Antioxidant status in beta thalassemia major: A single-center study.

Background: Homozygous β thalassemia may lead to a marked reduction or absence of normal β chain production and accumulation of unpaired alpha-globin chains. A crucial component in the oxidant susceptibility of the thalassemic RBC is the release of heme and iron from the excessive, unpaired α-globin chains. This release can initiate self-amplifying redox reactions, which deplete the cellular reduction potential (e.g., GSH), oxidize additional hemoglobin and accelerate RBC destruction. Furthermore, β-thalassemia patients are under continuous blood transfusion, which, although life-saving, leads to an iron overload with a resultant increase in non-transferrin-bound iron that may cause greater tissue toxicity than iron in other forms. Iron-induced oxidative stress is known to be one of the most important factors determining cell injury in thalassemic patients. Therefore, we designed this study to obtain a comprehensive picture of the iron overload, antioxidant status and cell damage in β thalassemia major patients undergoing regular blood transfusion. Materials and Methods: A total of 48 diagnosed patients of β thalassemia major and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects were included in the study. Estimation of hemoglobin, hematocrit, glutathione peroxidase (GPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD),vitamin E, serum ferritin, total and direct bilirubin, AST and ALT was carried out. Results: The levels of vitamin E, antioxidant enzymes GPX and SOD were significantly lowered in β thalassemic patients as compared with the control group (P<0.001). Serum total and direct bilirubin, AST and ALT were significantly elevated in thalassemic subjects as compared with the control group, indicating liver cell damage. Conclusion: Thus, our findings indicate that thalassemics are in a state of enhanced oxidative stress and that the administration of selective antioxidants would represent a promising approach toward counteracting oxidative damage and its deleterious effects on the disease status.

Effect of l-arginine therapy on plasma no2 and no3 levels, and blood pressure in uremic rabbits

Background: Normal kidney function is regulated by Nitric oxide [NO] and Superoxide [O2-] in the body, and consequently controls blood pressure. Nitric Oxide promotes natriuresis and diuresis, and therefore results in reduction of blood pressure. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of L-arginine supplementation on blood pressure, urinary protein, nitrite and nitrate in addition to blood urea, serum creatinine and creatinine clearance in uremic rabbits. Methods: This study was carried out in the Department of Biochemistry Basic Medical Sciences Institute, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi. A total of 48 rabbits were included in the study. Twenty-four of the rabbits on surgical intervention were prepared as uremic and so became hypertensive as well. Two groups were uremic, one group was given L-arginine and the other was remained untreated. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure was measured on week 0, week 2, week 4, and week 6, while blood and urine was collected on week 0 and week 6. Results: On supplementation with L-arginine to uremic rabbits systolic and diastolic blood pressures were decreased significantly. Nitrite/nitrate and urinary protein were corrected to some extent while blood urea and serum creatinine were unaffected. Conclusion: L-arginine has a beneficial role as blood pressure lowering agent in uremic rabbits. It corrects NO2/NO3 plasma level and proteinuria which is indicator of renal failure. Keywords: Renal failure, uremia, L-arginine, hypertention, NO2/NO3

Risk of type II diabetes in viral hepatitis B and C patients

Objective: To find out the prevalence of type II diabetes in viral hepatitis B and C patients of different age groups with and without cirrhosis

Methods: This observational study was carried out in the Department of Biochemistry, Basic Medical Sciences Institute, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center Karachi, during the period June 2007 to June 2008. Eighty hepatitis B and C virus infection positive patients with and without cirrhosis were selected for study after confirmation of their diagnosis by ELISA method. Normal subjects were selected as controls for study. Blood glucose was estimated by Hexokinase method, while enzymes assay was done by enzymatic [kinetic] method. Data analysis including paired and correlation analysis were carried out and P value upto 0.05 was considered significant

Results: The number of diabetic patients was high [55%] in age group 40-49 [55%] in age group 40-49. Patients with cirrhosis of hepatitis C were having high risk [40%] than of hepatitis B [23%] of developing diabetes. This trend was also observed in patients of without cirrhosis [27% hepatitis C, 10% hepatitis B]. Increasing fasting blood glucose level associated with increase in hepatic enzymes [AST and ALT] levels was observed. It was an indicator of ongoing liver damage in co-morbid condition of viral hepatitis

Conclusion: In addition to the derangement of liver function, patients of viral hepatitis B and C can be at the risk of development of type II diabetes. Earlier measures are needed for the prevention of the disease at earlier stage of development

Determnation of total globulin in serum by direct method in patients with hepatitis-B and C

To establish a convenient and practicable direct method for estimation of globulin in the serum. The study was carried out in the Department of Biochemistry. Basic Medical Sciences Institute, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center Karachi. This was a prospective study performed during the period of January 2008 to June 2008. A single, convenient and stable method has been developed for the direct spectrophotometric analysis of globulin in the serum, which has good conformance to Beer's law and is also reproducible. The analysis is based on Hopkins-Cole reaction, which is a direct method for the estimation of total globulin in the serum. The method is based on the estimation of serum tryptophan levels. There is a direct correlation between total serum globulin and total serum tryptophan levels. Globulin differs markedly from albumin in the proportion of their tryptophan content. The glyoxylic acid condenses with tryptophan residues present in globulin and produces purple colour in the presence of copper in an acidic medium. The intensity of colour produced is directly proportional to the concentration of globulin present. The method has no statistical difference with indirect method, both in normal and diseased subjects. In patients when only globulin estimation is required, it can be done by direct method, which is convenient, fast, simple and is not laborious and saves time by avoiding double test performance