Differential expression of glutathione-S-transferase isoenzymes in various types of anemia in Taiwan

Medical gas plasma promotes blood coagulation via platelet activation

Major blood loss still is a risk factor during surgery. Electrocauterization often is used for necrotizing the tissue and thereby halts bleeding (hemostasis). However, the carbonized tissue is prone to falling off, putting patients at risk of severe side effects, such as dangerous internal bleeding many hours after surgery. We have developed a medical gas plasma jet technology as an alternative to electrocauterization and investigated its hemostatic (blood clotting) effects and mechanisms of action using whole human blood. The gas plasma efficiently coagulated anticoagulated donor blood, which resulted from the local lysis of red blood cells (hemolysis). Image cytometry further showed enhanced platelet aggregation. Gas plasmas release reactive oxygen species (ROS), but neither scavenging of long-lived ROS nor addition of chemically-generated ROS were able to abrogate or recapitulate the gas plasma effect, respectively. However, platelet activation was markedly impaired in platelet-rich plasma when compared to gas plasma-treated whole blood that moreover contained significant amounts of hemoglobin indicative of red blood cell lysis (hemolysis). Finally, incubation of whole blood with concentration-matched hemolysates phenocopied the gas plasmas-mediated platelet activation. These results will spur the translation of plasma systems for hemolysis into clinical practice.

Glutathione-related antioxidant defense system in elderly patients treated for hypertension

The purpose of this study was to analyze glutathione antioxidant defense system in elderly patients treated for hypertension. Studies were carried out in the blood collected from 18 hypertensive and 15 age- and sex-matched controls, all subjects age over 60. Hypertensives were on their usual antihypertensive treatment at the time of blood collection. The concentration of glutathione (GSH) in whole blood and activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx-1), glutathione transferase (GST), and glutathione reductase (GR) in erythrocytes were measured. The data from patients and controls were compared using independent-samples t test. P value of 0.05 and less was considered statistically significant. We observed increased glutathione-related antioxidant defense in treated hypertensive elderly patients (HT) when compared with healthy controls (C). Mean GSH concentration was significantly higher in HT when compared with C: 3.1 ± 0.29 and 2.6 ± 0.25 mmol/L, respectively, P < 0.001. Mean activity of GR was significantly higher in HT group if compared with C: 83.4 ± 15.25 U/g Hb versus 64.2 ± 8.26 U/g Hb, respectively, P < 0.001. Mean activity of GST was significantly higher in HT group compared with C: 3.0 ± 0.60 mmol CDNB-GSH/mgHb/min and 2.6 ± 0.36 mmol CDNB-GSH/mgHb/min, respectively, P < 0.05. No difference in GPx activity was observed between two groups. These results show that glutathione-related antioxidant defense system was enhanced in elderly hypertensive patients treated for their conditions. This suggests important role of glutathione system in blood pressure regulation. Alterations in concentration and activity of antioxidants observed during antihypertensive medication are likely to be related to the effect of the treatment on NO bioavailability.

In Tanzania, hemolysis after a single dose of primaquine coadministered with an artemisinin is not restricted to glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase-deficient (G6PD A-) individuals

The current interest in malaria elimination has led to a renewed interest in drugs that can be used for mass administration to minimize malaria transmission. Primaquine (PQ) is the only generally available drug with a strong activity against mature Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes, the parasite stage responsible for transmission. Despite concerns about PQ-induced hemolysis in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)-deficient individuals, a single dose of PQ may be safe and efficacious in clearing gametocytes that persist after conventional treatment. As part of a mass drug intervention, we determined the hemolytic effect of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) plus artesunate (AS) plus a single dose of primaquine (PQ; 0.75 mg/kg of body weight) in children aged 1 to 12 years. Children were randomized to receive SP+AS+PQ or placebo; those with a hemoglobin (Hb) level below 8 g/dl were excluded from receiving PQ and received SP+AS. The Hb concentration was significantly reduced 7 days after SP+AS+PQ treatment but not after placebo or SP+AS treatment. This reduction in Hb was most pronounced in G6PD-deficient (G6PD A-) individuals (-2.5 g/dl; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], -1.2 to -3.8 g/dl) but was also observed in heterozygotes (G6PD A) (-1.6 g/dl; 95% CI, -0.9 to -2.2 g/dl) and individuals with the wild-type genotype (G6PD B) (-0.5 g/dl; 95% CI, -0.4 to -0.6 g/dl). Moderate anemia (Hb level of <8 g/dl) was observed in 40% (6/15 individuals) of the G6PD A-, 11.1% (3/27 individuals) of the G6PD A, and 4.5% (18/399 individuals) of the G6PD B individuals; one case of severe anemia (Hb level of <5 g/dl) was observed. PQ may cause moderate anemia when coadministered with artemisinins, and excluding individuals based on G6PD status alone may not be sufficient to prevent PQ-induced hemolysis.

LIBS-based detection of antioxidant elements: a new strategy

The present study deals with the scientific evaluation of antioxidant potential of aqueous extract of Trichosanthes dioica fruits on diabetes-induced oxidative stress of diabetic rats. The most effective dose of mg/kg bw of fruit aqueous extract was given orally to diabetic rats for 30 days. Different oxidative stress parameters were analyzed in various tissues of control and treated diabetic rats. The observed elevated level of lipid peroxidation (LPO) comes down significantly (p < 0.05) and decreased activities of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) got increased (p < 0.05) significantly of diabetic rats on extract treatment. Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) has been used as an analytical tool to detect major and minor elements like Mg, Fe, Na, K, Zn, Ca, H, O, C, and N present in the extract. The higher concentration of Ca(2+), Mg(2+), and Fe(2+), as reflected by their intensities are responsible for antioxidant potential of T. dioica.