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The study proposed to find out the association of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 & IL-1β) and related biochemical indexes in newly diagnosed diabetes (NDD) subjects as compared to healthy subjects. This clinical prospective research was done with collaboration of University of Karachi and Baqai Institute of Diabetology and Endocrinology between November 2018 to May 2019. Demographics and anthropometric details were noted on predesigned questionnaire. Subjects were identified on the basis of Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). Samples of blood at baseline were gained for IL-6 & IL-1β (pro-inflammatory cytokines) and related biochemical indexes. Total of 34 subjects were included both males 19 (55.9%) and females 15 (44.1%) having mean age 49.65±1.95 years. On the basis of OGTT, 17(50%) were healthy subjects and 17(50%) were NDD. Mean ± SE value of IL-1β was 208.56±23.53 in healthy subjects and 1510.47±494.16 in NDD subjects, while, IL-6 was 57.51±13.02 and 119.51±36.60, respectively. Non-significant correlation was observed between IL- 6 and IL- 1β (r= 0.20, P=0.475) among healthy subjects. While, significant correlation was observed between IL- 6 and IL- 1β (r=0.774, P<0.0001) among NDD subjects. With increased levels of both IL-6 and IL-1β in NDD subjects only IL-1β showed significant correlation as compared to IL-6. In addition, significant correlation of IL-1β with various biochemical parameters as compared to IL-6 were also observed to be involved in progression from normoglycemia to type 2 DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The study of differences between monozygotic (MZ) twin pairs with respect to ADHD may provide novel leads to disentangle the environmental contribution driving its phenotypes. Objectives: To examine non-shared environmental influences on executive function in dimensionally defined ADHD. Methods: This study included 27 MZ twin pairs (7 female) aged 11–20 years being moderately to substantially discordant for ADHD traits as assessed by the Attention Problem (AP) scale of the Child Behavior Checklist/Adult Behavior Checklist. The twins completed the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) for cognitive flexibility and the Tower Test (TT) for foresighted planning. Two statistical approaches were used to analyze the data. First, correlations between ADHD trait intra-pair differences and WCST and TT scores were calculated. Second, the significance of those intra-pair differences on WCST and TT, using ADHD as categorical variable in clinically discordant pairs, was tested. Results: Both analysing strategies revealed a link between ADHD on one hand, and foresighted planning and inhibitory control on the other hand mediated by non-shared environmental factors. The first statistical approach yielded positive correlations between intra-pairs differences on the AP scale and intra-pair differences on two subscales of the TT: total rule violation (rs = 0·41) and rule-violation-per-item-ratio (rs = 0·38). Findings in categorically discordant pairs were consistent, showing within-pair differences on the same subtests (z-1·63, P = 0·05, one-tailed and z = −1·60, P = 0·05, one-tailed). Conclusions: Findings confirm previous research suggesting ADHD to be a quantitative extreme on a continuum with executive functions being a cognitive marker of ADHD traits. Non-shared environmental factors appear to influence planning skills and inhibitory control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The haemolymph biochemical constituents like total protein, free amino acids, trehalose, glycerol and glycogen were estimated in ultimate instar larvae of Daba bivoltine ecorace of tropical tasar silkworm Antheraea mylitta Drury in order to differentiate between non-diapause destined (NDD) and diapause destined (DD) generations and also to relate them with preparation for undergoing diapause. During phagoperiod of ultimate instar, presence of protein (35.119 mg/ml), trehalose (7.530 mg/ml) and glycerol (0.084 mg/ml) was significantly higher in males of DD generation than NDD (protein- 6.384mg/ml; trehalose 4.298 mg/ml; glycerol- 0.029mg/ml). Female larvae of DD generation had significantly higher level of protein (8.739 mg/ml), amino acids (4.976mg/ml), trehalose (7.963mg/ml) and glycerol (0.077 mg/ml) than female larvae of DD generation. A comparison between the sexes indicated that NDD male larvae had higher level of free amino acids than female larvae. Male larvae of DD generation had higher level of protein, free amino acids and trehalose than female larvae, while female larvae had higher level of glycerol than male larvae. It was observed that accumulation of trehalose takes place during mid instar phagoperiod in both NDD and DD generation. The level of protein was higher through out the phagoperiod with fluctuations. Concentration of glycogen was lower at the beginning of phagoperiod which gradually increases till it maturates in both the generations. The concentration of glycerol was higher during the beginning of instar and before gut purging. During the spinning period biochemical constituents, especially, amino acids (1.683 mg/ml), trehalose (34.857 mg/ml) and glycerol (240.833 microgram/ml) and glycogen (34.857mg/ml) were significantly higher in the females of DD generation than NDD (amino acids 0.856mg/ml; trehalose 15,858mg/ml; glycogen 3.913mg/ml; glycerol- 0.029mg/ml). DD female larvae had significantly higher level of amino acids (0.1.718mg/ml), glycogen (5.967mg/ ml) and glycerol (246.835 microgram/ml) than male larvae of DD generation. Significantly higher level of amino acid, proteins, trehalose, glycogen and glycerol were present in the haemolymph of males than females during non-diapause destined generation. Higher level of protein, amino acids and glycerol during ultimate instar male and female larvae of DD generation is indicative of their preparation for undergoing diapause in pupal stage as tasar silkworms build up its energy-reserve to skip unfavourable environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]