Serum Ornithine Carbamoyl Transferase as a Surrogate Marker in Malaria

Ornithine carbamoyl transferase (OCT) activity and other liver function tests were studied in a total of 50 patients of clinical malaria and 15 controls. They were grouped as group I (positive for malarial parasite on peripheral blood smear, n=18), group II (negative for malarial parasite on peripheral blood smear (PBS) but responded to antimalarials, n=17) and group III (peripheral blood smear negative and did not respond to antimalarial therapy, n=15). The mean OCT levels were significantly raised in group I (6.79 ± 1.84 IU/L, p value = 0.006) and group II (5.0 ± 1.15 IU/L, p value = 0.014) as compared to controls (2.5 ± 1.13 IU/L) and returned to normal after treatment In contrast, group III had normal levels except in a case of kala azar and septicemia where OCT levels were high and increased further on treatment. Taking PBS positivity as a gold standard of diagnostic criteria, OCT had a sensitivity of 83% and specificity of 86% with a high positive predictive value of 88% as compared to ALT which had a lower sensitivity of 55% and specificity of 80%. The clinical response rate in PBS negative cases of fever having high OCT level was 83% as compared to 35% in cases with normal OCT level, making OCT a good surrogate marker of malaria. OCT levels could also be of prognostic significance as 2 cases of cerebral malaria had high OCT levels of 11.1 UAL and 10.7 IU/L, respectively.Key Words: Malaria, Ornithine carbamoyl transferase     

Methods of extraction of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA from clinical samples for PCR: comparison and evaluation

Several commonly used methods of extraction of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA from clinical samples for further use in PCR were compared. We used the commercial sets "DNA-express" (Litekh, Russia) and "DNA-sorb-B" (Amplisens, Russia) as well as phenol extraction, fast alkaline lysis and DNA sorption on silicone gel for DNA extraction. All methods were compared by the quantity of isolated DNA and stability of DNA preparation as well as by efficiency and cost of extraction. "DNA-express" proved to be most effective in the extraction of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA with its cost being the smallest.     

Spectrin-alpha I/61: a new structural variant of alpha-spectrin in a double-heterozygous form of hereditary pyropoikilocytosis

Recent biochemical studies have led to the identification of abnormal spectrins in the erythrocytes of patients with hereditary pyropoikilocytosis (HPP) and hereditary elliptocytosis (HE). In this report we describe the biochemical characterization of the erythrocytes from a proband with severe HPP who is doubly heterozygous for two mutant spectrins (Sp): Sp alpha I/74 and a new, previously undetected, mutant of alpha-spectrin designated Sp alpha I/61. The proband's erythrocytes are unstable when exposed to 45 degrees C, and her membrane skeletons exhibit instability to shear stress. The content of spectrin in the proband's erythrocyte membranes is decreased to 75% of control values. The amount of spectrin dimers in crude 4 degrees C spectrin extracts is increased (58%) as compared with control values (6% +/- 4%). Limited tryptic digestion reveals a marked decrease in the normal 80,000-dalton alpha I domain, an increase in the 74,000-dalton fragment that is characteristic of Sp alpha I/74, and an increase in a series of new fragments of 61,000, 55,000, 21,000, and 16,000 daltons. Both parents are asymptomatic, but they have increased amounts of spectrin dimers (17% to 25%). Limited tryptic digestion of the father's spectrin demonstrates the presence of a previously identified abnormal spectrin (Sp alpha I/74) that is characterized by a decrease in content of the 80,000-dalton peptide and an increase in concentration of the 74,000-dalton peptide. The mother's spectrin digests show a decrease in the amount of 80,000-dalton peptide and the formation of new peptides of 61,000, 55,000, 21,000, and 16,000 daltons. The data indicate that this severe form of HPP is due to the inheritance of two distinct abnormal spectrins, Sp alpha I/74 and a new spectrin mutant, Sp alpha I/61.     

Hypoglycemic Effects of Hyaluronate-Endo-β-NAcetylhexosaminidase Immobilized by Electron Beam Synthesis Nanotechnology

Hypoglycemic effect of hyaluronate-endo-β-N-acetylhexosaminidase immobilized by electron-beam synthesis nanotechnology (imHEA-HA) was studied in experimental insulin-dependent and insulin-independent diabetes mellitus. The drug exhibited a hypoglycemic effect of its own and potentiated the pharmacological effect of exogenous insulin injected in vivo. Studies on liver cell culture demonstrated an increase of cell sensitivity to insulin after treatment with imHEA-HA.     

Hepatoprotective Effects of Immobilized Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor and Hyaluronidase Preparation and Their Mechanisms

High hepatoprotective activity of granulocytic CSF and hyaluronidase immobilized using electron-beam immobilization technology was demonstrated on the model of CCl(4)-induced hepatitis: the preparations produced anticholestatic, anti-inflammatory, and antisclerotic effects. These effects developed against the background of stimulation of bone marrow multipotent precursor cells and their mobilization into circulation accompanied by an increase in the content of parenchymatous progenitor cells in the liver. The most pronounced positive effect was observed in combined treatment with the test preparations.