Relationship of serum leptin with some biochemical, anthropometric parameters and abdominal fat volumes as measured by magnetic resonance imaging.

AIMS: To measure the level of leptin in volunteers and correlate it with several anthropometric, biochemical variables and abdominal fat volumes. METHODS: The level of leptin was investigated in 167 disease-free volunteers. Serum levels of IL-6, adiponectin, and resistin, blood lipid profile (cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and triglyceride (TG) were determined. Waist circumference (WC) was measured using tape and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images. RESULTS: All measured anthropometric (BMI, WC measured by tape and MRI) and biochemical variables (adiponectin, resistin, cholesterol, HDL, LDL and TG); and abdominal fats showed a significant (p<0.05) difference between participants with abnormal serum leptin levels and those with normal leptin levels. A higher percentage of participants with abnormal serum leptin were obese males while participants with normal leptin levels were either overweight or normal weight females. A significant (p <0.05) positive correlation was detected between serum leptin concentration and WC, BMI, subcutaneous fat, visceral fat, total abdominal fat, and resistin. A moderate association was found between serum leptin concentration and the inflammatory cytokine IL-6. CONCLUSION: Abnormal serum leptin, was detected in obese male individuals which may be considered as an important indicator for the development of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes.

Ischemia modified albumin: an oxidative stress marker in ß-thalassemia major.

BACKGROUND: Ischemia modified albumin (IMA) is an altered type of serum albumin that forms under conditions of oxidative stress. This study reports on the levels and clinical significance of IMA in patients with ß-thalassemia major. METHODS: Blood specimens were collected from 166 subjects (101 ß-thalassemia major patients and 65 healthy controls). Serum levels of IMA, ferritin, malondialdehyde (MDA), ferroxidase, transaminases, total protein, and albumin were determined using conventional methods. RESULTS: Serum levels of IMA (ABSU) were significantly higher in patients than in controls (0.725±0.155 vs 0.554±0.154, p=0.000). Similarly, higher levels were also observed for ferritin, MDA, ferroxidase, and transaminases. No significant differences were observed between patients and controls with respect to total protein and albumin. Spearman univariate analysis demonstrated significant correlation between IMA and ferritin, MDA, ferroxidase, and transaminases. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed significant association of IMA with ferritin and ferroxidase after adjusting for the other variables (r=0.343, p=0.002; r=0.228, p=0.029 respectively). MDA however, correlated significantly with ferritin only (r=0.654, p=0.000). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that increased levels of IMA in thalassemic patients are likely to be a result of iron-induced oxidative stress and hence its potential significance as a new marker of oxidative stress in such patients.

Association of haptoglobin phenotypes with ceruloplasmin ferroxidase activity in ß-thalassemia major.

BACKGROUND: Haptoglobin (Hp) and ceruloplasmin (CP) are 2 plasma antioxidants playing a role in preventing iron-induced oxidative damage. This study presents data related to Hp phenotypes and ceruloplasmin ferroxidase activity in relation to iron store markers in patients with ß-thalassemia major. METHODS: Blood specimens were collected from 196 subjects (124 ß-thalassemia major patients and 72 healthy controls). Serum levels of iron, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), ferritin, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), ceruloplasmin, and ferroxidase activity were determined using conventional methods. Haptoglobin phenotypes were determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. RESULTS: As expected, the mean levels of iron store markers, except TIBC, were significantly higher in patients than in controls. Ceruloplasmin concentrations (mg/dl) and its ferroxidase activity (U/l) were significantly higher in patients than in controls (57.9±18.8 vs 46.9±14.2 and 159.9±47.8 vs 95.3±20.9; p<0.001, for CP and Hp, respectively). As for Hp phenotypes, no significant differences were observed between iron store markers and ferroxidase activity among the control group. In the patients group however, significantly higher concentrations of ceruloplasmin and its ferroxidase activity were observed among patients with Hp2-2 phenotype as compared to patients with the other phenotypes. Additionally, correlations according to Hp phenotypes revealed strong association between ceruloplasmin ferroxidase activity and serum ferritin in patients with Hp 2-2 phenotype and not in the others (r=0.331, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Thalassemia patients with Hp 2-2 phenotype are under greater iron-driven oxidative stress than patients with other phenotypes.