Alteration of thiol disulfide homeostasis and ischemia-modified albumin levels as indicators of oxidative status in patients with silicosis.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the oxidative status in patients with silicosis by detecting dynamic thiol disulfide homeostasis (TDH), ischemia-modified albumin level (IMA) catalase (CAT) activity, and the correlation of these markers with pulmonary function tests. Male ceramic workers with silicosis (n = 91) and healthy individuals (n = 47) were recruited for the study. Radiographic abnormalities of pneumoconiosis were classified into three profusion categories (categories 1, 2, and 3), and patients with silicosis, those with category 1, were defined as group 1 and those with category 2 or 3 were defined as group 2. Plasma levels of native thiol (NT), total thiol (TT), disulfide (Ds), IMA, and CAT activities were determined. Pulmonary function tests of groups were compared. NT, TT, and NT/TT ratios were significantly lower in groups 1 and 2 than the control group (p < 0.05). These did not differ between patients with silicosis (groups 1 and 2) and control group (p = 0.421). Ds/NT and Ds/TT ratios were significantly higher in group 2 than the control group (p < 0.05). NT, TT, and Ds did not differ significantly between groups 1 and 2. The oxidant biomarker IMA was higher (p < 0.001), and the antioxidant parameters albumin and CAT were lower in groups 1 and 2 (p < 0.001) compared with the control group. The mean FEV1act, FVCact, forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity (%), and value of 25-75 percent maximum expiratory flow were significantly lower in groups 1 and 2 than control group. We have used a novel colorimetric method to assess TDH in patients with silicosis. Alteration of plasma thiol/disulfide homeostasis and IMA levels might be novel indicators of oxidative stress in silicosis.

Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio as Inflammatory Markers in Patients With Welders' Lung Disease.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in patients with welders' lung disease (PWLD) and its relation with pulmonary function parameters. METHODS: One hundred sixteen male PWLD and 118 healthy non-exposed individuals were recruited. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs), complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (SED), c-reactive protein (CRP), NLR and PLR of both groups were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: NLR, PLR, WBC, ESR, and CRP were significantly higher in PWLD compared to controls (all P < 0.001). All PFTs, except for FEV1/FVC, significantly decreased in PWLD compared to controls as. NLR correlated positively with ESR (r = 0.241 and P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our results show that NLR and PLR can be considered as new inflammatory markers in PWLD with their cheap, fast and easily measurable feature with routine blood count analysis.