Serum adenosine deaminase activity in cutaneous anthrax

Serum Adenosine Deaminase as a Useful Marker to Estimate Coronary Artery Calcification in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients

We investigated the association between serum adenosine deaminase and coronary artery calcification (CAC) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. The cross-sectional study included 459 patients with T2DM, the clinical and laboratory tests were performed, and all T2DM patients were separated into the 3 groups based on the tertile of serum adenosine deaminase levels. In the baseline data, the CAC score had statistically significant differences between the 3 groups (p < 0.001). Serum adenosine deaminase levels were positively correlated with CAC score in T2DM patients (r = 0.355, p < 0.001). The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that serum adenosine deaminase was independent positively correlated with CAC score in T2DM patients (r = 0.255, p < 0.001). Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis showed that area under curve was 0.750 to identify T2DM patients with CAC. Serum adenosine deaminase levels are correlated with CAC scores in T2DM patients, clinically, serum adenosine deaminase should be considered as an underlying marker to determine the severity of atherosclerosis in T2DM patients.

Diphenyl Diselenide Reduces Oxidative Stress and Toxicity Caused by HSV-2 Infection in Mice

Herpes simplex viruses can cause uncommon systemic complications as acute liver failure (ALT) or urinary tract dysfunctions. Diphenyl diselenide, (PhSe)₂ , a classical studied organic selenium compound, has a novel antiviral action against HSV-2 infection and well-known antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This study aimed to investigate if (PhSe)₂ reduces oxidative stress and systemic toxicity caused by HSV-2 infection in mice. Adult BALB/c mice were pre-treated with (PhSe)₂ (5 mg kg^-1 /day, intragastric, i.g.) during 5 days; at day 6 mice were infected with HSV-2 (10 μl-10⁵ PFU/mL^-1 ) and post-treated with (PhSe)₂ for more 5 days. At day 11, they were killed and samples of liver and kidney were obtained to determine: reactive species (RS); malondialdehyde (MDA), and non-protein thiols (NPSH) levels; the activities of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT). The activities of adenosine deaminase (ADA), Na⁺ /K⁺ -ATPase (liver and kidney); alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and the levels of urea (plasma) were determined as markers of hepatic and renal toxicity. The results revealed that (PhSe)₂ treatment was effective against the increase of renal and hepatic oxidative stress in infected mice and also normalized hepatic and renal ADA activity. It recovered the activity of Na⁺ /K⁺ - and was not effective against the increase in urea levels in infected mice. Different from (PhSe)₂ , acyclovir (positive control), caused an increase in ADA activity and a decrease in hepatic CAT activity. Considering the interest of alternative therapies to treat HSV-2 infections and secondary complications, (PhSe)₂ become a notable candidate. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 1028-1037, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.