Ischemia modified albumin: an oxidative stress marker in β-thalassemia major.

Background: Ischemia modified albumin (IMA) is an altered type of serum albumin that forms under conditions of oxidative stress. This study reports on the levels and clinical significance of IMA in patients with β-thalassemia major.

Methods: Blood specimens were collected from 166 subjects (101 β-thalassemia major patients and 65 healthy controls).

Association of haptoglobin phenotypes with ceruloplasmin ferroxidase activity in β-thalassemia major.

Background: Haptoglobin (Hp) and ceruloplasmin (CP) are 2 plasma antioxidants playing a role in preventing iron-induced oxidative damage. This study presents data related to Hp phenotypes and ceruloplasmin ferroxidase activity in relation to iron store markers in patients with β-thalassemia major.

Methods: Blood specimens were collected from 196 subjects (124 β-thalassemia major patients and 72 healthy controls).

Association of haptoglobin phenotypes with markers of diabetic nephropathy in Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: Recent studies have suggested an inheritable influence of haptoglobin phenotypes on the development of microalbuminuria in diabetic patients. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether microalbuminuria and serum levels of Cystatin C (Cys C) were correlated with haptoglobin phenotypes in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods: Fasting blood samples and first morning urine specimens were collected from 216 patients with type 2 diabetes (mean age 60.

Amifostine exerts anti-angiogenic activity and suppresses vascular endothelial growth factor secreted by hemopoietic stem/progenitor cells.

Objective: To assess, in vitro, the effect of Amifostine (AMF, WR-2721) on angiogenesis and levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secreted from hemopoietic stem/progenitor cell populations.

Methods: We conducted the study in the research laboratories of the Hashemite University, Jordan between September 2003 and January 2005 where we took samples were from Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients and healthy donors attending Al-Hussein Cancer Center and We determined the proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in cultures supplemented with media conditioned with AMF-treated and AMF-untreated pure hemopoietic cells [CD34+ cells, and erythroid, myeloid and megakaryocytic progenitors]. Furthermore, in the same conditioned media, we evaluated levels of elaborated VEGF by a sensitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.