ABSTRACT
Urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG-ase) activity is a very sensitive parameter of kidney proximal tubular damage. Using urinary NAG-ase activity/urinary creatinine as the NAG index, the serum methotrexate (MTX) level and urinary pH were investigated simultaneously. These parameters were measured in 17 leukaemic children. During MTX treatment, NAG indices were normal in 5 children and only slightly elevated occasionally in 9 patients. Among them, transiently high serum MTX levels (Patient A) or low urinary pH (Patient B) were accompanied by high NAG indices. MTX toxicity has been diagnosed in 3 cases, when permanently high NAG indices were in accordance with other clinical signs.
Subject(s)
Acetylglucosaminidase/urine , Kidney Diseases/chemically induced , Leukemia/drug therapy , Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin/drug therapy , Methotrexate/adverse effects , Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use , Biomarkers/urine , Burkitt Lymphoma/drug therapy , Burkitt Lymphoma/urine , Child , Creatinine/urine , Diuresis , Humans , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Kidney Diseases/enzymology , Kidney Tubules, Proximal/drug effects , Leucovorin/therapeutic use , Leukemia/urine , Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin/urine , Methotrexate/administration & dosage , Methotrexate/blood , Methotrexate/therapeutic use , Neoplasm Proteins/urine , Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/drug therapy , Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/urineSubject(s)
Acetylglucosaminidase/urine , Adolescent , Child , Child, Preschool , Colorimetry , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Reference ValuesABSTRACT
The NAG activity present in urine from newborn babies was assayed using two colorimetric procedures with either MNP-GlcNAc or VRA-GlcNAc as substrate and compared with data obtained with the well established PNP-GlcNAc procedure. Both new assays were easy to perform and reproducible. The MNP-GlcNAc method has the advantage that it is now available as a kit; however, the VRA-GlcNAc procedure is more sensitive. NAG activity, creatinine concentration and NAG-index values were determined in normal neonates and within-run imprecision calculated. Excellent correlations were found between MNP-GlcNAc-ase and VRA-GlcNAc-ase indices (r = 0.984) and between PNP-GlcNAc-ase and VRA-GlcNAc-ase indices (r = 0.952). When low molecular weight urinary components were removed by gel filtration no significant change in VRA-GlcNAc-ase activity was observed.
Subject(s)
Acetylglucosaminidase/urine , Infant, Newborn/urine , Acetylglucosamine/analogs & derivatives , Acetylglucosamine/chemistry , Female , Humans , Male , Methods , Thiazoles/chemistryABSTRACT
Erythrocyte damage of newborn babies suffering from hyperbilirubinaemia and hypoxia was compared with a control group. In the cases of serum bilirubin level higher than physiological icterus lipid peroxidation of erythrocytes decreased probably due to the antioxidant effect of bilirubin. Moreover, an increase in potassium and protein outflow from patients' red blood cells was observed indicating a membrane damage both in hyperbilirubinaemic and hypoxic groups. Superoxide dismutase activity of serum and erythrocytes did not show significant difference in patients compared with healthy newborns. However, the low serum coeruloplasmin level in the hypoxic group and the low serum transferrin level of babies both with hypoxia and hyperbilirubinaemia suggest an insufficient antioxidant defence against free radicals.
Subject(s)
Erythrocytes/metabolism , Fetal Hypoxia/blood , Jaundice, Neonatal/blood , Ceruloplasmin/analysis , Erythrocyte Membrane/physiology , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Lipid Peroxidation , Potassium/metabolism , Transferrin/analysisABSTRACT
Autooxidation of bovine-brain homogenate proved to be a good model to determine the antioxidant capacity of sera. It was measured in parallel with the level of ceruloplasmin and apotransferrin in sera of 35 healthy children and 20 premature babies (gestational age 28-33 weeks). Antioxidant capacity was very low in premature babies with a nadir on the 4th postnatal day. Lipid-peroxidation of bovine-brain homogenate could be inhibited in vitro by the addition of exogen antioxidant. In this assay MTDQ-DS, Cavinton, DPA-HC1, vitamin E, A, C showed different antioxidant activity.
Subject(s)
Antioxidants/analysis , Infant, Premature/blood , Adolescent , Antioxidants/pharmacology , Apoproteins/analysis , Blood Gas Analysis , Ceruloplasmin/analysis , Child , Child, Preschool , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Transferrin/analysisABSTRACT
The hydroxyl radical scavenging capability of vinpocetine was studied in vitro by aromatic hydroxylation and deoxyribose degradation methods. Hydroxyl radicals were generated by the Fenton reaction. The effect of vinpocetine was compared to other antioxidants, to mannitol, vitamin E and dimethyl sulfoxide. The antioxidant capacity of vinpocetine is near to vitamin E, and higher than that of mannitol.
