Haemolytic favism is a severe, acute anaemia which occurs in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficient individuals, usually following the ingestion of Vicia faba seeds. Current interest is focused on the nature of the active substances of Vicia faba and on the causes of the varying susceptibility among G6PD-deficient individuals to episodes of severe haemolysis. The results of experiments in ...

Gaucher's disease is a metabolic disorder characterized by the accumulation of excessive quantities of glucocerebroside in the reticuloendothelial system. Brady et al. have demonstrated that individuals with this disease have deficient amounts of glucocerebrosidase, one of the enzymes required for complete degradation of the lipid of the red cell membrane.' The characteristic cell of Gaucher's ...

Background: The well-known toxic effects of benzene toxicity are bone marrow depression, reduction in blood cell counts, and induction of leukemia and aplastic anemia. This study was designed to evaluate biomarkers of aging in red blood cells (RBCs). Methods: Mice were exposed to benzene (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/day) orally for 28 days. A group of benzene-exposed mice were injected intraperiton...

Organophosphate (OPs) compounds are widely used in intensive agriculture to improve production, protect crops and control diseases vectors. The main mechanism of toxicity of OPs is the inhibition of the Cholinesterase enzymes. In this study the acetylcholinestrase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and specific acetylcholinestrase (SAChE) activities as potential biomarkers of exposure to OPs ...

Ceramide as a second messenger is a key regulator in apoptosis and cytotoxicity. Ceramide-metabolizing enzymes are ideal target in cancer chemo-preventive studies. Neutral sphingomyelinase (NSMase), acid ceramidase (ACDase) and glucosyl ceramide synthase (GCS) are the main enzymes in ceramide metabolism. Silymarin flavonolignans are potent apoptosis inducers and silibinin is the most active com...

Background: Blood is permanently exposed to oxidation stress and therefore has a high antioxidants capacity. Many different factors increasing the demand for the antioxidant capacity can be observed in the stored blood of donors. Consequently, damage to erythrocytes by free radicals may occur. So it is useful to control the alternation of anti-oxidant enzymes in stored blood at different days o...

Previous speakers have outlined the genetics and molecular pathology of the defects of enzymes of the glycolytic pathway. Recent work has shown that not only is glycolysis necessary for maintaining the integrity of the red cell and preventing the denaturation of haemoglobin by methaemoglobin formation or oxidation of the sulphydryl groups but it is intimately concerned with the control of oxyge...

background: red blood cell and other blood products play a crucial role in management of different disease processes, but in spite of implementation of crucial steps to improve the process of request for blood and blood consumption, there is still not enough information available regarding the proper practice in many medical centres. we aimed to evaluate the status of blood product requests and...