Investigation of Thiol/Disulfide Homeostasis and Ischemia-Modified Albumin Levels in Children with Wilson Disease.

BackgroundThe aim of the present study was to assess thiol/disulfide homeostasis (TDH) parameters and ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) levels in children with Wilson Disease (WD) and to compare them to healthy controls. Methods: Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, fifteen children with WD and twenty-nine healthy children were enrolled, and serum thiol/disulfide and IMA levels were compared between groups. Results: The mean values of native and total thiols were significantly lower in the WD group than in the control group. The mean value of disulfide was significantly higher in the WD group than in the control group. The mean percentages of disulfide/total thiol and native thiol/total thiol were higher in the WD group than in the control group. The IMA value was also higher in the WD group than in the control group. Conclusion: The present study demonstrating altered thiol/disulfide parameters indicates increased oxidative stress in children with WD.

Evaluation of dynamic/thiol disulphide balance and ischaemia modified albumin in children with trauma.

AIM: Trauma is the most common cause of death in childhood. Tissue damage, ischaemia-reperfusion injury and inflammatory response are mainly responsible for increasing free oxygen radicals. In this study, we aimed to investigate the use of thiol-disulphide and ischaemia-modified albumin levels as a diagnostic laboratory parameter in trauma children. METHODS: Of 202 children, 101 were hospitalised in the paediatric surgical intensive care unit with trauma, and 101 were healthy children. Levels of native thiol (-SH), total thiol (SH + SS), dynamic disulphide (SS), dynamic disulphide (SS)/total thiol (SH + SS), albumin and ischaemic modified albumin (IMA) were measured from the sera of patients and healthy volunteers. For statistical analyses, SPSS 17.0 was used. Mann-Whitney U and paired correlation tests were used where appropriate. P < .05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients in the trauma group (boys: 61 girls: 40) was 7.88 years and the control group was 8.00 years. In the trauma group, 86 children were exposed to blunt trauma, 15 children had penetrating trauma and 54 patients had multiple trauma. Surgical procedures were performed on 17 patients. In the trauma group, native thiol, total thiol, dynamic disulphide/total thiol, albumin and IMA levels were significantly lower than that of the control (P < .001), and their dynamic disulphide (P = .001) was higher compared with the control. There was no difference thiol-disulphide parameters in trauma groups sub-division as surgery (n = 17) vs follow-up (n = 84) groups or multiple trauma (n = 54) vs isolated organ trauma (n = 47) groups or penetrating (n = 15) or blunt trauma (n = 86) groups. CONCLUSION: Thiol-disulphide balance and IMA levels show changes in favour of oxidative stress in children with trauma; however, it cannot be used as a laboratory marker that helps to show the system and organ affected by the trauma and to decide the surgical intervention.

Altered thiol/disulfide homeostasis and ischemia-modified albumin levels in children with irritable bowel syndrome.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we assessed thiol/disulfide homeostasis (TDH) parameters and ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) levels in children with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) compared with healthy children. METHODS: Fifty-six children with IBS and 53 healthy children were included in the study after assessment of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Plasma thiol/disulfide and IMA levels were compared between children with and without IBS. RESULTS: The mean values of native thiol, total thiol, and disulfide were 343.779 ± 138.654 µmol/L, 365.398 ± 140.148 µmol/L, and 23.190 ± 4.978 µmol/L, respectively, in the IBS group and 409.908 ± 69.288 µmol/L, 433.481 ± 76.891 µmol/L, and 20.090 ± 4.252 µmol/L, respectively, in the control group. Native thiol and total thiol values were significantly reduced in the IBS group compared with the control group. The mean IMA values were 0.835 ± 0.083 (g/L) and 0.778 ± 0.072 in the IBS and control groups, respectively. The IMA value was significantly increased in the IBS group. CONCLUSION: Impaired thiol/disulfide homeostasis and increased IMA levels can be considered etiological factors in children with IBS.

Trace elements and oxidative stress status in patients with psoriasis.

INTRODUCTION: Psoriasis is a common, inflammatory skin disease of which etiopathogenesis is still not explained clearly, however in which trace elements and oxidative stress are considered to play a role. AIM: To evaluate the serum trace element and oxidative stress levels in patients diagnosed with psoriasis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 87 psoriasis patients and 60 healthy subjects were included in the study. Serum sodium (Na), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) levels, oxidative stress parameters, ischemia-modified albumin (IMA), catalase (CAT), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and ferroxidase (FOX) activity and an inflammatory marker, C-reactive protein (CRP), were examined in all participants. RESULTS: IMA, IMA/Albumin (IMA/Alb), CAT, Cu, FOX and CRP levels were found to be significantly higher; Se, Zn and albumin levels were significantly lower in the patient group as compared to the control group. No significant difference was found between groups with regard to Na, K, Ca, P, Mg, Fe and MPO levels. CONCLUSIONS: Some trace element levels and oxidant-antioxidant balance were changed in psoriasis patients.

Comparison of noninvasive and invasive point-of-care testing methods with reference method for hemoglobin measurement.

BACKGROUND: Rapid and practical point-of-care testing (POCT) devices become more popular, especially in blood donation centers for determining predonation hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate accordance between the POCT methods and the venous method as the reference to Hb screening. METHODS: A total of 353 subjects with no known significant health problems were included in the study. Hb screening was performed by two different POCT methods, a noninvasive method (Haemospect, MBR, Germany) and an invasive method (HemoControl, EKF Diagnostic, Germany), and a venous method as the reference (Sysmex XE-2100, Sysmex Europe, Germany). The obtained results were compared. RESULTS: The sensitivity and the specificity values of the invasive POCT method (83.3%, 87.9%) were higher than the noninvasive POCT method (66.7%, 77.1%). The Bland-Altman analysis was evaluated for both sexes and the bias of the noninvasive POCT method of the males (-0.97 g/dL) was higher than the bias of the invasive POCT method of the males (-0.07 g/dL). We found a better correlation between the invasive POCT method (r = .908) compared with the venous method than the noninvasive POCT method (r = .634). CONCLUSION: Predonation Hb measurements must be performed with accurate, precise, and practical methods. Although the noninvasive POCT method was practical and painless, it had lower levels of specificity and sensitivity, and more false deferral and pass rates than the invasive POCT method. The POCT methods agreeable to the venous method as the reference might be suitable for Hb screening especially for centers of excessive numbers of blood donation.

The Relationship between Nesfatin-1 Levels and SYNTAX Score in Patients with Non-ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

OBJECTIVE: Nesfatin-1 is a novel anorectic neuropeptide with potent metabolic regulatory effects. It regulates blood pressure, heart rate, cardiomyocyte metabolism and permeability. SYNTAX score, which is an angiographic scoring system, defines the grade and complexity of coronary artery disease (CAD). We aimed to evaluate the relationship between nesfatin-1 level and severity of CAD according to the SYNTAX score in patients with non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). METHODS: A total of 109 subjects were enrolled into the study, of whom 80 underwent coronary angiography (CA) with the diagnosis of NSTEMI and 29 had normal coronary arteries detected in CA. NSTEMI patients were divided into 2 groups: low SYNTAX score (< 32) (45 patients) and high SYNTAX score (≥ 32) (35 patients). RESULTS: The NSTEMI patients with a high SYNTAX score (score ≥ 32) had a lower serum nesfatin-1 level (62 pg/ml; 39-98) compared to the NSTEMI patients with a low SYNTAX score (score < 32) (138 pg/ml; 65-286) and the control group (392 pg/ml; 178-1320). There was also a negative correlation between serum nesfatin-1 level and SYNTAX score (r = -0.594, p < 0.001). A lower serum level of nesfatin-1 (odds ratio = 0.116; 95% confidence interval: 0.138- 0.094; p < 0.001) was an independent predictor for high SYNTAX score in the NSTEMI patients after multiple linear regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Serum nesfatin-1 level was lower in the high SYNTAX group than in the low SYNTAX group in patients with NSTEMI. Nesfatin-1could have a role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic burden in patients with NSTEMI.

Effects of empagliflozin against indomethacin induced gastric mucosa.

BACKGROUND: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors (SGLT2i) are considered a new class antidiabetic agent, as well as lowering blood sugar, it has many positive effects. This study aimed to investigate the effects of SLGT2i on the gastric mucosa. METHODS: We investigated the effects of empagliflozin on indomethacin-induced gastritis using 48 male Wistar Albino rats. We performed histopathological evaluations of gastric mucosa tissue. And we studied the levels of serum disulfide, native thiol, total thiol, and ischemia modified albumin, disulfide/native thiol ratio (SSSH), native thiol/total thiol percent ratio (SH total SH), and disulfide/total thiol percent ratio (SS total SH). RESULTS: We found that empagliflozin increased mucin production in rat gastric mucosa. Besides, we observed milder inflammation findings and lower gastritis scores in the empagliflozin receiving groups than the placebo groups. Native thiol, total thiol, and disulfide levels were lower in the indomethacin-induced gastritis groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to investigate the effect of empagliflozin on the gastrointestinal tract in a rat model. We concluded that empagliflozin increased mucin production and revealed positive effects in an indomethacin-induced gastritis model.

A remarkable point for evaluating the severity of burns: Thiol-disulfide profile.

AIM: The objective of this study was to examine the thiol-disulfide profile tests in patients suffering from burn injuries. METHODS: This case-control study comprised 48 patients with thermal burn injuries and 61 healthy individuals. Thiol-disulfide tests were conducted in both groups, and also, the changes of thiol-disulfide parameters were analyzed at zero time and on days 3, 7, 15, and 30 of the admission in patients with burn injuries. RESULTS: The patients had significantly decreased native and total thiol levels and native thiol/total thiol ratios, and significantly increased disulfide/native thiol and disulfide/total thiol ratios compared to control individuals (p<0.001 for all). The variations of native thiol levels, total thiol levels, and disulfide/native thiol ratios were significantly different over time in patients with burn injuries (p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.05, respectively). There were strong associations with the clinical parameters and thiol-disulfide profile tests (p<0.05 for all). CONCLUSION: There was a metabolic disturbance of the thiol-disulfide system among patients with burn injuries. The courses of thiol-disulfide variables in time overlapped with the burn mechanism. Strong associations provide that thiol-disulfide homeostasis might be a notable key for evaluating the severity of burns and predicting the survival.

Does Tadalafil Increase The Uptake of Finasteride into Prostate Tissue? A Biochemical and Histological Evaluation in Rats.

PURPOSE: To histopathologically and biochemically evaluate the hypothesis that tadalafil increases the uptake of a second medication into the prostate tissue by increasing the blood supply in the prostate. METHODS: Forty 12-week-old Sprague Dawley male rats were equally divided into 5 groups and were administered drugs orally as follows: Group 1 - no drugs, Group 2 - 10 days of finasteride, Group 3 - 10 days of finasteride + tadalafil, Group 4 - 30 days of finasteride, and Group 5 - 30 days of finasteride + tadalafil. At the end of 10 days of drug administration in Group1, 2, and 3, and at the end of 30 days of drug administration in Group 4 and 5,blood samples were collected from rats and analyzed for serum androgen levels. In addition, prostate tissues were removed for histological examination. RESULTS: The mean DHT level as well as the minimum and maximum epithelial thicknesses in Group 3 were lower than those in Group 2. However, there was no statistical significant difference (P = 0.989, P = 0.176, and P = 0.070, respectively). The mean DHT level as well as the minimum and maximum epithelial thicknesses in Group 5 were lower than those in Group 4. However, there was no statistical significant difference (P = 0.984, P = 0.147, and P= 0.478, respectively). The mean minimum and maximum epithelial thicknesses in Group 3 and Group 4 were not statistically different (P = 0.488 and P = 0.996, respectively). CONCLUSION: The similarity of the mean minimum and maximum epithelial thickness in Group 3 and Group 4 may be indicate that the combination therapy provides an early histological effect. However, the fact that there was no statistical significant difference between Group 2 and Group 3, and between Group 4 and Group 5, in terms of the mean DHT level and minimum-maximum epithelial thicknesses suggests that longer term studies with more rats are necessary to test the validity of our hypothesis.