Assessments of serum copper and zinc concentration, and the Cu/Zn ratio determination in patients with multidrug resistant pulmonary tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in Côte d'Ivoire.

BACKGROUND: In Côte d'Ivoire, multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a serious public health problem with a prevalence estimated at 2.5% in 2006. Zinc and copper are essential Trace element needed to strengthen the immune system and also useful in the fight against tuberculosis. The Cu / Zn ratio is a good indicator of oxidative stress. The principal aim of this study was to evaluate the serum concentration of some trace element and determine the Cu / Zn ratio in patients with multidrug resistant pulmonary tuberculosis (MDR-TB) before and after second line treatment of TB. METHODS: Blood samples were obtained from 100 MDR-TB patients after confirmation of their status through the microscopic and molecular diagnosis of resistance to Isoniazid and Rifampicin by GeneXpert. The concentration level of zinc and copper were determined using flame air / acetylene atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS) Type Varian Spectr AA-20 Victoria, Australlia. RESULTS: A significant decrease in zinc levels (P < 0.05) and an increased Cu / Zn ratio (P < 0.05) was observed in MDR-TB patients compared to controls TB free. During treatment a significant reduction in Cu / Zn ratio (P < 0.05) was observed compared to the initial result. CONCLUSIONS: The decrease in serum zinc level and the high Cu / Zn ratio could explain the immune system dysfunction and the high level of oxidative stress in patients with MDR-TB. Therefore the evaluation of the zinc and copper status could represent essential parameters in monitoring of TB second line treatment for better treatment management.

Influence of Mitragyna ciliata (MYTA) on the microsomal activity of ATPase Na+/K+ dependent extract on a rabbit heart.

Mitragyna ciliata (MYTA) (Rubiaceae) inhibits plasmodia activity. MYTA induces a cardiotonicity of the digitalic type on rat's isolated heart. In this work we studied the effect of MYTA on microsomal Na(+)/K(+) dependant ATPase (Na(+), K(+) ATPase) extracted from the heart of a rabbit since digitalics inhibit Na(+), K(+) ATPase. Our results revealed that the Na(+)/K(+) ATPase has an optimum pH of 7.4 and temperature of 37 degrees C respectively. There is a linear relationship between the organic phosphate formed and the incubation time over 25 mins incubation period. The ATP hydrolysis rate in the presence of MYTA was 0.775 microM/min. LINEWEAVER and BURK plots showed that MYTA did not alter K(M) (1.31 mM) but decreased V(MAX). This study shows that MYTA exerts a non-competitive inhibition on the microsomal Na(+)/K(+) ATPase extracted from rabbit heart with a Ci(50) of 48 microg/ml. We conclude that the mechanism of action of MYTA is linked to the inhibition of the Na(+)/K(+) ATPase like cardiotonics of the digitalic type.