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The present study set out to investigate the effects of cigarette smoke on oxidant–antioxidant systems of homogenized bovine lung tissue and the possible protective effects of cigarette filters imp...

To assess the activity of xanthine oxidase (XO) enzyme in keratoconic corneal epithelium and to evaluate its relationship with the keratoconus (KC) severity. This prospective and randomized study included 66 eyes of 54 KC patients who received corneal collagen cross-linking treatment and 43 eyes of 32 patients who underwent photorefractive keratectomy due to their refractive error. During surgical procedures, the corneal epithelium was mechanically scraped and gathered to analyze the XO enzyme activity spectrophotometrically. The KC group was subdivided into three groups (stages 1, 2, and 3) according to the Amsler–Krumeich classification. The results were compared between the KC and the control group and in between KC subgroups. No significant differences in age and gender were found between the KC and control groups (p = 0.064 and p = 0.296, respectively). The mean XO activity levels of the KC and control groups were 173.57 ± 87.61 and 223.70 ± 99.52 mIU/mg, respectively (p < 0.001). In KC group, 33 eyes were at stage 1, 19 were at stage 2, and 14 were at stage 3. No significant difference was observed between KC subgroups regarding XO activity levels (p = 0.681). In this study, our findings revealed that ultraviolet-related pro-oxidant XO enzyme may have a role in the etiopathogenesis of KC. Further studies are needed to support our result. When we started this study in 2018, we did not have a "Clinical Trials Registration." However, we have ethics committee approval (date: 21. 02. 2018/No: 22)

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). Oxidative stress has been hypothesized to play a major role in the development of PD in various studies. This study assessed to investigate oxidative and anti-oxidative status in PD patients. We evaluated oxidant/antioxidant status by measuring serum malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, xanthine oxidase (XO) activities, and activities of antioxidant enzymes, namely, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). The study included 29 patients with PD and 32 healthy subjects as controls. Comparison of oxidative parameters in the patient and control groups revealed significantly higher GSH-Px and XO activities in the patient group. Serum MDA and SOD activities in PD patients were not significantly different from the controls. MDA was negatively correlated with duration of the PD and positively with age of onset. There was a negative correlation between SOD and Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) stage. According to these results, we suggest that oxidative stress may contribute to the development of PD.

Aim: The main aim of this study is to reveal the relationship between the blood pressure surge pattern in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH).Materials and Methods: 92 patients (60 female, 32 male) were included in the study. Patients who have not been diagnosed with hypertension or even if they have been diagnosed with it, have not received any medication since the last 3 weeks, and who were newly diagnosed with hypertension were included in the study. Morning Blood Pressure Surge (MBPS) was calculated by subtracting the lowest systolic blood pressure recorded during sleep from the systolic blood pressure value of the 2nd hour after awakening.Results: It was observed that 69 patients were nondippers and 29 patients had LVH. As a result of the comparison of LVH groups, it was determined that patients with LVH had higher night time systolic blood pressure values and morning blood pressure surges. In the consequence of the correlation analysis, it was found out that there was a positive correlation between left ventricular mass index and night and 24-hour systolic blood pressure and morning blood pressure surge. Conclusion: The morning blood pressure surge is a marker and independent predictor of hypertension in terms of cardiovascular incidents and target organ damage. In our study, we found the frequency of LVH to be significantly higher in patients with morning blood pressure surges.

Oxidative stress has been implicated in various disorders, including epilepsy. The aim of this study was to investigate the oxidant and antioxidant status of patients with epilepsy using antiepileptic drugs regularly and to compare them with healthy subjects. We investigated serum catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and xanthine oxidase (XO) levels in 58 epilepsy patients and 25 healthy controls. Patients were divided into polytherapy (n = 17) and monotherapy (n = 41) groups, and antioxidant status was compared between the two groups and controls. There was no significant difference between the patient and control groups in terms of age or gender (p > 0.05). The mean duration of illness in the patients was 14.8 years, and the mean duration of treatment was 11.4 years. Comparison of the patient and control groups in terms of oxidative stress and antioxidant defence parameters revealed significantly higher MDA, GSH-Px, XO and lower level of CAT, SOD levels (p

Background Few studies examining the association between oxidative stress and clinical parameters or disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients are available. Therefore, the objective of this study was to test whether oxidative stress has any association with clinical parameters and disease activity in patients with RA. Materials and methods In this post hoc cross-sectional study, 45 RA patients treated with traditional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) ± low-dose glucocorticoids ± non-steroidal analgesics for at least 3 months were analyzed. Oxidative stress parameters were malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), antioxidant potential (AOP) and nonenzymatic superoxide radical scavenger activity (NSSA). Clinical parameters were pain, patient global assessment, physician global assessment, Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), and Disease Activity Score (DAS28). Results Plasma NSSA levels were significantly inversely correlated with tender joints count (r=-0.304; P=0.042), swollen joints count (r=-0.342; p=0.021) and DAS28 (r=-0.396; P=0.009). There were no significant correlations between MDA/SOD/AOP and any of clinical parameters or DAS28 (P>0.05 for all). Multiple regression analysis revealed that NSSA was an independent variable of DAS28 (β=-0.243, P=0.016). Conclusion The preliminary results demonstrate that plasma NSSA levels were inversely correlated with tender and swollen joints count and DAS28 and that NSSA was independently associated with DAS28, in RA patients treated with traditional DMARDs; and provide initial support that NSSA may be used as a biomarker of disease activity in RA patients. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

The authors reviewed current knowledge on occurrence, clinical and prognostic significance, and management of sustained ventricular arrhythmias, atrial fibrillation and bradyarrhythmias in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). Cardiac arrhythmias worsen clinical course and prognosis in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary PCI. Sustained ventricular arrhythmias developing during or early after PCI and associated with mechanical restoration of coronary flow and reperfusion do not affect mortality, whereas those related to incomplete revascularization and ongoing ischemia are associated with poor prognosis. New-onset atrial fibrillation increases mortality and stroke rates in patients undergoing primary PCI. Among bradyarrhythmias, high-degree atrioventricular block is associated with short- and long-term mortality. Prompt and complete revascularization is the cornerstone of arrhythmia management. Arrhythmias related to reperfusion do not usually require specific treatment, whereas those because of ongoing ischemia, incomplete revascularization and presence of substrate require adequate management including nonpharmacological and pharmacological therapies.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the common neurodegenerative disorders. Oxidative stress is considered as a contributing factor to the development of PD. The present study aims to investigate serum oxidative stress status in patients with PD. Oxidative stress was assessed by measuring serum nitric oxide levels, lipid hydroperoxide concentrations, and nitric oxide synthase activity. In addition, total serum antioxidant capacity (TAC) was evaluated using the serum 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) free-radical scavenging method in 32 patient with Parkinson’s disease and 32 control subjects. Our results indicated that serum nitric oxide and lipid hydroperoxide levels were significantly lower in patients with PD than controls. Moreover, nitric oxide levels were found to be negatively correlated with Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). However, no statistical difference was observed in total serum antioxidant capacities and nitric oxide synthase activities between patients and controls. The present study indicates that although antioxidant capacity was not changed, lipid hydroperoxide (LPO) level was found decreased. This might show pre-oxidative process in these patients. In addition, decreased nitric oxide (NO) level and negative correlation observed between NO level and disease rating scale implicated a role for NO in the disease process.

Oxidative stress has been shown to play a contributory role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Recent studies have provided evidence for antioxidant properties of spa therapy. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether spa therapy with saline balneotherapy has any influence on the oxidant/antioxidant status in patients with RA and to assess clinical effects of spa therapy. In this investigator-blind randomized controlled trial, we randomly assigned 50 patients in a 1:1 ratio to spa therapy plus standard drug treatment (spa group) or standard drug treatment alone (control group). Spa group followed a 2-week course of spa therapy regimen consisting of a total of 12 balneotherapy sessions in a thermal mineral water pool at 36–37 °C for 20 min every day except Sunday. All clinical and biochemical parameters were assessed at baseline and after spa therapy (2 weeks). The clinical parameters were pain intensity, patient global assessment, physician global assessment, Health Assessment Questionnaire disability index (HAQ-DI), Disease Activity Score for 28-joints based on erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28–4[ESR]). Oxidative status parameters were malondialdehyde (MDA), nonenzymatic superoxide radical scavenger activity (NSSA), antioxidant potential (AOP), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). The NSSA levels were increased significantly in the spa group (p = 0.003) but not in the control group (p = 0.509); and there was a trend in favor of spa therapy for improvements in NSSA levels compared to control (p = 0.091). Significant clinical improvement was found in the spa group compared to the control in terms of patient global assessment (p = 0.011), physician global assessment (p = 0.043), function (HAQ-DI) (p = 0.037), disease activity (DAS28–4[ESR]) (0.044) and swollen joint count (0.009), and a trend toward improvement in pain scores (0.057). Spa therapy with saline balneotherapy exerts antioxidant effect in patients with RA as reflected by the increase in NSSA levels after spa therapy; whether this antioxidant effect contributes to the clinical improvements observed remains to be verified.

To evaluate effects of mobile phone use on brain tissue and a possible protective role of vitamin C.Forty female rats were divided into four groups randomly (Control, mobile phone, mobile phone plus vitamin C and, vitamin C alone). The mobile phone group was exposed to a mobile phone signal (900 MHz), the mobile phone plus vitamin C group was exposed to a mobile phone signal (900 MHz) and treated with vitamin C administered orally (per os). The vitamin C group was also treated with vitamin C per os for four weeks. Then, the animals were sacrificed and brain tissues were dissected to be used in the analyses of malondialdehyde (MDA), antioxidant potential (AOP), superoxide dismutase, catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), xanthine oxidase, adenosine deaminase (ADA) and 5'nucleotidase (5'-NT).Mobile phone use caused an inhibition in 5'-NT and CAT activities as compared to the control group. GSH-Px activity and the MDA level were also found to be reduced in the mobile phone group but not significantly. Vitamin C caused a significant increase in the activity of GSH-Px and non-significant increase in the activities of 5'-NT, ADA and CAT enzymes.Our results suggest that vitamin C may play a protective role against detrimental effects of mobile phone radiation in brain tissue.

Polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (PVT) can occur during acute myocardial infarction (MI). In the past, studies investigated the initiation pattern of ventricular tachycardias in different patient populations; however, the mode of onset of PVT in acute MI patients has not been investigated previously.To retrospectively investigate the electrophysiological features of PVT with different initiation patterns in acute MI patients to assess whether there is a relationship of the initiation patterns of PVT with clinical and electrophysiological characteristics.Sixty-two rhythm strips defined as PVT from 53 patients (mean [± SD] age 63±8 years) with acute ST elevation MI were analyzed. All patients were monitored while they were hospitalized in the coronary care unit, and the electrocardiogram strips were obtained from continuous monitoring. PVT was defined as sudden-onset tachycardia if it was not preceded by ventricular ectopic beats. PVT that was preceded by single or multiple ectopic beats was defined as nonsudden-onset tachycardia.Nonsudden-onset episodes were more common than suddenonset episodes (40 episodes [64.5%] versus 22 episodes [35.5%]). In the nonsudden-onset group, 25 episodes (62.5%) were initiated after a single ectopic beat, while 15 episodes (37.5%) were initiated after multiple complexes. The mean (± SD) left ventricular ejection fraction of patients with nonsudden-onset PVT was decreased (53±6% versus 65±7%, P0.01). Nonsudden-onset tachycardias had lower coupling intervals than suddenonset tachycardias. Similarly, the PVT cycle length was shorter in the presence of nonsudden-onset initiation. When nonsudden-onset PVT episodes were further subclassified based on the morphology of the first beat of tachycardia, 26 PVTs (65%) had a first beat of tachycardia similar to the subsequent PVT beats and 14 (35%) did not.These results demonstrate that PVT is often preceded by ventricular ectopy in acute MI patients. Nonsudden-onset PVT is usually characterized by a lower coupling interval, shorter PVT cycle length and an associated lower ejection fraction.

Doxorubicin (DXR) is a chemotherapeutic agent used effectively in the treatment of several childhood malignancies. During treatment, cardiotoxicity caused by cell damage due to the free oxygen radicals that are generated is a major limiting factor. This study was undertaken to determine whether DXR-induced cardiotoxicity could be prevented by natural foods with antioxidant properties such as aged garlic extract (AGEX), grape seed proanthocyanidin (PA), and hazelnut. Wistar albino male rats were assigned randomly to 9 groups each consisting of 15 rats. AGEX, PA, and hazelnut groups received these antioxidants in addition to their standard rat diet. They were also treated with cumulative intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections according to 2 different regimens: either a high-dose of 15 mg/kg DXR (3.75 mg/kg per week for 4 weeks) or a low-dose of 7.5 mg/kg DXR (1.875 mg/kg per week for 4 weeks). The control group received i.p. 0.9% saline. AGEX, PA, or hazelnut supplements were given orally to the groups for a 6-week period starting 1 week before the DXR treatment and ending 1 week after the treatment. One week after the last DXR injection, heart tissue samples were analyzed to determine malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and xanthine oxidase (XO) levels, and serum samples were taken for creatine kinase (CK). There were no significant changes in MDA levels among the control, DXR-treated groups, or supplemented groups that received additional natural antioxidant foods. SOD enzyme levels were decreased in rats treated with DXR. PA prevented the decrease at low doses of DXR. DXR treatment decreased CAT enzyme levels, but additional PA and hazelnut consumption increased these levels at low cumulative doses. XO enzyme levels were decreased in AGEX and hazelnut groups, but PA prevented the decrease. CK levels were elevated after DXR administration, indicating myocardial injury, but PA significantly reversed this. Although there were no differences histopathologically between AGEX, PA, and hazelnut groups, the protective effects of AGEX and PA were evident in electron microscopy. In conclusion, the positive effects of natural antioxidant foods on the prevention of DXR-induced cardiac injury could not be clearly shown on the basis of antioxidant enzymes. However, the electron microscopic changes clearly demonstrated the protective effects of AGEX and PA. The supplementation of these antioxidant foods over longer periods may show more definitive results. Human studies with different doses are needed to evaluate the effects of these foods on the human heart.

The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of ionic high-osmolar contrast medium on oxidative metabolism in liver, urinary bladder, and ovary tissues and to obtain information about possible protective effects of vitamin C. Twenty-one female rats, 14 weeks old, were used in this study. They were divided into three groups of seven rats: Sham (group I), contrast (group II), contrast + vitamin C (group III). Vitamin C was given orally to the animals in group III during the study period. On the fifth day, contrast medium was given via intravenous infusion as a single dose to the animals in groups II and III. On the sixth day of the study, the animals were killed with anesthesia by ketamine hydrochloride. Then, their liver, bladder, and ovary tissues were removed to measure analyses parameters. Our results suggested that contrast medium led to some increases in malondialdehyde levels in the liver, bladder, and ovary tissues and that vitamin C prevented these increases in the tissues. Nitric oxide level also was found to increase in the contrast-treated animals and vitamin C prevented this increase in the liver tissue. Ionic high-osmolar contrast medium leads to weak oxidant stress in rat liver, bladder, and ovary tissues, and vitamin C prevents this oxidant stress.

Aim: The investigation of oxidant/antioxidant status in hepatic tissues from cholesterol-fed rabbits and the establishment of possible protective effects of aqueous garlic extract on cholesterol-induced hepatic steatosis. Methods: Twenty-two of 31 white New Zealand rabbits were given cholesterol (0.5 g/kg/day) for 4 months. Seven of them were then killed (cholesterol group). The remaining 15 animals were divided into two groups. Seven were fed on a normal laboratory diet (normal diet group) and the others (extract group) on a normal diet plus garlic extract (1.5 ml/kg/day) for an additional 3 months. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT) enzyme activities, antioxidant potential (AOP) value, malondialdehyde (MDA), cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the liver tissues and total cholesterol and triglyceride levels in serum samples were measured. An histological evaluation was also done. Results: An impaired antioxidant system, reduced antioxidant defence potential and increased peroxidation were found in hepatic steatotic tissues from cholesterol-fed animals. Treatment with garlic extract caused a significant increase in antioxidant potential and partly eliminated peroxidation damage in the hepatic tissue. Additionally, the extract caused significant reductions in the cholesterol levels of blood and hepatic tissues. The histological evaluations were in accordance with these results. Conclusion: The results suggest that cholesterol-induced steatosis leads to a weakened antioxidant defence system and causes peroxidation in the hepatic tissue. Treatment with garlic extract may contribute to significant amelioration in the hepatic steatosis and peroxidation processes.

In this study, the aim was to investigate possible effects of Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR) use on oxidant and antioxidant status in erythrocytes and kidney, heart, liver, and ovary tissues from rats, and possible protective role of vitamin C. For this aim, 40 Wistar albino female rats were used throughout the study. The treatment group was exposed to EMR in a frequency of 900 MHz, the EMR plus vitamin C group was exposed to the same EMR frequency and given vitamin C (250 mg/kg/day) orally for 4 weeks. There were 10 animals in each group including control and vitamin C groups. At the end of the study period, blood samples were obtained from the animals to get erythrocyte sediments. Then the animals were sacrificed and heart, kidney, liver, and ovary tissues were removed. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), xanthine oxidase (XO), and adenosine deaminase (ADA) enzyme activities were measured in the tissues and erythrocytes. It was observed that MDA level, XO, and GSH-Px activities significantly increased in the EMR group as compared with those of the control group in the erythrocytes. In the kidney tissues, it was found that MDA level and CAT activity significantly increased, whereas XO and ADA activities decreased in the cellular phone group as compared with those of the control group. However, in the heart tissues it was observed that MDA level, ADA, and XO activities significantly decreased in the cellular phone group as compared with those of the control group. The results suggest that EMR at the frequency generated by a cell phone causes oxidative stress and peroxidation in the erythrocytes and kidney tissues from rats. In the erythrocytes, vitamin C seems to make partial protection against the oxidant stress.

Background: The oxidative stress theory of aging is one of the most widely acknowledged theories of aging. The intake of fruits and vegetables with antioxidant power is associated with a reduced incidence of many chronic diseases of aging. Objective: The effects of ingesting garlic on plasma and erythrocyte antioxidant parameters of elderly subjects were investigated in this study. Methods: 13 subjects (mean age 70.69 ± 4.23) participated in the study. They ingested garlic at the daily dose of 0.1 g/kg b.w. for 1 month. Before and after this period, fasting blood samples were obtained, and oxidant [malondialdehyde (MDA) and xanthine oxidase (XO)] and antioxidant [superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT)] parameters were studied in erythrocytes, and MDA levels were studied in plasma samples obtained from the subjects. Routine blood biochemical parameters were also measured in blood samples. Results: In the plasma fraction and erythrocyte hemolysate, MDA levels were found to be significantly lower, but erythrocyte GSH-Px and SOD activities were significantly higher in the second samples relative to the first ones. XO activity was found to be lower in the second samples, but this decrease was not statistically meaningful. LDL cholesterol was found to be significantly lower in the second samples relative to the first ones. Conclusion: Our results show that ingestion of garlic leads to significantly lowered plasma and erythrocyte MDA levels and to increased activities of some antioxidant enzymes, which indicates that consumption of garlic decreases oxidation reactions. It is quite possible that reduced peroxidation processes due to garlic consumption may play a part in some of the beneficial effects of garlic in elderly subjects.

WOS: 000374429300010, PubMed: 27075389, OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate possible effects of high cholesterol diet on oxidant/antioxidant status in rabbit kidney tissues. BACKGROUND:Although a number of experimental animal models have suggested that hyperlipidemia is associated with progressive kidney failure data remain sparse on the role of dietary cholesterol intake on kidney disease. METHODS: Twelve male New Zealand albino rabbits were randomly divided into two groups (control and cholesterol). Both groups were fed on a standard laboratory diet. Animals in the cholesterol group additionally received cholesterol (1 g/kg/day), orally. The study period was 12 weeks. Activities of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), nitric oxide synthase (NOS), xanthine oxidase (XO), paraoxonase (PON), adenosine deaminase (ADA) enzymes and levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) were measured in kidney tissue samples. Histological examination of the kidney tissue samples was also done. RESULTS: SOD, GSH-Px and XO enzyme activities were found to be decreased and NOS and PON activities increased significantly in cholesterol group compared to controls. As an indication of oxidation, MDA levels were found to be increased in cholesterol group. Histological examination revealed some derangements in the kidney tissue. CONCLUSION: High cholesterol diet creates oxidant load and causes peroxidation, which in turn, leads derangements in the rabbit kidney tissue (Tab. 2, Fig. 2, Ref. 69). Text in PDF www.elis.sk.

Possible effects of a high-cholesterol diet on the oxidant/antioxidant status in various tissues from rats and the effects of the combination of vitamins C and E on these parameters and on hypercholesterolemia were investigated. Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley type rats were randomly divided into three groups. The control group (group 1) was fed on a rat pellet diet. The study groups (groups 2 and 3) were fed on a high-cholesterol diet for 3 months. Rats in group 3 were supplemented with vitamins C (100 mg/kg intraperitoneally ) and E (60 mg/kg intramuscularly ) three times a week throughout the study. At the end of the study period, all animals were sacrificed and their heart, kidney, liver and testis surgically removed to measure oxidant and antioxidant parameters. Blood samples were also obtained from the animals. We observed that serum total cholesterol levels significantly increased in the study groups after the study period. The increase in the blood cholesterol level in group 3 was, however, significantly lower than that in group 2. As to the oxidant–antioxidant parameters, there were different results among the tissues. In conclusion, our results suggest that high serum cholesterol level does not lead to oxidation reactions in the early phase of hypercholesterolemia, and antioxidant vitamins supplementation increases antioxidant potential values of the tissues and decreases the blood total cholesterol level in the cholesterol-supplemented animals. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS It is clearly known that hypercholesterolemia is an important health problem throughout the world. The results of the present study indicate that antioxidant vitamins (vitamins C and E) may be useful in the prevention of hypercholesterolemia

Aim: Although the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is likely to be multifactorial, the inflammatory nature of SLE implies that a state of oxidative stress may exist in this disease, which may contribute to immune cell dysfunction, auto-antigen production and auto-antibody reactivity. This study was conducted to investigate the oxidant/antioxidant status of patients with SLE and to correlate this with disease activity. Methods: Sixteen clinically active, 12 clinically inactive SLE patients and 11 healthy controls were included into the study and antioxidant potential (AOP), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), adenosine deaminase (ADA), malondialdehyde (MDA), and xanthine oxidase (XO) activity levels in erythrocytes and AOP, GSH-Px, MDA, and XO activity levels in plasma were measured. Results: In erythrocytes; AOP was higher in SLE patients (both active and inactive), CAT activity was higher in inactive SLE patients, GSH-Px, SOD and XO activity were lower in SLE patients (active and inactive) than the control group. In plasma; SLE patients (active and inactive) had higher AOP levels, activity of GSH-Px was lower in SLE groups (active and inactive), activity of MDA was lower in active SLE patients, and activity of XO was higher in the active SLE patients than the control group. Conclusion: Antioxidant status was impaired in SLE patients but there was no significant difference between the active and inactive SLE groups, so oxidative stress may play a role in the pathogenesis of SLE but probably is not correlated with disease activity.

Background: To evaluate the role of light-induced oxidative mechanisms in the pathogenesis of primary pterygium. Methods: Pterygium specimens were obtained from 18 eyes of 18 patients undergoing pterygial removal (group A), and normal conjunctival specimens were obtained from 18 eyes of 18 patients undergoing cataract surgery (group B). In all specimens, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were studied and compared. Results: In group A, the mean SOD activity was lower, and the mean MDA level was higher when compared to group B. However, these differences did not reach clinical significance (p > 0.05). On the other hand, the mean CAT activity was statistically significantly higher in group A when compared to controls (p = 0.017). Conclusion: This preliminary study indicates that oxidative mechanisms seem to play a role in the pathogenesis of pterygium. These mechanisms are apparently activated by ultraviolet irradiation. Further studies are required to establish the role of oxidative mechanisms in the pathogenesis of primary or recurrent pterygia.

The aim of this study was to determine if the natural antioxidant foods, dried black grape and garlic, protect against cyclosporine nephrotoxicity. Forty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were given Cyclosporine A (CsA) orally for 10 days, with the antioxidant food supplementation begun 3 days before CsA treatment and continued during the study period (totaling 13 days). In each group (control, CsA alone, CsA plus black grape, CsA plus aqueous garlic extract, aqueous garlic extract alone and black grape alone), there were 7 animals. At the end of the study period, the animals were sacrificed; their kidneys were removed and prepared for biochemical and histopathological investigations. Oxidant (xanthine oxidase enzyme and malondialdehyde) and antioxidant (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase enzymes) parameters were measured in the kidney tissues of the groups. Histopathological examinations of the tissues were also performed. It has been found that CsA creates oxidant load to the kidneys through both xanthine oxidase activation and impaired antioxidant defense system, which accelerates oxidation reactions in the kidney tissue. Supplementation with either dried black grape or aqueous garlic extract led to reduced malondialdehyde level in the kidney tissue possibly, by preventing oxidant reactions. In conclusion, the results suggest that impaired oxidant/antioxidant balance may play part in the CsA-induced nephrotoxicity, and some foods with high antioxidant power may ameliorate this toxicity, in agreement with studies with antioxidant vitamins.

Aim: Investigation of possible effects of rhubarb extract on adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity in cancerous and non cancerous human gastric and colon tissues to obtain information about possible mechanism of anti cancer action of rhubarb. Materials and methods: Cancerous and non cancerous human gastric and colon tissues removed from patients by surgical operations were used in the studies. The extracts were prepared in distilled water. Before and after treatment with the extracts, ADA activities in the tissue homogenates were measured. Results: ADA activity was found to be higher in gastric tissue compared with colon tissue, but no differences were found between ADA activities of cancerous and non cancerous tissues. It was found that rhubarb extract significantly inhibited ADA activity both in cancerous and non cancerous gastric and colon tissues. Conclusion: Our results suggest that aquoeus extract from rhubarb inhibits ADA activities in both gastric and colon tissues significantly. It is suggested that in addition to other proposed mechanisms, acumulated adenosine due to the inhibition of ADA enzyme might also play part in the anticancer properties of the rhubarb.

Purpose To evaluate the activity of the antioxidative enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the anterior lens capsule of patients with cataract complicating pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX) in an attempt to determine the role of the oxidative mechanisms in the etiopathogenesis of this disorder. Setting Departments of Ophthalmology and Biochemistry, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. Methods At the beginning of phacoemulsification surgery, the anterior lens capsules in 21 eyes with PEX and cataract (group A) and those in 24 eyes with cataract alone (group B) were collected with continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis and were frozen at −20°C. At the time of analysis, the specimens were thawed and centrifuged and the supernatants of the homogenate obtained from the samples were analyzed for the activity of the enzyme SOD. Results The mean age of patients was 74.8 years ± 5.5 (SD) in group A and 71.7 ± 5.6 years in group B. The specific activity of SOD was 17.6 ± 10.8 IU/mg and 4.36 ± 1.80 IU/mL in group A and 9.9 ± 12.9 IU/mg and 2.71 ± 2.61 IU/mL in group B. Superoxide dismutase activity was significantly higher in group A patients than in group B patients (P = .022 and P = .011, respectively). Conclusions The increase in SOD activity in the lens capsule of patients with PEX and cataract suggests that oxidative mechanisms play a role in the etiopathogenesis of cataract in PEX. This suggests that SOD activity may be increased as a compensatory mechanism to eliminate this oxidative stress.

Computers are widely used in recent years but their effects on human health completely are known. The aim of this study was to investigate possible effects of computer use on human salivary oxidant / antioxidant system. Ten subjects were included in the study. Three saliva samples were taken from the subjects. First was obtained before computer use, second and third samples were obtained two and four hours after they started computer use. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and adenosine deaminase (ADA) enzyme activities were measured in each saliva sample. Malondialdehyde (MDA) level (mean ± standard deviation) was found to increase in the saliva samples obtained after computer use. SOD and ADA activities decreased but, CAT activity increased during this period. Our results show that computer-released radiation causes changes in enzymatic antioxidant defense system and, leads to oxidant stress in saliva samples from subjects. It has been suggested that subjects who use computer intensively should be consumed more antioxidant foods in order to prevent probable oxidation reactions in their bodies.

OZTURK, HASAN SERDAR/0000-0001-8356-9224; Elgun, Serenay/0000-0002-1751-090X WOS: 000188600400006 PubMed: 14755140 Objective: To investigate blood oxidative status of patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) and possible effects of hemodialysis on the development of oxidative stress in blood. Materials and Methods: The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and oxidation resistance (OR) values were measured in blood plasma, erythrocyte hemolysate and erythrocyte membrane fractions of 33 patients with CRF and of 12 healthy controls. Of the 33 patients, 17 subjects were under hemodialysis treatment. Results: MDA levels were found to be increased in all blood fractions of the patients. OR values were unchanged in erythrocyte hemolysates but decreased in plasma and erythrocyte membrane fractions of the CRF patients. Moreover, erythrocyte MDA levels were determined to be higher in hemodialyzed patients compared with both controls and non-hemodialyzed patients. OR values were lower in all blood fractions of the hemodialyzed patients relative to controls and non-hemodialyzed patients. Conclusion: Results suggest that there is a significant oxidative stress (expressed as peroxidation) in blood samples from patients with CRF, which is further exacerbated by hemodialysis. Copyright (C) 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Tension-type headache (TTH) is one of the most common and costly primary types of headache in clinical practice, with an unknown etiology. This study assessed to investigate oxidative and antioxidative status in patients with chronic tension-type headache (CTTH), and to evaluate possible effect of medical treatment. The study included 41 CTTH patients and 19 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects without headache as controls. The CTTH group comprised 20 patients receiving treatment and 21 untreated patients. We evaluated oxidant/antioxidant status by measuring serum malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and activities of antioxidant enzymes, namely glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT). Comparison of oxidative parameters in the patient and control groups revealed significantly lower CAT activities and higher MDA level and GSH-Px activities in the patient group. In the CTTH group, serum CAT activities were found to be significantly decreased in patient groups, while serum MDA levels and GSH-Px activities were found to be higher in the untreated CTTH patients. These findings suggest that oxidative stress is increased in the patients with CTTH, and medical treatment abolishes the stress in part. It has been concluded that antioxidant support might be helpful for the patients with CTTH to prevent oxidant stress and peroxidation damages further.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between oxidative stress and pulmonary involvement and its severity in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Materials and Methods: 34 patients (30 female, 4 male) and 27 healthy volunteers (21 female, 6 male) were included into the study. All patients fullfilled the American College of Rheumatology criteria for the diagnosis of SSc. Oxidant-antioxidant enzymes malondialdehyde (MDA), Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), xanthine oxidase (XO), and adenosine deaminase (ADA) enzyme activities were measured by spectrophotometric methods. Results: Plasma ADA levels was significantly higher in patients than the control group. On contrary, XO levels of erythroctes were lower. Of 34 patients, 11 had no pulmonary involvement, 14 had mild to moderate and 9 had severe-end stage pulmonary involvement. In patients with pulmonary involvement, plasma XO level was statistically significantly lower but intraerythrocyte XO levels were higher (not statistically significant) than the patients without pulmonary involvement. Severe-end stage group had significantly higher intraerythrocyte XO activity. In limited early disease, intraerythrocyte SOD level was significantly lower than the other groups. Plasma MDA level was significantly higher in limited early and diffuse early disease. Plasma MDA, GSH-PX and intraerythrocyte ADA levels were negatively correlated with disease duration. Intraerythrocyte MDA level was positively correlated with pulmonary arterial pressure. Conclusions: This study may show that besides the role in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis, oxidative stress may also play a role in the severity of the pulmonary involvement of the disease.

Aim: This study aims to investigate the possible effects of aqueous Echinacea (E. Purpurea, whole plant) extract on Adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity in cancerous and non-cancerous human gastric and colon tissues. Materials and Methods: Thirty three cancerous and 33 non-cancerous human gastric tissues, and 25 cancerous and non-cancerous human colon tissues removed by surgical operations were studied. In the samples, adenosine deaminase activities were measured with and without extract incubation. Results: It has been observed that Echinacea extract inhibits ADA enzyme in cancerous gastric tissues significantly. It exerts however no inhibitory effects on the ADA activities in the other tissues. Conclusion: It is proposed that inhibition of ADA enzyme by the Echinacea extract might play part in anti-cancer mechanism of Echinacea in some cancers like gastric cancer.

Possible molecular mechanisms leading to cyclosporine-induced hepatotoxicity has not been cleared yet. Therefore, investigation of antioxidant status of hepatic tissues exposed to cyclosporine A (CsA) and of free radical involvement in the CsA-induced hepatotoxicity seems of importance. For this aim, 20 rabbits were used in the study. In each group (control, CsA, CsA plus vitamin and, vitamin only) there were 5 animals. CsA was given orally (25 mg/kg/day) for 10 days. Vitamins E (100 mg/kg/ day) and C (200 mg/kg/day) combination was injected intramuscularly. After 10th day, animals were killed, and livers were prepared for the enzymatic assays. Activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT) and, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were determined in the supernatant fractions. Lowered SOD, unchanged GSH-Px and, increased CAT activities and MDA levels were detected in hepatic tissues of rabbits treated with CsA as compared with controls. In the CsA plus vitamin group, SOD activity was found to be higher, GSH-Px and CAT activities unchanged and MDA levels lower than the CsA group. In the vitamin-treated group, all of the enzyme activities were higher than the controls but MDA levels were unchanged. Correlation analysis revealed some significant differences between the groups. Results suggest that cyclosporine impairs the antioxidant defense system and thus, leads to oxidant stress and peroxidation in rabbit hepatic tissues. It has been established that this process can be prevented by antioxidant vitamin supplementation.

In this study, the effects of cigarettes with differing tar content on erythrocyte oxidant/antioxidant status was investigated. Malondialdehyde (MDA) as an indicator of oxidant status and superoxide radical scavenger activity (SSA) as an indicator of antioxidant status were measured in erythrocytes from 20 smokers and 10 non-smoker controls. Ten of the 20 smoking subjects smoked five cigarettes with full flavour low tar (FFLT with 12 mg tar) and the others smoked five cigarettes with full flavour high tar (FF with 23 mg tar) over 1 hour. Initial blood samples from both groups at fasting, followed by further samples from smokers at 1.5 hours and 3 hours after smoking. Initial erythrocyte MDA level and SSA activity were found to be higher in the smoking groups compared to non-smokers. Furthermore, both parameters were significantly higher at the 1.5-hour and 3-hour erythrocyte samples when compared to initial values in the FFLT group. However, there were no statistically significant differences between SSA values established at different times in FF group. Results suggest that smoking causes oxidant load in the erythrocytes. Although a compensatory mechanism (i.e. increased SSA activities) develops in the FFLT group after smoking, this cannot prevent peroxidation reactions (i.e. increased MDA levels) in the erythrocytes. As to the types of cigarettes, both seem to have oxidant potential, but oxidation degree in the FFLT group is higher than that of FF group. These results suggest that antioxidant supplementation to smokers might be beneficial to decrease cellular oxidation damages.

Soybean (Glycine max), mistletoe (Viscum album) and red clover (Trifolium pratence) have been argued to have anti-cancer effects. In the present study it was aimed to investigate possible effects of these plant extracts on the activities of DNA turn-over enzymes, namely adenosine deaminase (ADA) and xanthine oxidase (XO) in cancerous and non-cancerous gastric and colon tissues. For this aim, 6 cancerous and 6 non-cancerous adjacent human gastric tissues, and 7 cancerous and 7 non-cancerous adjacent colon tissues were obtained by surgical operations. Our results suggest that aqueous soybean, mistletoe and red clover extracts may exhibit anti-tumoral activity by depleting hypoxanthine concentration in the cancer cells through XO activation, which may lead to lowered salvage pathway activity necessary for the cancer cells to proliferate in the cancerous colon tissue. Some foods like soybean, mistletoe and red clover may provide nutritional support to medical cancer therapy through inhibiting and/or activating key enzymes in cancer metabolism (Tab. 4, Ref. 33).

To investigate the effects of ingesting Fructus vitis minuta (black grape) on plasma and erythrocyte antioxidant parameters in elderly subjects. Materials and methods: Thirteen subjects (mean age 74.67 ± 0.58) participated in the study. They consumed 1 g/kg body weight per day of dried black Maraş grapes for 1 month. Before and after these periods, fasting blood samples were obtained, and oxidant (as MDA) and antioxidant (as SOD) parameters were studied in erythrocytes. Also, plasma samples were obtained from the subjects. Results: In the erythrocyte hemolysate, MDA (malondialdehydes) levels and SOD (superoxide dismutase) activities were found to be lower (P < 0.01) in the second samples compared to the first ones. Conclusion: We think that because free radical production was decreased SOD activities were not increased. Our results show that reduced peroxidation processes caused by Maraş grape consumption suggest that grape consumption has beneficial effects in elderly subjects.

To investigate the possible effects of aqueous garlic extract on the oxidant/antioxidant status and apoptosis in 32D (wild type mouse myeloid cell = normal) and 32Dp210 (BCR-ABL fusion gene (+) mouse myeloid cell = Chronic Myelocytic Leukemia cells) cell lines. Materials and methods: Aqueous garlic extract (10% w/v) was added into the cell line media with 2 different final concentrations (0.4% and 1%). At 0 h and at 24, 48, and 72 h later, the oxidant (malondialdehyde (MDA) level, and xanthine oxidase (XO) enzyme activity) and antioxidant (superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT) enzyme activities) parameters were measured in the cell lines. Results: It was observed that the garlic extract caused no change in the XO and antioxidant enzyme activities, but it increased the MDA level in the 32D cell line. However, significant increases were found in the MDA level, XO, and antioxidant enzyme activities in the 32Dp210 cell line treated by the garlic extract. Additionally, it was shown that garlic extract had antiproliferative and apoptotic effects on both cell lines. The most effective apoptotic dose was found to be 0.4% (w/v), and at this concentration the death risk of the 32Dp210 cell line was calculated at 2.08 times higher than that of the 32D cell line. Conclusion: It has been suggested that garlic directly causes oxidant stress in the 32D cell line owing to its own oxidant ingredients, and that the oxidant stress created by garlic in the 32Dp210 cell line might occur through increased XO activity and/or its oxidant ingredients. Additionally, antioxidant enzyme activities were found to increase in the 32Dp210 cell line; it would seem that this compensatory change could not prevent the oxidant stress created. We think that the oxidant potential of garlic extract might play a part in its possible anticancer potential, previously supposed by several investigators.

Migraine patients have an increased risk to develop deep white matter hyperintensities (WMH) than the general population. Oxidative stress is believed to play a role in the pathogenesis of migraine. The present study was undertaken to assess oxidant/antioxidant balance of migraineurs with and without WMH. We hypothesized that increased oxidative stress and decreased antioxidant response may play a role in the pathophysiology of WMH in migraineurs. The study included 32 patients in the migraine group and 17 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects without headache in the control group. The migraine group comprised 18 with WMH and 14 without WMH. We evaluated oxidative status with malondialdehyde (MDA) and to determine the activities of antioxidant enzymes: superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase (CAT) in serum of migraineurs and controls. Comparison of the patient and control groups for oxidative parameters revealed significantly lower level of CAT and higher level of MDA in the patient group. Two-way comparison for CAT and MDA of the migraine with and without WMH and the controls revealed that CAT serum level significantly decreased in migraine patients with WMH than migraine patients without WMH and controls. In this preliminary study, we demonstrated that the levels of CAT were decreased in migraine patients with WMH compared to patients without WMH and controls. These findings suggest that decreased antioxidant response may play a role in the pathophysiology of WMH in migraineurs. Besides, our results encourage the new treatment and follow-up options based on antioxidant systems.

Objective: It has been suggested that oxidative processes may be increased in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF), and that this is a possible factor contributing to the development of anemia and atherosclerosis, characteristic complications of CRF. The aim of this study was to investigate erythrocyte oxidant/antioxidant status in patients with CRF and to elucidate possible effects of hemodialysis on erythrocyte antioxidant system. Methods: Fasting blood samples were obtained from 33 patients with CRF and from 12 healthy controls. Of the patients, 17 subjects were under regular hemodialysis. Values of the activities of antioxidant enzymes, namely superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT) and antioxidant potential, nonenzymatic superoxide radical scavenger activity (NSSA) and levels of thiobarbituric acid reagent substances (TBARS) were measured in the erythrocytes from both patients and controls. Results: Antioxidant potential and NSSA values were found to be significantly decreased, while TBARS levels were increased in the erythrocytes of patients. SOD activity was found to be unchanged, but GSH-Px and CAT activities were significantly lower in the patient group. Moreover, the erythrocyte TBARS level in the hemodialysis group was higher than in the controls and nonhemodialysis patients. Conclusion: The results suggest that antioxidant potential is reduced due to impaired antioxidant system in erythrocytes from patients with CRF and that oxidant stress causes significant peroxidation. Hemodialysis is determined to further increase oxidative reactions. These changes seem to contribute to the occurrence of some complications of CRF. Therefore, it has been suggested that antioxidant supplementation may give beneficial results for these patients.

We investigated the possible contribution of black grape ingestion on plasma antioxidant status and wished to elucidate whether black grape might play a protective role against free radical-mediated pathologic processes or not. After fasting blood was obtained, each volunteer consumed a certain amount of grape and, consecutive blood samples were taken at the 2 nd and 4 th hours after first blood. Antioxidant potential (AOP) value was measured in the plasma, in which significantly increased values were observed at the 4 th h compared with the basal value. Our results suggest that black grape strengthens plasma AOP as does red wine. This result also support the hypothesis that the protective effect of red wine against cellular peroxidation reactions and atherogenesis mainly arises from its flavonoid constituents rather than alcoholic content. It means that people may gain enhanced antioxidant defence against atherosclerosis by consuming black grape as well instead of drinking red wine if they really drinks for this aim.

Purpose: Nitric oxide (NO) is a molecule that plays various roles in the body tissues. NO plays important roles in vasodilatation, platelet aggregation, cytokine stimulation, neurotransmission, immune function, etc. NO also exerts dual functions as an oxidant and antioxidant substance depending on its concentrations and environmental conditions. In this study, we aimed to examine possible correlation between NO levels and NO synthase (NOS) activity in the patients with oral cancer. Materials and methods: The study included 19 tissues from human subjects (11 malign and eight benign lesions). Results: NO level and NOS activity were found decreased in the malign lesions compared with those of the benign ones. Conclusions: In conclusion, two suggestions can be made; first, decreased NO synthesis may be an attempt to suppress angiogenesis, which is known to provide more essential nutrients to malign lesions and/or second, malign lesions may suppress NO production to be capable of creating more rapid proliferation as it has been known that NO is also a powerful free radical inducing apoptosis.

Activities of adenosine deaminase (ADA), 5'nucleotidase (5'NT), xanthine oxidase (XO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT) and levels of thiobarbituric acid reagent substances (TBARS) were measured in 10 cancerous and 10 noncancerous human prostate tissues. Decreased activities of DNA turnover enzymes (ADA and 5'NT), increased activities of GSH-Px and CAT, and unchanged activities of SOD and XO were observed in cancerous prostate tissues compared with those of noncancerous ones. TBARS levels were found to be higher in cancerous tissues than noncancerous ones. In correlation analysis, mostly positive correlations were established between enzyme activities of the cancerous tissues, whereas no meaningful correlations were found between enzyme activities of the noncancerous tissues except for a positive correlation between XO and SOD. The results indicate that the activities of DNA turnover enzymes were reduced, which was possibly an attempt to lower the rate of purine catabolism, and the activities of GSH-Px and CAT enzymes were increased, probably in response to increased free radical stress occurring in cancerous prostate tissues. Increased concentrations of TBARS suggested oxidant stress and thus accelerated peroxidative reactions in the cancerous tissues, even though antioxidant defense mechanisms were activated. These findings suggest that enzymatic antioxidant systems of cancerous prostate tissues cannot sufficiently eliminate oxidant factors and prevent cellular peroxidative reactions occurring during the carcinogenic process.

Enzymatic antioxidant defense system and antioxidant defense potential (AOP) were studied in kidney tissue from rabbits treated with cyclosporine (CsA, 25 mg/kg/day), antioxidant vitamins (E, 100 mg/kg/day plus C, 200 mg/kg/day), and CsA plus antioxidant vitamins, and in kidney tissue from control animals. Although no change was observed in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT) activities were found decreased in kidney tissue exposed to CsA for 10 days compared with control tissue. The level of thiobarbituric acid-reagent substances (TBARS) was higher and antioxidant defense potential (AOP) lower in the CsA-treated group compared with the other groups. Histopathological examination reveals important subcellular damage in the renal tissue from the animals treated with CsA. Antioxidant vitamin therapy caused full improvement in the enzyme activities, TBARS levels and AOP, but the subcellular damage was partly ameliorated in the CsA plus vitamin group. Results suggest that CsA impairs the antioxidant defense system and reduces the antioxidant defense potential in the renal tissue. Antioxidant vitamin treatment protects the tissue in part against toxic effects of the drug.

SUMMARY Objective: To study the possible effects of gentamicin on the enzymic free-radical defence system in the lung. Method: Activities of cytoplasmic superoxide dismutase (CuZn-SOD), mitochondrial superoxide dis-mutase (Mn-SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT) enzymes were studied in lung tissues from gentamicin-treated guinea-pigs compared to controls. Results: Levels of those enzymes were higher in the gentamicin group except for xanthine oxidase (XO) activity. Vitamin E given concomitantly with gentamicin caused significant decreases in CuZn-SOD, Mn-SOD and GSH-Px activities but an increase in CAT activity in the lung tissue. Only vitamin treatment caused significant decreases in the activities of CuZn-SOD, Mn-SOD and GSH-Px enzymes and an increase in CAT activity. Conclusion: The results suggest that lung tissue is able to respond quickly and effectively against the adverse effects of some oxidant substances by inducing and/or activating the enzymatic free-radical defence system.

To investigate the effects of halothane and halothane plus vitamin E treatment on myocardial free radical metabolism in guinea pigs. Four groups of seven animals were studied; control, halothane, halothane plus vitamin E and vitamin E groups. In the halothane group, halothane 1.5% in oxygen was given for 90 min over three days. In the halothane plus vitamin E group, 300 rng · kg−1 · day−1 vitamin Eim was started three days before the first halothane treatment and continued for three days. Following sacrifice, the hearts were assayed for superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT) and malondialdehyde (MDA) level was determined. Electron spin resonance (ESR) analysis and electron microscopy (EM) were also performed. In the halothane group, SOD activities and MDA concentrations were increased compared with control and GSH-Px and CAT activities were decreased. In the halothane plus vitamin E group, there were no differences in enzyme activity compared with halothane alone but the MDA level was decreased. In the vitamin E group, enzyme activities were increased compared with control. Mainly the CF3CHCl radical was identified by ESR analysis in heart tissues exposed to halothane and the concentration of this radical was reduced by vitamin E. Electron microscopy showed cytoplasmic vacuolisation and dilation in sarcoplasmic reticulum in the heart tissues exposed to halothane: both were prevented by vitamin E. Although halothane causes impairment in enzymatic antioxidant defence potential, due to lowered GSH-Px and CAT activity, and accelerates peroxidative reactions in the tissues affected, no subcellular damage occurred. Vitamin E may protect tissues against free radical attack by scavenging toxic free radicals formed in heart tissue during halothane anaesthesia.

To evaluate the fragility of Ca-oxalate monohydrate stones in terms of high energy shock wave effectivity, we measured the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content of the organic stone matrix of 35 patients who had undergone extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) treatment for renal pelvic stones. The patients were classified into 3 different groups with respect to the rate of stone disintegration. While group I consisted of patients in whom only one ESWL session was needed to complete disintegration, in group II there were patients requiring 3 or more sessions for complete stone disintegration. On the other hand, patients in whom no sign of disintegration was observed despite 3 ESWL sessions constituted group III. Following this procedure, comparative evaluation of the GAG content of the stone matrix per dry stone weight in each group revealed a statistically significant difference between the first 2 and the 3rd group (p < 0.05). Our results indicated that as the GAG content of the stone matrix decreased, the efficiency of the shock waves on stone disintegration also prominently decreased, disintegration being impossible in some cases. On the other hand, the stones which were found to have higher amounts of GAGs in the organic matrix tended to be more fragile and were easily disintegrated with shock waves. In our study group the chemical composition of Ca-oxalate monohydrate stones, e.g. the matrix GAG content, seemed to be important with regard to the disintegrative effect of high energy shock waves.

In this study, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured in heart tissues from guinea pigs treated with gentamicin and gentamicin plus vitamin E combination. Mean values were compared with those of the controls treated with only physiological saline solution. The activities of SOD and GSH-Px were found to be lower and the MDA level higher in the hearts from gentamicin-treated animals compared with those of the controls. In the gentamicin plus vitamin E group, however, tissue SOD activity was found to be increased and MDA level decreased significantly relative to the gentamicin group. GSH-Px activity was lowest in this group. Results suggest that gentamicin suppresses SOD and GSH-Px activities in heart tissue, thereby making the tissue more vulnerable to oxidative stress and peroxidative attacks, an important indicator of which is increased MDA level in the heart tissues from gentamicin-treated guinea pigs. This effect might be deleterious when gentamicin is used after cardiac surgery since a potential risk of free radical injury exists in the heart tissue during and/or after cardiac surgery owing to ischaemia and reperfusion processes, and, possibly, in the management of the patients with certain types of heart disease. Our results showed that vitamin E given concomitantly with gentamicin could protect the heart tissue against free radical injury.