Oxidative Stress in Vivax Malaria

Malaria is still a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. The increase in lipid peroxidation reported in malaria infection and antioxidant status may be a useful marker of oxidative stress during malaria infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of antioxidant enzymes against toxic reactive oxygen species in patients infected with Plasmodium vivax and healthy controls. Malondialdehyde levels, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase activities were determined in 91 P. vivax patients and compared with 52 controls. Malondialdehyde levels, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase activities were 8.07+/-2.29 nM/ml, 2.69+/-0.33 U/ml, and 49.6+/-3.2 U/g Hb in the patient group and 2.72+/-0.50 nM/ml, 3.71+/-0.47 U/ml, and 62.3+/-4.3 U/g Hb in the control group, respectively. Malondialdehyde levels were found statistically significant in patients with vivax malaria higher than in healthy controls (P<0.001). On the other hand, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities were found to be significantly lower in vivax malaria patients than in controls (P<0.05). There was an increase in oxidative stress in vivax malaria. The results suggested that antioxidant defense mechanisms may play an important role in the pathogenesis of P. vivax.

Evaluating the trace elements in preoperative and postoperative duration of hydatid surgery

To evaluate the preoperative and postoperative values of serum levels of zinc, magnesium, and copper in patients with cystic echinococcosis [CE]. This study was conducted on patients with CE between 2000-2005 at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Cukurova, Adana, Turkey. Serum levels of zinc, copper, and magnesium of 85 patients with CE were measured both before and one year after the operation. Patients with liver CE [85 patients, 48 males] and healthy adults [40 adults, 17 males] as the control group were enrolled in the study. When compared with the control group, the mean serum levels of zinc and magnesium were lower and the mean serum level of copper was higher in the preoperative period. It was found that as duration of symptoms increased, serum zinc and magnesium levels decreased and copper levels increased. The serum levels of these elements in postoperative and control patients after one year compared equally with the levels in the initial control. The probability of increased consumption of zinc and magnesium and secretion of copper by the parasite may lead to evaluating the follow up of hydatid surgery in addition to radiological and serological methods

Serum malondialdehyde level in patients with cystic echinococcosis

To investigate the changes of serum malondialdehyde [MDA] level for the oxidative stress hypothesis in patients with cystic echinococcosis [CE]. The study was conducted on patients with CE before the surgical treatment. Anti-Echinococcus granulosus antibodies were determined by serological method. We assayed MDA activities measured of 57 subjects and matched in 45 healthy controls. This study took place in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Cukurova, Balcali Hospital in Adana, Turkey, between March 2004 and October 2005. The mean +/- SD of MDA levels of patients with CE was 6.70 +/- 1.66 and healthy controls was 2.53 +/- 0.43. The difference between MDA levels of patients and controls was statistically significant [p<0.001]. The high infection/control ratio of MDA concentration and the significant correlation strongly indicate the occurrence of oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation as a mechanism of tissue damage in cases of CE. Our study highlights the usefulness of serum markers to investigate complex pathological situations, including distinct forms of chronic liver inflammation associated with CE