OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the effects of irbesartan vs. enalapril, with early vs. late treatment, on markers of inflammation and ischaemic heart disease in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS).

RESULTS

Patients hospitalized with ischaemic symptoms and evidence of NSTEACS were randomized to early (at hospitalization) or late (at hospital discharge) treatment with irbesartan 150 mg/day followed by 300 mg/day on day 15 (n = 212) or enalapril 10 mg/day followed by 20 mg/day on day 15 (n = 217) to day 60. The primary endpoint was the change from baseline in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-C-reactive protein) at day 60; secondary endpoints included changes in troponin I, B-type natriuretic peptide, microalbuminuria, interleukin 6, myeloperoxidase, secretory non-pancreatic type II phospholipase A2, ischaemia-modified albumin, soluble CD40 ligand, matrix metalloproteinase-9, aldosterone, and blood pressure. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels were comparable in both the irbesartan and enalapril treatment arms. There were no treatment-related differences in any of the biomarkers measured. Changes in inflammatory markers were unaffected by the timing of treatment initiation. Both treatments were well tolerated, with no differences in major adverse cardiac events.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with NSTEACS, inflammatory markers decreased over time in both treatment arms, with no differences between irbesartan and enalapril.

OBJECTIVE

Oxidative damage may be responsible for the pathogenesis and complications of many diseases. Vitamin D deficiency has been suggested as a potential mediator of various extra-skeletal pathologies. However, there are limited data on anti-oxidant properties of vitamin D.

METHODS

Forty-one subjects with vitamin D deficiency and 30 healthy controls were enrolled into the study. The levels of total anti-oxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), ischemia-modified albumin (IMA), oxidized-low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and fibrinogen were measured in both groups. The measurements were repeated in 17 patients after the replacement of vitamin D.

RESULTS

Serum IMA and TOS levels were significantly higher (p < 0.001 and p = 0.035, respectively), while TAS levels were significantly lower in patients, compared to controls (p < 0.001). Additionally, fibrinogen was significantly higher in patients than controls (p = 0.003), while ox-LDL and hs-CRP levels were similar between two groups. After the replacement of vitamin D, TAS level significantly increased (p = 0.037), and TOS and fibrinogen levels significantly decreased (p = 0.043 and p = 0.010, respectively). Vitamin D levels were negatively correlated with IMA and fibrinogen levels (r = -0.500, p < 0.001 and r = -0.391, p = 0.002, respectively), although positively correlated with TAS levels (r = 0.430, p < 0.001). No correlation was found between vitamin D levels, and the TOS, ox-LDL and hs-CRP levels.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, while serum IMA, TOS and fibrinogen levels were increased, TAS levels were seen to be decreased in patients with vitamin D deficiency. These results suggest that oxidative/anti-oxidative balance shifts in favours of oxidative status in vitamin D deficiency.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic value of serum oxidative stress marker levels (ischemia-modified albumin, IMA; malondialdehyde, MDA) and total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS) and oxidative stress index (OSI) levels that occur in ovarian torsion and to determine the threshold value of these markers in the diagnosis of ovarian torsion.

METHODS

In this prospective case-control study, 34 women (the study group) with acute pelvic pain (20 with and 14 without ovarian torsion) and 40 control subjects were included. The diagnosis of ovarian torsion was confirmed with laparoscopy in all cases. Preoperative serum samples were collected in the study group. Serum oxidative stress marker levels (IMA and MDA) and TOS, TAS and OSI levels were measured.

RESULTS

Serum MDA, TOS and IMA concentrations were significantly higher in women with ovarian torsion than in the healthy control group. However, serum TAS, TOS and OSI concentrations were significantly higher in women without ovarian torsion than within the healthy control group. Only IMA significantly distinguished patients with or without ovarian torsion. The best IMA value, according to the receiver operating characteristic curve, was 0.7045 absorbance units, with 90.00% sensitivity and 92.31% specificity. The patients in the ovarian torsion group had significantly lower serum TAS and OSI levels compared with patients without ovarian torsion.

CONCLUSIONS

The elevated serum IMA levels with high sensitivity-specificity values observed in women with ovarian torsion seem to have a potential role as a serum marker in the preoperative diagnosis of ovarian torsion in emergency settings.

BACKGROUND

Free radical-mediated oxidative stress (OS) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of thyroid disorders. The ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) has been proposed as a marker of protein oxidative damage, which has been found to reflect hypoxic stress.

OBJECTIVE

Our aim was to evaluate IMA, malondialdehyde (MDA), and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in patients with overt hypothyroidism (OHT) and subclinical hypothyroidism (SHT) in comparison to euthyroid controls.

METHODS

Albumin, IMA, IMA/albumin ratio, MDA, GSH, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), HDL-Cholesterol were assessed in 105 subjects grouped into OHT, SHT patients, and euthyroid controls with 35 subjects in each group.

RESULTS

MDA and IMA levels were significantly elevated while the GSH concentrations were significantly lower in OHT and SHT patients compared to controls (p < 0.01). When IMA values were normalized for albumin concentrations, the IMA/albumin ratio was also significantly elevated in both patient groups compared to controls (p < 0.01). These changes were more pronounced in the OHT group when compared to SHT group. In OHT group, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels showed significant positive correlation with MDA (r = 0.470, p = 0.004), IMA (r = 0.530, p = 0.001), and IMA/albumin ratio (r = 0.525, p = 0.001). Both IMA (r = -0.342, p = 0.041), IMA/albumin ratio (r = -0.378, p = 0.023) showed significant negative correlation with GSH in OHT patients. No significant correlation between variables was, however, observed in SHT group.

CONCLUSIONS

Increase of MDA and IMA levels with decreased antioxidant status indicate the presence of OS in hypothyroid patients, which was more pronounced in OHT patients. Elevated levels of IMA can be a clinically useful marker of protein oxidative damage and OS in hypothyroidism.

BACKGROUND

The role of the clinical laboratory in emergency cardiac medicine is rapidly evolving; with recent redefinitions of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and unstable angina (UA) based on troponin levels, recommended acceleration of cardiac testing protocols, and increased clinical measurement of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP). We briefly review the background pathophysiology of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and congestive heart failure (CHF), along with an overview of the biochemistry and physiology of the natriuretic peptides.

METHODS

The assay principles and performance characteristics of the rapid BNP assays are discussed. The performance characteristics of troponin assays are at the center of controversy regarding the redefinition of AMI and UA, and will be discussed.

RESULTS

We review the rapidly expanding evidence regarding the clinical utility of BNP for CHF patients. While BNP has gained wide acceptance as a rapid diagnostic tool, considerable controversy remains concerning its potential for prognosis, screening, and therapeutic monitoring. Although a thorough discussion of the use of cardiac markers is well beyond the scope of this review, overviews of the redefinitions of AMI and UA, and the trend toward accelerated testing protocols to obtain a quicker diagnosis or ruling-out of AMI are included. In addition to accelerating the retesting of existing markers, a recent test for ischemia modified albumin (IMA) promises another quantum leap in cardiac diagnoses.

CONCLUSIONS

The positive impact of these developments on the healthcare costs and overall improvement in the quality of healthcare delivery will be discussed. A brief analysis of the downstream costs of BNP testing is also offered.

Purpose: Aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of high dose methylprednisolone on experimental ovarian torsion-detorsion injury in rats. Materials and Methods: Twenty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups. Group 1 (ischemia group, 8 rats) were subjected to left adnexal torsion for 2 h but received no treatment. Group 2 (methylprednisolone group, 8 rats) were subjected to left adnexal torsion for 2 h and received methylprednisolone (30 mg/kg, administered intraperitoneally) at the end of a 2-hour ischemic period followed by 24-hour reperfusion. Group 3 (control group, 6 rats) underwent a sham operation with no adnexal torsion and no treatment. Results: Serum malondialdehyde (MDA), ischemia-modified albumin (IMA), total oxidant status (TOS) and tissue MDA levels were increased in Group 1 rats; total antioxidant status (TAS) levels and oxidative stress index (OSI) were significantly decreased compared with rats in Groups 2 and 3 (p < 0.05). MDA, IMA, TOS and tissue MDA levels were lower and TAS levels and OSI were higher in Group 3 compared to Group 2. Ovarian damage scores in Group 1 were significantly higher compared with Groups 2 and 3 (p < 0.05). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that high dose methylprednisolone reduces ovarian ischemia/reperfusion injury.

OBJECTIVE

To compare cord blood oxidative stress markers (OSM) between intrauterine small fetuses with high umbilical artery (UA) Doppler indices and normal indices.

METHODS

Forty women who had oligohydramnios and intrauterine growth-restricted fetuses with abnormal (n = 20, group I) or normal Doppler indices (n = 20, group II) were included. All patients underwent fetal Doppler ultrasound studies. Cord blood was collected at birth and six OSMs (ischemia-modified albumin (IMA), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), malondialdehyde (MDA)) levels, total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), and oxidative stress index (OSI) were studied.

RESULTS

The mean cord blood IMA, MDA, TOS, and OSI values for group I were significantly increased when compared to the group II (p < 0.001 for IMA, MDA, TOS, and OSI). However the mean cord blood HGF and TAS values were statistically significantly decreased in group I, compared with group II (p < 0.001 for HGF, and TAS). A significant positive (for IMA, MDA,TOS levels, and OSI ratio) and negative (for HGF and TAS levels) correlations between UA pulsatility index (PI) and cord blood OSM were found.

CONCLUSIONS

The correlation between cord blood OSM and Doppler blood flow changes shown in this study may contribute to understanding the underlying oxidative stress-related mechanisms.

OBJECTIVE

Testicular torsion (TT) refers to rotation of the testis and twisting of the spermatic cord. TT results in ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury involving increased oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis, and can even lead to infertility. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ozone therapy on testicular damage due to I/R injury in an experimental torsion model.

METHODS

24 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups; sham-operated, torsion/detorsion (T/D), and T/D+ozone. Ozone (1mg/kg) was injected intraperi-toneally 120 minutes before detorsion and for the following 24h. Blood and tissue samples were collected at the end of 24h. Johnsen score, ischemia modified albumin (IMA), total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), and oxidative stress index (OSI) levels were determined.

RESULTS

Levels of IMA, TOS, OSI, and histopathological scores increased in the serum/tissue of the rats in the experimental T/D group. Serum IMA, TOS, and OSI levels and tissue histo-pathological scores were lower in the rats treated with ozone compared with the T/D group.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study results suggest that ozone therapy may exhibit beneficial effects on both biochemical and histopathological findings. Clinical trials are now necessary to confirm this.

BACKGROUND

In this study, we investigated the alterations of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), acute inflammation, and oxidative damage in the circulatory system and the intestine in response to mesenteric ischemia/reperfusion (I/R).

METHODS

Twenty-one rats were divided randomly into the following three groups (n = 7 in each group): a sham group (CG), an ischemic group (IG), and an I/R group (I/RG). MMP-9, TIMP-1, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method, and lipid peroxidation (quantified as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) content), ischemia-modified albumin, the prooxidant-antioxidant balance (PAB), and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) were measured spectrophotometrically. The degree of intestinal injury was evaluated according to the Chiu scoring system.

RESULTS

A significant difference between the mean serum TIMP-1 and MMP-9 levels and the alanine transaminase activity was found among the groups. Compared with the I/RG group a significant difference in the mean tissue MMP-9, MPO, and TBARS levels in addition to the PAB and FRAP was found between the CG and IG groups. The level of MMP-9 also demonstrated a strong, positive, and valid correlation with the TBA-RS levels. A significant morphological change was observed in both the IG and the I/RG groups. The degree of intestinal injury was more severe in the I/R group and was characterized by either villous denudation or villous loss.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that MMP-9, TIMP-1, MPO, and oxidative stress may be important in the intestinal injury development that is induced by acute mesenteric I/R in a rat model. MMP-9 overexpression may increase the extent of intestinal villous loss, particularly when MMP-9 is upregulated by the TBARS present in the intestinal injury.

BACKGROUND

Patients with chronic liver disease had lower serum concentrations 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD). Glycine, a nonessential amino acid, exerts anti-inflammatory, cytoprotective, and immunomodulatory properties. This study aimed to establish a tandem mass spectrometry assay to measure 25OHD in guinea pigs serum and to investigate the effects of glycine against the liver damage induced by bile duct ligation (BDL).

METHODS

BDL was performed on male guinea pigs. Glycine, alanine, serine or tyrosine was given by intraperitoneal injection. The animals were sacrificed and examined at 7 and 14 days after BDL. Serum concentrations of total bilirubin and aminotransferase were measured. Serum concentrations of 25OHD2 and 25OHD3 were measured by API 5000 mass spectrometer. In addition, oxidative stress was assessed by serum ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) and hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA), and apoptosis by hepatic caspase 3 activities.

RESULTS

Serum 25OHD concentrations were decreased around 50% in the BDL group at days 7 and 14 post ligation, compared to sham (mean 65.3 ng/ml, p<0.005). Glycine but not other amino acid treatment blunted the reduced serum 25OHD (52.6 ng/ml, p<0.05) resulting from BDL. The concentrations of 25OHD were negatively associated with concentrations of IMA (r=-0.305, p<0.05) and caspase 3 (r=-0.562, p<0.0001). At day-14 post ligation, glycine treatment also ameliorated liver damage indicated by serum AST (p<0.005), ALT (p<0.05) and hepatic caspase 3 activities (p<0.05) and oxidative stress.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that glycine may protect against BDL-induced liver injury through attenuation of oxidative stress, apoptosis and the vitamin D deficiency.

The microcirculation is an important system, containing resistance arterioles, capillaries and venules, whose main function is to transport oxygen and nutrients to the tissues. Endothelial cells are the main cell types of the microcirculation; their homeostasis is modulated by constant shear stress. Altered hemorheology induces a change in the production of vasodilator and vasoconstrictor agents. The most important pattern inducing endothelium dysfunction is an increase in oxidative stress, which decreases the amount of nitric oxide and favors microvascular phlogosis. In this review we will consider the main scientific reports about the cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking, hypercholesterolemia, hyperviscosity, hypertension, diabetes, stress and increased homocysteine levels, all having as common etiopathogenetic factor alterations in microcirculation and in tissue oxygenation. We also focus on their influence on endothelial cells, inducing endothelial changes and dysfunction related to altered oxygen supply and linked to increased oxidative stress. Also important are endothelial stem cells, that are able to repair vascular endothelial damage, especially in cardiovascular patients, with or without endothelial dysfunction. Under these circumstances the numbers of these stem cells are altered, which means there is a decrease in regeneration capability (post ischaemia modified albumin, etc.). This could be an important negative prognostic factor. Microcirculation and tissue oxygenation are very important factors strongly linked to hemorheology, especially in cardiovascular patients, and their alterations could cause impairment, or initiate cardiovascular pathologies.

Regulatory T cells (Treg) has been documented to be protective against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI). The administration of drugs which recruit Treg cells may participate in the cardioprotection of MIRI. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether the add-on vildagliptin (vild) to standard treatment of MIRI prior to reperfusion could increase Treg recruitment, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects of the standard treatment or not. Sixty diabetic patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction were randomly divided into two equal groups: control group was given the standard medical treatment and vild group was given the standard medical treatment plus vild. There were no statistical differences between the mean of percentage of changes in nitric oxide, ischemia modified albumin, highly sensitive C reactive protein, and interferon-gamma levels in the studied groups. While, the percentages of changes of myeloperoxidase level, CD4+CD25+ Treg cells count, and transforming growth factor-beta1 level were significantly higher in vild group compared with control group. We concluded that addition of vild to standard medical treatment of MIRI could increase its effectiveness through recruitment of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells.

Micro and macrovascular complications occurring during hyperlipidemia are mostly attributed to haemostatic impairment and vascular endothelial dysfunction. Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) inhibitors have been emerged recently as promising hypocholesterolemic agents to confer protection against lipid-mediated atherosclerosis. Therefore, 10-dehydrogingerdione (DHGD), a novel CETP inhibitor isolated from ginger rhizomes, was selected as a natural product in the present study to illustrate its effect on haemostatic impairment associated with hyperlipidemia as compared to a currently used hypocholesterolemic agent, atorvastatin (ATOR). Rabbits were fed a high cholesterol diet (HCD) and divided into three groups. One group served as control group while the other groups received DHGD or ATOR. Dyslipidemic rabbits showed a significant increase in serum endothelin-1, ischemia modified albumin, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, prothrombin fragments (1+2) and plasma fibrinogen along with a decrease of nitric oxide level in serum. Daily administration of ATOR or DHGD significantly decreased the aforementioned coagulation and ischemia biomarkers and increased serum nitric oxide. DHGD (natural) results seem to be more remarkable as compared to ATOR (synthetic).

BACKGROUND

Patients with acute chest pain remain a great diagnostic challenge to emergency physicians. Ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) is a recently developed biomarker of transient myocardial ischemia. IMA has already been licensed by the US Food and Drug Administration for diagnosis of suspected myocardial ischemia. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic value of IMA in treatment of patients with acute coronary syndrome(ACS).

METHODS

IMA level was detected by ultra-filtration assay combined with albumin-cobalt binding (ACB) test as well as tests of myoglobin (MYO), creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) in 169 consecutive patients with acute chest pain onset within 24 hours. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for IMA in diagnosing ACS was established to determine the cut-off point. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of IMA and its combinations with other agents were analyzed.

RESULTS

Area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.754. As the cut-off point for IMA in this study was 70.4 U/ml, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of IMA were 79.8%, 65.2%±77.7%, and 69.7%, respectively. The sensitivity and NPV of IMA combined with the conventional cardiac marker panel for the diagnosis of ACS were 93.4% and 86.0%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

IMA is a useful biochemical marker for the early diagnosis of ACS. IMA combined with the conventional cardiac marker panel can improve early diagnosis of ACS compared with the traditional combinations of myocardial biochemical markers.

After an initial perfusion using the Langendorff technique, rat hearts were perfused through the left atrium according to the working heart technique. Hearts were preloaded with l noradrenaline 3H (3H-NA) and the release of radioactivity and 3H-NA in the coronary effluent was evaluated. Coronary flow, cardiac output, myocardial oxygen consumption and the electrocardiogram were simultaneously recorded. The perfusion medium consisted of a modified Krebs Henseleit solution containing 3 mM potassium and 0.5 mM sodium palmitate complexed with serum albumin in a molar ratio of 6/1. 1. The addition of palmitate to the perfusion fluid during the Langendorff perfusion produced increases in coronary flow and oxygen consumption, but the release of 3H-NA was not significantly modified, and no irregularities in ventricular concentration were observed. Likewise, the working of the heart did not alter the rate of 3H-NA release. 2. Ischemia was induced on the working heart by left coronary artery ligation for 15 min. It resulted in a reduction in coronary flow and in a similar decrease in the rate of release of 3H-NA. During the first minutes of the occlusion period, there was a slight increase in the incidence of ventricular extrasystoles, but ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation were never encountered. 3. Re-perfusion was accompanied by the occurrence of ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation in all the hearts. These arrhythmias were almost uninterrupted during the first 3 min of re-perfusion, and lasted to a lesser extent up to the 9th minute. Re-perfusion resulted in a sudden release of 3H-NA which was multiplied by a factor 4 during the first 2 min, and then decreased progressively. 4. These results suggest that a release of NA from the myocardial ischemic zones plays a role in the genesis of cardiac arrhythmias following reperfusion.

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to determine serum ischemia modified albumin and malondialdehyde levels as markers of oxidative stress and serum superoxide dismutase activity as a marker of antioxidant defense and their associations with clinical outcomes in patients with fibromyalgia.

METHODS

59 patients with fibromyalgia and 38 age and gender matched healthy controls were included in the study. The diagnosis of fibromyalgia was based on the classification criteria declared by American College of Rheumatology in 1990. All patients underwent the clinical assessment, consisting of evaluation for tender point count, visual analogue scale for pain, fibromyalgia impact questionnaire, multidimensional assessment of fatigue, Beck anxiety inventory, Beck depression inventory, and the health assessment questionnaire. Serum levels of ischemia modified albumin, malondialdehyde, and superoxide dismutase activities were measured using colorimetric methods.

RESULTS

Malondialdehyde levels of fibromyalgia patients were significantly higher than they were in the control group. Ischemia modified albumin levels in the fibromyalgia group were not significantly different from the control values. There was no significant correlation between ischemia modified albumin and malondialdehyde and clinical measures with the exception that malondialdehyde levels positively correlated with health assessment questionnaire scores.

CONCLUSIONS

We concluded that increased malondialdehyde levels in patients with fibromyalgia could be considered as a sign of increased oxidative stress. Ischemia modified albumin values were not in concordance with malondialdehyde levels and could not be considered as an oxidative stress marker in the follow-up of fibromyalgia. Further studies are needed to investigate IMA levels in newly diagnosed fibromyalgia patients.

BACKGROUND

Chronic Liver Disease (CLD) is characterised by gradual destruction of liver tissue over time. Ischemia Modified Albumin (IMA) is an upcoming biomarker shown to be elevated in conditions associated with ischemia and oxidative stress. Albumin levels are greatly reduced in patients with CLD and studying its alterations will provide essential information regarding the molecular changes occurring to it.

OBJECTIVE

The study aims to estimate IMA and IMA/Albumin ratio in patients with CLD and to correlate it with parameters assessing liver function and the Model for End Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score.

METHODS

The study consisted of 43 CLD patients as test subjects and 28 apparently healthy individuals as controls. Multiple parameters assessing liver function like albumin, bilirubin, aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), Gamma Glutamyl Transpeptidase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Prothrombin Time (PT) INR and creatinine were estimated and the MELD score calculated. Serum IMA expressed as Absorbance Units (ABSU) was estimated using the Albumin Cobalt Binding test (ABT). Student's t-test and correlation coefficient was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Serum IMA was significantly higher in CLD patients (0.5320 ± 0.1677) as compared to the control group (0.3203 ± 0.1257) with a p-value of <0.0001. The IMA/Albumin ratio was also significantly higher (0.2035 ± 0.0970) in patients with CLD compared to control group (0.0714 ± 0.0283) with a p-value of <0.0001. IMA has a negative correlation with albumin. The IMA/Albumin ratio shows positive correlation with MELD score, bilirubin and ALP. There was no correlation with ALT, AST, GGT and PT INR.

CONCLUSIONS

Decreased serum albumin correlates with increase in IMA in CLD could indicate a qualitative change and not merely a quantitative reduction of albumin. IMA can serve as a biomarker to assess the disease severity and prognosis of CLD patients.

This prospective case-control study comprised 41 consecutive patients with PCOS and 41 non-PCOS control patients matched for body mass index (BMI) and age (mean age, 22.17 +/- 4.45 and 23.29 +/- 3.11 years, respectively). Serum IMA, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, homeostatic model assessment insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), prolactin, thyroid-stimulating hormone, LH, FSH, oestradiol, total testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglyceride, 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone and cortisol concentrations were measured. Compared with the control group, women with PCOS had significantly higher concentrations of LH (P < 0.001), LH/FSH ratio (P < 0.001), fasting insulin (P < 0.001), HOMA (P < 0.001) and total testosterone (P = 0.031). Serum IMA concentrations in PCOS women were significantly higher than control group (0.63 +/- 0.26 versus 0.49 +/- 0.16 absorbance units, respectively, P = 0.003, 95% CI 0.05-0.24). Bivariate analysis revealed that serum IMA concentrations were only well correlated with the Ferriman-Gallwey score (r = 0.416, P = 0.007), total testosterone (r = 0.357, P = 0.022) and BMI (r = 0.3751, P = 0.016) in PCOS group. Serum IMA, which has recently been developed as a clinical marker of ongoing myocardial ischaemia, appears to be elevated in PCOS. This may be due to increased androgen concentrations observed in PCOS.

OBJECTIVE

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the levels of ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in patients with subclinical (SHypo) and overt hypothyroidism (OHypo), and to assess the effects of levothyroxine (LT4) therapy on the oxidative stress (OS) parameters. We also investigated the relationships among serum thyroid hormones, lipid parameters, and IMA and MDA in these patients.

METHODS

Thirty untreated patients with OHypo, 25 untreated patients with Shypo, and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were prospectively included in the study. Biochemical and hormonal parameters including IMA and MDA were evaluated in all patients just before and one month after the maintenance of euthyroidism.

RESULTS

Compared with the control subjects, the levels of MDA and triglycerides (TG) significantly increased in patients with SHypo (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively), whereas high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels significantly decreased (p = 0.01). Patients with OHypo showed significantly high MDA, total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and TG levels (p = 0.001, p < 0.01, p = 0.01, and p < 0.01, respectively), and significantly low HDL-C levels compared with the controls (p < 0.05). MDA levels and lipid profile were not significantly different in the patients with OHypo when compared with the patients with SHypo. Serum IMA levels did not significantly change in patients with OHypo and SHypo compared with the controls. In the pre-treatment period, MDA levels were inversely correlated with HDL-C levels in patients with OHypo (r: -0.471, p = 0.009). Plasma MDA and LDL-C levels significantly decreased and HDL-C levels significantly increased in the groups of OHypo and SHypo after LT4 treatment. Serum IMA levels did not significantly change with the therapy in all patient groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased MDA levels in both patient groups represent increased lipid peroxidation which might play an important role in the pathogenesis of the atherosclerosis seen in these patients. Increased OS in patients with SHypo and OHypo could be improved by LT4 treatment. Also, MDA can be used as a reliable marker of OS and oxidative damage, while IMA is considered to be inappropriate.

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluates cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among women undergoing natural menopause or surgically induced menopause through the measurement of serum growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), ischemia modified albumin (IMA), total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), triglyceride, fibrinogen, and C-reactive protein (CRP).

METHODS

The study included women with surgically induced menopause (n = 50) and women undergoing natural menopause (n = 50). The two study groups were matched according to age, body mass index, menopause duration. GDF-15, BNP, IMA, total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, triglyceride, fibrinogen, and CRP were measured.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in GDF-15, BNP, IMA, total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, triglyceride, fibrinogen, and CRP results between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that there is no increase in CVD risk among women aged 40-50 with surgically induced menopause relative to matched control subjects undergoing normal age-related menopause.

The development of optimal methods for preservation is important for the advancement of liver transplantation. This study compares hypothermic storage (HS) and hypothermic pulsatile perfusion (HPP) with various solutions, using an isolated normothermic perfusion model (LIPM). Canine livers were removed from mongrel dogs without warm ischemia and flushed with either heparinized Ringer's lactate (control and HPP-preserved groups) or the solution used for hypothermic storage (TP-V or modified Collins). The type of preservation and solution for each of the experimental groups was as follows: group I (n = 7), no preservation, fresh; group II (n = 7), 24-h HS with TP-V (a hyperosmolar colloid solution containing sucrose, dextrose, and ATP-MgCl2); group III (n = 7), 24-h HS with modified Collins (C-2), an intracellular crystalloid solution; group IV (n = 5), 24-h HP with TP-V; group V (n = 6), 24-h HPP with Belzer solution, containing ATP-MgCl2; group VI (n = 3), 24-h HPP with albumin. After the preservation period, livers were placed on HPP at 37 degrees C with albumin-mannitol solution for 3-h testing in an LIPM. Perfusate samples were taken at 1-h intervals to assess liver function. LDH, SGOT, alkaline phosphatase, lactic acid, LAP, GGT, pO2, pCO2, pH, osmolarity, AMP, ADP, and ATP were studied. Histologic studies were performed, as were representative HIDA scans. Using the LIPM, livers preserved by HS and HPP with TP-V solution appeared to be superior to those preserved with modified Collins, Belzer, and albumin solutions. In these non-TP-V groups, the greatest cellular and organ damage was observed. TP-V HPP appeared to give the best overall liver functional response and histologic results and is recommended as the preferred method for 24-h liver preservation.

BACKGROUND

Hepatic injury of varied aetiology may progress to Acute Liver Failure (ALF). Compromised microcirculation is thought to be a deciding factor of hepatic hypoxia may be involved in disease progression that needs early detection. Ischaemia markers like serum Ischaemia- modified albumin (IMA), ALT-LDH ratio and ALT-LDH index have been suggested for its detection at early stage.

OBJECTIVE

To find out the association of Ischaemia markers like serum IMA, ALT-LDH ratio and ALT-LDH index in acute hepatic injury cases.

METHODS

Forty one diagnosed acute liver injury cases of varied aetiology admitted in Department of Medicine, and Gastroenterology of SCB Medical College, Cuttack were enrolled in the study along with 30 age and sex matched healthy controls. Blood collected at time of admission and at time of discharge (1(st) day and 7(th) day) were evaluated for FPG, RFT, LFT, Serum Albumin along with serum LDH, IMA, PT-INR and platelet count.

RESULTS

Serum bilirubin, hepatic enzymes, IMA, PT-INR was more markedly raised in cases than controls on the 1(st) day of admission. ALT-LDH ratio and index were significantly low in complicated cases. However, on responding to treatment the ALT-LDH index on 7(th) day registered a rise in comparison to the 1(st) day, while serum IMA revealed an insignificant decline showing improvement in hepatic hypoxia. ALT-LDH ratio remains more or less same on response to treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Serum IMA and ALT-LDH Index reveals association with disease process in Acute Hepatic Injury cases both clinically and biochemically and can be used as supportive parameters for the diagnosis of disease process.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate ischaemia modified albumin (IMA) as an early negative predictor of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in different time to presentation groups and different cardiac risk groups.

METHODS

A prospective observational study was performed in the emergency department at Royal Perth Hospital. Consecutive patients with symptoms suggestive of ACS needing delayed troponin measurements were recruited. All enrolled patients had both IMA and troponin measurements performed on their initial blood samples. The time of the initial blood tests and thrombolysis in myocardial ischaemia (TIMI) risk scores were recorded. Initial IMA results were compared with 12 h troponin levels and a discharge diagnosis of ACS. More detailed analyses were made according to different times to presentation (0-4 h, 5-12 h) and cardiac risk (TIMI score 0-1, 2-7). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and likelihood ratio were calculated. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to determine the best diagnostic cut-off for IMA.

RESULTS

248 patients were enrolled (151 (61%) men, mean age 65 years). All 248 patients had 'positive' IMA results using the 85 U/ml cut-off value recommended by the manufacturer. ROC curves failed to show improved cut-off points for diagnosing raised 12 h troponin levels or ACS; the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.52 and 0.53, respectively. ROC curves produced similar poor results in all subgroups. In the subgroup with time to presentation 0-4 h and TIMI score 0-1 for diagnosing ACS, the AUC was slightly better at 0.58.

CONCLUSIONS

This study does not support the use of IMA as a negative predictor for ACS.

BACKGROUND

Acute mesenteric ischaemia is an emergency condition that requires urgent and expeditious diagnosis and immediate surgical or medical intervention. The initial hours are critical for the recovery of the affected bowel segment. Thus, its clinic diagnostic biomarkers are important when it comes to reducing mortality and morbidity rates.

METHODS

Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were included in the study. The rats were divided into three equal groups. Those in Group I were sacrificed to determine the basal serum values of ischaemia-modified albumin (IMA) after a simple laparotomy. The superior mesenteric artery (SMA) was clamped in a simple laparotomy in Groups II and III; blood samples were taken at 120 minutes in Group II and 360 minutes in Group III. The serum IMA levels were identified from the blood samples and the results obtained were compared statistically.

RESULTS

The serum IMA levels were determined to be 22±6 (22) μ/L, 34±7 (34) μ/L and 36±4 (37) μ/L in Groups I, II and III, respectively. The differences between the groups were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results showed that the serum IMA level is not an appropriate biomarker for acute mesenteric ischaemia. Additionally, the IMA level is not an appropriate biomarker for the detection of ischaemia duration. However, future studies should be conducted to clarify the efficacy of serum IMA levels under different ischaemic conditions.