Dustri Online Services

Books: 0	Journals: 2	Articles: 5

Abstract

M. Bhaskaran, R. Ranjan, H. Shah, J. Siu, R. Colvin, N. Radhakrishnan, K. Reddy, N. Franki, J.D. Wagner and P.C. Singhal

Division of Kidney Diseases and Hypertension, Long Island Jewish Medical Center and North Shore University Hospital, New York, NY, USA
Lymphopenia in dialysis patients
Lymphopenia is a common finding in dialysis patients. Since infection rate and mortality associated with infection are high in dialysis patients, lymphopenia may be one of the contributing factors. In the present study, we evaluated the mechanism responsible for lymphopenia in these patients. Lymphocytes isolated from dialysis patients showed increased apoptosis (p < 0.001) when compared to lymphocytes isolated from healthy subjects (healthy subjects, 0.5 ± 0.2% vs. dialysis patients, 8.8 ± 0.7% apoptotic cells/field). Sera from dialysis patients promoted lymphocyte apoptosis in a time- and dose-dependent manner. These sera also enhanced lymphocyte DNA fragmentation into multiple integers of 180 base pairs in the form of a ladder pattern. Cellulose acetate membranes promoted T cell apoptosis when compared to polysulfone membranes and to control. Cellulose acetate dialysis membranes also appear to promote lymphocyte FasL expression. Similarly, dialysis sera enhanced T cell Fas as well as FasL expression. Neither the cellulose acetate nor polysulfone membranes could induce FasL expression on B cells. Similarly, dialysis sera failed to induce FasL expression on B cells. On the other hand, anti-FasL antibodies attenuated dialysis sera-induced apoptosis in T as well as B cells. Interestingly, dialysis serum showed a 5-fold increase in FasL content when compared with control serum. These results suggest that dialysis-associated factors can induce autocrine death in T cells but the help of activated T cells is required to induce death in B cells.

Abstract

R. Ranjan, H. Shah, J. Siu, E. Varghese, M. Bhaskaran, K. Reddy, A.A. Kapasi, J.D. Wagner and P.C. Singhal

Departments of Medicine, ¹Long Island Jewish Medical Center, and
²North Shore University Hospital, New York, USA
Background: The mononuclear phagocyte system plays an important role in host defense. Since dialysis patients have been reported to show enhanced leukocytes apoptosis, we evaluated the mechanism of increased apoptosis of monocytes in dialysis patients. Methods: Apoptotic studies were carried out on monocytes isolated from dialysis patients as well as healthy subjects. The effect of dialysis sera and membranes was evaluated on monocyte apoptosis as well as monocyte expression of proapoptotic proteins such as Fas and FasL. To confirm the role of FasL, we evaluated the effect of activated secretory products on T cell apoptosis. In addition, we studied FasL content of dialysis sera and supernatants of activated monocytes. Results: Monocytes isolated from dialysis patients (MDP) showed a greater magnitude of apoptosis when compared to monocytes isolated from healthy subjects (MHS) (MHS, 3.6 ± 1.1% vs. MDP, 24.3 ± 1.4%). Sera of hemodialysis patients (SHD) promoted (p < 0.001) apoptosis of MHS when compared to pooled control sera (HPS) (HPS, 0.8 ± 0.5% vs. SHD, 11.5 ± 0.5% apoptotic cells/field). Dialysis membranes, cellulose acetate membranes in particular, promoted monocyte apoptosis. Interestingly, anti-FasL antibodies partly inhibited dialysis sera-induced monocyte apoptosis. Dialysis membranes also modulated monocyte expression of both Fas and FasL. Secretory products of activated monocytes also promoted T cell apoptosis. Dialysis sera and activated monocyte secretory products showed increased FasL content. Conclusions: These results suggest that dialysis patients have an increased rate of monocyte apoptosis, which is mediated through a uremic milieu (serum factors). One of these serum factors seems to be FasL. In addition, dialysis membranes seem to promote apoptosis independent of the uremic milieu. The present study provides a mechanistical insight into the enhanced apoptosis of monocytes in dialysis patients.

Abstract

Trace Elements and Electrolytes, Vol. 28 – No. 4/2011 (213-220)

Assessment of trace elements in the scalp hair of hepatitis-C patients in comparison with healthy donors

M. Saghir, N. Shaheen and M.H. Shah

Department of Chemistry, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
Aim:Y The present study was conducted to investigate the distribution and mutual variations of trace elements (Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Pb, and Zn) in the scalp hair of hepatitis-C patients in comparison with the healthy subjects. Methods: The scalp hair samples were solubilized in nitric acid and perchloric acid mixture, followed by the quantification of the trace elements on flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The metal data were then subjected to the detailed statistical analyses. Results: Average concentrations of Ca, Mg, Zn and Na were dominant in the scalp hair of both groups, although most of the trace elements exhibited higher dispersion and randomness in the patients. Mean levels of Cr, Fe, Cd, Mg and Cu were significantly higher and those of Zn and Mn were lower in the scalp hair of the patients (p < 0.05). The correlation study revealed considerable variations in the mutual relationships of trace elements in both groups. Principal component and cluster analyses exhibited diverse apportionment of trace elements in the scalp hair of the patients and controls. Some noteworthy disparities in the elemental contents (Cu, Zn, Mn and Li) were observed with the age of the donors. Conclusions: The distribution, correlation and apportionment of trace elements in the scalp hair of the patients were significantly different in comparison with healthy subjects. Multivariate methods may be used as diagnostic tools to differentiate among the patients and healthy population.Correspondence to:
Dr. M.H. Shah
Department of Chemistry
Quaid-i-Azam University
Islamabad 45320, Pakistan
Email: [email protected]

Abstract

Trace Elements and Electrolytes, Vol. 30 – No. 3/2013 (122-129)

Comparative evaluation of trace elements in the blood of chronic bronchitis patients and healthy donors

Sadia Arif¹, Javed Iqbal², Nazia Shaheen¹ and Munir H. Shah¹

¹Department of Chemistry, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, and ²POF Hospital, Wah Cantt, District Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Aim: The study was conducted to evaluate the concentrations of trace elements (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn) in the blood of chronic bronchitis (CB) patients in comparison with healthy subjects. Methods: Flame atomic absorption spectrometry was used for the quantification of trace elements by employing the nitric acid – perchloric acid based wet digestion method. Results: In the blood of CB patients and healthy donors, highest mean level was found for Zn at 1598 μg/l and 2851 μg/l, respectively, followed by Cu and Pb. Correlation study showed a number of significantly strong relationships among trace elements in the blood samples of healthy donors whereas only a few strong relationships were noted for the patients. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the elemental data revealed two PCs for patients and three for healthy donors, but with significant different loadings. Cluster analysis (CA) also evidenced a considerably different pattern of elemental clustering in the blood of CB patients and healthy subjects. Conclusions: Average concentration of Cd was found to be significantly higher, and those of Zn, Co and Pb were considerably lower in the blood of CB patients. Correlation coefficients and multivariate apportionment among the elements in the blood of CB patients and healthy donors were significantly divergent. Variations in the elemental levels were also observed with respect to gender, food and smoking habits in both categories.Correspondence to:
Dr. Munir H. Shah
Department of Chemistry
Quaid-i-Azam University
Islamabad 45320, Pakistan
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]

Abstract

Trace Elements and Electrolytes, Vol. 32 – No. 2/2015 (65-73)

Comparative assessment of trace metals in the blood of ovary cancer patients and controls

Muhammad Abdul Qayyum and Munir H. Shah

Department of Chemistry, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
Objective: Ovary cancer is the most lethal gynecological malignancy known in women and this study was conducted to evaluate the concentrations of trace metals in the blood of ovary cancer patients in comparison with healthy subjects/controls. Methods: Selected essential/toxic metals (Zn, Cu, Co, Mn, Ni, Cr, Cd and Pb) were measured in the blood of ovary cancer patients and counterpart controls by atomic absorption spectrometry employing nitric acid-perchloric acid based wet-digestion. Results: The mean concentrations of Cd, Cr and Ni, were found to be significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the blood of ovary cancer patients compared with the controls, however, significantly higher concentrations of Zn and Mn were observed in the controls. Most of the metal levels revealed higher dispersion and asymmetry in the blood of the patients than the controls. The correlation study revealed significantly diverse relationships among the metals in the patients and controls. Variations in the metal levels were also noted for various cancer types (epithelial cancer, germ cell tumor and stromal tumor) and stages. The multivariate apportionment of the metals in the blood of the patients and controls was also significantly different. Conclusions: The study evidenced considerably divergent variations in the metal levels in ovary cancer patients in comparison with healthy subjects.Correspondence to:
Dr. Munir H. Shah
Department of Chemistry, Quaid-i-Azam University
Islamabad 45320, Pakistan
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]

Shopping Overview
Type	Qtty	Discount	VAT	Price
Your basket is empty

View Cart

Search Results

Shopping Overview

Send us an E-Mail