Plasma Transport Proteins in Patients with Tuberculosis and COVID-19 at the Stages of Treatment

The objective: to assess changes in the level of lactoferrin and ferritin in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and COVID-19 during treatment, to determine their correlation with parameters of free radical oxidation and antioxidant protection.Subjects and methods. Levels of lactoferrin and erythrocyte catalase ferritin, neutrophil myeloperoxidase were studied against the background of successful treatment in the group of pulmonary tuberculosis patients (n = 80) and the group of COVID-19 patients (n = 75). Their correlation with parameters of free radical oxidation and antioxidant protection was assessed.Results. Before treatment, the median level of lactoferrin and ferritin increased in both groups, but in the COVID-19 Group, it was significantly more pronounced. At the end of the intensive phase in the Tuberculosis Group and when clinical improvement was achieved in the COVID-19 Group, the median ferritin level decreased. Increased myeloperoxidase activity and decreased level of erythrocyte catalase were also noted in both groups before treatment start; in the COVID-19 Group, the median level of myeloperoxidase was higher versus the Tuberculosis Group, which correlated with a higher median level of ferritin and lactoferrin in this group. After the end of the intensive phase of tuberculosis treatment and achievement of clinical improvement in COVID-19, there was a decrease in the median levels of myeloperoxidase, which coincided with a decrease in the levels of lactoferrin and ferritin. There was a direct strong correlation between myeloperoxidase-ferritin levels (r = 0.80; p < 0.01) and myeloperoxidase-lactoferrin levels (r = 0.73; p < 0.01). Against the background of treatment, intracellular catalase activity increased in both groups, almost reaching the normal value. Also, there is a strong inverse correlation between catalase and ferritin (r = -0.79; p < 0.01).

ATTENUATION OF IRON OVERLOAD AND EFFECT OF ANTIOXIDANTS SUPPLEMENTATION ON OXIDATIVE STRESS IN HOMOZYGOUS β-THALASSEMIA

It has been projected that ferritin and iron yoke in homozygous thalassemic children is coupled with the enhanced free radical formation and blemished in antioxidative defense coordination. Aim: The purpose of the current study was to analyze the consequence of serum iron, erythrocyte catalase, and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (ESOD) in patients with beta-thalassemia major. Method: 60 beta-thalassemia major patients were studied before and after supplementation of A – Z antioxidants for 20 weeks, and status were compared with 60 age and sex-matched healthy normal. Serum Iron estimation was carried out by Ramsay’s Dipyridyl Method. Estimation of erythrocyte superoxide dismutase was done by Kajari Das Method. The levels of Catalase concentration in erythrocytes were analyzed by the Goth method. All the objectives mentioned above were run by using a UV visible Spectrophotometer (Systronix). Results: A marked enhancement was seen in the intensity of serum iron, and superoxide dismutase (p<0.001) with parallel decline was observed in the level of erythrocyte catalase (p<0.001) in homozygous thalassemia patients when compared with healthy subjects. After 20 weeks of regular supplementation of antioxidants A-Z syrup, which consists of multimineral multivitamins, the concentration of catalase was increased whereas iron and ESOD (p<0.001) were reduced significantly when compared with normal and baselines thalassemic patients. Conclusion: Due to multiple blood transfusions, beta-thalassemia major children are at advanced risk due to secondary iron surplus and intense oxidative stress. Such kind of circumstances may be handled with supplementation of antioxidants A-Z syrup with their regular treatment.

Evaluation of oxidative stress and antioxidant parameters in children with carbon monoxide poisoning

Objective: In this study, we aimed to investigate oxidative stress and antioxidant parameter levels in patients with carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Methods: The study was conducted prospectively between March 1, 2015 and April 30, 2016 in the pediatric emergency department. Eligible patients included children aged 0–18 years old with a diagnosis of CO poisoning. To determination of oxidative stress and antioxidant parameter levels, venous blood with heparinized and urine samples were drawn during the admission and after normobaric oxygen (NBO) and hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment. Results: Forty-seven children with CO poisoning for study group and 29 patients as control group were included to the study. Sixteen patients treated with HBO. Basal plasma malondialdehyde levels were found to be significantly higher in the CO poisoning group when compared with the control group ( p = 0.019). There is no significant difference in oxidative stress and antioxidant parameter levels except erythrocyte catalase enzyme levels in patients treated with NBO when comparing before and after NBO treatment ( p > 0.05). Decreasing of basal erythrocyte catalase enzyme levels were found statistically significant after NBO treatment ( p = 0.04). There was no significant difference in oxidative stress and antioxidant parameter levels in patients treated with HBO before and after therapy ( p > 0.05). Conclusions: CO poisoning is associated with increased lipid peroxidation in children immediately after the poisoning. However, both treatment modalities including NBO or HBO do not have a significant effect on oxidative stress or antioxidant parameter levels.

Erythrocyte Catalase Activity in More Frequent Microcytic Hypochromic Anemia: Beta-Thalassemia Trait and Iron Deficiency Anemia

Most common microcytic hypochromic anemias are iron deficiency anemia (IDA) andβ-thalassemia trait (BTT), in which oxidative stress (OxS) has an essential role. Catalase causes detoxification of H2O2in cells, and it is an indispensable antioxidant enzyme. The study was designed to measure erythrocyte catalase activity (ECAT) in patients with IDA (10) or BTT (21), to relate it with thalassemia mutation type (β0orβ+) and to compare it with normal subjects (67). Ninety-eight individuals were analyzed since September 2013 to June 2014 in Tucumán, Argentina. Total blood count, hemoglobin electrophoresis at alkaline pH, HbA2, catalase, and iron status were performed.β-thalassemic mutations were determined by real-time PCR. Normal range for ECAT was 70,0–130,0 MU/L. ECAT was increased in 14% (3/21) of BTT subjects and decreased in 40% (4/10) of those with IDA. No significant difference (p=0,245) was shown between normal and BTT groups, while between IDA and normal groups the difference was proved to be significant (p=0,000). Inβ0andβ+groups, no significant difference (p=0,359) was observed. An altered ECAT was detected in IDA and BTT. These results will help to clarify how the catalase activity works in these anemia types.