toxicological behavior of ENMs were analyzed, and exposure assessment strategies were explored in order to extrapolate opportunities, challenges, and criticisms in the establishment of a baseline for the risk assessment paradigm of ENMs exposure. Various challenges, such as uncertainty in the relation of the physicochemical properties and ENM toxicity, the complexity of the dose-response relationships resulting in difficulty in its extrapolation and measurement of ENM exposure levels emerged as issues in the establishment of a traditional risk assessment. Such an appropriate risk assessment approach will provide adequate estimates of ENM exposure risks and will serve as a guideline for appropriate risk communication and management strategies aiming for the protection and the safety of humans. © 2019 Gedda, Babele, Zahra and Madhukar.
Is there a correlation between micronutrients and cognitive status: An exploratory study of senile dementia of Alzheimer’s type
(Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, 2018) Pooja Vashistha; Kulsoom Zahra; Ashok Kumar; Tapan Kumar; Mona Srivastava; Surendra Pratap Mishra
Introduction: Alzheimer disease is a multifarious neurodegenerative disorder which is a leading cause of dementia in late adult life. It is characterised by deposition of intracellular neurofibrillary tangles and extracellular amyloidal protein which contributes to senile plaques. Studies suggested that vitamin B12 (cobalmin) and folate (folic acid) deficiency in the elderly are most common. These micronutrients are crucial for proper brain function and play an important role in mental and emotional health. Aim: To evaluate the level of homocysteine, folate, vitamin B12 and vitamin D in the serum of the patient suffering from Senile Dementia of Alzheimer’s Type (SDAT). Materials and Methods: The study was an open label, cross sectional and comparative analysis. There were 110 patients suffering from SDAT taken as sample. Study included elderly patient aged 60-75 years and the duration of the study was 17 months (December 2014 to May 2016). The Group 1 (n=110, case) included patients whose age between 60-75 year given Treatment As Usual (TAU) and they were supplemented with oral vitamin B12 and folate during the treatment and Group 2 (n=55, control) included patients whose age between 60-75 year given TAU i.e., without any supplementation. The study was done by Competitive, sandwich Enzyme-linked Immune Sorbent Assay (ELISA) to assess the serum level of homocysteine, folate, vitamin B12 and vitamin D in patients suffering from SDAT (as cases) and healthy individual (as control). The statistical analysis was done by Student’s t-test. The data were expressed as mean±SD, p<0.05 was considered significant and mean±SD, p<0.001 was highly significant. Results: The mean serum homocysteine level was higher in cases (11.65±8) nm/mL as compared to controls (6.27±6.77) nm/mL. The mean value of serum homocysteine was found significant in cases as compared to controls (p<0.001). The serum folate (17.59±22.74 ng/mL/26.65±27.26 ng/mL), vitamin B12 (1.27±1.61 ng/mL/1.44±0.75 ng/mL) and vitamin D (21.01±34.68 ng/mL/42.74±70.49 ng/mL) level was lower in cases as compared to controls. the mean value of folate, vitamin B12and vitamin D was found to be not significant in cases as compared to controls (p>0.05). Conclusion: This study concluded that higher serum homocysteine levels, lower vitamin D, vitamin B12 and folate levels are risk factor for the SDAT. © 2018, Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research. All rights reserved.
Pyruvate Kinase M2 and Cancer: The Role of PKM2 in Promoting Tumorigenesis
(Frontiers Media S.A., 2020) Kulsoom Zahra; Tulika Dey; Ashish; Surendra Pratap Mishra; Uma Pandey
Pyruvate kinase plays a pivotal role in regulating cell metabolism. The final and rate-limiting step of glycolysis is the conversion of Phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) to Pyruvate, which is catalyzed by Pyruvate Kinase. There are four isomeric, tissue-specific forms of Pyruvate Kinase found in mammals: PKL, PKR, PKM1, and PKM2. PKM1 and PKM2 are formed bya single mRNA transcript of the PKM gene by alternative splicing. The oligomers of PKM2 exist in high activity tetramer and low activity dimer forms. The dimer PKM2 regulates the rate-limiting step of glycolysis that shifts the glucose metabolism from the normal respiratory chain to lactate production in tumor cells. Besides its role as a metabolic regulator, it also acts as protein kinase, which contributes to tumorigenesis. This review is focused on the metabolic role of pyruvate kinase M2 in normal cells vs. cancerous cells and its regulation at the transcriptional level. The review also highlights the role of PKM2 as a potential diagnostic marker and as a therapeutic target in cancer treatment. © Copyright © 2020 Zahra, Dey, Ashish, Mishra and Pandey.
Serum vitamin A, E and C status in cervical cancer patients undergoing Concurrent Chemo-Radiotherapy, an institutional study
(Elsevier Inc, 2019) Anju Shrivastava; Satyajit Pradhan; Surendra Pratap Mishra; Anupam Kumar Asthana; Sunil Choudhary; Kulsoom Zahra; Lalit Mohan Aggarwal
Vitamin A, E, and C are powerful non enzymatic antioxidants responsible for capturing free radicals, and thus, they prevent oxidative chain reactions. Persistent oxidative stress may cause resistance to apoptosis, which promotes cell proliferation and leads to the tumor and its angiogenesis. Serum level of Vitamin A, E, and C were estimated in carcinoma cervix patients at different phases of treatment and compared it with healthy controls. Ninety-seven histopathologically diagnosed Cervical Carcinoma patients, and thirty age-matched healthy controls were included in this study. Blood samples were taken once from the controls. From each patient undergoing Radiotherapy, four samples were collected i.e., before, during, immediately after and at three months follow-up of treatment. The serum was separated and stored at −20 °C until examination. Statistical analysis was done with the commercial SPSS 21.0 package for Windows (SPSS, IBM Bangalore). P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Vitamin A, E, and C levels were lower in carcinoma cervix patients of all FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) stages compared to controls. Patient serum levels of vitamins decreased again during Concurrent Chemo-Radiotherapy and immediately after the therapy. There is an elevation shown by these vitamins after three months of follow up. The results indicate that the lower serum vitamin A, E, and C levels before treatment could be a cause or an effect of cancer. Further decrease in vitamin levels during and immediately after therapy shows the high oxidative stress during the treatment period, which is beneficial for the patient. These altered vitamin levels were normalized during the time of follow-up. © 2019