Comparison of serum cholesterol levels by three different methods

Purpose: Determination of serum cholesterol may be the initial step in the early diagnosis of coronary heart disease. Literally hundreds of cholesterol methods have been published, usually as modifications of chemical and enzymatic methods. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the agreement among the three most commonly used cholesterol methods. Methods: Serum cholesterol levels were measured in 20 serum specimens by three different methods from which two of them were enzymatic and the other was a chemical method. The results were compared by statistical methods such as regression analysis and correlation coefficent. Results: The meon concentrations of serum cholesterol levels obtained from Boehringer-Manheim CHOD-RAP. Biotrol Enzymatic and Chemical Zlatkis Zak methods have been found to be 179 ± 20 mg/dl, 190 ± 24 mg/dl, and 208 ± 26 mg/dl, respectively. Although statistically significant difference is found among the mean values obtained from the three different methods by repeated measures analysis of variance, a strong association was established by linear regression with the calculation of correlation coefficient. Conclusion: The reliability of the methods was confirmed by the strong correlation, however it should be stated that each method must be considered in its own reference intervals since the mean values were statistically different from each other

Detection of deletional alpha thalassemia in Cukurova

Purpose: ?-Thalassemia is caused by the deletion or the mutation of ?-globin genes and characterized by reduction or absence of ?-globulin chains. The high incidence of ?-thalassemia in Cukurova has been well documented. In this study, the index case with Hemoglobin H and his family were investigated for ?-thalassemia on a molecular basis. Methods: The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for the detection of deletional ?-thalassemia namely 3.7 kb, 4.2 kb, 17.5 kb and 20.5 kb. Results: Seven members of the family were ?-thalassemia-2 with a deletion of 3.7 kb in length. None of the member had 4.2 kb and 17.5 kb deletions, ?-thalassemia-1 with 20.5 kb deletion was found in the father of the index case. Three members of the family had Hb H disease which is comprised of a combined heterozigosity of ?-thalassemia-2 and ?-thalassemia-1. Another member of the family had both ß-and ?-thalassemia. Conclusion: Thus, deletional ?-thalassemias which have been molecularly characterized are found in the population of Cukurova. At the same time there are also combinations of ?-thalassemias with other forms of ?-thalassemias and other hemoglobinopathies

Bisalbuminemia in Cukurova

Bisalbuminemia, a rare genetic disorder of albumin synthesis, is seen in various parts of the world. The first case of bisalbuminemia in Turkey was detected by Bingoel and Aydin. The possible genetic association of bisalbuminemia with hemoglobin S was hypothesized by Wieme. Therefore, a population study was undertaken in this area to determine the validity of this hypothesis. Protein electrophoresis was done on a total of 3738 serum samples. Hemoglobin electrophoresis was performed on samples of blood that showed bisalbuminemia. Physicochemicals studies on the albumin variant was studied by cellulose acetate electrophoresis and G-200 dextran gel. The results showed that one group of Eti Turks had a very high incidence of bisalbuminemia, whereas other groups of Eti Turks as well as the Turkomans showed no incidence of bisalbuminemia. Though the concomitant appearance of bisalbuminemia with Hb S showed a high precentage like 33.3%, the association was not significant from a statistical point. Therefore, the appearance of these two anomalies might be due to the high frequency of these two separate genes

Deletional alpha thalassemias in Cukurova

Purpose: The production of the ?-chains are reduced or abolished in ?-thalassemia. The ?-thalassemia-2 and ?-thalassemia-1 are common in Southeast and Mediterranean countries. The most common type of ?-thalassemia-2 in Mediterranean populations is ?3.7 type and the types of ?-thalassemia-1 are ?17.5, ?20.5 and ?26.5. The incidence of ?-thalassemia in Cukurova region is reported as 3.3% by measuring Hb Barts level in sample of umblical cord blood. Methods: The genotypes of ?-thalassemia in Cukurova region were characterized in molecular level. In this study, the types of ?-thalassemia in molecular level were estimated with the nonradioactive PCR method. Results: We described 23 individuals of Cukurova origin with 20.5 kb and 17.5 kb deletions types of ?-thalassemia-1, 3.7 kb deletion type of ?-thalassemia-2 and their interactions. Twelve cases were only ?-thalassemia-2, five cases were only 20.5 kb deletion type of ?-thalassemia-1, five cases were a combination of 3.7 and 20.5 kb deletions and one case was a combination of 3.7 and 17.5 kb deletion types. Conclusion: The deletional forms of ?-thalassemias were characterized in molecular level with the non radioactive PCR method

Intracellular glutathione content in leukemias

PubMedID: 7854769The intracellular glutathione (GSH) content was measured in 73 patients with leukemia and compared with controls. GSH content was between 1.16 and 5.55 µmol/g protein (mean 2.96 ± 0.86) in the study group and between 0.5 and 1.48 µmol/g protein (mean 1.31 ± 0.27) in the control group, statistically significant difference (p = 0.0000). There was no significant difference between acute and chronic leukemias, lymphoid and myeloid leukemias and, more importantly, newly diagnosed and relapsed patients. GSH content did not change significantly with clinical and hematologic parameters such as age, sex, and initial hematologic findings. In addition, variable changes were detected over 24 h in 9 patients. It can be concluded that GSH content in leukemic cells was higher than in controls and showed a wide range. The absence of a relationship between GSH content and clinical and laboratory parameters suggested that GSH is not the sole determinant of response to cytotoxic drugs. GSH variation over a 24-hour period may be important in the timing and success of chemotherapy for leukemias. © 1995 S. Karger AG, Basel

Correlation between trace elements and lipid profiles

The aim of this study was to examine the plasma Cu, Zn, and Mg levels in three different groups (control, hyperlipidemic, and hypercholesterolemic) and to determine any correlation between these parameters and the level of triglyceride (T.G), cholesterol (Chol), LDL, and HDL. For this purpose, serum Cu, Zn, and Mg levels were determined by atomic absorbtion spectrophotometry in three groups: Group I (n = 35 control, normal lipid profile); Group II (n = 36 hyperlipidemic); Group III (n = 15 familial hypercholesterolemia), and the results were statistically analyzed. The results and their statistical evaluation for the lipid and plasma Cu, Zn, and Mg levels were as follows: Only statistically significant differences were observed between Group I and Group II for T.G, Chol, LDL, and HDL, but no statistically significant differences were observed between the other groups and parameters. When associations between T.G, Chol, LDL, HDL, and plasma Cu, Zn, Mg were examined, significant correlations were observed between Cu and T.G (r = 0.356), Cu and Chol (r = 0.828), Cu and LDL (r = 0.806) in Group III; Zn and HDL (r = 0.543) in Group I, Zn and Chol (r = 0.378), Zn and LDL (r = 0.538) in Group III; Mg and T.G (r = 0.354), Mg and Chol (r = 0.444), Mg and LDL (r = 0.433), Mg and HDL (r = 0.375) in Group I

Decreased glutathione levels in acute myocardial infarction

PubMedID: 8676544Although experimental studies have demonstrated that reduced glutathione (GSH) is involved in cellular protection from deleterious effects of oxygen free radicals (OFRs) in ischemia and reperfusion, there are controversial data on the correlation between the levels of erythrocyte GSH and the ischemic process. To clarify, we determined the erythrocyte GSH levels in 21 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), aged 39-70, who were not given thrombolytic therapy and 21 age- and sex- matched healthy controls. Samples of blood were taken on days 1, 3, 5 and 7 from AMI patients and on the same days from the controls. The GSH levels of patients with AMI were significantly depressed by 11.5% as compared to the controls on the second day after infarction (7.44 ± 1.71 vs 8.41 ± 1.54 U/gHb p < 0.05). Although the total mean of GSH levels for all days was lower (3.8%) in patients than in the controls, this finding did not reach statistical significance (7.41 ± 1.71 vs 7.71 ± 1.27 U/gHb, ns). There was no correlation between the erythrocyte GSH levels and cardiac enzyme concentrations, infarct localization, hemodynamic status according to Killip classification and the frequency of ventricular arrhythmias. This preliminary work suggests that depressed GSH levels may be associated with an enhanced protective mechanism to oxidative stress in AMI. Measurements of erythrocyte GSH can be helpful in the estimation of oxidative stress in the course of AMI. However, further research must be done to determine the primary scavenger in AMI by analyzing all the enzymes and substrates involved in the endogeneous system that controls the effects of OFRs

Prenatal diagnosis of hemoglobinopathies in Southern Turkey

Purpose: This paper summarizes data obtained from the prenatal diagnosis for hemoglobinopathies of 249 fetuses. The mothers were from the southern part of Turkey where the prevalence of sickle cell anemia, ß-thalassemia and ?-thalassemia are 10.0, 3.7 and 3.3%, respectively, while Hb E and Hb D-Los Angeles are also not rare in this region. Methods: All samples were examined during a period of 5 years: testing was at 10-12 weeks of gestation by analysis of amplified DNA from chorionic villi, while mutations in the parents were identified in advance. Results: Forty-nine of the fetuses were affected; 14 were ß-thalassemia major, 34 were SS, and one was Hb S/ß-thalassemia. One fetus had an ?-thalassemia-2 homozygosity because of the presence of a poly A mutation (AATAAA›AATAAG). Two mothers with affected fetuses continued their pregnancy: 47 mothers asked for termination. Six of the pregnancies ended in a miscarriage after chorionic villi sampling. Ten of the ß-thalassemia mutations could not be identified. Contamination by maternal decidua was eliminated by variable number of tandem repeat analysis. Conclusion: The number of requests for prenatal diagnosis increased with time due to an improved awareness by the population and the government; premarital screening and public education should be promoted

Population at risk for hemoglobinopathies in Cukurova, Turkiye: Need for prenatal diagnosis

Cukurova, the southern part of Turkey on the Mediterranean is noted for hemoglobinopathies and these genetic blood diseases are a major public health problem. Although screening surveys were done in this region by various researchers since 1955, no control programs have been implemented up to now. Thus, the number of affected births are increasing due to lack of knowledge about genetic diseases, close consanguineous marriages and high birth rate. In this study, we describe the start of a prevention 'control' program for the Cukurova region. We have screened a total of 7444 persons in the three provinces of Cukurova (Hatay, Adana, Icel) in collaboration with local health authorities. The incidence of Beta thalassemia was 5.7%, 1.8%, 3.3% and HbS 10.3%, 9.3%, 10.5% respectively. The overall incidence for Cukurova for thalassemia was 3.7% and for HbS 10.0%. To inform the general public about genetic blood diseases, conferences were given to high school students, to health personnel and to the public. Radio talks were made and newspaper articles were written. The results of the questionnaire showed that more emphasis need be paid to education programs. In the laboratory implemented for molecular biology a total of 256 chromosomes were analyzed and the relative abundance of the most common mutations in the region were determined. Genetic counselling was given to mothers at risk by the pediatrician, gynecologist, biochemists and private doctors: Thus, 40 prenatal diagnoses were performed starting May 1992. Prenatal genotype along with the homozygous sibling, when present, aided in prenatal diagnosis. Of the 40 first trimester CVS's; 4 was affected, 16 were HbAS, 8 were normal and 8 were ß-thalassemia carriers and 4 could not be identified