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Assessing the relationship between organ function test results and COVID-19 severity
A. K. Yadav1, M. K. Mishra2*, S. Prasad3, S. Singh4
1Department of Biochemistry, Heritage Institute of Medical Science, Varanasi, U.P., India;
2Department of Biochemistry, GMERS Medical College & Hospital, Vadnagar, Gujarat, India;
3Department of Biochemistry, K. J. Somaiya Medical College & Research Centre, Mumbai, India;
4Department of Microbiology, Integral Institute of Medical Science and Research, Lucknow, U.P., India;
*e-mail: mritunjaymishra007@gmail.com
Received: 25 July 2023; Revised: 12 October 2023;
Accepted: 27 October 2023; Available on-line: 06 November 2023
A number of recent reports have indicated the association of COVID-19 with multiple organ failure and the need to clarify the relationship between organ testing parameters and disease progression. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the degree of abnormal organ function test parameters and its correlation with COVID-19 severity. A cross-sectional study was conducted among COVID-19 patients admitted at Sanaka hospital, India, from August to September 2020. A total of 100 qRT-PCR-confirmed COVID-19 patients divided into groups with mild or severe cases were enrolled. The data from venous blood samples for liver, renal, cardiac and inflammatory test parameters were included from the Sanaka hospital laboratory database. Biochemical prognostic tests were carried out using a clinical automated ERBA analyzer, cardiac markers were estimated with Enzyme Linked Fluorescent Assay. The Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the data. Aspartate/Alanine aminotransferases and alkaline phosphatase activity, creatinine, urea and troponin levels were higher in the confirmed positive cases of COVID-19. Significantly higher levels of troponin, D-dimer and C reactive protein (CRP) were found in patients with severe COVID form compared to a mild one. A strong positive correlation between elevated D-dimer and Ferritin with CRP level was revealed in this group of patients. It was concluded that the positive relationship between serum D-dimer, ferritin levels and CRP level in patients can be considered a stable indicator of disease severity.
A new affine inhibitor of sodium pump thiacalix[4]arene С-1193 increases the intracellular concentration of Ca ions and modifies myometrium contractility
Т. О. Veklich1*, S. О. Cherenok2, О. V. Tsymbalyuk3, О. A. Shkrabak1,
S. O. Karakhim1, A. I. Selihova2, V. І. Kalchenko2, S. O. Kosterin1
1Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv;
*e-mail: veklich@biochem.kiev.ua;
2Institute of Organic Chemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv;
3Educational and Scientific Institute of High Technologies,
Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ukraine
Received: 16 June 2023; Revised: 31 September 2023;
Accepted: 27 October 2023; Available on-line: 06 November 2023
The methods of enzymatic and kinetic analysis were used to demonstrate that thiacalix[4]arene-bis-hydroxymethylphosphonic acid С-1193 had the inhibitory effect (І0.5 = 42.1 ± 0.6 nM) on Na+,K+-ATPase activity in the plasma membrane of myometrium cells with no effect on the relative activity of other ATPases localized in this subcellular structure. The method of confocal microscopy and Са2+-sensitive fluorescent probe fluo-4 were used to demonstrate that thiacalix[4]arene С-1193 increased the intracellular concentration of Ca ions in the immobilized uterine myocytes. The tenzometric studies proved that С-1193 (10 and 100 μМ) increased the isometric phasic contractions, induced via the paths of both electromechanical (depolarization with high-potassium solution) and pharmacomechanical (application of uterotonic hormone oxytocin, neurotransmitter acetylcholine or selective agonist of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors cevimeline) coupling. Application of thiacalix[4]arene С-1193 as a selective and effective inhibitor of Nа+,K+-ATPase may be useful both for studyng the regulation of ion homeostasis in smooth muscle cells and creation of new uterotonics based on the calixarene core.
Undecylenic acid and N,N-dibutylundecenamide as effective antibacterials against antibiotic-resistant strains
Y. D. Startseva*, D. M. Hodyna, I. V. Semenyuta,
O. P. Tarasyuk, S. P. Rogalsky, L. O. Metelytsia
V.P. Kukhar Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry and Petrochemistry,
National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv;
*e-mail: startseva1991@gmail.com
Received: 25 April 2023; Revised: 03 July 2023;
Accepted: 7 September 2023; Available on-line: 12 September 2023
Evaluation of undecylenic acid (UA) and its tertiary amide N,N-dibutylundecenamide (DBUA) activity in vitro against the standard and antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus strains was carried out. The antibacterial potential of the acid and its amide at 2.5 and 5.0 μM concentration both against gram-positive bacteria (S. aureus) and gram-negative (E. coli) cultures was confirmed by monitoring the diameter of the bacterial growth inhibition zones. The docking study identified methionine aminopeptidase (MAP) as the most energy-favorable potential biotarget associated with the drug resistance of E. coli and S. aureus with a binding energy in the range from -8.0 to -8.5 kcal/mol. The ligands complexation was due to the formation of hydrogen bonds with ASP108, HIS171, HIS178, GLU204, GLU235, HIS76, ASP104, GLU233, ASP93 and metal-acceptor interactions with Co2+. Overall, the results indicated that UA and DBUA activity against antibiotic-resistant strains creates prospects for the development of new antibacterial formulations.
Hepatoprotective effect of 2,6-dimethylpyridine N-oxide (Ivin) in experimental model of CCl(4)-induced hepatitis of rats
O. P. Vasetska*, V. S. Lisovska, M. H. Prodanchuk, P. H. Zhminko
SE “L. I. Medved’s Research Center of Preventive Toxicology,
Food and Chemical Safety, Ministry of Health, Ukraine”, Kyiv;
*e-mail: o.vasetska.medved@gmail.com
Received: 20 April 2023; Revised: 12 June 2023;
Accepted: 7 September 2023; Available on-line: 12 September 2023
The effect of concomitant pesticides and plant growth regulators on humans is still not well understood. N-oxide-2,6-dimethylpyridine (Ivin) is the plant growth regulator known to reduce the acute toxicity of pesticides, but its protective mechanisms need to be investigated. The aim of the study was to assess the hepatoprotective ability of 2,6-dimethylpyridine N-oxide (Ivin) using a model of acute CCl4-induced hepatitis. Male Wistar Han rats received two subcutaneous CCl4 injections (0.8 ml/100 g b.w.). Oral Ivin (13 or 0.13 mg/kg) and hepatoprotector “Silybor-35” (5 mg/kg) as reference substances were administered orally one hour pre- and 2 hours post-CCl4 injection. The biochemical assay of blood plasma, estimation of lipid peroxidation products in the liver tissue and histological liver analysis were done. The results of functional tests and histomorphological studies of liver tissue demonstrated that Ivin exhibited a pronounced hepatoprotective effect, more pronounced when it was administered at a low 0.13 mg/kg dose. Calculation of the hepatoprotection efficiency index for Ivin showed that it was comparable to that for “Silybor-35”.
Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase level and oxidative stress parameters in the serum of patients with chronic renal failure
F. M. Y. Saeed, R. F. Jasim*
College of Education for Girls, Department of Chemistry, University of Mosul, Iraq;
*e-mail: ra.fadhel@uomosul.edu.iq
Received: 13 April 2023; Revised: 02 June 2023;
Accepted: 07 September 2023; Available on-line: 12 September 2023
Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) is a tryptophan-degrading enzyme belonging to the kynurenine pathway. IDO activity has been suggested as a biomarker for diagnosis of chronic kidney disease. The aim of the study was to estimate the level of IDO, urea, creatinine, uric acid, phosphate, calcium, albumin, MDA, GSH, and activity of peroxidase, catalase, arylesterase in the serum of chronic renal failure (CRF) patients treated with dialysis compared to the healthy control group. The results showed a significant increment in IDO level in patients compared with the control. Linear regression analysis using the Pearson correlation coefficient showed that increased IDO level correlates positively with urea, creatinine, uric acid, phosphate, MDA level and peroxidase activity whereas negatively with albumin, calcium, glutathione level, catalase activity and glomerular filtration rate. We concluded that IDO level might be a possible marker of oxidative stress and inflammation in patients with CRF.
Ser-Thr phosphatases in the rat brain that dephosphorylate phospho-Ser(1291)-GluN2A subunit of glutamate receptor
R. R. Prabhu1,2
1P. G. Department of Biotechnology, Government Arts College, Thycaud P. O, Trivandrum, India;
2Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Poojappura, Thycaud P. O, Trivandrum, India;
e-mail: ramyarprabhu@gmail.com
Received: 04 June 2023; Revised: 06 July 2023;
Accepted: 07 September 2023; Available on-line: 12 September 2023
N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs), are one of the major ionotropic glutamate receptors found in excitatory synapses which play a key role in glutamatergic synaptic transmission. The receptors are regulated by post translational modifications such as phosphorylation. One of the major receptor subunits is GluN2A which is likely to get phosphorylated in vitro at a putative site Ser1291. However, the regulation of phosphorylation of this site by kinases and phosphatases is not yet completely understood. In the present study, we have used the fusion constructs of GluN2A tagged with glutathione S-transferase (GST) as substrate for phosphorylation, purified calcium/calmodulin dependent protein kinase type II (CaMKII) and radioactive P32. We demonstrated that the site phosphorylated by αCaMKII on GluN2A was Ser1291 and that protein phosphatases 1, 2A and 2C were able to dephosphorylate this phospho-GST-GluN2A-Ser1291 in vitro. In the rat brain tissue post synaptic density and cytosolic fraction the major phosphatase responsible for dephosphorylating phospho-GluN2A-Ser1291 was protein phosphatase 1.