Clinica chimica acta; international journal of clinical chemistry
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The effects of lead on the hematological system results in the inhibition of heme synthesis and in anemia. Lead may affect the absorption and metabolism of essential trace metals also. There is little information especially from the northern region of India regarding the relationship between blood lead levels>or=10 microg/dl and anemia in children. We performed a cross-sectional study to evaluate the association of blood lead levels>or=10 microg/dl with anemia, and its effect on hematological system and some essential trace metals in children. ⋯ Results indicate that elevated blood lead levels (>or=10 microg/dl) in children were significantly associated with risk of anemia and that blood lead levels also influenced the status of essential trace metals. However, results of this study may be limited due to limited sample size but certainly form the basis of a larger sample size study, taking into account all the known potential confounders of anemia in children.
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Clinical Trial
A multi-marker approach for the prediction of adverse events in patients with acute coronary syndromes.
Cardiac troponin T (cTnT), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) have emerged as strong predictors of adverse events among patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). We evaluated the prognostic performance of each of these markers, individually, and in combination in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with ACS symptoms. ⋯ If used alone, cTnT appeared to have greater prognostic value when compared to hs-CRP, NT-proBNP, myoglobin or CK-MB. The combination of cTnT and NT-proBNP performed better than the combination of cTnT and hs-CRP. When cTnT, NT-proBNP and hs-CRP were used as a panel, there was no significant improvement in prognostic performance over using cTnT and NT-proBNP together. Thus, in patients with suspected ACS, the measurement of both cTnT and NT-proBNP may have enhanced prognostic performance over using either marker in isolation.
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The gut is considered an important target organ of injury after severe insult such as sepsis, trauma and shock. Hydroxyethyl starch (HES) 130/0.4 has been developed to improve the pharmacokinetics of current medium molecular weight HES solutions. We investigated the protective effects of HES 130/0.4 on intestinal inflammatory response and survival in a rat polymicrobial sepsis model induced by cecal ligation and puncture. ⋯ HES 130/0.4 reduced intestinal permeability by modulating inflammatory response and had a promising effect on survival together with antibiotics under septic conditions.
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Brain natriuretic peptide limits myocardial infarct size dependent of nitric oxide synthase in rats.
Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) has recently been shown to have a cardioprotective effect in animal models of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) injury. We hypothesized that exogenous BNP limits myocardial infarction on nitric oxide synthase pathway. ⋯ We conclude that natriuretic peptide/NOS/NO signaling may constitute an important injury-limiting mechanism in myocardium.
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Comparative Study Controlled Clinical Trial
Oxidative injury and antioxidants in coronary artery bypass graft surgery: off-pump CABG significantly reduces oxidative stress.
Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) can now be performed with or without cardiopulmonary bypass. The former entails global ischemia followed by reperfusion after declamping, whereas the latter does not. In view of growing evidence that reperfusion is associated with oxidative stress, we studied the extent of oxidative stress and antioxidant status in patients undergoing on-pump and off-pump CABG to determine whether the latter significantly reduces oxidative stress. ⋯ Significant increase in oxidative stress was seen in patients undergoing on-pump CABG, whereas oxidative stress was less in off-pump CABG patients. The G-SH levels were decreased and Catalase activity was increased significantly in both on-pump and off-pump CABG patients.