ABSTRACT
AIMS: Pro-oxidant iron provides a potential measure of iron-catalysed oxidative stress in biological fluids. This study aimed, to investigate if the Bleomycin technique for measurement of pro-oxidant iron in biological fluids could be utilised for determinations in exhaled breath condensate (EBC). Secondly, to measure levels of pro-oxidant iron in EBC from asthmatics after exposure to polluting city environments. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of samples of EBC and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Pro-oxidant iron levels were determined by the Bleomycin method. Transferrin levels were determined by radial diffusion immunoassay and lactoferrin by ELISA. SUBJECTS: Patients undergoing surgery necessitating cardiopulmonary bypass, normal healthy controls, "healthy" smokers, and asthmatics (mild and moderate). RESULTS: Pro-oxidant iron was significantly decreased (p<0.05) post cardiac surgery in both EBC and BALF. In smokers levels of pro-oxidant iron in EBC were significantly (p<0.05) increased verses healthy controls. In asthmatics with more severe disease, there were significant increases in EBC pro-oxidant iron content post exposure to city environments (p<0.001), with levels most elevated after exposure to the most polluted setting. CONCLUSION: Similar patterns in the levels of pro-oxidant iron detectable in EBC and paired BALF from patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (pre and post surgery) suggest a potential for EBC determinations. Significantly elevated levels in EBC from smokers relative to control subjects provide further support for this technique. In asthma disease severity and environmental exposure influenced levels of pro-oxidant iron measured in EBC indicating a potential for enhanced iron-catalysed oxidative stress.
Subject(s)
Acute Lung Injury/metabolism , Asthma/metabolism , Breath Tests , Ferritins/metabolism , Iron/metabolism , Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism , Acute Lung Injury/physiopathology , Aged , Asthma/physiopathology , Bronchoalveolar Lavage , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Exhalation , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Oxidative Stress , Retrospective StudiesSubject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Cystic Fibrosis/complications , Fosfomycin/therapeutic use , Pseudomonas Infections/drug therapy , Pseudomonas Infections/etiology , Adult , Cystic Fibrosis/physiopathology , Female , Humans , Male , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Middle Aged , Pseudomonas Infections/physiopathology , Pseudomonas aeruginosa/drug effects , Respiratory Function Tests , Treatment Outcome , Young AdultABSTRACT
Catheter valves have rarely been compared with conventional urinary drainage systems. Valves may only be suitable for certain patients. Patients should be counselled on the use and choice or combination of systems.
Subject(s)
Patient Satisfaction , Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic/rehabilitation , Urinary Catheterization/instrumentation , Urinary Catheterization/psychology , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Nursing Assessment/methods , Quality of Life , Urinary Catheterization/nursingABSTRACT
The association of small accessory marker chromosomes in man with specific abnormalities has been difficult to define owing to variations in the chromosome origin and the size of the markers. In a patient with typical Turner phenotype and a 45,X/46,X, + mar karyotype the marker was shown to be a small portion of the long arm of the X chromosome which included the centromere and XIST, a candidate gene for the X inactivation centre. Therefore the lack of any additional abnormalities was attributed to inactivation of the portion of the X chromosome in the marker. In a patient with a 47,XY, + mar karyotype the mar was a small ring X chromosome which did not contain the XIST gene. For both markers the short arm breakpoints were localised between UBE1 and DXS423E. The congenital abnormalities of the male patient were attributed to the lack of X inactivation of the small ring and therefore disomic expression of normal genes possessed by the marker.
