Search

Backgroun/Aim. Constant production of free radicals and antioxidants (AO) in cells is a part of normal cellular function. Their imbalance might take a part in pathophysiology of many diseases, including Parkinson's disease (PD). Evaluation of the disease status, prooxidant-antioxidant balance (PAB) and antioxidants are being widely estimated. The aim of this study was to examine potential interaction between several AO variables: glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and PAB, and clinicopathologic features of patients with PD, particularly the Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) stage. Methods. A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was conducted to analyze mean differences between clinicopathologic characteristics (gender, age at examination, duration of the disease, and the H&Y stage) and AO variables of PD patients and those of age/sex matched healthy controls. The study included 91 patients with idiopatic PD patients and 20 healthy persons. Results. The multivariate effect size was estimated at 0.269 (p < 0.001), implying that 27.0% of the variance of the dependent variables was accounted for the H&Y stage. Univariate tests showed that there were significant differences (p < 0.001) across the H&Y stage of all AO variables. The H&Y stage remained significant predictor after controlling for the second variable, the disease duration (p < 0.001, X2 = 0.249), and there were still significant differences across the H&Y stage of all variables, with effect size (X2) ranging from 0.132 (p = 0.011) (lnGSH) to the still high values of 0.535 (lnPAB), 0.627 (lnSOD) and 0.964 (lnCAT). Conclusion. The results indicate that higher level of oxidative stress in blood of PD patients is possibly related to the PD stage. Along with reduction of SOD and GSH levels, CAT activity was elevated in comparison to these values in healthy subjects. Furthermore, PAB was shifted toward oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim. Oxidative stress is a state of disturbed balance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) on the one hand, and antioxidative defense on the other. As a result of oxidative stress we have irreversible changes in cell function leading to pathological tissue changes, development of many diseases and fast aging process. Increased consumption of oxygen during exercise could be the cause of oxidative stress. The aim of the study was to establish oxidative status of elite karate athletes in the state of rest and after the loading, monitoring the parameters of oxidative stress and components of antioxidative defense in a treaining process. Methods. During training process, a group of 30 elite karate athletes was included in the study of prevalence. They were males, from 16 to 30 years of age. The examination was conducted both in resting condition and after the loading. Oxidative status was determined by the level of superoxide anion radical (O2-), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as pro-oxidants, and enzymes of the antioxidant defanse system: superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). Resusts. There was a homogenous group of young athletes of normal weight and fats percentage. A significant decrease of O2- after the load was founded, while the levels of H2O2 was significantly increased. Activity of SOD was not significantly changed after exsercise while that of CAT was significantly increased. Conclusion. In the long run a programmed physical exercise does not lead to oxidative stress, but an excessive physical load may cause its occurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim. The aim of this study, which included patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, was to determine the influence of the application of various treatment modalities (intensive or conventional) on the total plasma antioxidative capacity and lipid peroxidation intensity expressed as malondialdehyde (MDA) level, catalase and xanthine oxidase activity, erythrocyte glutatione reduced concentration (GSH RBC), erythrocyte MDA level (MDA RBC), as well as susceptibility of erythrocyte to H2O2-induced oxidative stress. Methods. This study included 42 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. In 24 of the patients intensive insulin treatment was applied using the model of short-acting insulin in each meal and medium-acting insulin before going to bed, while in 18 of the patients conventional insulin treatment was applied in two (morning and evening) doses. In the examined patients no presence of diabetes mellitus complications was recorded. The control group included 20 healthy adults out of a blood doner group. The plasma and erythrocytes taken from the blood samples were analyzed immediately. Results. This investigation proved that the application of intensive insulin treatment regime significantly improves total antioxidative plasma capacity as compared to the application of conventional therapy regime. The obtained results showed that the both plasma and lipoproteines apo B MDA increased significantly more in the patients on conventional therapy than in the patients on intensive insulin therapy, most probably due to intensified xanthine oxidase activity. The level of the MDA in fresh erythrocytes did not differ significantly between the groups on intensive and conventional therapy. The level of GSH and catalase activity, however, were significantly reduced in the patients on conventional therapy due to the increased susceptibility to H2O2-induced oxidative stress . Conclusion. The presented study confirmed positive effect of intensive insulin therapy on metabolic control expressed through glycemia level, glycolysed hemoglobine (HbAlc) and fructosamine, as well as through antioxidative/prooxidative homeostasis. This is the confirmation that an adequate treatment choice can prevent numerous diabetes mellitus complications induced by free radicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]