Iron deficiency in Yemeni patients with sickle-cell disease.

Despite the general view that patients with sickle-cell disease (SCD) have iron overload, there are reports of iron deficiency in a proportion of these patients. We studied Yemeni patients aged 1-30 years with homozygous SCD to determine their iron status using a set of 4 criteria (low serum iron, low transferrin saturation, high total iron binding capacity and low mean corpuscular volume for age). Of the 75 patients, 44 had never been transfused while 31 patients had received blood transfusions but not during the 3-month period prior to the study. Of the patients, 10 (13.3%) met the criteria for iron deficiency, 9 of whom were from the non-transfused patients (20.5%). The sensitivity and specificity were 40% and 98% respectively for reticulocyte count and 80% and 90% respectively for reticulocyte index. We recommend screening non-transfused SCD patients for iron deficiency.

Iron deficiency in Yemeni patients with sickle-cell disease

Despite the general view that patients with sickle-cell disease [SCO] have iron overload, there are reports of iron deficiency in a proportion of these patients. We studied Yemeni patients aged 1-30 years with homozygous SCD to determine their iron status using a set of 4 criteria [low serum iron, low transferrin saturation, high total iron binding capacity and low mean corpuscular volume for age]. Of the 75 patients, 44 had never been transfused while 31 patients had received blood transfusions but not during the 3-month period prior to the study. Of the patients, 10 [13.3%] met the criteria for iron deficiency, 9 of whom were from the non-transfused patients [20.5%]. The sensitivity and specificity were 40% and 98% respectively for reticulocyte count and 80% and 90% respectively for reticulocyte index. We recommend screening non-transfused SCD patients for iron deficiency

The effect of doxorubicin on the glutathione content and viability of cultured human lung cancer cell lines A549 and GLC4 210.

Glutathione was measured in doxorubicin-sensitive cells from small cell carcinoma of lung (GLC4 210), and the levels compared with those of cells with acquired resistance and a line of resistant non-small-cell adenocarcinoma A549 (Alveolar type 2). The effect of different doxorubicin concentrations on glutathione were measured by HPLC. The effect of doxorubicin on the viability of the cell lines was studied using thiazole blue dye reduction. An increase in A549 sensitivity to doxorubicin was produced using buthionine-S,R-sulfoximine at a non-toxic dose.

An NMR compatible model for solid tumour.

An NMR model for the study of drug interactions with solid tumour is described. It is based on the use of packed cells in a simple medium. The system is capable of dealing with cellular biochemistry at a molecular level through experiments conducted in a homogeneous field by 1H spin-echo NMR spectroscopy. However, through a simple imaging technique, it is also possible to introduce a spatial element into the chemistry of the packed cells. The use of these complementary NMR methods are illustrated by the action of the cytotoxic agent doxorubicin on cellular glycolysis. A pattern of signals observed in a homogeneous field experiment following oxidative stress are duplicated in the imaging experiment to illustrate the toxins' ability to penetrate the model tumour.

Doxorubicin-induced altered glycolytic patterns in the leukemic cell studied by proton spin echo NMR.

1H spin echo NMR of the leukemic cell line J-lll is reported. Phosphorylcholine, phosphorylcreatine, lactate and mobile triglyceride are identified as constituents of the cytosolic pool in the intact and viable cells. The concentration of cells in the NMR tube is high (approx. 10(9) in 0.4 ml) and as a result the available oxygen is restricted, making the NMR experiment a plausible in vitro tumour model in which kinetics in the living cell can be probed in a non-invasive manner. Treatment with pharmacological concentrations of the drug doxorubicin produced immediate enhanced anaerobic glycolysis and eventual cell death.

The use of 1H spin echo NMR and HPLC to confirm doxorubicin induced depletion of glutathione in the intact HeLa cell.

The effects of doxorubicin on the cellular biochemistry of the HeLa cell using 1H spin echo nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) of the intact and viable cell in conjunction with dual wavelength HPLC of cell lysates is reported. Directly dose-related changes were observed in lactate and reduced glutathione concentration. Doxorubicin induces a time-dependent depletion of the cytosolic pool of glutathione and a change in the glycolytic pattern of the cell. The glutathione depletion could be partially reversed by controlled pre-treatment of the cells with N-acetylcysteine and cysteine, the protection being linked to the intracellular concentration of the thiol.

A 1H spin echo NMR study of the HeLa tumour cell.

Phosphorylcholine, phosphorylcreatine, lactate, glutathione, glycine and leucine were identified in living HeLa cells in the first study of this cell type by 1H spin echo NMR spectroscopy. The technique has the advantage that it is non-invasive, providing detailed structural information on individual species present in the cell matrix. It has been used in this case to study the rate of energy consumption following the activation of the glycolytic pathway with glucose.