The effects of ubiquinone (CoQ10) on heart tissue in cardiac toxicity related to organophosphate poisoning.

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of ubiquinone (CoQ10) on heart tissue and erythrocytes in acute organophosphate poisoning (AOP). A total of 20 rabbits were divided into three groups: sham (n = 8), pralidoxime (PAM) + atropine (n = 6), and CoQ10 + PAM + atropine (n = 6). Blood samples were taken from each test subject to measure the values of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), nitric oxide (NO), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the plasma and erythrocyte before administration of 50 mg/kg dichlorvos by orogastric tube. Blood samples were then taken at 1, 12, and 24 h post-dichlorvos to determine plasma and erythrocyte levels of AChE, NO, and MDA. Sham group received no treatment. PAM + atropine group received 0.05 mg/kg atropine with repeated doses and PAM: first a 30-mg/kg intravenous (IV) bolus, then a 15-mg/kg IV bolus every 4 h. CoQ10 + PAM + atropine group received same dose PAM and atropine and a 50-mg bolus of IV CoQ10. Thoracotomy was performed in all the animals 24 h after poisoning and then heart tissue samples were obtained. At 12 and 24 h, erythrocyte AChE levels in the CoQ10 animals were considerably higher than those in PAM + atropine animals (p = 0.023 and 0.017, respectively). At 12 and 24 h, erythrocyte MDA and NO levels in CoQ10 animals were significantly lower than those in PAM + atropine animals (p < 0.05). Heart tissue AChE levels in CoQ10 animals were considerably higher than those of the sham and PAM + atropine animals (p = 0.001). Heart tissue MDA and NO levels of CoQ10 animals were significantly lower than those of the sham and PAM + atropine animals (p < 0.01). Treatment of AOP with CoQ10 + PAM + atropine in this animal model had a beneficial effect on both erythrocyte and heart tissue lipid peroxidation and AChE activity.

Increased serum nitric oxide and malondialdehyde levels in patients with acute intestinal amebiasis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the level of oxygen-nitrogen stress parameters in the pathogenesis of amebiasis. METHODS: Twenty-four acute intestinal amebiasis patients and 20 healthy controls were enrolled in the present study. Serum malondialdehyde and nitric oxide levels were determined spectrophotometrically. RESULTS: Serum malondialdehyde and nitric oxide levels were significantly higher in acute intestinal amebiasis patients than healthy controls (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that oxidative and nitrosative stress may play a major role in tissue damage in acute intestinal amebiasis patients. Also these parameters can be used to supplement the conventional microscopic method for reliable diagnosis of intestinal amebiasis.

Occupational lead exposure effect on liver functions and biochemical parameters.

The effect of occupational lead exposure on the liver function and on the blood biochemical parameters among the battery workers and the muffler repair workers was studied. The study included 22 battery and 38 muffler repair workers. Whole blood lead levels were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometers. Total protein, albumin, globulin, cholesterol, triglyceride, total bilirubin, aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels were determined in the serum by spectrophotometry. The blood lead levels of the battery workers, muffler repair workers, and the controls were found to be 36.83 +/- 8.13 microg/dL, 26.99 +/- 9.42 microg/dL, and 14.81 +/- 3.01 microg/dL, respectively. Blood lead levels of the workers were significantly higher than those of controls (p < 0.001). The lead level of the battery workers was also significantly higher than that of muffler repair workers (p < 0.001). Although, statisticly significant, higher blood lead levels are not related to toxicity for battery and muffler repair workers. Total protein, globulin, cholesterol, LDH, and ALP levels were within normal levels, however, they were slightly higher than the control levels. Increased LDH among the workers seems to be related rather to other causes than to the liver injury.

Diagnostic value of homocysteine, C-reactive protein and bilirubin for coronary artery disease.

We evaluated 3 new markers for coronary artery disease (CAD) [bilirubin, total homocysteine (t-Hcy) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP)] in 319 patients with chest pains divided into 2 groups based on coronary angiography: CAD group (n = 262) and non-CAD group (n = 57). A control group consisted of 50 healthy subjects. t-Hcy had the highest diagnostic value for diagnosis of angiographically documented patients; bilirubin had the lowest. The sensitivities and specificities (based on ROC curves) of bilirubin, hs-CRP and t-Hcy were 70.9%, 50% and 76.8% respectively, and 40.4%, 80.7% and 70.2% respectively. We conclude that serum bilirubin levels cannot identify people at risk of CAD and t-Hcy and hs-CRP may be stronger markers.

Diagnostic value of homocysteine, C-reactive protein and bilirubin for coronary artery disease

We evaluated 3 new markers for coronary artery disease [CAD] [bilirubin, total homocysteine [t-Hcy] and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hs-CRP]] in 319 patients with chest pains divided into 2 groups based on coronary angiography: CAD group [n = 262] and non-CAD group [n = 57]. A control group consisted of 50 healthy subjects. t-Hcy had the highest diagnostic value for diagnosis of angiographically documented patients; bilirubin had the lowest. The sensitivities and specificities [based on ROC curves] of bilirubin, hs-CRP and t-Hcy were 70.9%, 50% and 76.8% respectively, and 40.4%, 80.7% and 70.2% respectively. We conclude that serum bilirubin levels cannot identify people at risk of CAD and t-Hcy and hs-CRP may be stronger markers