Study of biochemical markers in iron deficiency anemia

Background: The present study was aimed to study alterations in levels of oxidants and antioxidants in iron deficiency anemia (IDA).Methods: 30 patients of IDA in age group of 20-50 and 30 healthy subjects were included for study. Serum Iron, TIBC & Hb% were estimated to diagnose IDA. Serum Malondialdehyde (MDA), Nitric oxide (NO) as an oxidants & Superoxide dismutase (SOD), vitamin E, vitamin C, Zinc (Zn) levels as antioxidants were estimated.Results: Significant decreased levels of Hb%, serum iron, SOD, Vitamin C, vitamin E, Zn were found. TIBC, MDA, NO were significantly increased as compared to controls.Conclusion: The normal adult erythrocytes can resist oxidative stress by several antioxidant defense systems. In IDA, oxidative stress causes lipid peroxidation and membrane damage. So antioxidants can be used as a marker for prevention of membrane damage due to oxidative stress

Antioxidants deficiency: a sensitive indicator of cardiometabolic risk in chronic renal failure?

Background: Antioxidant depletion occurring in chronic renal failure patients is an important cause of associated morbidity & mortality, which in turn imposes a great socioeconomic burden of health care. Early diagnosis & targeted management of this preventable deficiency may have a positive impact on the management of co morbidities associated with chronic renal failure.Aims & Objectives: To evaluate the status of antioxidants as an early indicator of cardiometabolic risk in chronic renal failure patients.Settings & Design: This was a randomised case Control study including 10 controls of either sex with normal renal function between age group 20-60 years and 15 patients of chronic renal failure on dialysis between the age group of 16 - 60 years.Methods: 12 hour fasting venous blood samples were collected from all the participants and were assayed for various antioxidants.Statistical analysis: Results were analyzed by unpaired t test, p value was determined & Correlation coefficient was calculated amongst various parameters.Results: In the present study, significantly low levels of vitamin C ( Cases: 0.367 ± 0.13 mg/dl controls: 1.324 ± 0.61 mg/dl; p < 0.01) & vitamin E  (cases: 0.235 ± 0.102 mg/dl, controls (0.854 ± 0.28 mg/dl; p < 0.01) were observed in chronic renal failure patients as compared to controls.Conclusion: Diminished levels of Vitamin C & E in our study may be an indicator of increased oxidative stress which can be a responsible factor for increased incidence of cardiovascular complications. Supplementing these patients with recommended dosage of these vitamins may provide an essential tool to reduce the burden of suffering

Study of serum sodium and potassium concentration in cataract patients

Background: The present study was aimed to study alterations in levels of sodium and potassium in age-related cataract patients.Methods: 50 senile cataract patients in age group of 50 to 80 years and 50 control group were included for the study. Serum sodium and potassium levels were determined by flame photometry.Results: Significant (<0.0001)  increased levels of plasma Na+ in cataract patients (145.06 ± 5.84mEq/lit) were found as compared with controls (141.18 ± 2.67mEq/lit). While Plasma K+ the conc. in cataract patients (4.18 ± 0.34mEq/lit) was not significantly (P = 0.002) increased when compared with controls (4.13 ± 0.32mEq/lit).Conclusion: Na, K-ATPase is responsible for maintaining the correct concentrations of sodium and potassium in lens cells. In ageing, lens fibers undergoes oxidation, and glycation may decrease Na, K-ATPase activity. The asymmetrical distribution of Na, K-ATPase activity in the epithelium and fibers may contribute to ionic currents that flow in and around the lens. So, abnormal elevation of lens sodium can be used as a marker in the opacification of the lens cortex in age-related human cataract

Campylobacter jejuni transcriptome changes during loss of culturability in water

Background: Water serves as a potential reservoir for Campylobacter, the leading cause of bacterial gastroenteritis in humans. However, little is understood about the mechanisms underlying variations in survival characteristics between different strains of C. jejuni in natural environments, including water. Results: We identified three Campylobacter jejuni strains that exhibited variability in their ability to retain culturability after suspension in tap water at two different temperatures (4°C and 25°C). Of the three strains C. jejuni M1 exhibited the most rapid loss of culturability whilst retaining viability. Using RNAseq transcriptomics, we characterised C. jejuni M1 gene expression in response to suspension in water by analyzing bacterial suspensions recovered immediately after introduction into water (Time 0), and from two sampling time/temperature combinations where considerable loss of culturability was evident, namely (i) after 24 h at 25°C, and (ii) after 72 h at 4°C. Transcript data were compared with a culture-grown control. Some gene expression characteristics were shared amongst the three populations recovered from water, with more genes being up-regulated than down. Many of the up-regulated genes were identified in the Time 0 sample, whereas the majority of down-regulated genes occurred in the 25°C (24 h) sample. Conclusions: Variations in expression were found amongst genes associated with oxygen tolerance, starvation and osmotic stress. However, we also found upregulation of flagellar assembly genes, accompanied by down-regulation of genes involved in chemotaxis. Our data also suggested a switch from secretion via the sec system to via the tat system, and that the quorum sensing gene luxS may be implicated in the survival of strain M1 in water. Variations in gene expression also occurred in accessory genome regions. Our data suggest that despite the loss of culturability, C. jejuni M1 remains viable and adapts via specific changes in gene expression

Urban memory in divided Nicosia: praxis and image

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Bilateral lung abscesses in a 9-month-old healthy infant

Multiple lung abscesses are extremely rare in healthy children. We report a case of polymicrobial bilateral lung abscess in a 9-month-old previously well infant presenting with a short history of fever and respiratory distress. The management options and outcome are discussed

Emerging therapeutic options for celiac disease: Potential alternatives to a gluten-free diet.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder of the small intestine that is more common than was previously thought. This disease is caused by an inappropriate immune response to wheat gluten, barley, and rye. Three main pathways cause celiac disease: the environmental trigger (gluten), genetic susceptibility, and unusual gut permeability. The only treatment currently available is a strict gluten-free diet. Unfortunately, a majority of patients have difficulty complying with this diet, and the response to therapy is poor. Therefore, alternative treatments are being developed, and new insights into the pathophysiology of celiac disease have led to research into novel therapies. New treatments include engineering gluten-free grains, decreasing intestinal permeability by blockage of the epithelial zonulin receptor, inducing oral tolerance to gluten with a therapeutic vaccine, and degrading immunodominant gliadin peptides using probiotics with endopeptidases or transglutaminase inhibitors. These nondiet-based therapies provide hope for enhanced, lifelong celiac disease management with improved patient compliance and better quality of life