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In order to facilitate the calculations when analysed data are in a Excel data base, we propose two applications. The first application calculates at once Pearson correlations between many contiguous columns in a data table and shows the significantly correlated parameters with a chosen parameter. The second application is useful when the user has already the data containing Pearson correlation and wants to see, in a friendly way, what parameters are significantly correlated with a chosen parameter. The applications are developed in Visual Basic for Applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. Oxidative stress is implicated in the pathogenesis of many systemic and oral diseases such as periodontal disease. The main aim of this study is to explore a possible association between salivary markers of OS and alveolar bone loss. Materials and methods. The study included 20 patients with chronic periodontitis and 20 controls. Salivary OS biomarkers 8-hidroxy-desoxguanosine (8-HOdG), malondialdehyde (MDA), uric acid, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were evaluated. Bone loss markers such as C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX I), matrix metalloproteinases-8 (MMP-8), osteocalcin and 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 (25- OH D) were detected in this study. The methods included general biochemical tests and ELISA. Results. Salivary 8-OHdG, MDA levels were significantly higher in the chronic periodontitis group compared with controls ( p < 0.05). Salivary activities for uric acid, TAC and GPx were significantly decreased in patients with chronic periodontitis vs controls ( p < 0.05). Salivary levels for CTX I, MMP-8, 25-OH D and Osteocalcin were significantly higher in the chronic periodontitis group compared to the controls ( p < 0.05). A significant positive correlation was observed between salivary levels of MDA and CTX I. Significant negative correlations between uric acid and CTX I and between MMP-8 and uric acid have been found. Significant positive correlations were observed between CTX I, MMP-8, 25-OH D, osteocalcin and clinical parameters of periodontal disease. Conclusions. Important oxidative stress associated with alveolar bone loss biomarkers can be detected in saliva of patients with periodontal disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. The implications of oxidative stress and inflammation are unanimously accepted in thyroid disease. Objective. The aim of our study was to find correlations between serum antioxidant markers: glutathione peroxidase-3 (GPx-3), thioredoxin (Trx), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), inflammatory marker IL-8 and thyroid hormones, TSH and anti-thyroperoxidase antibodies (ATPO antibodies). Patients with different thyroid disorders were compared. Materials and methods. The study included 57 patients (men and women), divided into three groups: 26 patients with hyperthyroidism, 19 patients with hypothyroidism and 12 patients with autoimmune thyroiditis. The control group was represented by 33 healthy subjects. All the participants provided the informed consent for this study. Results. Our results showed that the patients with autoimmune thyroiditis had the highest level of Il-8 and the lowest TAC. Both Trx and GPx-3 were negatively correlated with TAC and IL-8 was positively correlated with the free T4 level, the ATPO antibodies titers, GPx-3 activity and negatively with serum TAC values. Conclusions. Systemic oxidative stress and inflammation are present in thyroid disorders, act in cluster and potentiate each other The presence of autoimmune antibodies worsens the biological picture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. The carotene lutein is found in ocular layers and has powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticarcinogenic properties. Posterior subcapsular cataract develops after prolonged glucocorticoid use. Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles (PLGA-NPs) is one of the most successfully developed biodegradable polymer used as antioxidant delivery system. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the ocular protective effects of PLGA -NPs loaded with lutein, in Wistar rats, on fat diet, treated with systemic glucocorticoids. Materials and methods. Healty Wistar male rats (n= 25, 12 months aged) were divided in 5 equal groups. the control group (S) with standard diet and no treatment and groups with Prednison treatment (1 mg/kg body weight), with and without PLGA-NPs loaded with lutein (1 mg/kg body weight), fed either with standard or fat diet. The duration of treatment was 6 weeks and it was done by gavaje. The eye examination was done by two ophtalmologists as a blind test and photos of the eyes were made. Serum metabolic parameters were measured. The rats treated with Prednison developed cataract and uveitis and the most severe injured eye was observed in the group with high caloric fat diet and no lutein as a supplement. Also, Prednison treatment produced dysglycaemia and dyslipidemia. The co-administration of lutein as PLGA-NPs with Prednison prevented the lens, retina and choroidal injuries, reduced the increased levels of glycaemia, triglyceridemia and increased the serum total antioxidant capacity. Conclusion. The PLGA lutein nanoparticles assured global eye protection, reducing the ocular side effects of prednison. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent findings suggest a higher prevalence of hepatic steatosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C, estimated at 50%. Both host and viral factors contribute to the development of steatosis in chronic hepatitis C. Steatosis is an initial stage, which promotes hepatic fibrosis through oxidative stress., Aim: To assess the pathogenic mechanism of genotype 1 hepatitis C virus in steatosis and to evaluate the correlation between the degree of steatosis and the level of oxidative stress., Patients and Methods: The study was carried out on 50 patients (29 males, 21 females) with genotype 1 HCV and liver biopsy proven chronic hepatitis C. Patients with other etiology of chronic liver disease were excluded. We statistically correlated the degree of steatosis with clinical (age, sex, waist circumferences) and biological parameters (alaninaminotransferase, gammaglutamyltranspeptidase - GGT, insulin, ferritin, serum viral load, oxidative stress). Insulin resistance (IR) was determined by the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) method. The oxidative stress was estimated by serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH)., Results: 27 patients presented steatosis (57%): 14 out of 29 men (48%) and 14 out of 21 women (66%); in two thirds of them, steatosis was moderate. Univariate analysis identified five parameters that significantly influenced steatosis: age >45 years, sex - female, IR (HOMA>2.5), BMI, central adiposity (as reflected by waist circumferences and high GGT-values). Multivariate analysis identified four significant parameters: sex - female, insulin resistance (HOMA>2.5), BMI>30 kg/m(2) and GGT>2N. No relationship was found between steatosis and viral replication. The study demonstrated a significant correlation between steatosis and IR on the one hand and between steatosis and liver fibrosis on the other hand (p<0.05). Liver fibrosis was significant correlated with the increase levels of free radicals (MDA>250 nmol/dL)., Conclusions: The pathogenic mechanism of genotype 1 HCV in steatosis is independent from viral replication and it may be linked to virus induced metabolic abnormalities such as IR. More women (66%) than men (48%) developed steatosis. Increased levels of free radicals, correlated with moderate and severe steatosis suggest the intervention of oxidative stress in determining the hepatic lesions associated with steatosis.

Saliva, the most available and non-invasive biofluid of the human body, permanently "bathes" the oral cavity and is trying to cope with an ever-changing milieu. The oral cavity, a very complex and unique milieu due to its dual function, is the only place in the body where the mineralized tissue is exposed to the external environment in which there are complex interactions between various surfaces: host soft and hard tissues, food, air, and microorganisms. Saliva includes a large number of inorganic and organic compounds, which act as a "mirror of the body's health." In addition to its other functions, saliva could constitute the first line of defense against oxidative stress. Due to its composition and functions, saliva could have a significant role in controlling and/or modulating oxidative damages in the oral cavity. As a diagnostic fluid, saliva offers distinctive advantages over serum. Furthermore, saliva may provide a cost-effective approach for the screening of large populations. Gland-specific saliva can be used for diagnosis of pathology specific to one of the major salivary glands. Whole saliva, however, is most frequently used for diagnosis of systemic diseases. As we enter the era of genomic medicine, sialochemistry will play an increasingly important role in the early detection, the monitoring and progression of the systemic and oral diseases. We reviewed the current data within literature and of our research concerning clinical potential of the saliva.

Unlabelled: Oxidative stress is an important pathophysiological mechanism in chronic hepatitis with C-virus infection (CHC). Steatosis is frequently observed in CHC and seems to have a significant impact on the natural history of the disease with respect to development of fibrosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between systemic parameters of oxidative stress, insulin resistance, steatosis degree, and fibrosis in CHC. Fifty patients with chronic hepatitis C (29 men and 21 women with the average age 45 years), with or without steatosis, were tested for: oxidative stress and antioxidant status by measuring serum malondialdehyde (MDA), total blood non-proteic thiols concentration (GSH), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) activity, lipid parameters, and liver function tests. Our results show that the prevalence of insulin resistance (IR) in chronic hepatitis with C-virus genotype 1 was 32% and the association with hepatic steatosis was in a proportion of 48%, IR is mediated by both metabolic factors as well as viral factors. Hepatic steatosis was associated with an increase of MDA, correlated with its severity, and secondary with a decrease of GSH. The activity of serum GGT was net superior, in patients with steatosis, proportional with its degree., Conclusions: In patients infected by HCV genotype 1, oxidative stress and insulin resistance contribute to steatosis, which in turn exacerbates both insulin resistance and oxidative stress and accelerates the progression of fibrosis. The induction of GGT is an adaptive response against oxidative damage elicited by lipid peroxidation and it may be critical in the progression of the disease.

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2) represents a complex autosomal dominant inherited syndrome characterized by occurrence of distinct proliferative disorders of endocrine tissues. The identification of RET proto-oncogene mutations in MEN 2 and FMCT has provided a precise method for identifying gene carriers. 30 subjects (9 males, 21 females, age range 11-63 years) with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 have been investigated from 1998 till 2006. 20 patients were considered as index cases and 10 patients were identified after a screening programme for MEN 2. Tumoral associations permitted the MEN 2A diagnosis in 21 cases, MEN 2A with cutaneous lichen amyloidosis in 6 cases and FMCT in 3 cases. We selected 22 patients from 14 families to investigate mutations in the RET proto-oncogene. In 7 subjects no mutations could be detected in the exons 10 and 11 of the RET proto-oncogene. Heterozygous missense mutations in exon 11 were found in 15 subjects consisting of three different mutations in codon 634 (TGC --> TGG, TGC --> GGC, TGC --> CGC). We conclude that our 15 patients have the most frequent mutations described in MEN 2A families. Because the testing for exons 10 and 11 is negative for other 7 patients, the remaining 13, 14, 15 and 16 exons should be sequenced in these cases.

Oxygen is an essential element for life on earth. No life may exist without oxygen. But in the last forty years, conclusive evidence demonstrated the double-edge sword of this element. In certain conditions, oxygen may produce reactive species, even free radicals. More, the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) takes place everywhere: in air, nature or inside human bodies. The paradox of oxygen atom is entirely due to its peculiar electronic structure. But life began on earth, only when nature found efficient weapons against ROS, these antioxidants, which all creatures are extensibly endowed with. The consequences of oxygen activation in human bodies are only partly known, in spite of extensive scientific research on theoretical, experimental and clinical domains.

The effect of smoking is in our days a serious global public health problem of major concern. Incidence of oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in cigarette smokers is four to seven times higher than in nonsmokers. There is a constant and direct attack of various cigarette smoke constituents on the oral epithelial cells, which gradually accumulate and cause malignant transformation. Saliva is the first biological fluid that encounters inhaled cigarette smoke (CS). We have studied the influence of CS on salivary antioxidant capacity, uric acid, amylase and LDH (lactate dehydrogenase). In our study both, gas and particulate phase of CS were tested separately, and possible antioxidant effect of pyridoxine on salivary components was examined. Our results indicate that exposure to both, gas and particulate phase of CS caused a statistically significant decrease in salivary uric acid, LDH and amylase activity. We have also studied the effect of vitamin C (10 mg/dl) and vitamin B6 (1 mM) during incubation of saliva in the presence of CS. The addition of vitamin C had a significant (p < 0.05) protective effect on salivary uric acid level (0.25 +/- 0.12 for saliva incubated with gas phase of CS vs. 0.65 +/- 0.12 for saliva incubated with gas phase of CS in the presence of vitamin C). Vitamin C was not able to maintain/restore the original uric acid level. In the presence of the gas phase, pyridoxine had no protective effect, neither on salivary uric acid level nor on the FRAP activity of saliva. The purpose of our study was to discover a connection between the level of antioxidants in saliva in the presence of the two components of CS. Our results show that salivary antioxidant system is significantly and distinctly affected by both gas and particulate phase of CS and suggest that an adequate intake of antioxidants may help smokers to avoid CS-induced oxidative damage and to prevent degenerative diseases.

Objective: The first aim of this study was to evaluate some plasma oxidative stress markers in diabetic patients (type2 diabetes mellitus) with peripheral arteriopathy. Secondly, these patients were divided into two groups considering the presence or absence of retinopathy. The differences in the levels of the oxidative stress parameters could be important to select patients prone to develop multiple vascular complications, including retinopathy., Patients and Methods: Forty hospitalized type II diabetic patients, aged between 40 and 70, with stage III or IV foot ulceration according to the Wagner classification, had an ophthalmologic evaluation for retinopathy. Among them, 23 were with retinopathy with different grades of severity and 17 were without retinopathy. Twenty healthy subjects served as a control group. Fasting plasma glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, serum fructosamine, total serum proteins, serum uric acid and plasma ceruloplasmin levels were determined and compared., Results: Plasma levels for fasting glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, ceruloplasmin and serum concentrations for fructosamine and uric acid were significantly increased in diabetic foot patients vs. control subjects. Comparing the two groups of patients, with and without retinopathy, the concentrations of ceruloplasmin and uric acid were significantly increased in diabetic patients with retinal disease. In diabetic patients with retinopathy, positive correlations were calculated between glycated hemoglobin and fructosamine concentrations and between glycated hemoglobin and ceruloplasmin., Conclusion: Diabetic foot patients with retinopathy have increased plasma levels of uric acid and ceruloplasmin. These plasma compounds could be important in the pathogenesis of retinal disease. Two aspects should be considered when these high values are analysed. First, these antioxidant compounds may become prooxidant in diabetic vascular environment. Secondly, it is not known whether these modified plasma oxidative stress parameters are cause or effect in diabetic complication development.

The oral cavity, a very complex and unique milieu due to its dual function, respiratory and digestive, is the only place in the body where the mineralized tissue is exposed to the external environment. In this environment there are complex interactions between various surfaces: host soft and hard tissues, food, air and microorganisms. Saliva is in the middle of this environment and tries to cope with an ever-changing milieu. It includes a large number of inorganic and organic compounds, which act as a "mirror of the body's health". In addition to its other functions, saliva could constitute the first line of defence against oxidative stress. The body contains a number of protective antioxidant mechanisms. Saliva is also rich in antioxidants. We review the current available data and from our laboratory concerning antioxidant capacity of saliva. Substantial data are available in literature on the role of reactive oxygen species and antioxidants in diseases, but few information is available on oral pathology. Due to its composition and functions, saliva could have a significant role in controlling and/or modulating oxidative damages in the oral cavity.

Unlabelled: Oxidative stress plays critical roles in the pathogenesis of various diseases. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between oxidative stress, measured by plasma dicarbonyls and plasma antioxidant defence, measured by reduced glutathione (G-SH) in the whole blood, protein thiols in the plasma and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity in obese and obese with type-2 diabetes mellitus subjects, clinically free of complications. Twenty obese patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus and twenty nondiabetic obese patients were examined and compared with twenty healthy controls (matched for age and sex against the obese patients with or without diabetes)., Results: Obese patients and obese diabetic patients had lower blood glutathione than control subjects (p<0.02 and respectively p<0.04) and higher plasma MDA, an end product of lipid peroxidation (p<0.004 and respectively p<0.01). There was a significant difference between plasma MDA from obese and obese diabetic subjects (p<0.05). Plasma thiols (expressed as micromol/mg protein) did not differ between the three groups. Plasma dicarbonyls concentrations were significantly increased in obese (p<0.043) and obese diabetic patients (p<0.047) and SOD activity (U/g Hb) was significantly decreased in obese (p<0.0 ) and obese diabetic patients (p<0.05) compared to controls. Analysing the results of our study, which show that most of the markers of oxidative stress are modified in the same way in obesity and obesity with diabetes mellitus type 2, we suppose that obesity leads to oxidative stress which can contribute to obesity-associated diseases such as diabetes mellitus.

Oxidative stress and inflammation are involved in the initiation and progression of obesity and diabetes mellitus. The aim of our study was to find out some markers of oxidative stress in twenty obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (group D) and twenty age-matched obese subjects (group O) and compare the results with the control values from twenty matched healthiy subjects (group H). Spectrophotometric methods were used. For the following plasma parameters: ceruloplasmin, d-ROM (determinable Reactive Oxygen Metabolites), alpha-dicarbonyls, the values were modified in the same way for the groups of patients versus healthy subjects. The patients had higher alpha-dicarbonyls levels than the controls (for D versus H, p<0.047 and for O versus H, p<0.043). There were not significant differences for plasma ceruloplasmin and d-ROM levels. Comparing group O versus D, all the above parameters had very close values. The antioxidant capacity (AC) was higher in group O versus group H (p<0.001) and higher in group O versus D (p<0.02). The high AC for obese patients may be due to hyperuricemia. A negative correlation between AC and d-ROM concentrations and a positive correlation between ceruloplasmin and AC levels was observed for group D. Our data underline that in type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity, the plasma markers of oxidative stress are modified in the same way. Oxidative stress may be a "connector" between these two diseases. Probably body fat reduction (for obese individuals) diminishes oxidant formation and, in its turn, the incidence of obesity related diseases, such as diabetes mellitus.

Objectives: Although the evidence is strong that fasting has anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory and anti-ageing actions, the mechanisms responsible for these phenomena are still unclear. An ameliorated antioxidative defence with fasting may be the cause of such effects. The objective of the present work was to determine the influence of fasting on antioxidant systems in healthy young vegetarian humans., Design and Methods: We measured Trolox Equivalents Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC) of plasma, erythrocytes superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, blood glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, level of total blood non-proteic thiols (TBNT), plasma ceruloplasmin activity, plasma level of NO metabolites (the sum of nitrites and nitrates, NOx), in 18 healthy young humans (age 20-27 years) after 12h (overnight fasting) and 80h of fasting., Results: Trolox Equivalents Antioxidant Capacity of plasma, the level of total blood nonproteic thiols, plasma ceruloplasmin activity and plasma concentration of nitrites and nitrates were significantly increased after 80h of fasting. Superoxide dismutase activity and glutathione peroxidase activity were lower after 80h of fasting., Conclusions: Our results suggest that fasting induces the "reorganisation" of antioxidative defence lines: fasting increases especially plasma protective systems (total antioxidant capacity of plasma, plasma ceruloplasmin activity) and decreases an erythrocytes antioxidant enyzme (superoxide dismutase) and blood glutathione peroxidase.