Alterations of erythrocyte membrane lipids and adenosine triphosphatases in breast cancer patients treated with CMF: a role of antioxidant supplementation

This study was carried out on 20 premenopausal females with breast cancer submitted to modified radical mastectomy, divided into two groups: the first received cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil [CMF] as adjuvant chemotherapy and the second was given antioxidant together with the same dose of CMF for 6 cycles. Ten healthy females were served as controls. The effect of CMF with and without antioxidant supplementation on etythrocyte membrane lipids, [Na[+]/K[+]] and [Ca[2+]-Mg[2+]] adenosine triphosphatases [ATPases] in premenopausal breast cancer patients was tudied. There were significant alterations in erythrocyte membrane lipids including holesterol, phospholipids and fatty acid pattern as well as a significant increase in lipid peroxidation, in CMF-treated breast cancer patients as compared with controls was observed. These results could be explained on the basis of increased hydrolysis of fatty acyl chains of membrane phospholipids induced by increased free radical formation. Regarding the activities of erythrocyte membrane [Na[+]/K[+] and [Ca[2]-Mg[2]]-APases, both were significantly lower in cancer patients after surgery and after CMF treatment as compared with controls. After antioxidant supplementation to CMF-treated breast cancer patients, significant alterations in most of studied parameters, approaching normal values, were observed when compared with those of patients receiving CMF alone. This could be explained on the basis of a reduction in lipid peroxide levels due to the decrease n free radical stress. Accordingly, antioxidant supplementation during treatment with CMF may be of benefit in protection against the toxic effect of CMF and its metabolites among breast cancer patients

Study of some biological markers of stress in nail industry

The aim of this study was to investigate the different biological markers of stress in nail industry. Blood and urine samples were collected from thirty exposed workers and thirty age and sex matched control subjects from the administrative department of the same factory. The total antioxidant activity [Dmax] and lipid peroxidation were analyzed in blood. The level of catecholamines in the urine was also determined. The median level of Dmax was significantly lower in the exposed workers [87.12] compared with that of the controls [115.85]. Also, the level of lipid peroxidation was significantly lower in the exposed workers [44.5] compared with that of the control [74.0]. The median level of urinary catecholamines was significantly higher in the exposed workers [295] compared with that of the controls [37.5]. Attention should be paid to the necessity of the application of the different biological markers of stress in different sectors of industry, especially in nail industry

Lipid peroxidation and concentrations of reduced glutathione in erythrocytes of workers exposed to diesel engine exhaust

The study was carried out to investigate the effect of diesel engine exhaust inhalation on a total number of 50 male subjects from a bus garage located in Alexandria. The present study showed a significant higher level of lipid peroxidation expressed as malonyldialdehyde [MDA]. The increase in lipid peroxidation was associated with a significant decrease in glutathione [GSH] and an increase in the level of glutathione peroxidase [GSH-PX] activities. Also, the results showed significant changes in the levels of lipid profile of workers exposed to diesel than the control subjects which may lead to inflammation involving damage of the epithelial cells in the airways and alveolar regions of the lung