Browsing by Author "Matsha, T."
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- ItemErythrocyte membrane fatty acids in patients with multiple sclerosis(2009) Hon, G. M.; Hassan, M. S.; Van Rensburg, S. J.; Abel, S.; Marais, D. W.; Van Jaarsveld, P.; Smuts, C. M.; Henning, F.; Erasmus, R. T.; Matsha, T.Background: Reports on fatty acids levels in multiple sclerosis remain inconclusive. Objective: To determine the erythrocyte membrane fatty acid levels in multiple sclerosis patients and correlate with Kurtzke Expanded Disability Status Scale. Methods: Fatty acid composition of 31 multiple sclerosis and 30 control individuals were measured by gas chromatography. Results: The membrane phosphatidylcholine C20:4 n-6 concentration was lower in the multiple sclerosis patients when compared to that of the control group, P = 0.04 and it correlated inversely with the EDSS and FSS. Conclusion: Decrease in C20:4 n-6 in the erythrocyte membrane could be an indication of depleted plasma stores, and a reflection of disease severity.
- ItemImmune cell membrane fatty acids and inflammatory marker, C-reactive protein, in patients with multiple sclerosis(2009) Hon, G.; Hassan, M.; Van Rensburg, S. J.; Abel, S.; Marais, D. W.; Van Jaarsveld, P.; Smuts, C.; Henning, F.; Erasmus, R.; Matsha, T.Measurement of fatty acids in biological fluids and cell membranes including leucocytes from multiple sclerosis patients is inconsistent. The objective of the present study was to investigate the fatty acid composition within the different membrane phospholipid fractions in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in multiple sclerosis patients, and correlate with severity of neurological outcome as measured by the Kurtzke Expanded Disability Status Scale and Functional System Scores. The fatty acid composition of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, sphingomyelin and phosphatidylinositol phospholipids in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of twenty-six multiple sclerosis and twenty-five control subjects were measured by GC, and C-reactive protein was measured in all subjects. The elongation product of 20:4n-6, 22:4n-6, was significantly decreased in membrane phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine in multiple sclerosis patients (P=0.01 and P=0.03 respectively), and correlated inversely with severity of disease and C-reactive protein. Also an inverse correlation was observed between the C-reactive protein and membrane phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylserine 20:4n-6. Cultural and ethnic differences, as well as dietary variability, especially in a diseased state have been implicated in the differences observed in the fatty acid composition in peripheral blood mononuclear cell membranes of patients with multiple sclerosis. The present results suggest that the disease state may in part explain the reported inconsistencies in fatty acid levels in multiple sclerosis patients.
- ItemMembrane saturated fatty acids and disease progression in Multiple Sclerosis patients(2009) Hon, G. M.; Hassan, M. S.; Van Rensburg, S. J.; Abel, S.; Erasmus R. T.; Matsha, T.The risk of developing multiple sclerosis is associated with increased dietary intake of saturated fatty acids. We determined the fatty acid composition within the different phospholipid fractions of red blood and peripheral blood mononuclear cell membranes of 31 patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and 30 healthy control subjects using gas chromatography. Individual saturated fatty acids were correlated with the severity of neurological outcome as measured by the Kurtzke Expanded Disability Status Scale. Significant increases were found in multiple sclerosis peripheral blood mononuclear cell membrane sphingomyelin C14:0 and phosphatidylinositol C22:0. In the peripheral blood mononuclear cell membranes, C22:0 and C24:0 showed positive correlations, while C14:0, C16:0 and C20:0 showed inverse correlations with the Functional System Scores. In conclusion, this study is in accordance with previous studies that have shown an increase in shorter long-chain SATS in MS patients. In addition, this study also showed that higher C14:0 and C16:0 reflected better disease outcome as demonstrated by the inverse correlation with the EDSS and FSS. We have also characterized the specific SATS, that is, long-chain SATS that may increase the risk of developing MS. © 2009 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.
- ItemMonounsaturated fatty acids in blood cell membranes from patients with multiple sclerosis(2011) Hon, G. M.; Hassan, M. S.; Van Rensburg, S. J.; Abel, S.; Erasmus, R. T.; Matsha, T.The aim of this study was to investigate whether blood cell membrane monounsaturated fatty acids were associated with inflammation and disease outcome in patients with multiple sclerosis. The fatty acid composition in peripheral blood mononuclear cell and red blood cell membranes from 26 patients and 25 controls were determined by gas chromatography. Results showed positive associations between C-reactive protein and C16:1n-7, C18:1n-7, and C24:1n-9 in membranes from controls only. In general, C18:1n-9 and C20:1n-9 showed inverse correlations, while C16:1n-7 and C18:1n-7 showed positive correlations with disease outcome. Multiple sclerosis has a known inflammatory component. There is scarcity of literature on the role of monounsaturated fatty acids in inflammation, but results from this study suggested an association in healthy subjects between monounsaturated fatty acids and C-reactive protein, even at physiologically low levels. This association was not found in the plasma from patients. Furthermore, the n-9 and n-7 fatty acids played different roles in disease outcome, and therefore warrant inclusion, together with polyunsaturated fatty acids when investigating the inflammatory aspects of the disease.
- ItemNon-esterified fatty acids in blood cell membranes from patients with multiple sclerosis(2012) Hon, G. M.; Hassan, M. S.; Van Rensburg, S. J.; Abel, S.; Erasmus, R. T.; Matsha, T.The literature on non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations in blood cell membranes from patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) is scarce and reports on concentrations in brain tissue from these patients are inconsistent. NEFAs are needed for several biological functions, for example, as precursors for inflammatory eicosanoid synthesis. The objective of this study was therefore to compare NEFA concentrations in blood cell membranes from patients with that of healthy control subjects, and to correlate possible changes with disease outcome. NEFA C18:2n-6 (9,12-octadecadienoic acid) was decreased in peripheral blood mononuclear cell membranes from patients, median (quartile range): patients: 0.05 (0.02) and controls: 0.07 (0.14)μg/mg protein, p=0.007. C18:2n-6 also showed a weaker relationship with other fatty acids: with C16:0: patients: R=0.40, p=0.04; controls: R=0.82, p=0.000001. Saturated and MUFA showed positive correlations with the Bowel and bladder Functional System Scores (FSS). In contrast, in red blood cell membranes C18:2n-6 and C22:0 (docosanoic acid) showed inverse correlations with the Sensory and Brainstem FSS. The decrease in NEFA C18:2n-6 resulted in metabolic abnormalities between itself and saturated and monounsaturated NEFAs. Altered fatty acid composition in immune cell membranes would influence immune cell functions, and could possibly have contributed to the positive correlations between these fatty acids and disease outcome. © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.
- ItemPeripheral blood mononuclear cell membrane fluidity and disease outcome in patients with multiple sclerosis(2012) Hon, G. M.; Hassan, M. S.; Van Rensburg, S. J.; Abel, S.; Erasmus, R. T.; Matsha, T.Immune cell membrane lipids are important determinants of membrane fluidity, eicosanoid production and phagocytosis and fatty acid metabolic abnormalities have been reported in immune cells from patients with multiple sclerosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between peripheral blood mononuclear cell membrane fluidity, permeability status, and disease outcome as measured by the Kurtzke expanded disability status scale. Phospholipids, fatty acids and cholesterol composition in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 26 patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and 25 healthy control subjects were determined by colorimetric assay, gas chromatography and enzymatic assays, respectively. Membrane fluidity was calculated according to previously established formulae and correlated with C-reactive protein and the Kurtzke expanded disability status scale. There were no significant differences in membrane lipids in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients and controls. However, correlation studies showed lipid metabolic abnormalities, which were reflected in significant correlations between membrane fluidity as measured by both its fatty acid and phospholipid compositions, and the functional system scores. C-reactive protein showed positive correlations with phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylinositol and total phospholipids in membranes from control subjects. Metabolic abnormalities, as well as correlations between membrane fluidity and the functional system scores, suggested the involvement of these immune cell membranes in the disease progression. Furthermore, the changed relationship between membrane phospholipids and C-reactive protein, which has been shown to correlate with infectious episodes and clinical relapse, could be an indication of immune cell dysfunction in patients with multiple sclerosis. © 2011 Indian Society of Haematology & Transfusion Medicine.
- ItemPlasma non-esterified fatty acids in patients with multiple sclerosis(2011) Hon, G. M.; Hassan, M. S.; Van Rensburg, S. J.; Abel, S.; Erasmus, R. T.; Matsha, T.
- ItemSelf-induced vomiting : risk for oesophageal cancer?(Health & Medical Publishing Group, 2006-03) Matsha, T.; Stepien, A.; Blanco-Blanco, E.; Brink, L. T.; Lombard, C. J.; Van Rensburg, S.; Erasmus, R. T.Background. Chronic inflammation of the oesophagus is considered a precursor condition for the development of oesophageal cancer. Identification of the causes of chronic oesophageal irritation is therefore relevant in developing preventive measures. Self-induced vomiting is a cultural practice among the black population of South Africa, particularly those living in the Transkei, a region reported to have one of the highest incidences of oesophageal cancer worldwide. Methods. We retrospectively examined the association between the practice of self-induced vomiting and the development of cytological features of inflammation in 478 self-selected subjects living in Transkei who underwent early screening for oesophageal cancer. Screening involved brush biopsy, cytological investigation and a questionnaire interview. Results. The prevalence of self-induced vomiting was 80.5% and 79.1% in males and females, respectively, and this was stable across all ages. Furthermore, self-induced vomiting was found to be significantly and independently associated with oesophageal chronic inflammation (odds ratio 1.83, 95% confidence interval: 1.13 - 2.96, p = 0.013). Conclusion. While the association between the cultural practice of self-induced vomiting and oesophageal cancer has previously been hypothesised, this is the first study to report on an association between this practice and oesophageal chronic inflammation. Further studies that take into account the method used, frequency and duration of vomiting, age of commencement and fasting state of subjects practising self-induced vomiting coupled with accurate indicators of inflammation are needed to elucidate the role of self-induced vomiting in oesophageal pathogenesis.