Evaluation of maternal serum thiol and ischemia-modified albumin levels in cases of placenta previa: A case-control study in a tertiary center.

AIM: We aim to compare the maternal serum thiol and ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) levels between pregnant women with placenta previa and those with uncomplicated pregnancies and to determine whether changes in these levels were useful in predicting cases of abnormally invasive placenta (AIP). METHODS: Fifty-five pregnant women diagnosed with placenta previa according to the diagnostic criteria (case group) were compared to 100 women with uncomplicated pregnancies of similar demographic characteristics (control group). The patients with placenta previa were further divided into two subgroups: AIP (n = 20) and placenta previa without invasion (n = 35). The maternal serum native thiol, total thiol, disulfide, and IMA levels of the groups were evaluated. RESULTS: The native thiol, total thiol, and IMA values were significantly lower in the case group than in the control group (p < 0.001). The disulfide values were similar between the study and control groups (p = 0.488). When the AIP and placenta previa without invasion groups were compared, the levels of native thiol, total thiol, disulfide, and IMA were similar (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Maternal serum thiol and IMA levels were lower in placenta previa cases compared to the control group. However, these parameters were not useful in predicting AIP cases.

The Role of the Lipid Profile and Oxidative Stress in Fatigue, Sleep Disorders and Cognitive Impairment in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis.

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship of the lipid profile, dysfunctional high-density lipoprotein, ischaemia-modified albumin and thiol-disulfide homeostasis with cognitive impairment, fatigue and sleep disorders in patients with multiple sclerosis. The cognitive functions of patients were evaluated with the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis battery. Fatigue was evaluated with the Fatigue Severity Scale and the Fatigue Impact Scale. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale were used to assess patients' sleep disturbance. Peripheral blood samples were collected, and lipid levels and myeloperoxidase and paraoxonase activity were measured. The myeloperoxidase/paraoxonase ratio, which indicates dysfunctional high-density lipoprotein, was calculated. Thiol-disulfide homeostasis and ischaemia-modified albumin were measured.
We did not identify any relationship between dysfunctional high-density lipoprotein and the physical disability, cognitive decline, fatigue and sleep problems of multiple sclerosis. Thiol-disulfide homeostasis was associated with cognitive scores. The shift of the balance towards disulfide was accompanied by a decrease in cognitive scores. On the other hand, we did not detect any relationship between fatigue and sleep disorders and thiol-disulfide homeostasis. Our findings revealed a possible correlation between cognitive dysfunction and thiol-disulfide homeostasis in multiple sclerosis patients.

The Effect of Preoperative Carbohydrate-containing Fluid Consumption on Maternal Oxidative Stress Markers During Elective Cesarean Delivery.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of carbohydrate loading prior to the cesarean surgery under spinal anesthesia on thiols and ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) levels. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized placebo-controlled study. METHODS: Seventy-nine pregnant women planned for cesarean sections under spinal anesthesia at Karaman Training and Research Hospital were randomized into a control group (group C) (n = 42), and an oral carbohydrate preloading group (group OCH) (n = 37). OCH loading requires consuming 400 mL the night before surgery and 200 mL up to 2 hours before anesthesia. Group OCH consumed an oral carbohydrate-rich beverage (Nutricia-Fantomalt), and group C consumed an equal volume of water. This study investigated thiol-disulfide homeostasis after preoperative carbohydrate consumption. Preoperative gastric fluid, volume, antral cross-sectional area, hypotension following the birth, and fetal blood gas parameters were compared across groups. FINDINGS: Thiols and IMA levels did not differ across groups before and after surgery (P > .05). Gastric ultrasonography showed similar antral cross-sectional area and stomach volume between groups (P = .172, P = .128, respectively). When surgery caused hypotension, group OCH received more ephedrine for surgery-induced hypotension, although this difference is not statistically significant (P = .704). A clustered error bar (95% confidence interval) plot with an interpolation line was used for a time-based comparison of mean differences in heart rate and mean arterial pressure between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study supports that mothers' thiols and IMA levels were unaffected by preoperative OCH loading before cesarean surgery. We did not examine thiol and its derivatives in umbilical cord blood; hence, we can not comment on thiol/disulfide homeostasis levels in neonates.

Neurocognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis and its association with thiol-disulfide homeostasis and ischemia-modified albumin.

This study aimed to assess the possible association between cognitive impairment and two important biochemical biomarkers of oxidative stress, thiol-disulfide homeostasis (TDH), and ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). This study included 85 patients with MS (38 treatment-naïve relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), 31 RRMS on fingolimod therapy, and 16 secondary progressive MS (SPMS)) and 33 healthy controls. Cognitive evaluation was carried out by applying the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS) test battery and the scores were adjusted for age and years of education. Plasma TDH was assessed using an automated method and plasma IMA levels were determined using the cobalt-albumin binding assay. Plasma native thiol and total thiol levels were significantly decreased in patients with SPMS when compared with the naïve patients and healthy controls. Cognitive impairment was detected in 47.4% of naïve patients, 64.5% of patients on fingolimod therapy, and 80% of patients with SPMS. Naïve patients or patients on fingolimod therapy who were cognitively impaired had significantly decreased levels of native thiol and total thiol compared to the cognitively normal patients. Logistic regression analysis revealed total thiol and native thiol to be significantly associated with cognitive impairment in naïve patients and patients on fingolimod therapy. Significant correlations were determined between BICAMS scores, TDH, IMA, clinical indices of disease severity (EDSS and MSSS), and magnetic resonance imaging parameters. This study has shown for the first time that plasma TDH parameters are associated with cognitive impairment in MS.

Does the use of infusion pumps increase hemolysis during blood transfusion in patients with thalassemia?

BACKGROUND: Patients with thalassemia need regular blood transfusions to maintain normal growth and suppression of ineffective erythropoiesis. Packed red blood cell (RBC) units can be delivered by infusion pumps (IPs); however, IPs may cause mechanical stress-induced RBC lysis. This study aimed to investigate the biomarkers of hemolysis related to transfusion techniques in patients with thalassemia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eighty-one thalassemia patients compared to those 42 healthy controls in terms of hemolysis markers (hemoglobin, plasma free hemoglobin (Hb), haptoglobin, potassium (K), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)) before transfusion. Considering the age and peripheral venous diameter of the patient, the physician decided on the caliber of vascular access device (22 G or 24 G) for transfusion and the method to be used (gravitational method [GM] or IP). Hemolysis markers were repeated after transfusion in thalassemia patients. RESULTS: Packed RBC units were transfused to 24 (30 %) patients by IP and 57 (70 %) patients by GM. Plasma free Hb was significantly increased from 4.76 ± 7.92 mg/dL to 9.01 ± 7.66 mg/dL following transfusion (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between IP and GM in terms of plasma free Hb increase. Post-transfusion plasma free Hb, LDH, and K levels significantly increased in patients who were transfused with 24 G catheters compared to those transfused with 22 G. CONCLUSION: An elevation in LDH levels was detected after transfusion with volumetric IPs; however, plasma free Hb or K levels were not affected by the transfusion method. Studies are needed to determine the factors associated with hemolysis after transfusion.

Thiol/Disulfide Homeostasis and Ischemia-Modified Albumin Levels in 61 Patients with Hypercapnia: A Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND Hypercapnia is abnormally high arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (CO2). CO2 can affect redox signaling mechanisms, leading to production of oxidative derivatives. Thiol is formed by attaching a sulfhydryl group to a carbon atom. Under oxidative stress, it forms covalent bonds called thiol disulphide bonds. Serum albumin is modified to ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) by exposure to free radicals. This case-control study aimed to evaluate thiol/disulphide homeostasis and IMA levels in 61 patients with hypercapnia. MATERIAL AND METHODS We studied 61 patients with hypercapnia and 61 normocapnic volunteers in the control group, between May 2018 and January 2019; 56 of these patients were diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 5 of them were diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Arterial blood samples analyzed by using the Ellman reagent for thiol/disulphide data. A colorometric assay was used for detection of IMA levels. RESULTS Native thiol and total thiol values in the hypercapnic group were significantly lower than in the control group (P=0.024, P=0.006 respectively), as IMA values were significantly higher (P<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between the hypercapnic and control groups in terms of disulphide, disulphide/native thiol, disulphide/total thiol, and native thiol/total thiol values (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS In hypercapnic patients, there are changes in thiol/disulphide homeostasis and IMA levels. All significant differences in this study support that changes in thiol disulphide homeostasis and IMA in hypercapnic patients are indicators of oxidative stress.

High-density lipoprotein dysfunction in carotid artery stenosis.

Background: High density lipoprotein (HDL) is well established to have an athero-protective role under normal conditions; however, pro-inflammatory alteration of HDL proteins may transform the HDL particle into a dysfunctional molecule. Our aim was to investigate HDL dysfunction by measuring enzyme-based markers in carotid artery stenosis (CAS). Patients and methods: All participants underwent duplex ultrasound and 52 subjects diagnosed with CAS and 51 subjects who had no significant stenosis (as controls) were enrolled in this study. Serum lipid profiles and serum parameters associated with dysfunctional HDL including myeloperoxidase (MPO), paraoxonase 1 (PON1), arylesterase (ARE) activity, and lipid hydroperoxide (LOOH) levels were measured. Results: It was found that the patients with CAS had increased levels of MPO and LOOH while PON1 activity was decreased. There was no significant difference between the CAS and non-CAS groups in terms of HDL levels. MPO/PON1, MPO/ARE, and LOOH/PON1 ratios were significantly increased in the CAS group. MPO/PON1 and MPO/ARE ratios both demonstrated significant correlations with degree of stenosis (%). Conclusions: The MPO/PON1 and MPO/ARE ratios may be potential serum markers that can enable the monitoring of HDL functionality and the assessment of atherosclerotic disease risks. Additionally, monitoring the oxidative balance of lipids on HDL molecules by LOOH/PON1 ratio may have value in the early detection of pro-atherosclerotic transformation of the HDL particle.

The Relationship Between Vitamin-D Deficiency and Protein Oxidation Among Obese Children.

Aim: The aim of the study is to examine the relationship between obesity, Vitamin-D deficiency, and protein oxidation. Methods: Thiol-disulfide homeostasis, Vitamin-D, ischemia modified albumin, insulin, and lipid levels were compared among obese, pre-obese and normal-weight healthy children. Results: A total of 136 children (69 boys and 67 girls) were included in the study. The vitamin-D levels of obese children were lower than those of pre-obese and normal weight (p < 0.05). In the normal weight group, total thiol and native thiol were lower in the pubertal period than in adolescence; were higher in those with sufficient Vitamin-D level than those with insufficient and deficient Vitamin-D (p < 0.05). Vitamin-D level was lower in pre-obese girls than boys (p < 0.05). Those with high triglycerides had high disulfide/total thiol, disulfide, and disulfide/native thiol and low native thiol/total thiol (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Thiol-disulfide homeostasis is negatively affected by low vitamin D levels, pubertal period and high triglyceride levels.

Dynamic thiol-disulfide homeostasis as an oxidative stress marker in ankylosing spondylitis and undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy.

Background/aim: Seronegative spondyloarthropathies (SpA) are a group of chronic diseases characterized by axial inflammation, oligoarthritis, and enthesitis. Oxidative stress may contribute to a wide range of rheumatologic diseases, including SpA. This prospective case-control study was designed to compare thiol-disulfide levels as a marker of oxidative stress between SpA patients and healthy controls. Materials and methods: A total of 144 patients diagnosed with undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy (USpA, n = 97) or ankylosing spondylitis (AS, n = 47) were included along with 80 healthy controls. Serum native thiol (NT), total thiol (TT), and disulfide (D) levels were measured using the fully automated Erel method. The ratios NT/TT, D/TT, and D/NT were calculated. Thiol-disulfide levels were compared between the SpA groups and the healthy controls. Results: The NT and NT/TT ratios were found to be significantly lower in the SpA group (p < 0.001). The disulfide, D/NT, and D/TT ratios were found to be significantly higher in the SpA group (p < 0.001). In pairwise comparisons between the SpA subgroups, the NT and TT levels were lower in the USpA group than in the AS group (p = 0.021), but serum disulfide levels were higher in the USpA group than in the AS group (p = 0.004). Among the patients with SpA, the group taking antitumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) had lower TT measurements compared to the group taking conventional disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD) (p = 0.039). Conclusion: The thiol-disulfide balance is disturbed in favor of disulfide in SpA patients compared to healthy volunteers. Native and total thiol measurements correlate with acute phase reactants and might be used to monitor disease activity. Anti-TNF therapy might control the oxidative degenerative process better than the conventional DMARD in SpA patients.

Evaluation of dynamic thiol/disulfide homeostasis in hereditary tyrosinemia type 1 patients.

BACKGROUND: Despite successful treatment with nitisinone, the pathophysiology of long-term complications, including hepatocellular carcinoma and mental decline in tyrosinemia type 1 patients, is still obscure. Oxidative stress may play a role in these complications. While increased fumarylacetoacetate and maleylacetoacetate cause oxidative stress in the liver, increased tyrosine causes oxidative stress in the brain. The aim of this study is to evaluate dynamic thiol/disulfide homeostasis as an indicator of oxidative stress in late-diagnosed tyrosinemia type 1 patients. METHODS: Twenty-four late-diagnosed (age of diagnosis; 14.43 ± 26.35 months) tyrosinemia type 1 patients (19 under nitisinone treatment and 5 with liver transplantation) and 25 healthy subjects were enrolled in the study. Serum native thiol, total thiol, and disulfide levels were measured, and disulfide/native, disulfide/total, and native thiol/total thiol ratios were calculated from these values. RESULTS: No significant difference was observed in native, total, and disulfide thiol levels between the groups and no increase in disulfide/native, disulfide/total, and native/total thiol ratios was detected, despite significantly higher plasma tyrosine levels in the nitisinone-treated group. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that providing sufficient metabolic control with good compliance to nitisinone treatment can help to prevent oxidative stress in late-diagnosed tyrosinemia type 1 patients. IMPACT: Despite successful nitisinone (NTBC) treatment, the underlying mechanisms of long-term complications in hereditary tyrosinemia type 1 (HT1), including hepatocellular carcinoma and mental decline, are still obscure. Oxidative stress may play a role in these complications. Thiol/disulfide homeostasis, which is an indicator of oxidative stress, is not disturbed in hereditary tyrosinemia patients under NTBC treatment, despite higher plasma tyrosine levels and patients who had liver transplantation. This is the first study evaluating dynamic thiol/disulfide homeostasis as an indicator of oxidative stress in late-diagnosed HT1 patients.

Comparison of three different HbA1c measurement methods - the Atellica®CH930, Capillary 3 Tera, and BioRad Variant Turbo II.

AIM: HbA1c measurement is very useful for the follow-up and detection of glycemic disorder, since it is easier and faster test and is independent of the patient's fasting status. In this study, we aimed to perform the comparative evaluation of 3 different methods for HbA1c measurement including capillary electrophoresis, immunoturbidimetric assay and high-performance liquid chromatography-HPLC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study comprised 134 leftover whole blood samples obtained from the subjects submitted for routine HbA1c testing. All blood samples were collected in EDTA-containing vacutainer tubes. The HbA1c levels were measured simultaneously using three different methods. Bias estimation, method agreement and concordance between the pairwise methods comparisons were evaluated by Bland-Altman plot and Passing-Bablok regression test. RESULTS: HbA1c levels ranged from 3.8% to 13.4% and measured by three different methods to make the comparison. The median values of samples based on immunoturbidimetric method (6.05%, IQR = 1.80) were higher than capillary electrophoresis method (5.90%, IQR = 1.80) and HPLC (5.85%, IQR = 1.80) method. The study group was classified into three subgroups based on the HbA1c levels measured with the HPLC method: Group 1 (n = 57) was composed of subjects with HbA1c levels less than 5.7%, Group 2 (n = 35) had HbA1c levels between 5.7% and 6.4%, Group 3 (n = 42) had HbA1c levels equal and more than 6.5%. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, there is no study evaluating the HbA1c measurement on the Atellica® CH 930 Analyzer. We compared the Atellica®CH930 Analyzer with both HPLC and capillary electrophoresis. The Atellica®CH930 Analyzer showed acceptable performance and a strong correlation with both mentioned methods.

The effect of acid use as a preservative on the results of biochemical tests measured in 24-h urine.

Twenty-four-hour urine measurements play a crucial role in the diagnosis, follow-up and treatment of various diseases. There are different approaches to the collection of urine in patients who need to collect multiple urine samples at a time, especially in hospitals with heavy workloads. In this study, we compared the sodium, potassium, chloride, amylase, calcium, creatinine, phosphorus, microalbumin, protein, magnesium, urea, uric acid, adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine, metanephrine, normetanephrine, vanillylmandelic acid, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid and homovanillic acid results of 24-h urine samples analyzed immediately without acid addition, which we accepted as the reference and baseline measurement, with the results of the samples analyzed after waiting for 24 h without acid addition, analyzed immediately with acid addition and analyzed after waiting for 24 h with acid addition. Chloride, microalbumin, amylase and protein tests, which are recommended to be measured in the sample without preservatives, are affected by acid addition. Adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine, which are the tests recommended to be measured in acid-added urine are degraded in the samples without acid, and the levels of metanephrine and normetanephrine were not significantly degraded in the absence of preservatives.

Are thiol-disulfide homeostasis & neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio useful in the differential diagnosis of acute familial Mediterranean fever attacks & acute appendicitis?

Background & objectives: Continuous subclinical inflammation can be seen in patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) during the attack-free period. The importance of oxidative stress parameters in acute appendicitis (AA) progression has also been shown in previous studies. So, oxidative stress and the oxidant/antioxidant balance may play a role in this persistent subclinical inflammation. With this background the main objective of this study was to investigate the usefulness of combining the thiol-disulfide homeostasis parameters and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in the differential diagnosis of AA and an acute FMF attack. Methods: The present study was conducted prospectively with 84 patients who were admitted to the emergency department between May 1, and December 31, 2018. Another 40 healthy individuals were assigned as the control group. The homeostasis parameters of thiol-disulfide were measured by a spectrophotometric method and NLR was measured in the patient and control groups. Results: Native thiol and total thiol values were lower, while disulfide values were insignificantly higher in patients with AA than in patients with FMF. The white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil and NLR values were significantly higher in the AA group (P<0.001, P<0.001, P<0.001, respectively). When the neutrophil cut-off value for AA was set at 8.55, the calculated sensitivity was 80 per cent, the specificity was 72.2 per cent, and the area under the curve was 0.837. Interpretation & conclusions: The results of this study suggest that neutrophil, WBC and NLR values can be useful in the differentiation of AA from an acute FMF attack.

How do thiol disulfide balance and copper-ceruloplasmin levels change in women using copper intrauterine devices?

ObjectivesWe aimed to examine the change in plasma copper (Cu) level and copper transport proteins level before inserting Cu-IUD and after one menstrual cycle and to show the effect of this change on the thiol disulfide balance in women using copper-containing intrauterine device (Cu-IUD).MethodThirty-three reproductive women who admitted to the gynecology clinic and inserted Cu-IUD were examined in this study. Thiol-disulfide homeostasis, plasma Cu and ceruloplasmin levels and ceruloplasmin ferroxidase activity were measured using the blood samples collected just before inserting Cu-IUD and after one menstrual cycle.ResultsPlasma copper level (p = 0.006), ceruloplasmin (p < 0.001), Ceruloplasmin Ferroxidase (p = 0.005), thiol disulfide homeostasis parameters; native thiol (NT) (p = 0.004), and total thiol (p = 0.003) levels increased significantly.ConclusionAfter one menstrual cycle in women inserted intrauterine Cu-IUD for contraception, plasma levels of Cu, which is the oxidant molecule, increased significantly. Both plasma ceruloplasmin level and ceruloplasmin ferroxidase activity increased due to elevated Cu levels. This increased oxidant status in the acute period was balanced by the increase in the native thiol level.

Thiol-Disulfide Homeostasis in Neonatal Patients with Urinary Tract Infection.

OBJECTIVE: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a disease that can cause significant complications in the neonatal period. The thiol-disulfide homeostasis is one of the important antioxidant defense mechanisms. The purpose of this study is to show the relationship between UTI and thiol-disulfide homeostasis in newborns. STUDY DESIGN: In this prospective study, 40 newborns with UTI and 40 healthy controls were included. Thiol-disulfide tests (disulfide, native thiol, and total thiol levels) and septic screening tests were performed before and after antibiotherapy in UTI group. The control group was selected from healthy newborns who applied to the outpatient clinic. RESULTS: The C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 levels were higher, while native thiol and native thiol/total thiol ratio were significantly lower in pretreatment group compared with posttreatment and control group. Also, the levels of disulfide, ischemia modified albumin, disulfide/native thiol ratio, and disulfide/total thiol ratio were higher in pretreatment group compared with posttreatment group. CONCLUSION: The thiol-disulfide homeostasis is an important indicator of oxidative stress during infections. It is valuable to be detected with small amounts of serum in newborns. These molecules can be used to support the diagnosis of UTI in the newborn. Further studies are needed to define the role of thiol-disulfide homeostasis in the UTI of newborn. KEY POINTS: · The thiol-disulfide homeostasis can be an important indicator of oxidative stress during infections such as UTI.. · The thiol-disulfide homeostasis of newborn is valuable to be detected with small amounts of serum in neonatal period.. · Laboratory tests such as white blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein are not significantly different in UTIs..

Evaluation of dynamic thiol-disulfide balance in preinvasive lesions of the cervix.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the potential clinical use of dynamic thiol-disulfide balance in cases with preinvasive lesions of the cervix. METHODS: One hundred and sixteen patients with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, 100 patients with low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, and 110 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. A fully automated colorimetric system was used to determine the levels of thiol-disulfide parameters. The ischemia-modified albumin, total oxidant-antioxidant capacity, and oxidative stress index of the retrieved cases were further analyzed. RESULTS: Native thiol and total thiol levels are significantly lower in the high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion group according to control group (p: 0.004 and 0.015, respectively). Disulfide level is significantly increased in the high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion group compared to control group (p: 0.004). Oxidative stress index levels in high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion group were observed as significantly higher according to the control group (p: 0.014). Ischemia-modified albumin levels in the high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion group were observed as significantly higher compared to the control group (p: 0.020). Disulfide levels are positively correlated with risk type of Human papillomavirus (r: 0.420, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The analysis of dynamic thiol-disulfide balance revealed considerable oxidative damage in patients with Human papillomavirus-related cervical precursor lesions compared to women with ordinary cytology specimens. Therefore, investigation of thiol-disulfide balance with presented method represents a new promising test for early diagnosis and management of women at high risk for cervical cancer.

Dynamic Thiol-Disulfide Homeostasis in Children With ß-Thalassemia Trait.

In children with ß-thalassemia (ß-thal) trait, tissue damage occurs with oxidative stress due to oxygen free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Dynamic thiol-disulfide homeostasis (DTDH) is one of the most important indicators showing the pro-oxidant/antioxidant status in the body. In this study, we aimed to examine the status of DTDH by measuring native thiol, disulfide, and total thiol levels in children with ß-thal trait. The study included 40 children with ß-thal trait and 30 healthy controls (matched by age and gender). The DTDH parameters were measured by an automated method and results were compared between the groups. The levels of native thiol, total thiol, and disulfide in children with ß-thal trait group were statistically significantly higher than the control group (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in disulfide/native thiol, disulfide/total thiol, and native thiol/total thiol levels between the groups. In addition, there was no correlation between hemoglobin (Hb) and serum ferritin levels with the markers of DTDH in children with ß-thal trait. In our study, a significant increase was found in native thiol, total thiol, and disulfide levels in response to oxidative stress in children with ß-thal trait compared to the healthy control group. Disulfide levels of the children with ß-thal trait were higher than the control group, showing oxidative stress is high in ß-thal trait. Accordingly, it increases the native thiol and total thiol capacity as compensation.

Dynamic thiol disulfide homeostasis in painters as indices of oxidative stress.

This study was designed to determine thiol-disulfide homeostasis as indices of oxidative stress in painters by using a novel and automated colorimetric measurement method. Male painters (n = 117) were separated into three groups according to duration of work; group 1 (<5 years), group 2 (5-14 years) and group 3 (≥15 years). Hippuric acid, trichloroacetic acid (TCA), and phenol in urine was determined. Catalase activity and ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) levels were also assessed. Disulfide/Native Thiol and Disulfide/Total Thiol of group 2 and group 3 were significantly higher than those of group 1 (p < 0.001). A positive correlation was observed between urinary phenol and disulfide/native thiol (r = 0.214, p = 0.035), IMA (r = 0.305, p = 0.002), disulfide (r = 0.209, p = 0.040), and duration of work (r = 0.341, p < 0.001). The newly developed automated colorimetric method used in our study proposes a promising, practical and daily applicable test for evaluating oxidative status of painters.

The evaluation of maternal systemic thiol/disulphide homeostasis for the short-term prediction of preterm birth in women with threatened preterm labour: a pilot study.

The aim of this study was to investigate maternal systemic thiol/disulphide homeostasis (TDH) for the short-term prediction of preterm birth in women with threatened preterm labour (TPL). This prospective study included 75 pregnant women whose pregnancies were complicated by TPL. Thirty-seven of them delivered within 7 days and 38 of them delivered beyond 7 days. Maternal serum samples were collected at the day of diagnosis and the TDH was measured. The maternal disulphide level was significantly higher in pregnant women who delivered within 7 days (25.0 ± 9.8 µmol/L vs 19.4 ± 9.8 µmol/L, p: .015). The threshold value of 22.1 µmol/L for maternal disulphide level predicted delivery within 7 days with 62.2% sensitivity and 60.5% specificity (area under curve 0.651, confidence interval 0.53-0.78). The likelihood ratios for short cervix (≤25 mm) and maternal disulphide level (≥22 µmol/L) to predict delivery within 7 days was found to be 8.7 and 7.3, respectively. The likelihood ratio of combining two tests to predict delivery within 7 days was found to be 11.4. The maternal TDH, which is an indicator of oxidative stress status in maternal compartment, is disturbed in TPL cases who delivered within 7 days. Elevated maternal disulphide level along with cervical length screening predicts a short latency period in pregnancies with TPL. IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? Spontaneous preterm delivery is one of the major complication of pregnancy and the common cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Threatened preterm labour (TPL) is also a frequent complaint in obstetric emergency care units in all around the world. Triaging women with TPL is mandatory for planning further management therapies, since the most of them will eventually deliver at term. Only the measurement of cervical length in symptomatic women has moderate accuracy in predicting preterm delivery. Short cervix is described as an independent predictor of preterm delivery in women with TPL, its predictive accuracy as a single measurement is relatively limited. On this account, several potential markers like foetal fibronectin in the cervicovaginal fluid, salivary oestriol, prolactin in vaginal discharge, maternal serum calponin and interleukin-6 in the amniotic fluid were examined to predict preterm delivery in previous studies. However, none of them represented an excessive predictive accuracy like high sensitivity, PPV or NPV.What do the results of this study add? We report a method which has higher diagnostic and predictive performance to identifying TPL women with high risk of preterm delivery. According to the current literature, there are accumulated data about the correlation between oxidative stress (OS) and preterm delivery regardless of the amniotic membrane status. However, it is still debated whether OS is a trigger or a consequence of preterm delivery. Our study provides evidence for the first time that maternal serum thiol/disulphide homeostasis, which is an indicator of OS in maternal compartment, is disturbed in TPL cases who delivered within 7 days. The high disulphide level in maternal serum, along with cervical length measurement (short cervix) accurately predicts a short latency period in TPL cases.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? This novel test combination (maternal serum disulphide level and cervical length measurement) could be used clinically to triage pregnant women presenting with TPL, avoiding overtreatment, unnecessary hospitalisations and increased medical costs. The future research would be addressed on reducing maternal OS by using new antioxidant treatment strategies to improve perinatal and long-term childhood outcomes.

Maternal Epilepsy and Umbilical Cord Blood Oxidative Stress Level.

INTRODUCTION: We investigated the effect of epilepsy on cord blood oxidative stress status. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty (n = 30) pregnant women with epilepsy and thirty (n = 30) healthy controls enrolled in this case control study. Albumin and IMA values and dynamic thiol/disulfide parameters were measured. RESULTS: Decreased native thiol and total thiol levels were found in the epilepsy group when compared to the control group (p: 0.001, p: 0.002). Higher IMA (p: 0.036) and lower albumin cord levels (P < 0.001) were measured in the epilepsy group with respect to the control group. Apgar scores at 1 and 5 miutes were lower in the epilepsy group (respectively; p = 0.012, p = 0.010). A negative correlation was found between IMA and cord pH value (r = 0.288 p = 0.034). CONCLUSION: This study showed that epilepsy may alter thiol disulfide homeostasis and IMA levels.