Plasma Ischemia-Modified Albumin Levels and Dynamic Thiol/Disulfide Balance in Sickle Cell Disease: A Case-Control Study

Objective: Sickle cell disease (SCD), described as a group of inherited blood disorders, affects millions of people throughout the world and is particularly common in the southern part of Turkey. We aimed to determine the relationship between ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) and the dynamic thiol/disulfide balance in SCD. Materials and Methods: Fifty-four adult SCD patients and 30 healthy controls were included in the study. The 54 adult patients included 30 (56%) males and 24 (44%) females with a mean age of 28.3±8.4 years (minimum-maximum: 18-46 years). Of the 54 patients, 46 had homozygous sickle cell anemia (HbSS) and 8 had sickle/ß-thalassemia (HbS/ß+-thalassemia). Fasting blood samples were collected. After centrifugation at 1500×g for 10 min, plasma samples were portioned and stored at -80 °C. IMA levels were determined by albumin cobalt binding test, a colorimetric method. Total and native thiols and disulfide were analyzed with a novel spectrophotometric method. Results: We found significantly lower levels of native thiol (-SH) (284.0±86.3 µmol/L), disulfide levels (14.6±7 µmol/L), and total thiols (-SH + -S-S-) (313.0±89.3 µmol/L) in SCD patients compared to healthy controls (respectively 417.0±54.2, 22.7±11.3, and 462.0±58.7 µmol/L). Plasma albumin levels (34.9±7.9 g/L) were lower and IMA levels (13.6±3.1 g/L) were higher in SCD patients compared to controls (respectively 43.5±3.1 and 8.4±1.6 g/L). Plasma albumin levels were strongly correlated with both plasma native (r=0.853; p=0.0001) and total thiols (r=0.866; p=0.0001). Conclusion: Decreased plasma native and total thiol levels and increased IMA levels are related to increased oxidative stress and provide an indirect and quick reflection of the oxidative damage in SCD patients.

Evaluation of inflammation during fixed orthodontic treatment.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess effects of fixed orthodontic therapy on high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) level, CBC parameters and levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), urea, creatinine, sodium (Na), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), total protein (TP), and albumin (Alb). DESIGN: Blood samples (7ml) were drawn at baseline, on days 1 and 7, and three months after placement of braces in the study group, while only one blood sample was drawn at baseline in the control group. Serum hs-CRP levels were measured by nephelometric method. Friedman two-way variance analysis was used to assess values with skewed distribution obtained at baseline, on days 1 and 7, in the third month. Wilcoxon rank sign test was performed if median values were unequal. RESULTS: During measurement periods, there were significant increases in hs-CRP level, WBC count and neutrophil count while a significant decrease in Na level (p<0.05). K level was significantly decreased on the day 1. No significant differences were detected in other biochemical parameters evaluated. CONCLUSION: Elevation in serum hs-CRP levels and neutrophil: lymphocyte ratio within first 3 months indicates that a systemic immune response develops against therapy in patients undergoing fixed orthodontic therapy.

Evaluation of total antioxidant status, total oxidant status and oxidative stress index in patients with alopecia areata.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we aimed to evaluate total oxidative stress and total antioxidant capacity in serum samples from patients with Alopesia Areata (AA) in our laboratory conditions. METHODS: In this study, 46 subjects with AA (26 females, 20 males) and the control subjects of 36 (20 females, 16 males) age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers from our hospital staffs were enrolled (the mean age was 23.7 ± 11.0 years). Blood samples were obtained following an overnight fasting state, and were collected on ice at 4°C. The serum samples were separated from the cells by centrifugation at 3000 rpm for 15 min and were stored at -80°C and used for the analysis of the Total Antioxidant Status (TAS) and Total Oxidant Status (TOS). RESULTS: Total Antioxidant Status (TAS) and Total Oxidant Status (TOS), Oxidative Stress Index (OSI) (TOS/TAS) levels of AA patients were 1.4777 ± 0.1986; 9.7490 ± 6.0445; 0.6593 ± 0.4069 respectively. TAS; TOS; OSI (TOS/TAS) levels of controls were 1.4028 ± 0.1687; 9.4627 ± 4.2781; 0.6875 ± 0.3232 respectively. TAS, TOS and OSI levels showed no significant difference between the control and AA group (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Future studies about AA pathogenesis should be based not only on oxidant/antioxidant balance but also on several other factors. Because it was observed that the disease showed recurrence in different situations. Since the selection criteria of patients is affected from disease severity and environmental and genetical factors, multicentric studies with better sampled patient population and higher patient number is required.