ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Waiting temperature before centrifugation and anticoagulants used, markedly effect total homocysteine concentrations. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different anticoagulants and temperature on plasma homocysteine levels. METHODS: We studied total homocysteine concentrations in 23 healthy subjects. Blood was drawn in K(3)EDTA, sodium citrate- or sodium fluoride-containing tubes, and kept at 0 degrees C or 22 degrees C for 3 h. Total homocysteine measurements were performed with fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) method. We compared all results with baseline EDTA values (samples put on crushed ice and centrifuged immediately) recommended in literature for reference handling. RESULTS: At 22 degrees C, the tubes containing sodium citrate and sodium fluoride showed significantly higher total homocysteine concentrations than their respective baseline values (p=0.000). However, sodium fluoride tubes were not significantly different than baseline EDTA levels. Waiting 3 h at 0 degrees C did not effect sodium citrate and EDTA plasma total homocysteine concentrations when compared to baseline EDTA, but sodium fluoride-containing plasma levels were significantly decreased (p=0.000). CONCLUSIONS: According to our results, the most available and practical temperature and anticoagulant for total homocysteine determination is sodium fluoride at room temperature up to 3 h.
Subject(s)
Anticoagulants/pharmacology , Citrates/pharmacology , Homocysteine/blood , Sodium Fluoride/pharmacology , Temperature , Adult , Anticoagulants/blood , Anticoagulants/chemistry , Citrates/blood , Citrates/chemistry , Edetic Acid/blood , Edetic Acid/chemistry , Edetic Acid/pharmacology , Female , Fluorescence Polarization Immunoassay/methods , Homocysteine/chemistry , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Sodium Citrate , Sodium Fluoride/blood , Sodium Fluoride/chemistryABSTRACT
3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors decrease mevalonate and subsequently cholesterol synthesis competitively. Mevalonate is also the precursor of ubiquinone. Ubiquinone is an important component of electron transport chain. We therefore investigated the effect of simvastatin on rat blood and tissue ATP concentrations and the lipid composition of red blood cell membranes after 4 weeks of therapy. Significant reductions in rat plasma cholesterol, triglyceride, and blood ATP concentrations were detected. Tissue ATP levels were not affected. Membrane phospholipids increased, while cholesterol and the cholesterol to phospholipid ratio decreased (P < 0.05). A positive correlation between the plasma cholesterol concentration and the cholesterol to phospholipid ratio was noted (P < 0.05, r = 0.851). Our results show that HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors change the composition and probably also the functions of cell membrane lipids and blood ATP concentration.
Subject(s)
Adenosine Triphosphate/metabolism , Erythrocyte Membrane/drug effects , Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors/pharmacology , Lipids/blood , Simvastatin/pharmacology , Animals , Cholesterol/blood , Colorimetry , Erythrocyte Membrane/metabolism , Female , Male , Rats , Statistics, NonparametricABSTRACT
Respiratory functions are affected during hemodialysis. Ultrafiltration rate, acid-base balance and the strength of respiratory muscles have been suggested as important factors in adults undergoing chronic hemodialysis. L-carnitine is crucial for energy producing utilization fatty acid and, possible amino acids. Carnitine treatment has been associated with hypertrophy of type I muscle fibers. Carnitine supplementation in nondialysis patients increases exercise tolerance. Eventually, administration of L-carnitine to adult hemodialysis patients improves exercise capacity, energy metabolism and muscle mass. The study was performed to investigate the chronic effects of L-carnitine treatment on respiratory functions in children receiving chronic hemodialysis therapy. Predialytic and postdialytic respiratory function tests were performed in ten children with end-stage renal disease before and after a three-month L-carnitine treatment period. The mean age was 12 +/- 4 years. L-carnitine was administered at a dose of 20 mg/kg intravenously at the end of each hemodialysis session. Mean predialytic serum carnitine value before and after the carnitine treatment period were 21.8 +/- 3 and 132.0 +/- 48.5 mmol/L, respectively, and the increase was significant (p < 0.05). Respiratory function tests performed just before the carnitine treatment period implied bronchospasm that was clinically vague and could only be detected by a significant decrease in FEV1/FVC, PEF and FEF25-75 values (p < 0.05). Nevertheless, at the end of the three-month carnitine therapy period these respiratory function parameters did not show any significant variation. Hence, it is implied that carnitine therapy might have prevented the subclinic bronchospasm that developed in children during hemodialysis.
Subject(s)
Bronchial Spasm/drug therapy , Bronchial Spasm/etiology , Carnitine/therapeutic use , Kidney Failure, Chronic/therapy , Renal Dialysis/adverse effects , Adolescent , Adult , Carnitine/blood , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Prospective Studies , Respiratory Function TestsABSTRACT
Experimental amnio-allantoic fluid (AAF) exchange has been shown to prevent intestinal damage in the chicken embryo gastroschisis model. AAF contains both urinary and gastrointestinal waste products (UWP and GIWP). An experimental study was performed to find the waste products responsible for this intestinal damage. Gastroschisis was created in 20 chick embryos. Half were treated with AAF exchange, the other half were not treated. AAF samples were obtained for biochemical determination of urea nitrogen and creatinine as UWP, bile acids and bilirubin as GIWP at the end of the incubation. Intestines were evaluated by light microscopy. While GIWP (Bile salts and bilirubin) were significantly removed from AAF by exchange, the levels of UWP (urea nitrogen and creatinine) were unaffected. Intestinal wall thickness was less in the exchange group compared to the untreated group. The unchanged levels of UWP after AAF exchange may be attributed to their relatively rapid production compared to GIWP. Dilution of GIWPs by AAF exchange results in prevention of the intestinal damage in gastroschisis.
Subject(s)
Allantois/chemistry , Amniotic Fluid/chemistry , Gastroschisis/complications , Intestines/embryology , Animals , Chick Embryo , Disease Models, Animal , Gastroschisis/embryology , Gastroschisis/pathology , Intestines/pathologySubject(s)
Biomarkers, Tumor/blood , Breast Neoplasms/blood , Ceruloplasmin/analysis , Copper/blood , Breast Neoplasms/pathology , False Negative Reactions , False Positive Reactions , Female , Fibrocystic Breast Disease/blood , Fibrocystic Breast Disease/pathology , Humans , Neoplasm Staging , Reference Values , Sensitivity and SpecificityABSTRACT
A 60-year-old woman who presented with weakness, night sweats, bone pain, easy bruising and weight loss was found to have ecchymoses and hepatosplenomegaly. Blood counts showed persistent neutrophilia of mature cell type with Döhle bodies and toxic granulation. Coexistence of chronic neutrophilic leukemia and multiple myeloma of kappa light chain type was documented by bone marrow examination and immunofixation.
