Nitric Oxide Metabolites, Eosinophils and Eosinophilic Cationic Protein in Patients with Asthma: Sputum versus Blood

The monitoring of airway inflammation has assessed in bronchial asthma directly by sputum examination, and indirectly by measurements in peripheral blood. To investigate the diagnostic value of these two methods, we compared nitric oxide (NO) metabolites, eosinophils, and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) in sputum and blood in patients with asthma and control subjects. Sputum and serum were obtained from fifteen patients with asthma, and then were examined before anti-asthma treatment, including steroid preparations. ECP was measured by fluoroimmunoassay. NO metabolites were assayed by using modified Griess reaction. Asthmatic patients, compared with control subjects, had significantly higher level of NO metabolites, higher proportion of eosinophils, and higher levels of ECP in sputum. Asthmatic patients, compared with control subjects, however, had significantly higher number of eosinophils, and were at higher levels of ECP in blood. FEV1, FEV1 /FVC was negatively correlated with sputum eosinophils. The area under receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve showed that eosinophils in sputum are significantly accurate markers than NO metabolites in sputum and blood. These findings suggest that the proportion of eosinophils in sputum have more accurate diagnostic marker of asthmatic airway inflammation than NO metabolites in sputum in differentiating asthmatic patients from control subjects.

Elevated serum ribonuclease activities in haema tologic disorders

Several clinical manifestations associated with anaemias reflect abnormalities in cellular metabolism. Since ribonucleases [RNases] are involved in regulating RNA metabolism, the present investigation was undertaken to study the relationship between RNase activities and haematologic disorders. The sickle cell trait did not show any significant effect on serum RNase levels while sickle cell disease significantly raised the serum level of the acidic form of the enzyme. The serum levels of RNases were significantly higher than normal in patients with G6PD deficiency, haemolytic anaemia associated with Plasmodium Falciparum malaria and in iron deficiency anaemia. This elevation of RNase activities could be a response to RNA overproduction in association with anaemias

Serum ribonuclease activities and body weight loss

The levels of serum ribonucleases [RNase] were determined in a control group of healthy adults and in groups of patients suffering from body weight loss secondary to Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus, hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. The study also included a group of premature infants with body weight much less than normal. The results obtained support the correlation between the rise of serum ribonuclease levels and the extent of weight loss. These results also emphasise the importance of measuring the specific activities of both the alkaline and the acidic RNases and calculating the ratio of these activities for the correct assessment of the extent of weight loss in a certain pathological condition