Clinical Biochemistry

Novel Direction in Mechanisms Underlying Lead Toxicity: Evidence and Prospective

Tau Protein Levels in ADHD

β-Naphthyl Acetate in Acetone Produces a Dark Background for Staining of Esterase Activity on Gel

Heterophile Antibody to Adrenocorticotropin Hormone Interfering with the Investigation of Cushing’s Syndrome Abstract The practice of medicine depends on the accuracy of biochemical assays. The high prevalence of incidental masses on imaging necessitates a correct biochemical diagnosis before proceeding to radiological studies. Hormonal assays, tumour markers, and markers of cardiac injury are particularly susceptible to heterophile antibody interference which may lead to inaccurate and misleading results, inappropriate investigation and/or treatment, patient concern and potential harm. A case of heterophile antibody interference in the measurement of ACTH in a patient with Cushing’s syndrome resulting in unnecessary invasive investigation is presented. Close collaboration and communication between laboratory and clinical staff is essential where laboratory results and the clinical picture are not congruent.

Chronomics of Circulating Plasma Lipid Peroxides and Antioxidant Enzymes in Renal Stone Formers Abstract The chronome of lipid peroxidation and anti-oxidant defense mechanisms may relate to the efficacy and management of time qualified preventive therapeutic and dietary interventions. One hundred renal stone patients, 20–60 years of age, and 50 clinically healthy volunteers, 21–45 years, were synchronized for 1 week with diurnal activity from 06:00 to 22:00 and nocturnal rest. All subjects took their usual meals three times daily (breakfast around 08:30, lunch around 13:00, and dinner around 20:30) with usual fluid intake. Drugs known to affect free radical system were not taken. Blood samples were collected at 6-h intervals for 24-h under standardized, presumably 24-h synchronized conditions. Determinations included plasma lipid peroxides, in terms of malondialdehyde (MDA) and blood superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR) and catalase (CAT) activities. A marked circadian variation was demonstrated for each studied variable by population-mean cosinor in renal stone patients and healthy participants (p < 0.001). By comparison to healthy subjects, parameter tests indicate that the stone formers had a higher MESOR of MDA, but a lower MESOR of SOD, GPx, GR and CAT. Furthermore, the patients also differed from the healthy controls in terms of their circadian amplitude and acrophase (tested jointly) of all variables (p < 0.001). Mapping the broader time structure with multifrequency circadian characteristics of oxidants and anti-oxidants is needed for exploring their role as marker in the treatment and management of urolithiasis.

Grape Seed Extract Alleviates Dexamethasone-Induced Hyperlipidemia, Lipid Peroxidation, and Hematological Alteration in Rats Abstract The ameliorative effects of dietary natural compounds have drawn increasing attention. Dietary antioxidant is considered a common practice adopted in traditional and alternative medicine. The current study was considered to assess the ameliorative effect of grape seed extract on dexamethasone-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Rats were injected with dexamethasone, (0.1 mg/kg; i.m.), three times per week, for 30 days. The other groups; dexamethasone (0.1 mg/kg) and grape seed extract at a dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg were given orally to rats, respectively. Dexamethasone treatment resulted in a significant elevation in liver function markers activities, lipid profile, and hematological alterations; also, a remarkable increase in hepatic lipid peroxidation marker whereas decreased antioxidant activities in rats. However, administration of grape seed extract resulted in a reversal of dexamethasone-induced lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzyme activities, liver function markers and lipid profile, and hematological alterations. Moreover, grape seed extract demonstrated preventive action against dexamethasone-induced histopathological changes in rat liver tissues. In conclusion, grape seed extract exhibited a protective effect in rats against oxidative stress, hyperlipidemia and hematological alterations induced by dexamethasone.

Influence of β-Globin Haplotypes on Oxidative Stress, Antioxidant Capacity and Inflammation in Sickle Cell Patients of Chhattisgarh Abstract The present study was conducted to investigate the frequency of β-globin gene haplotype and their influence on oxidative stress, antioxidant level and inflammation of sickle cell patient of Chhattisgarh. The serum levels of total antioxidant capacity, oxidative stress and inflammation were measured in hundred SCD patients. The mean serum CRP and MDA levels were significantly (p < 0.0001) lower in Arab-Indian haplotype when compared with Bantu and other haplotype. However, the antioxidant capacity and HbF levels were significantly higher in Arab-Indian haplotype. These result indicate that β-globin gene haplotype have a role in modulating disease severity in SCD patients of Chhattisgarh.

Hepatic and Renal Biochemical Markers as Predictors of Mortality Among Critically Ill Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome Patients Abstract Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) is a frequently encountered complication seen in intensive care unit patients and remains a common cause of mortality. Assessing prognosis of those becomes a priority and indeed we have various efficient scoring systems for the same. However they use enormous data and involve complex calculations for scoring. We intended to find a simple, inexpensive, accurate diagnostic tool of certain markers to predict mortality outcome among critically ill SIRS patients and to evaluate their efficiency in comparison to Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) scoring system. Eighty-seven patients were selected and general hepatic, renal and urinary investigations were done for them at 24 h of admission and were followed up for a period of 4 weeks from admission date to classify them as survivors and non-survivors. Twenty-one percent patients had succumbed to death during study period. Urine albumin–creatinine ratio, alanineaminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and prothrombin time/International Normalized Ratio were found to be correlating with APACHE II scores and mortality significantly. Specific individual cut-offs were found for these parameters and were combined to form combined predictors which showed good discrimination (AUC = 0.715) and good calibration (p = 0.811) with specificity of 98.6% in predicting mortality. SIRS patients falling above combined predictor’s cutoff are 54 times more likely to have an unfavorable outcome compared to the ones below. Overall predictive accuracy of first day combined predictors was such that within 24 h of ICU admission 87% of ICU SIRS admissions could be given a risk estimate for hospital death.

Effect of Gender, Age, Diet and Smoking Status on the Circadian Rhythm of Serum Uric Acid of Healthy Indians of Different Age Groups Abstract The circadian rhythm of uric acid concentration was studied under near-normal tropical conditions in 162 healthy volunteers (103 males and 59 females; 7 to 75 year). They were mostly medical students, staff members and members of their families. They were classified into 4 age groups: A (7–20 y; N = 42), B (21–40 y; N = 60), C (41–60 y; N = 35) and D (61–75 y; N = 25). They followed a diurnal activity from about 06:00 to about 22:00 and nocturnal rest. Blood samples were collected from each subject every 6 for 24 h (4 samples). Serum uric acid was measured spectrophotometrically. Data from each subject were analyzed by cosinor rhythmometry. Effects of gender, age, diet (vegetarian vs. omnivore), and smoking status on the rhythm-adjusted mean (MESOR) and circadian amplitude were examined by multiple-analysis of variance. A marked circadian variation was found in uric acid concentration in healthy Indians of all age groups. Furthermore, both the MESOR and circadian amplitude underwent changes with advancing age. In addition to effects of gender and age, diet and smoking were also found to affect the MESOR of circulating uric acid concentration in healthy Indians residing in northern India. The present observations confirmed a definite rhythm in uric acid concentrations with significant effect of gender, age, diet, and smoking status on uric acid concentration in clinical health. Mapping the circadian rhythm of serum uric acid is needed to explore their role in different pathophysiological conditions.

MicroRNA-183-5p: A New Potential Marker for Prostate Cancer Abstract The microRNA (miR)-183-5p is expressed at high level in the majority of cancer. The purpose of present study was to investigate the role of oncogenic miR-183-5p in prostate cancer (PCa) as biomarker. We carried out our experiment in 50 prostate cancer patients and 40 patients of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and 40 adjacent controls tissue. The expression of miR-183-5p was evaluated through reverse transcription qualitative polymerase chain reaction. We found that the expression of miR-183-5p in PCa tissue was significantly up regulated as compared to BPH patients and adjacent normal tissues as control. Additionally, miR-183 expression was correlated with higher prostate-specific antigen, higher Gleason Score and metastatic condition. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that miR-183-5p distinguished PCa patients from BPH patients and also from control. In conclusion, our data suggest that oncogenic miR-183-5p may be useful as a new tissue specific diagnostic biomarker in prostate cancer.