International Biological and Biomedical Journal
Volume:6 Issue: 2, Spring 2020

The aim of this study was to compare antioxidant levels of saliva in patients with cirrhosis and liver transplantation. This study was carried out on 45 subjects referred to the Gastroenterohepatology Clinic of Dicle University Medical Faculty. These subjects were composed of cirrhosis, transplanted patients, and control group with no liver problems. The saliva samples were taken in the morning hours after a fasting period and were then stored at –80 ˚C until assay when they were tested for total antioxidant capacity. The photometric analysis was performed with Erel’s method. The statistical evaluation of the data was made using the Kruskal Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests. The total antioxidant level in saliva was significantly lower in patients with cirrhosis (P < 0.05). The post-transplant and control groups were statistically similar in terms of total antioxidant level. Our data suggest that dental caries and increased periodontal problems in cirrhosis may be related to the change in total antioxidant level in saliva. However, further studies are needed to clarify this issue.

Introduction:

Hcnoch-Schonlein purpura is an IgA mediated small-vessel vasculitis and it is so common in children. The classic term of signs and symbols include polpuble purpura, arthralgia/arthritis, abdominal pain and also renal disease. The incidence of HSP in older age of the entire gastrointestinal tract (gastric, small intestine and large intestine) without arthritis / arthralgia and kidney involvement is rare. In patients with HSP, in older age people, kidney problems are more common than the children, which no kidney problem in this case.

Case Report:

A 57-year-old man who was admitted to the Razi Hospital, Rasht, Iran, with Perumblical colicky abdominal pain. During the outpatient surveys, Spiral CT Abdominal-Pelvic with IV oral contrast was determined by abdominal-Pelvic Ultrasonography through small bowel follow, ileum and jejunum involvement. After performing CT, Palpable purpura skin lesions appeared in the upper and lower extremities which w:as char:acterized by a low ALB outbreak, S / E (OB +), high fecal calprotectin, high ESR and normal leucocyte. In this way, at Razi Medical Education Center, the endoscopy showed stomach and duodenum involvement and colonoscopy shows the ascending, transverse, and descending colon. Skin sampling shown IgA sediment in Direct Immunofluorescence (DIF).

Conclusion :

HSP, although it occurs at an early age, has been reported in the patient due to the appearance of skin and abdominal pain and the absence of involvement of other basic organs such as the kidney, lung, and the negative effects of other vasculitis diseases on the basis of skin pathology.

Background of study:

Sepsis is a life-threatening medical condition characterized by an overwhelming infection and the body’s inflammatory response to infection. Thus, it is a potentially life-threatening condition that requires a medical emergency.

This was designed to evaluate the usefulness of C-Reactive Protein (CRP) in the management of individuals being treated for various infections in selected hospitals in Onitsha, Awka, and Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria.

A total of 124 blood samples from septic patients and 50 samples from apparently healthy individuals were collected for this study. The temperature of the subjects at the time of sample collection was measured and their CRP and leukocyte count were also evaluated. The CRP levels were measured using ELISA technique while the leukocyte count was evaluated using FBC auto analyser.

The mean serum level of CRP of septic subjects (42.59±17.78) was significantly higher (P<0.05) than the apparently healthy subjects (3.63±2.35). Also, the mean white blood cell count of test participants (17.83±6.15) increased significantly (P<0.05) compared to that of control subjects (6.49±2.57). The test subjects also showed a significantly elevated mean temperature value (38.16±0.38) than that of the control individuals (37.5±0.38) (P<0.05). There was also a significant difference (P<0.05) in the means values of neutrophil (13.68±4.61) and platelet count (404.92±72.50) of the test group when compared with that of the control group (2.51±1.26 and 301.84±90.75) respectively. More so, the correlation coefficient showed significant positive correlation (P<0.05) when mean serum level of CRP was compared with neutrophils (r=0.224), platelets count (r=0.359) and temperature (r=0.240).

The significant positive correlation between CRP; neutrophil and platelet in addition with the significant positive relationship between CRP and temperature; suggests the relative importance of CRP as a predictive biomarker for septicemia.

Dark is a generally known potent stimulus for melatonin secretion. Studies have also reported that pineal and hypophyseal endocrine secretions are influenced by nutritional factors. The study was designed to investigate the combined effect of selenium supplementations and light deprivation on pineal and hypophyseal secretions in female Wistar rats. 36 female cyclical Wistar rats were divided into vehicle, high selenium (HS), low selenium (LS), light deprived (LD), LD+HS and LD+LS. Rats were orally administered 150µg/kg and 100µg/kg of sodium selenite for two weeks. While light deprived rats were maintained under 6hr light/18hr dark cycle, other rats were under natural 12hr light/12hr dark cycle. The result showed that light deprivation led to significant decrease (P<0.05) in follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) secretion and a significant increase (P<0.05) in plasma melatonin. Selenium supplementations at both doses also improved luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion but had no effect on plasma prolactin. At high dose of selenium supplementation, there was an increase in melatonin secretion.  In light deprived rats, selenium supplementations caused a significant decrease (P<0.05) in melatonin secretion at both doses but there was no significant change in plasma levels of FSH, LH and prolactin. The findings indicate differential responses of pineal and hypophyseal glands to light deprivation and selenium treatments.