MVH wins laurels for paper presentation at RSSDI – 2011

The 39th Annual meeting of RSSDI (Research Society for the Study of Diabetes in India) was held from 4th to 6th November, 2011 at Mumbai.

The research team from MVH won awards for various presentations. The excerpts are elaborated below.


1. Topic: Association of HSPA1B gene polymorphism in T2DM and its Complications: A South Asian Study.

Dhamodharan U, Ezhilarasi K, Parthiban M, Indira Padmalayam, Rama Rajaram, Vijay Viswanathan

Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics, Prof. M.Viswanathan Diabetes Research Centre & M.V. Hospital for Diabetes in collaboraton with Department of Biochemistry & Biomaterials, Central Leather Research Institute , Adyar, Chennai.

Heat Shock Protein-70 (HSP70) a protein which is very active in the immune system is suppressed in people with diabetes because of cellular stress. Western studies have reported the association of this gene (HSP70) in diabetic individuals through its effect on insulin sensitivity.

Our researchers studied this effect on T2DM and its complications among South Indian population and have found the mutation of this gene in T2DM and in those with both micro- and macro vascular complications.

Thus this novel gene could be used as a marker to identify people with increased risk of diabetes and its complications and take preventive action at an early stage.


2. Topic: Stress Response Element (STRE) single nucleotide polymorphism in Lipoic acid Synthase gene is associated with T2DM with complications.

Ezhilarasi K, Dhamodharan U, Parthiban M, Indira Padmalayam, Rama Rajaram, Vijay Viswanathan

Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics, Prof. M.Viswanathan Diabetes Research Centre & M.V. Hospital for Diabetes in collaboraton with Department of Biochemistry & Biomaterials, Central Leather Research Institute , Adyar, Chennai.

STRE in the LASY promoter region is important for the synthesis of Lipoic Acid Synthase gene which produces Lipoic Acid that acts as an antioxidant. Under normal conditions, Stress Response Element binds to STRE site and helps in the production of antioxidant enzymes such as Catalase LASY which helps to control oxidative stress.

Our researchers have found that in the case of T2DM with complications- neuropathy, nephropathy or retinopathy, this enzyme production is reduced due to single nucleotide polymorphism.

This provides great scope for further investigation into the use of this information in treating complications of diabetes.


3. Topic: Chennai Slim & Fit poster presentation.

Dr. Vigneswari, Research Assistant, Department of Epidemiology.

Childhood obesity has emerged as a major public health issue in India. These children are at high risk of developing diabetes, CVD earlier in their life compared to their normal counterparts.

As a school based approach, M.V Hospital for Diabetes and Prof. M. Viswanathan Diabetes Research Centre conducted an awareness creation programme (Chennai Slim and Fit) on childhood obesity in 13 CBSE schools with audiovisual aids and provided them with a chance for direct interaction with health experts. More than 20,000 children were benefited through this programme. It was highly successful, as the pre- and post- knowledge assessment showed that there was a significant increase in the degree of awareness among the children who participated in the programme.


The team from MVH at RSSDI- 2011. (L to R Mr.Dhamodharan Umapathy, Dr.K.Satyavani, Dr.Hemanga Barman, Prof.Vijay Viswanathan, Dr.M.Parthiban, Ms.K.Ezhilarasi, Mrs.R.Seena, Ms.Vimala, Dr.Vigneswari)