Spectral detection of thalassemia: a preliminary study.

BACKGROUND: Thalassemias (Thal) are forms of inherited autosomal recessive blood disorders arising out of mutations in the chromosomes 11 or 16. These disorders lead to poor oxygen delivery to blood vessels and consequent splenomegaly, bone deformities, and shorter life spans. The most common detection methods for Thal are complete blood count (CBC) followed by electrophoresis and molecular diagnosis methods, such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) genotyping. These methods involve sophisticated instrumentations and are cumbersome and expensive. RESULTS: In this study an innovative spectral detection method, based on the fluorescence spectra of a set of biomolecules (tyrosine, tryptophan, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, and flavin adenine dinucleotide and porphyrins) found in blood components is presented. An algorithm based on the spectral features of such biomolecules of blood components of 20 Thal patients (10 female and 10 male) and 18 age adjusted normal controls (4 female and 14 male) demonstrate reasonable level of classification with sensitivity and specificity values exceeding 90%. CONCLUSION: This new technique could be of significant value for Thal detection, diagnosis, and subsequent genetic counselling and could be adapted for use in small primary health centres.

Effect of spirulina and Liv-52 on cadmium induced toxicity in albino rats.

Oral administration of cadmium (6mg/kg body weight/day) as cadmium chloride (CdCl2) for 30 days resulted in a significant increase in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) level and a decrease in the levels of copper, zinc, iron, selenium, glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase when compared to normal control. Administration of either Liv-52 alone or in combination with spirulina produced a well pronounced protective effect in respect to these parameters in cadmium intoxicated rats. The protective effect of spirulina and Liv-52 in respect to biochemical changes were also confirmed by histopathological study in the liver and kidney sections.

Hypocholesterolaemic effect of spirulina and liv-52 in lead induced toxicity in albino rats.

Effect of spirulina and Liv-52 on lead induced hypercholesteroleamia in albino rats was studied. Oral administration of lead acetate(10mg/kg body weight/day) for 30 days resulted in a significant increase(P<0.01) in the level of serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL Cholesterol and a significant decreases in the level of serum HDL cholesterol, when compared to normal and control group of albino rats. Administration of either Liv-52 alone or in combination with spirulina produced a well pronounced protective effect against lead induced hypercholesteroleamia in rats. Although administration of spirulina alone caused an appreciable protective effect in lead toxicated tats, further study is needed with increased doses to evaluate its optimal effect.