Baghdad Journal of Biochemistry and Applied Biological Sciences

Background & Objectives: Turnaround time is one of the important indicators of the performance of a clinical laboratory and is the sum total of the pre-analytical, analytical and post analytical TAT. Pre-analytical TAT can be reduced by selection of appropriate sample collection tube. Our objective is to compare three such tubes for the biochemical parameters and pre-analytical TAT.

Methods: Samples were collected in Plain tube, BD SST and BD heparin tubes from 50 participants and were compared for the pre-analytical TAT and seventeen biochemical parameters. Taking BD SST tube as reference, plain tube and BD lithium heparin tube were compared for the tube bias.

Results: Serum LDH, AST, Potassium and phosphates were significantly higher (p=<0.05) while serum glucose and sodium were statistically significantly (p=<0.05) lower in plain tube as compared to the BD SST and bias for these parameters was clinically significant as well. Significant difference (p=<0.05) in concentration of total protein, potassium and glucose was observed between BD SST and BD heparin tube but bias was clinically insignificant. Pre-analytical TAT was drastically reduced with use of plasma tube followed by SST and plain tube.

Conclusion: We conclude that sample collection tubes contribute to the variation in the results of the biochemical parameter and TAT. During individual patient’s hospital stay samples for chemistry should always be collected into the same tube to ensure that variation in parameters are patient or disease related not tube related.

Background and objectives:

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder with diverse etiological factors. Imbalances between oxidative stress and antioxidant defenses play critical roles in the pathogenesis and progression of diabetes. peroxidase, an antioxidant enzyme similar to superoxide dismutase and catalase, is involved in the etiology and progression of diabetes. This study aimed to elucidate the relationship between peroxidase activity of hemoglobin and glycated hemoglobin with fasting blood glucose levels in patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods:

Sixty-four patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus and an equal number of healthy controls were recruited for the study. Peroxidase activity of hemoglobin and glycated hemoglobin was assayed using L. Goth's method for serum catalase assay, with further modification and standardization.

Results:

Peroxidase activity of hemoglobin was significantly reduced (P<0.0001) in patients with type 2 diabetes compared to healthy controls, as was peroxidase activity of glycated hemoglobin (P< 0.001). In both patients and controls, peroxidase activity of glycated hemoglobin was significantly higher than normal hemoglobin. In patients with type 2 diabetes, glycated hemoglobin showed a significant negative correlation (r=- 0.308, P= 0.013) with its peroxidase activity, indicating increased activity is associated with poorer glycemic control. Furthermore, peroxidase activiy of normal hemoglobin positively correlated with peroxidase activity of glycated hemoglobin (mainly HbA1c )(r= 0.305, P=0.014).

Conclsions:

Peroxidase activity of glycated hemoglobin increases with glycated hemoglobin levels, indicating deteriorating glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Background and objective: Flurbiprofen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), possesses non-selective COX inhibition properties. Some NSAIDs exhibits anticonvulsant effects and provide analgesic benefits for seizure patients. This study aimed to assess the potential anticonvulsant action of flurbiprofen in mice.

Methods: Twenty-five mature male mice were divided into five groups for the study. To prevent peripheral cholinergic activation, mice in each group were injected intraperitoneally with atropine sulfate (1 mg/kg) subcutaneously one hour after dosing. Seizures were induced ten minutes later using an intraperitoneal injection of 300 mg/kg of pilocarpine. Following pilocarpine injection, the animals were monitored for 1 hour. Seizure severity was assessed using the Racine scale.

Results: Oral administration of flurbiprofen at doses of 0, 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg resulted in a significant decrease in convulsion onset and a substantial reduction in convulsion duration compared to the control group. Flurbiprofen at 20 and 40 mg/kg inhibited seizure scores in pilocarpine-injected mice in a dose-dependent manner. A high dose of flurbiprofen (40 mg/kg) significantly reduced the duration of convulsions, delayed convulsion onset, and decreased seizure scores in mice (p <0.05).

Conclusions: Flurbiprofen exhibits significant dose-dependent anticonvulsant activity. Further studies are necessary to determine the primary mechanism of action.