Serum D-glutamyl transferase following myocardial infarction

D-glutamyl transferase (GMT) activity was measured in 49 patients with proven myocardial infarction. Twenty-three patients had normal GMT activity and 26 had increased GMT activity. Most of the patients with increased GMT had evidence of liver dysfunction and it is suggested that any increases in serum GMT activity following myocardial infarction are a result of secondary liver damage rather than a release of GMT from cardiac tissue.     

Serum amyloid A protein in acute myocardial infarction

Tissue injury including myocardial infarction leads to a variety of changes in plasma proteins commonly referred to as "the acute phase response". In this report the concentrations of serum amyloid A protein (SAA) were measured serially in 6 patients with myocardial infarction and 4 with angina. SAA was found to be increased in all patients with infarction, but in no patients with angina. Significantly increased SAA levels were detected 12 hours after the peak level of creatine kinase, and the concentrations of SAA seemed to correlate to the amount of damaged tissue. The SAA-response was both faster and more extensive than the response of C-reactive protein (CRP), but the correlation between SAA and CRP was very good.     

Serum and tissue trace elements in Iranian camels (Camelus dromedarius)

Twenty-six male and female (nonpregnant and nonlactating) apparently healthy adult (5 to 10 years) field camels (Camelus dromedarius) were studied to provide data regarding the normal values of trace elements in serum and different tissues. Blood samples were collected by jugular venepuncture and serum was separated by centrifugation. Tissue samples (liver, heart, striated muscle, spleen, kidney, and hair) were collected during postmortem examinations. All the samples were digested and analyzed for copper, iron, cobalt, and molybdenum using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results showed that the highest concentration of iron was present in the spleen and that the concentrations of this element in the liver and kidney were higher than those of the heart, striated muscle, serum, and hair (p<0.05). The lowest mean iron concentration was observed in the serum (p<0.05). The mean copper concentration was highest in the liver in comparison to other tissues (p<0.05). No significant differences in cobalt concentrations were detected among different compartments. The mean molybdenum concentration of the striated muscle, heart, kidney, spleen, and liver were significantly higher than those of the serum and hair (p<0.05). No difference due to sex was detected in different tissue and serum concentrations of trace elements.     

Serum and tissue trace elements in Iranian camels (Camelus dromedarius)

There were 26 male and female (nonpregnant and nonlactating) apparently healthy adult (5 to 10 years) field camels (Camelus dromedarius) studied to provide data regarding the normal values of trace elements in serum and different tissues. Blood samples were collected by jugular venepuncture and serum was separated by centrifugation. Tissue samples (liver, heart, striated muscle, spleen, kidney, and hair) were collected during postmortem examinations. All the samples were digested and analyzed for copper, iron, cobalt, and molybdenum using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results showed that the highest concentration of iron was present in the spleen and that the concentrations of this element in the liver and kidney were higher than those in the heart, striated muscle, serum, and hair (p<0.05). The lowest mean iron concentration was observed in the serum (p<0.05). The mean copper concentration was highest in liver in comparison to other tissues (p<0.05). No significant differences in cobalt concentrations were detected among different compartments. The mean molybdenum concentration of striated muscle, heart, kidney, spleen, and liver were significantly higher than those of serum and hair (p<0.05). No difference due to sex was detected in different tissue and serum concentrations of trace elements.     

Serum ferritin during inflammation. A study on myocardial infarction

The ferritin level in serum was investigated in 9 patients with myocardial infarction, all with a history of chest pain of less than 4 hours before admission. A significant rise in serum ferritin level was found in 8 patients. The rise was generally smaller than that seen in acute infection and not significantly correlated to the size of infarction, as estimated from changes in serum levels of myoglobin, ASAT and LDH. The rise started after a mean of 30 hours, the peak being reached within a week (M 4.3 days). Serum ferritin then fell to 120--300% (M 190) of the initial level, where it remained. An initial rise in serum iron levels was unexpectedly seen within 12 hours in 7 patients.     

Serum C-reactive protein and complement proteins in patients with acute myocardial infarction

C-reactive protein (CRP) and complement proteins levels were determined in 20 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and 20 controls. Blood was obtained from all subjects at admission, 6 hr and 12 hr later. Serum CRP levels were determined by ELISA and complement proteins by radial immunodiffusion. A statistically significant elevation of the mean CRP level was obtained at 12 hr postadmission. The mean complement proteins levels were 16-49% higher in AMI patients than the controls. It appeared that the alternate pathway was activated initially, followed by activation of the classical pathway. The increased levels of CRP and complement proteins are suggestive of their involvement in AMI.     

Cellular homeostasis and trace elements

The authors consider the relevance of essential and toxic elements to the maintenance and derangement of cellular homeostasis, review different routes of their introduction in and release from varying cell types as well as relationships with specific ligands, distribution by intracellular pools. Presented are also morphological data on trace elements accumulation in cell, organs and compartments. A number of trace elements contributed to mutagenesis and carcinogenesis while the others demonstrate anticarcinogenic and antiblastic action.     

Epochal trace elements and evolution

The use of some trace elements by plants and animals during the evolutionary process has resulted in epochal changes. Noteworthy is the fact that plants (but not animals) needed boron in order to grow stems and roots as they left the seas and became anchored on land. Iodine is plentiful in sea water but rare on land. Therefore, the iodination of tyrosine provided an iodine transport mechanism which allowed for the metamorphosis and the development of warm bloodedness-a great evolutionary advantage. Zinc from clay was needed for the formation of the first primitive nucleic acids and, later, the presence of zinc in the retina provide the enhanced night vision of the nocturnal predators-a natural advantage. Hence, boron, iodine and zinc can be termed epochal trace elements. Inquiry should be directed towards the possible roles of other trace elements, which may have been epochal in evolution.     

Serum malondialdehyde-like material (MDA-LM) in acute myocardial infarction.

Serum malondialdehyde-like material (MDA-LM), as an index of lipid peroxidation, and the serum enzymes CK, CK-MB, LDH, LDH1 and, alpha-HBDH were evaluated in a group of 26 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), seven with angina pectoris (AP), and in a normal control group of 94 subjects. MDA-LM values were within the normal range in AP patients, while in AMI patients a significant increase in serum MDA-LM was observed in the days following the acute event, reaching a maximum 6-8 days later, when 90% of the patients had values higher than the upper normal limit (mean +/- 2SD) of the control group. A significant correlation was found between the integrated concentration-time MDA-LM curve and the integrated serum enzymes activity curves reached during the nine days after the acute event. The "in vivo" relevance of the increased serum MDA-LM in the post-infarct period is unknown at the present, but as lipid peroxides are known to harm cellular structures and to inhibit prostacyclin synthesis, it may be of interest with regard to the long term secondary effects in AMI patients.