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Introduction: Iron overload in thalassemia catalyses the production of a variety of reactive oxygen species leading to cumulative cell damage. Ischemia modified albumin (IMA) is an end product of oxidative stress. It is imperative to pick up oxidative stress early in order to prevent the organ damage in thalassemia. Therefore this study was undertaken to estimate IMA levels and to see the correlation between ferritin and IMA to establish whether ferritin can be a proxy marker for oxidative stress. Methods: A total of 76 children were included in the study out of which 46 were diagnosed cases of β- Thalassemia major and 30 formed the healthy controls. Pre transfusion haemoglobin, AST, ALT, ferritin and IMA levels were estimated and compared with healthy control children. Correlation was drawn between haemoglobin, AST, ALT, ferritin with IMA. Results: There is significant elevation in the level of IMA and ferritin in children with Thalassemia major as compared to the healthy controls (p = < 0.001). There was a significant positive correlation between ferritin and IMA and a significant negative correlation between haemoglobin % and IMA. Regression relationship between ferritin and IMA established that IMA (ng/ mL) = 246.118 + 0.829 (Ferritin ng/dL). Conclusions: IMA levels were significantly elevated in β- thalassemia major children and correlated positively with ferritin levels. By establishing a regression relationship between ferritin and IMA levels, we can fairly estimate the levels of IMA. Hence, we can utilise ferritin as a proxy marker of oxidative stress instead of IMA.

Bacterial infections are one of the leading causes of morbidity, mortality, and healthcare complications in patients. Leptospirosis is found to be the most prevalent, re-emergent, and neglected tropical zoonotic disease worldwide. The adaptation to various environmental conditions has made Leptospira acquire a large genome (~4.6 Mb) and a complex outer membrane, making it unique among bacteria that mimic the symptoms of jaundice and hemorrhage. Sph2 is another important virulence factor that enhances hemolytic sphingomyelinase—capable of moving inside mitochondria—which increases the ROS level and decreases the mitochondrial membrane potential, thereby leading to cell apoptosis. In the present study, 25 suspected bovine serum samples were subjected to the Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT) across the Mysuru region. Different samples, such as urine, serum, and aborted materials from the confirmed MAT-positive animals, were used for isolation and genomic detection by conventional PCR targeting virulence gene, Lipl32, using specific primers. Further, in vitro and in silico studies were performed on isolated cultures to assess the anti-leptospiral, anti-hemolytic, and sphingomyelinase enzyme inhibition using novel pseudopeptides. The microdilution technique (MDT) and dark field microscope (DFM) assays revealed that at a concentration of 62.5 μg/mL, the pseudopeptide inhibited 100% of the growth of Leptospira spp., suggesting its efficiency in the treatment of leptospirosis. The flow cytometry analyses show the potency of the pseudopeptide against sphingomyelinase enzymes using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Thus, the present study demonstrated the efficacy of the pseudopeptide in the inhibition of the growth of Leptospira, and therefore, this can be used as an alternative drug for the treatment of leptospirosis.