BACKGROUND

Repetitive episodes of hypoxia and reoxygenation during sleep in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) resemble an ischemia-reperfusion injury. We aimed to test the hypothesis that oxidative stress occurs in pregnant women with OSAS. We also aimed to compare thiol/disulfide homeostasis with ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) as markers of ischemia-reperfusion injury in pregnant women with and without OSAS and healthy control.

METHODS

This study included 29 pregnant women with OSAS, 30 women without OSAS in the third trimester applying for periodic examinations, and 30 healthy women. Serum IMA and TAC (using the ferric reducing power of plasma method) were measured. Serum thiol/disulfide homeostasis was determined by a novel automated method.

RESULTS

The mean age of the pregnant women with OSAS was 31.0 ± 4.7 years with a mean gestational age of 36.5 ± 3.0 weeks. The mean age of pregnant women without OSAS was 29.8 ± 4.9 years with a mean gestational age of 36.9 ± 2.7 weeks. The mean age of the nonpregnant control group was 29.7 ± 6.4 years. Both native thiol (291 ± 29 μmol/L versus 314 ± 30 μmol/L; p = .018) and total thiol (325 ± 32 versus 350 ± 32, p = .025) levels were lower in pregnant women with OSAS compared to pregnant women without OSAS, respectively (p < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first study demonstrating the thiol/disulfide homeostasis in pregnant women with OSAS. Native thiol and total thiol levels were lower in pregnant women with OSAS compared to those without OSAS. However, dynamic thiol/disulfide homeostasis parameters cannot provide valuable information to discriminate OSAS in pregnant women.

Acute cerebrovascular disease (ACVD) is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates, however, molecular markers to aid in its early detection are lacking. In this study, we examined the correlation between serum ischemia-modified albumin (IMA), a marker used to identify ischemic events in the heart, and blood lipids in patients with ACVD. Serum IMA levels were determined by enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay, and total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high‑density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) and triglyceride (TG) levels were determined biochemically in 62 patients with cerebral infarction (CI), 40 patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), 18 patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and 100 healthy individuals (controls). Serum IMA levels were significantly higher in each of the ACVD groups compared to the control group (CI, 80.81±11.97 U/ml; ICH, 80.25±10.91 U/ml; SAH, 74.43±11.39 U/ml and control, 41.08±5.10 U/ml; P<0.05). Additionally, serum TC, LDL and TG levels significantly increased, while serum HDL significantly decreased in the ACVD groups compared to the control group (P<0.05). A positive correlation was found between serum IMA levels and serum TC, LDL and TG levels in the ACVD patients, while serum IMA levels were negatively correlated with serum HDL levels (P<0.05). Thus, serum IMA increased following an ACVD event and was closely correlated with changes in the blood lipid levels. These factors, when combined, may allow the development of molecular markers for an earlier diagnosis of ACVD.

Background: There is growing interest in the use of new biomarkers such as glycated albumin (GA), but data are limited in acute ischemic stroke. We explored the impact of GA on short-term functional outcomes as measured using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 3 months compared to glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Methods: A total of 1163 AIS patients from two hospitals between 2016 and 2019 were included. Patients were divided into two groups according to GA levels (GA < 16% versus GA ≥ 16%). Results: A total of 518 patients (44.5%) were included in the GA ≥ 16% group. After adjusting for multiple covariates, the higher GA group (GA ≥ 16%) had a 1.4-fold risk of having unfavorable mRS (95% CI 1.02-1.847). However, HbA1c was not significantly associated with 3-month mRS. In addition, GA ≥ 16% was independently associated with unfavorable short-term outcomes only in patients without diabetes. Conclusions: In light of these results, GA level might be a novel prognostic biomarker compared to HbA1c for short-term stroke outcome. Although the impact of GA is undervalued in the current stroke guidelines, GA monitoring should be considered in addition to HbA1c monitoring.

Keywords: biomarkers; blood glucose; brain ischemia; glycated albumin; glycated hemoglobin; prognosis; stroke.

Acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) defines a complex of conditions characterized by an interruption of the splanchnic circulation, leading to insufficient oxygen delivery or utilization to fill the metabolic needs of the visceral organs. Early diagnosis and immediate therapy are the cornerstones of early ischemia to reach a successful outcome and are necessary to reduce the high mortality. Although there is still lack of specific biomarkers to assist the diagnosis of AMI in clinical practice, there are several biomarkers with high specificity, may become a potential tools in early diagnosis of AMI, including intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP), a-glutathione S-transferase (a-GST), D-dimer, L- and D-lactate, citrulline, ischemia modified albumin, procalcitonin (PCT). However, they use in clinical limited duo to the many studies about these makers finished with small patient populations, and heterogeneous among these populations. This review describes the etiology of AMI, the current most studied promising biomarkers, the current research situation and future of biomarker research.

BACKGROUND

Antioxidant systems in cells maintain the proper homeostasis of reactive oxygen species, which at high concentrations can induce carcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum levels of ischemia-modified albumin (IMA), erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) as markers for prognosis in children with neuroblastoma (NB) and soft tissue sarcomas (STS), two cancer types for which reliable prognostic factors are needed.

METHODS

SOD, GSH-Px, and IMA were measured before and during responses to therapy assessment in 99 children with NB and STS and in 30 healthy controls.

RESULTS

There were no statistically significant differences in the erythrocyte SOD and GSH-Px activities between the patients with cancer and healthy controls. The levels of IMA in patients with STS and NB were found to be significantly higher than in the controls (P = 0.0013; P = 0.0066, and 0.0164, respectively). Decreased activities of SOD and GSH-Px were found in all patients with poor-responding (PRS) cancers and decreased SOD activity was found in patients with PRS NB. An increase in GSH-Px was observed in patients with good-responding (GR) NB. All patients with GR cancers demonstrated higher SOD and GSH-Px activities than patients with PRS cancers.

CONCLUSIONS

While determining the levels of specific antioxidants as antioxidant-barrier parameters in children with cancer may be valuable in predicting therapeutic responses as well as outcomes, additional studies are required.

Oxidative stress and reperfusion injury may develop in different ischemia-reperfusion (IR) models. Growing evidence links altered lipid protein redox-homeostasis with IR. The effect of fluoxetine (FLX; N-methyl-3-[4-(trifluoromethyl) phenoxy] benzenepropanamine), on the lipid protein redox-homeostasis mechanisms in the rats exposed to aortic IR is unclear. We aimed to investigate the effects of FLX on circulating protein oxidation and lipid peroxidation parameters, such as ischemia modified albumin (IMA), lipid hydroperoxide (LOOH), prooxidant antioxidant balance (PAB), erythrocyte glutathione (GSH), CuZn-superoxide dismutase (CuZn-SOD), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), as potential IR biomarkers. Wistar rats were randomized into three groups (n=7/group): 1) Control (sham laparotomy); 2) IR without FLX, (60min ischemia and 120min reperfusion); 3) IR with FLX (FLX+IR) (FLX 20mg/kg/day, i.p. for three days before surgery). All of the aforementioned parameters (IMA, LOOH, PAB, GSH, CuZn-SOD, and FRAP) were measured spectrophotometrically. IMA, LOOH, and PAB levels in IR group were significantly higher than the control (P<0.01 respectively) and fluoxetine groups (P<0.01, P<0.01, and P<0.05 respectively), whereas CuZn-SOD activities, GSH and FRAP were significantly lower in IR groups. Fluoxetine group significantly reduced IMA when compared to IR group (P<0.001) and control group (P<0.01). With respect to IMA, LOOH and PAB, impaired redox homeostasis is substantially more prominent in aortic IR. The antidepressant FLX has profitable effects on circulating redox status in rats exposed to aortic IR. FLX administration before IR might decrease the surgery-enhanced free radical production; taken together, the antioxidant effects of FLX supplementation should be considered in future studies.

This study evaluated the effect of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) on uterine tissue preservation following ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Uterine I/R injury was induced in rats by clamping the lower abdominal aorta and ovarian arteries for 30 min. Group I/R + V (n = 7) received vehicle alone while Group I/R + M (n = 7) received 20 mg/kg/day MMF. Control groups underwent sham surgery and received vehicle (Group C) or 20 mg/kg/day MMF (Group M) (n = 7 for both). Four hours after detorsion, uterine tissue 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), glutathione, malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and serum ischaemia modified albumin (IMA) concentrations were measured. Histopathological analyses were performed. The I/R + M group showed significant reduction in serum IMA and uterine tissue 8-OHdG, MDA and MPO and significant increase in SOD concentrations compared with the I/R + V group, indicating a protective effect against I/R oxidative damage (P = 0.009, P = 0.006, P = 0.002, P = 0.003 and P = 0.009, respectively). Histopathological evaluation revealed MMF treatment resulted in significantly less tissue and cellular damage and apoptosis compared with the I/R + V group. These results indicate MMF is effective in attenuating uterine tissue damage and preventing apoptosis following uterine I/R injury, probably via anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative action.

OBJECTIVE

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a role in cancerogenesis processing and damage tissues. Furthermore, oncological treatment may impair proper function of the gut barrier. The aim of this study was to measure intestinal permeability in children in clinical remission for solid tumours and to search for a possible relationship between free radicals and the intestinal barrier. No such investigation in children has been reported so far.

METHODS

The prospective study consisted of 19 paediatric patients with cancer after completion of chemotherapy. 32 healthy children from the outpatients clinics were recruited for measurement of intestinal permeability and antioxidant barrier as a control group. Intestinal permeability was assessed by measurement of urinary lactulose and mannitol after oral challenge. Antioxidant enzymes: superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in erythrocytes were assessed. Ischemia modified albumin (IMA) concentration was measured in serum.

RESULTS

Cancer patients excreted less mannitol and more lactulose versus controls. The ratio of lactulose to mannitol was significantly higher in oncological children vs control (mean 0.188 and 0.0453, respectively, p=0.0006,). Significantly higher IMA level in the oncological group vs control was noted (mean 123.8 and 87.3 U/ml, respectively, p=0.0037). No correlation between intestinal permeability and oxidative stress barrier was found.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data shows that intestinal barrier is damaged in paediatric cancer patients after chemotherapy. IMA is believed to play a protective role in the defence against tissue damage. No correlation was found between these two barriers.

Background: Acute stroke treatment is a time-critical process in which every minute counts. Laboratory biomarkers are needed to aid clinical decisions in the diagnosis. Although imaging is critical for this process, these biomarkers may provide additional information to distinguish actual stroke from its mimics and monitor patient condition and the effect of potential neuroprotective strategies. For such biomarkers to be effectively scalable to public health in any economic setting, these must be cost-effective and non-invasive. We hypothesized that blood-based combinations (panels) of proteins might be the key to this approach and explored this possibility through a systematic review. Methods: We followed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis) guidelines for systematic review. Initially, the broader search for biomarkers for early stroke diagnosis yielded 704 hits, and five were added manually. We then narrowed the search to combinations (panels) of the protein markers obtained from the blood. Results: Twelve articles dealing with blood-based panels of protein biomarkers for stroke were included in the systematic review. We observed that NR2 peptide (antibody against the NR2 fragment) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) are brain-specific markers related to stroke. Von Willebrand factor (vWF), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), and S100β have been widely used as biomarkers, whereas others such as the ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) index, antithrombin III (AT-III), and fibrinogen have not been evaluated in combination. We herein propose the following new combination of biomarkers for future validation: panel 1 (NR2 + GFAP + MMP-9 + vWF + S100β), panel 2 (NR2 + GFAP + MMP-9 + vWF + IMA index), and panel 3 (NR2 + GFAP + AT-III + fibrinogen). Conclusions: More research is needed to validate, identify, and introduce these panels of biomarkers into medical practice for stroke recurrence and diagnosis in a scalable manner. The evidence indicates that the most promising approach is to combine different blood-based proteins to provide diagnostic precision for health interventions. Through our systematic review, we suggest three novel biomarker panels based on the results in the literature and an interpretation based on stroke pathophysiology.

Keywords: biomarker panels; diagnosis; neuroprotection; serum biomarkers; stroke.

We assessed the serum levels of gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and ischaemia-modified albumin (IMA) in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Fifty-three patients with PCOS were included in our study along with 40 women with no PCOS as the control group. The patients were divided according to their body mass index (BMI). GGT levels were significantly higher in the women with PCOS than the women in the control group (p < 0.05). They were also significantly higher in the PCOS women who were normoweight and overweight than the normoweight and overweight women in the control group (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the circulating levels of hsCRP and IMA between the women with PCOS and the controls or between the normoweight and overweight subgroups. GGT may be associated with the diagnosis of PCOS when the threshold is set at >15.5 U/L. With the application of this threshold, raised GGT levels had 83% sensitivity (95% CI 0.70-0.90) and 67.5% specificity (95% CI 0.52-0.79), for the diagnosis of PCOS. In our study, GGT levels were elevated in the PCOS patients independent of BMI and could thus be an important marker of PCOS.

BACKGROUND

In this study we aimed to evaluate the effects of dilutional anemia resulting from cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and its correction with red blood cell (RBC) transfusion on tissue oxygenation and renal function in diabetic patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

METHODS

70 diabetic patients who underwent elective CABG and whose hematocrit values had been between 24-28% at any time during CBP were prospectively randomized and equally allocated to two groups: patients who received RBC during CPB (group I, n = 35) vs. did not receive RBC during CPB (group II, n = 35). Besides routine hemodynamic and biochemical parameters, biomarkers of ischemia and renal injury such as ischemia modified albumin (IMA), protein oxidation parameters [advanced oxidative protein products (AOPP), total thiol (T-SH)], neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were measured in both groups.

RESULTS

In group I, T-SH, NGAL and urea levels were found to be significantly increased postoperatively compared to preoperative measurements (p < 0.05). Also, postoperatively, NGAL, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase and AOPP levels were higher in group I than group II (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The correction of anemia with RBC transfusion in diabetic patients undergoing CABG could increase the risk of renal injury. Further studies verifying the effects of blood transfusions at the microcirculatory level are needed to optimize the efficacy of transfusions.

BACKGROUND

Early diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is an important factor in reducing mortality of this disease. Cardiac troponins are not elevated within first hours. So there is a need to optimize the clinical applicability and accuracy of novel ACS markers, particularly with regard to utilizing this technique in combination with other diagnostic methods.

METHODS

In this prospective study, we examined 226 patients between July 2009 and March 2010, admitted with chest pain to emergency room (ER). The study groups constisted of 120 subjects presenting with chest pain whose initial and subsequent diagnosis was unstable angina (UA), and 106 subjects whose initial diagnosis was unstable angina but subsequent diagnosis was non ischemic chest pain(NICP). For each patient electrocardiogram (ECG), cardiac troponins (cTnT), creatinine phosphokinase (CPK), IMA levels were measured. We used McNemar's test for correlated proportions and logistic regression and ROC curve for achieving better result.

RESULTS

In this study median IMA values were definitely higher in patients with ACS compared with non ischemic chest pain (NICP) (p < 0.0001) (83.5 to 49.6). An IMA cut-off threshold derived from the receiver operating characteristics curve (ROC) was 85U/ml and gives 54 % (95%CI 51 to 56) sensitivity and 87 % (95%CI 83 to 92) specificity in our population. Negative predictive value was 62 % (95%CI 59 to 66). When IMA and ECG and cTnT were considered together sensitivity was 97.5 % and specificity was 63 %, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Ischemia-modified albumin did not provide superior sensitivity or specificity compared with other diagnostic tests (Tab. 1, Fig. 2, Ref. 25).

BACKGROUND

Hemodialysis (HD) is often accompanied by adverse effects, such as tissue ischemia. We have already observed an increase in plasma adenosine (ADO) levels during HD sessions, which may be the result of tissue ischemia. Here we evaluate the influence of the dialysis membrane on two sensitive and early markers of ischemia: ADO and ischemia-modified albumin (IMA).

METHODS

We included in the study 50 patients with end-stage renal failure, 39 hemodialyzed (mean age 61+/-24 years; 24 male; membranes: 23 synthetic and 16 cellulose based) and 11 undialyzed (mean age 55+/-12 years; 6 male), and 10 healthy subjects (mean age 47+/-11 years; 4 male). We compensated for hemoconcentration during HD by measuring either the IMA to albumin (Alb) or the ADO to Alb ratio.

RESULTS

Under basal conditions, the IMA to Alb ratio was not significantly different in patients and controls and HD did not significantly modify this ratio. Conversely, the ADO to Alb ratio (mean+/-SD in micromol/g) was higher in patients before HD compared with either undialyzed patients or controls (before HD: 0.077+/-0.02; undialyzed patients: 0.026+/-0.11; controls: 0.022+/-0.01). During HD, there was a significant increase in the ADO to Alb ratio (before HD: 0.077+/-0.02; after HD: 0.09+/-0.029; p<.01). We found no significant difference in the IMA to Alb or ADO to Alb ratio using either synthetic or cellulose-based membranes.

CONCLUSIONS

We concluded that ADO is a more sensitive marker of ischemia than IMA and that, under our HD conditions, the ischemia caused by HD was very weak, independent of the dialysis membrane.

Background: This study aimed to find a relationship between vitamin D concentration and thiol-disulfide homeostasis in the pathophysiology of overactive bladder (OAB) syndrome in postmenopausal women.

Methods: A total of 76 postmenopausal women, referred for routine controls, were recruited between January and March 2018 to participate in this study. Participants with an overactive bladder questionnaire (OAB-q) score of >11 (n = 34) were included in the OAB syndrome group, while those with a score of <5 (n = 42) were included in the control group. Serum total antioxidant capacity, ischemia-modified albumin, C-reactive protein, 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels, and thiol-disulfide homeostasis were measured.

Results: Patients with OAB syndrome had waist circumferences of 106 ± 11 cm, and their body mass indexes (BMIs) were 30.8 ± 4.8 kg/m2. The control groups' waist circumferences were 102 ± 11 cm and their BMIs were 28.9 ± 4.3 kg/m2 (p = 0.069 and p = 0.098, respectively). The level of vitamin D in the control group was 33.7 (IQR: 30.7) nmol/L and 27.0 (IQR: 27.5) nmol/L (p = 0.081) in the OAB syndrome group.

Conclusions: We were not able to demonstrate with certainty any significant relationships between serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels and thiol-disulfide homeostasis parameters and OAB syndrome.

Uvod: Cilj ove studije je bio da se nađe veza između koncentracije vitamina D i tiol-disulfidne homeostaze u patofiziologiji sindroma preaktivne bešike (OAB) kod žena u postmenopauzi.

Metode: Između januara i marta 2018. godine ukupno je odabrano 76 žena u postmenopauzi da bi učestvovale u ovoj studiji, koje su potom upućene na rutinske kontrole. Učesnice studije koje su imale skor od > 11 (n = 34) na upitniku za preaktivnu bešiku su uključene u grupu sa OAB sindromom, dok su one sa skorom od < 5 (n = 42) uključene u kontrolnu grupu. Izmereni su ukupni antioksidativni kapacitet seruma, albumin modifikovan ishemijom, C-reaktivni protein, 25-hidroksi nivoi vitamina D i tiol-disulfidna homeostaza.

Rezultati: Pacijentkinje sa OAB sindromom su imale obim struka od 106 ± 11 cm, a njihovi indeksi telesne mase (BMI) bili su 30,8 ± 4,8 kg/m2. Obim struka kontrolne grupe bio je 102 ± 11 cm, a njihovi BMI bili su 28,9 ± 4,3 kg/m2 (p = 0,069 i p = 0,098, respektivno). Nivo vitamina D u kontrolnoj grupi bio je 33,7 (IQR: 30,7) nmol/L, u grupi sa OAB sindromom 27,0 (IQR: 27,5) nmol/L (p = 0,081).

Zaključak: Nismo bili u mogućnosti da sa sigurnošću dokažemo bilo kakve značajne veze između nivoa 25-hidroksi vitamina D u serumu i parametara tiol-disulfidne homeostaze i OAB sindroma.

Keywords: C-reactive protein; disulfides; overactive; postmenopause; urinary bladder; vitamin D.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate oxidative stress parameters and serum magnesium (Mg) levels in patients with seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (SAC) during the pollen season.

METHODS

This observational cross-sectional study involved 35 patients with SAC without any other ocular and systemic diseases, and 38 consecutive, age- and sex-matched healthy subjects. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA), adjusted ischemia modified albumin (IMA), and Mg levels were quantified, and the results were compared between the groups.

RESULTS

No significant differences were found between the groups with respect to age (p = 0.416) and sex (p = 0.362). Serum MDA and adjusted IMA levels of the subjects with SAC (69.54 ± 7.71 μM and 0.74 ± 0.39 ABSU) were significantly higher than the control group (64.61 ± 5.89 μM and 0.57 ± 0.19 ABSU) (p = 0.002 and p = 0.025, respectively). There was no significant difference for serum Mg levels between the groups (p = 0.177).

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated higher levels of oxidative stress parameters in patients with SAC compared to the control group, which imply a possible role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of SAC.

Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) is a newly emerging biomarker with strong pro-inflammatory effects, and is an independent risk predictor of atherosclerotic plaque rupture and thrombosis. In addition, ischemic modified albumin (IMA) is another important marker for the evaluation of myocardial ischemia, and has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The objective of this study was to investigate serum Lp-PLA2 and IMA in the early diagnosis, progression and prognosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Serum Lp-PLA2 and IMA were detected using an AU5800 automatic biochemical analyzer in samples from 180 patients with ACS [n = 60 with unstable angina pectoris (UA), n = 56 with non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), and n = 64 with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)] and 60 healthy control subjects. The relationship between Lp-PLA2 and IMA with Gensini score and the number of coronary artery lesions was explored, and logistic regression was conducted to identify risk factors for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Serum Lp-PLA2 and IMA were significantly higher in all ACS subgroups compared to the control group (P < 0.05), were positively associated with the severity of ACS based on the Gensini score (P < 0.05), and were significantly higher in patients with double- and triple-vessel lesions compared to those with single-vessel lesions and healthy controls (P < 0.05). Logistic regression identified Lp-PLA2, IMA, and troponin I levels as independent risk factors for MACE. Lp-PLA2 and IMA were predictive of the degree of myocardial ischemia in patients with ACS, and may provide important clinical significance for the early diagnosis of ACS and the choice of treatment strategy.

Background: The pathogenesis chronic urticaria (CU) hasn't been fully understood. In recent years, it has been shown that thiol-disulphide homeostasis, as an antioxidant system, plays important roles in both healthy individuals and various diseases. In different ischemia-reperfusion states high oxidative stress causes ischemia modified albumin (IMA) generation.Aim: To investigate thiol/disulphide balance and IMA level in children with CU and their association with disease severity.Methods: Thirty children with CU and 20 healthy children as controls, aged 1-18 years, were included in this cross-sectional study. In all subjects, total thiol, native thiol, disulphide levels and IMA levels were measured in plasma by spectrophotometry. Disulphide/native thiol, disulphide/total thiol and native thiol/total thiol ratios were calculated. The disease severity was rated by Urticaria Activity Score (UAS).Results: In the children with CU, the levels of native thiol (375.56 ± 56.22 μmol/L) and total thiol (415.69 ± 54.75 μmol/L) were significantly lower than the control group (475.20 ± 71.87 and 511.20 ± 73.73 μmol/L, respectively)(p = 0.000, p = 0.000). The ratio of native/total thiol * 100 was lower in patients than the control group (p = 0.002). IMA was significantly higher in the patient group than control group (p = 0.000). No significant correlation was found between UAS and thiol/disulphide homeostasis (p > 0.05). The disulphide levels, disulphide/native thiol and disulphide/total thiol levels were found to be higher in patients with positive family history for autoimmune disorders than those without (p < 0.05).Conclusion: In children with CU, impaired thiol/disulphide homeostasis and increased IMA suggest that oxidative stress may play role in the disease pathogenesis.

Keywords: children; chronic urticaria; ischemia modified albumin; oxidative stress; thiol-disulphide homeostasis; urticaria activity score.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effects of hormone therapy (HT) on ischemia modified albumin (IMA) and soluble (s)CD40 ligand in obese surgical menopausal women.

METHODS

A total of 52 obese surgical menopausal women with a body mass index (BMI)>> 30 kg/m2 were admitted to the study. Twenty-seven women received estradiol hemihydrate two mg and 25 did not receive any menopausal therapy. At baseline and after three and six months of treatment, IMA and sCD40 ligand levels were measured.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences among the groups for any variables at baseline. No difference in change in the serum sCD40L levels was found in obese surgical menopausal women after three and six months of HT. Serum IMA levels were statistically lowered in obese women with HT after six months of treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

HT may have a beneficial reduction in IMA levels in obese surgical menopausal women.

Aim: Glaucoma is an optic neuropathy causing progressive impairment of visual functions. We aimed to assess the alterations in thiol-disulfide homeostasis and serum ischemia modified albumin (IMA) levels, which are the determinants of antioxidant status, in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Material and Method: A total of 140 eyes from 70 patients with POAG and 174 eyes of 87 healthy, control cases were included in the study. All study participants underwent a complete ophthalmic evaluation. Alterations in serum thiol-disulfide homeostasis and IMA levels were measured in all participants. Results: IMA levels were significantly higher in glaucoma group (p:0.001). Native thiol, Total thiol and Native/Total thiol ratio were significantly decreased while Disulfide, Disulfide/Native thiol, and Disulfide/Total thiol ratios were significantly higher in glaucoma group (p:0.001). There was no significant difference regarding central corneal thickness (CCT), iridocorneal angle, albumin, IMA and adjusted IMA levels in patients with different stages of glaucoma. In correlation analysis, there was a negative correlation between Native thiol, Total thiol and Native/Total thiol ratio and disease period, number of daily drops required and stage of the disease in glaucoma patients. There was also a positive correlation between Disulfide, Disulfide/Native thiol and Disulfide/Total thiol levels and the disease activity. Conclusion: In patients with POAG, thiol-disulfide homeostasis is disturbed in the favor of pro-oxidant molecules and IMA levels are increased, indicating the presence of augmented oxidative stress. In that aspect, systemic and local anti-oxidant treatments may be new targets in glaucoma treatment. Larger, prospective studies about the role of anti-oxidants in prevention and treatment of POAG are warranted.