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Abstract Background Butyrylcholinesterase is an enzyme that may serve as a marker of metabolic syndrome. We (a) measured its level in persons with diabetes mellitus, (b) constructed a family tree of the enzyme using nucleotide sequences downloaded from NCBI. Butyrylcholinesterase was estimated colorimetrically using a commercially available kit (Randox Lab, UK). Phylogenetic trees were constructed by distance method (Fitch and Margoliash method) and by maximum parsimony method. Results There was a negative correlation between serum total cholesterol and butyrylcholinesterase (-0.407; p < 0.05) and between serum LDL cholesterol and butyrylcholinesterase (-0.435; p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant correlation among the other biochemical parameters. In the evolutionary tree construction both methods gave similar trees, except for an inversion in the position of Sus scrofa (M62778) and Oryctolagus cuniculus (M62779) between Fitch and Margoliash, and maximum parsimony methods. Conclusion The level of butyrylcholinesterase enzyme was inversely related to serum cholesterol; dendrogram showed that the structures from evolutionarily close species were placed near each other.

To translate science into clinical practice we must first assess the quality of care that is being delivered. The resulting information about qualitative and quantitative parameters can then be assessed. Ultimately insights can be obtained into improving the quality of care in diabetes mellitus. The Diabetes Quality Improvement Programme in USA has shown such an exercise is feasible. A similar exercise in India is necessary to improve the quality of diabetes care.

Alzheimer's disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus tend to occur together. We sought to identify protein(s) common to both conditions that could suggest a possible unifying pathogenic role. Using human neuronal butyrylcholinesterase (AAH08396.1) as the reference protein we used BLAST Tool for protein to protein comparison in humans. We found three groups of sequences among a series of 12, with an E-value between 0-12, common to both Alzheimer's disease and diabetes: butyrylcholinesterase precursor K allele (NP&#95;000046.1), acetylcholinesterase isoform E4-E6 precursor (NP&#95;000656.1), and apoptosis-related acetylcholinesterase (1B41|A). Butyrylcholinesterase and acetylcholinesterase related proteins were found common to both Alzheimer's disease and diabetes; they may play an etiological role via influencing insulin resistance and lipid metabolism.