Publications by authors named "Himani Thakkar"

Background & Objectives: Impaired high density lipoprotein (HDL) functionality has been shown to be associated with cardiovascular disease risk. The study was aimed to identify the alterations in HDL function [antioxidative activity (AOA)] and subfraction distribution between acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and stable coronary artery disease (SCAD) individuals and analysing the accuracy of HDL parameters to discriminate between the groups.

Methods: HDL subfraction distribution analysis was performed in 200 coronary artery disease patients (ACS and SCAD) and 60 control individuals using dextran sulphate, heparin and manganese chloride precipitation method.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death in the world. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are currently being explored in the context of CVD risk. EPCs are bone marrow derived progenitor cells involved in postnatal endothelial repair and neovascularization.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein D (hnRNPD) serves as a prognostic marker for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). We evaluated the diagnostic potential of hnRNPD to differentiate between OSCC and normal mucosa. Immunohistochemistry for hnRNPD and a routinely used diagnostic marker deltaNp63 (p40) was performed in 32 normal mucosae and 46 OSCC specimens.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • * The study examined the levels of biopterins, specifically tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), in ECFCs and their connection to circulating EPCs in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) compared to controls.
  • * Results showed that CAD patients had lower levels of circulating EPCs and reduced BH4 levels, with a positive correlation between BH4:BH2 ratios and EPC levels, suggesting biopterins are important for the function and presence of EPC
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Impaired high-density lipoprotein (HDL) functions are associated with development of coronary artery disease. In this study, we explored the quantitative differences in HDL (i.e.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) comprises a heterogeneous group of particles differing in size, density, and composition. HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) levels have long been suggested to indicate cardiovascular risk, inferred from multiple epidemiological studies. The failure of HDL-C targeted interventions and genetic studies has raised doubts on the atheroprotective role of HDL-C.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Bariatric surgery can alleviate cardiovascular risk via effects on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Our study aimed to assess the cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC) of HDL as a negative risk factor for CVD in individuals with obesity and identify the factors associated with improvement in CEC 3 months following bariatric surgery.

Methods: We recruited 40 control individuals (mean BMI of 22.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Recent studies emphasize the importance of HDL function over HDL cholesterol measurement, as an important risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). We compared the HDL function of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and healthy controls.

Methods: We measured cholesterol efflux capacity of HDL using THP-1 macrophages labelled with fluorescently tagged (BODIPY) cholesterol.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

One of the earliest events in the development of atherosclerosis is endothelial activation, which is estimated at the functional level by quantifying monocyte adhesion. This involves the incubation of fluorescently labeled monocytes on top of cultured endothelial cells and quantifying the number of adhered monocytes. Currently, the quantification of adhered monocytes is done using microscopy or by lysing the cells and estimating the fluorescence.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: Adipose tissue dysfunction is at the center of metabolic dysfunctions associated with obesity. Through studies in isolated adipocytes and mouse models, ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) expression in the adipose tissue has been shown to regulate high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels in the circulation and insulin sensitivity at both adipose tissue and whole-body levels. We aimed to explore the possible link between ABCA1 expression in the adipose tissue and metabolic derangements associated with obesity in humans.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Studies on mitochondrial DNA copy number reveal an increase or decrease in copy number that appears to be cancer specific, but data on acute lymphoblastic leukemia have been inconsistent regarding the significance of changes in mitochondrial DNA copies. The purpose of this pilot study was to analyze mitochondrial DNA copy number and mitochondrial DNA integrity.

Procedure: Copy number and mitochondrial deletion ratios were estimated in the bone marrow of 51 patients and peripheral blood of 30 healthy controls using quantitative real-time PCR.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The present investigation was carried out to study the effect of rebamipide in experimentally induced bronchial asthma in mice. Trypsin and egg-albumin induced chronic model of asthma was used and various parameters were measured on the 35th day. The asthmatic control group showed lower level of haemoglobin saturation with oxygen, tidal volume, airflow rate and higher respiratory rate, serum bicarbonate level, eosinophil count in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and histamine level compared to the normal control group.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF