Depletion of GSH in human blood plasma and cytosolic fraction during cadmium toxicity is temperature and pH dependent

Toxicities of heavy metals is a burning issue and a topic of interest among the toxicologists throughout the world. Metals are always in use of man since long but in recent years the use of cadmium has increased in the form of various cadmium compounds such as cadmium compounds as stabilizers in plastic pipe industries and in the preparations of different alloys etc. Cadmium is even used in phosphate fertilizers and thus comes directly or indirectly in contact with human eatables like crops, vegetables and fruits. Once it is absorbed it affects almost all the organs and systems of human body especially blood components and kidneys. Always the chemical reactions of different chemicals are dependent on some influential factors, among these factors the effect of pH and temperature of the media in which these chemicals interact with each other are very much important. Keeping in view this fact we have evaluated the effect of cadmium nitrate tetra hydrate on GSH of human plasma and cytosolic fraction. Estimation of thiol was done by Ellman's modified method and was found that the interaction of cadmium nitrate tetra hydrate and GSH of these blood components was more at a pH and temperature, which were near to physiological pH and temperature of human body. This fact was proved as the estimated thiol concentration left after the interaction of cadmium nitrate tetra hydrate and thiol of these blood components was minimum at pH and temperature near to human blood pH and temperature. We concluded that the possible reason for depletion of GSH of these blood components was conversion of GSH into Cd[SG][2]and/or GSSG formation

Effect of organo and inorganic lithium salt on human blood plasma glutathione- a comparative study

Investigation of toxicological effect of various metals is the field of interest for toxicological scientists since four to five decades and especially the toxicological effect of those drugs containing metals and there use is common because there is no other choice except to use these metal containing drugs. Inorganic as well as organic salts of lithium are commonly used in prophylaxis and treatments of many psychiatric disorders. The aim of the present study was to see the difference between the effect of organic and inorganic salt of lithium commonly used in psychiatric disorders on the GSH of human blood plasma. It is the scientific fact that ionic dissociation of organic and inorganic salts of any metal is always quite different hence to prove this fact, the effect of lithium citrate [organic salt of lithium] and lithium carbonate [inorganic salt of lithium] was investigated on human blood plasma GSH to find the difference between the effect of two. Ellman's method was used for the quantification of glutathione contents in plasma. It was found that lithium citrate decrease plasma GSH contents less than lithium carbonate indicating that organic salts of lithium are safe than inorganic salts of lithium when are used in psychiatric disorders. Further to analyze the effect of organic and inorganic salt of lithium on blood plasma GSH with the increase in incubation time was also evaluated and was found that both concentration and time dependent effect of organic salt of lithium shows that this salt has decreased plasma GSH contents of human blood less than inorganic salt of lithium either by promoting oxidation of GSH into GSSG or by lithium glutathione complex formation. These results suggest the physicians that the use of organic lithium salts is much safer than inorganic salts of lithium in terms of depletion of blood plasma GSH contents

Blood; a specific target during organic mercurial toxicity

All forms of mercury are global pollutants having no environmental limits. Human exposure to mercury occurs basically through food chain due to accumulation of organic forms of mercury in fish. Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to analyze the effect of phenyl mercuric acetate on plasmaandcytosolic fraction GSH. Study Design:Experimental Study. Setting: Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan. Period: 29 January 2011 to 11 march 2012. Statistical Analysis: One-way ANOVA followed by Dunnet's HSD test. Results: For the estimation of thiols Ellman's method was used and was found statistically significant [p < 0.001] decrease in plasmaandcytosolic fraction GSH which was dose and time dependent. The plasma GSH contents drop in 0 to 120 minutes by various concentrations of phenyl mercuric acetate were 64.45%, 59.33%, 50.89%, 41.56%, 33.63% and 32.99% while drop in cytosolic fraction GSH level from 0 to 120 minutes by different concentrations of phenyl mercuric acetate [PMA] was 53.86%, 48.60%, 45.41%, 36.11%, 29.38% and 27.06%.Conclusions: It is clear that during organic mercury toxicity the blood components are also affected which is proved from our results. With the increase of time, the mercury toxicity would be more harmful so detoxification of organic mercury should be done on emergency bases at the earliest with the help of suitable chelating agents along with antioxidant therapy.

Cadmium-glutathione complex formation in human t-cell and b-cell lymphocytes after their incubation with organo-cadmium diacetate

Cadmium intake is associated with oxidative stress that causes depletion of intracellular as well as extra cellular reduced glutathione. There is strong evidence indicating that reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species generated in the presence of cadmium could be responsible for its toxic effects in many cells and tissues. Depletion of reduced glutathione in various cells, especially in T and B-lymphocytes, causes extreme damage to the antioxidant defense system of body. The aim of this research work was to investigate the metabolic changes that occur in T and B lymphocytes after their incubation with organ cadmium diacetate by using Ellman's spectrophotometric method of thiol quantification. The results of the present study indicate that cadmium depleted T and B lymphocytes GSH to a harmful extent. It is proposed that this depletion is due to the bivalent cadmium glutathione complex formation, oxidation of reduced glutathione [GSH] to its oxidized form, or both

Association between baseline parameters and end of treatment response to combination of conventional interferon and ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis C

To study the association between baseline parameters and end of treatment response [ETR] to conventional interferon treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C. This retrospective analytical study was conducted in Gastroenterology department of Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar from January 2012 to June 2012. A total of 222 patients with chronic hepatitis C, on combination of conventional interferon and ribavirin therapy were included in the study who reported with ETR. Various baseline parameters included sex [male vs. female], age [< 40years vs. >40years], weight [<70kg vs. >70kg], viral load [<800000IU/ml vs. >800000IU/ml] and ALT quotient [<3 vs. >3]. These variables were compared with ETR to see for any significant association. Two hundred and twenty two patients were included in the study out of which 94[42.3%] were male and 128[57.7%] were females. 121[54.5%] of the patient achieved ETR while 101[45.5%] failed to achieve ETR. Among various variables tested weight <70kg [59% vs. 43%] and ALT Quotient >3 [70% vs.50%] were significantly associated with ETR with a p value of 0.01 and p value of 0.013 respectively while there was no statistically significant association between other parameters and ETR. High baseline ALT and baseline low body weight are significantly associated with better ETR. Among these weight is a modifiable factor and obese patients should be advised to lose weight before embarking them on anti viral therapy in order to improve their chances of viral clearance

Glutathione; is it depleted in T-cells and B-cells when lithium compounds are used as drug of choice in many psychiatric disorders?

Compounds of lithium are used as drug of choice in many psychiatric disorders including bipolar disorder, depression, schizophrenia etc. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of lithium on lymphocyte's GSH levels for which terasaki technique was used to separate T-cells and B-cells of human volunteer's venous blood. Experimental Study. Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan. 1st December 2012 to 26 February 2013. One-way ANOVA followed by Dunnet's HSD test. Thiol quantification was done by using Ellman's method and was found statistically significant [p < 0.001] decrease in T-cells/B-cells GSH level which was dose and time dependent. T-cells/ B-cells dose dependent drop in GSH level was 2.752 micro M [9.41%] and 2.554 micro M [16.12%] by lowest used concentration [0.003 micro M] of lithium citrate. We have noted that there is significant drop in T-cells and B-cells GSH due to which immunological alterations happen which are linked with GSH contents of lymphocytes and hence inhibition in lymphocytes activity is co-related with depletion in GSH level of these cells which ultimately with the increase in Li+1 concentration cause further decrease in GSH level leading to cells death

Current practice of doctors regarding the diagnosis and use of antibiotics in enteric fever in children: knowledge, attitude and practice

The objectives were to know current practice and knowledge of doctors regarding the diagnosis and use of antibiotics in Enteric Fever in children. The study was conducted in Lahore-city. It was a descriptive, epidemiological study. 150 doctors participated in the study. 51% were MBBS, 33% were postgraduate trainees and 16% had postgraduate degrees. Ciprofloxacin was prescribed as first choice by 51% and second choice by 37.8%. Ofloxacin was advised as first line by 21% doctors and injection Ceftriaxone by 18.6%. Chloramphenicol was advised by 8% doctors. Only 67.3% doctors prescribed the antibiotics for recommended duration. 62% doctors did not know the dosage in children. Second line antibiotics are used irrationally and those are prescribed for less than recommended duration, which leads to multi-drug resistance and relapse of fever