Ischemia-modified albumin levels in the prediction of acute critical neurological findings in carbon monoxide poisoning

Dynamic thiol disulfide homeostasis in painters as indices of oxidative stress

This study was designed to determine thiol-disulfide homeostasis as indices of oxidative stress in painters by using a novel and automated colorimetric measurement method. Male painters (n = 117) were separated into three groups according to duration of work; group 1 (<5 years), group 2 (5-14 years) and group 3 (≥15 years). Hippuric acid, trichloroacetic acid (TCA), and phenol in urine was determined. Catalase activity and ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) levels were also assessed. Disulfide/Native Thiol and Disulfide/Total Thiol of group 2 and group 3 were significantly higher than those of group 1 (p < 0.001). A positive correlation was observed between urinary phenol and disulfide/native thiol (r = 0.214, p = 0.035), IMA (r = 0.305, p = 0.002), disulfide (r = 0.209, p = 0.040), and duration of work (r = 0.341, p < 0.001). The newly developed automated colorimetric method used in our study proposes a promising, practical and daily applicable test for evaluating oxidative status of painters.

Alteration of thiol disulfide homeostasis and ischemia-modified albumin levels as indicators of oxidative status in patients with silicosis

The aim of this study was to evaluate the oxidative status in patients with silicosis by detecting dynamic thiol disulfide homeostasis (TDH), ischemia-modified albumin level (IMA) catalase (CAT) activity, and the correlation of these markers with pulmonary function tests. Male ceramic workers with silicosis (n = 91) and healthy individuals (n = 47) were recruited for the study. Radiographic abnormalities of pneumoconiosis were classified into three profusion categories (categories 1, 2, and 3), and patients with silicosis, those with category 1, were defined as group 1 and those with category 2 or 3 were defined as group 2. Plasma levels of native thiol (NT), total thiol (TT), disulfide (Ds), IMA, and CAT activities were determined. Pulmonary function tests of groups were compared. NT, TT, and NT/TT ratios were significantly lower in groups 1 and 2 than the control group (p < 0.05). These did not differ between patients with silicosis (groups 1 and 2) and control group (p = 0.421). Ds/NT and Ds/TT ratios were significantly higher in group 2 than the control group (p < 0.05). NT, TT, and Ds did not differ significantly between groups 1 and 2. The oxidant biomarker IMA was higher (p < 0.001), and the antioxidant parameters albumin and CAT were lower in groups 1 and 2 (p < 0.001) compared with the control group. The mean FEV_1act, FVC_act, forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity (%), and value of 25-75 percent maximum expiratory flow were significantly lower in groups 1 and 2 than control group. We have used a novel colorimetric method to assess TDH in patients with silicosis. Alteration of plasma thiol/disulfide homeostasis and IMA levels might be novel indicators of oxidative stress in silicosis.

Thiol-disulfide homeostasis and ischemia-modified albumin levels as indicators of oxidative stress in welders' lung disease

Welders' lung disease refers to mixed exposure to different kinds of metals and chemicals from welding fumes, which affect all parts of the respiratory tract including airways and parenchyma together. This study aimed to investigate the oxidative status in patients with welders' lung (PWL) by means of thiol-disulfide homeostasis and ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) levels. The male welder workers diagnosed with welders' lung disease and healthy individuals were recruited in the study. Plasma levels of disulfide, disulfide/native thiol ratio, disulfide/total thiol ratio, IMA, and catalase (CAT) were determined. Pulmonary function test parameters of both groups were compared. The thiol-disulfide homeostasis parameters of PWL and control group were as follows: disulfide (20.5 ± 6.3 vs. 16.2 ± 3.9 μmol L^-1, p < 0.001), disulfide/native thiol (4.36 (1.59) vs. 4.0 (1.64), p = 0.024), and disulfide/total thiol (4.01 (1.34) vs. 3.71 (1.41), p = 0.024). IMA levels in PWL were significantly higher than the control group (1.37 (0.27) mg dL^-1 vs. 0.49 (0.61) mg dL^-1, p < 0.001), whereas CAT activities were significantly higher in the control group (106.6 (54.5) kU L^-1 vs. 78.3 (67.8) kU L^-1, p = 0.003). The findings of the present study revealed that oxidative stress plays a key role in the pathogenesis of welders' lung disease. Plasma thiol-disulfide homeostasis and IMA levels might be indicators of oxidative stress in PWL.

Determination of netrin-1 levels and its relationship with neurotoxicity in carbon monoxide poisoning

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to assess netrin-1 levels in carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning to determine its relationship with poisoning severity and neurotoxicity.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional prospective study. The patients older than 18 years with CO poisoning were included. The patients were categorized into two groups on the basis of neurological involvement. Both the patient and the control groups were sampled for netrin-1 at 0th hour, and the patient group only was sampled for netrin-1 at 4th hour.

RESULTS

A total of 84 patients and 50 healthy controls were enrolled. The median 0th hour netrin-1 level of the patient group (765.1 pg/mL (619.8-983.1) was significantly higher than the control group (484 pg/mL (376-1031.6)) ( p < 0.001). There was also a significant difference between the 0th hour and 4th hour netrin-1 (888.9 pg/mL (700.3-1175.5)) levels in the patient group ( p < 0.001).There was no significant statistical difference between patients with and without neurological involvement ( p = 0.62) and between those who underwent hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) and those who did not ( p = 0.76) with respect to 4th hour netrin-1 levels.

CONCLUSION

The significantly higher netrin-1 levels in patients with CO poisoning, suggests that netrin-1 is elevated as a stress marker. Although there is no significant difference in netrin-1 levels in patients with neurological impairment in CO poisonings, netrin-1 may show subclinically neurological effects. Hence, we believe that netrin-1 cannot be used as a marker of poisoning severity.

Is ischemia-modified albumin a reliable tool for the assessment of acute pancreatitis?

PURPOSE

Oxidative stress has been implicated in several disorders, including acute pancreatitis (AP). Ischemia-modified albumin (IMA), which reflects the ability to bind cobalt, has been found to be elevated in conditions of oxidative stress and tissue hypoxia. This study examined IMA and adjusted IMA levels in patients with AP, and examined the associations of IMA and adjusted IMA levels to the severity of AP.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 42 consecutive patients with AP and 43 age- and sex-matched control subjects were enrolled. Serum samples were obtained from patients with AP on admission as well as 48-72 hours after hospitalization, and from the controls, at the time of enrollment. Adjusted IMA was calculated by multiplying the IMA value of each patient with the ratio of the patient's albumin value and the median albumin value of the study population. The severity of AP was assessed according to the modified Atlanta classification, and the patients were divided into 2 groups: mild AP and severe AP.

RESULTS

The serum IMA and adjusted IMA values of patients with AP on admission and those of the controls did not differ (p=0.86 and p=0.99, respectively). The second measurements of IMA and adjusted IMA in the AP group were higher than the first measurements of both the AP group and controls (for all, p<0.01). Among the IMA measurements, only adjusted IMA on admission had the ability to predict the severity of AP. Severe AP was correlated with albumin, and the area under the curve of adjusted IMA values on admission was 0.746 for differentiating patients with severe AP from mild AP with statistical significance (p=0.005).

CONCLUSION

It was shown that IMA and adjusted IMA levels rise with the progression of AP. Lower levels of adjusted IMA predict the severity of AP. Further studies with serial measurements of IMA are warranted to explore the indicative role of IMA in the course of AP.