Effects of different intravenous anaesthestics on free radicals in polytraumatized patients

Oxygen free radicals are highly reactive and potentially destructive. In the normal cells there are always a small number of free radicals produced, but cell enzymes easily deal with them. The aim of this study is to detect the effects of trauma and thereafter different intravenous anaesthesia on free radical production in individuals with multiple injuries. This study was performed on 40 individuals. They were divided into 2 groups; trauma group [n = 20] and non trauma control group [n =20]. Both groups were matched as regard age, sex and body weight. Each group was classified according to the type of intravenous anaesthesia used into ketamine- fentanyl group [n =10] and propofol- fentanyl group [n=10]. Estimation of plasma malondialdhyde [MDA] and blood superoxide dismutase [SOD] and glutathione per-oxidase [GPX] levels was done. The results of this study revealed significant increase in MDA levels and significant decrease in SOD and GPX level in trauma group in comparison with control one. On the other hand, propofol and ketamine induced decrease MDA levels during the three stages of study in both groups in comparison to their corresponding basal values. Also, propofol and ketamine induced significant increase in GPX levels after induction in traumatic and control groups when compared with their basal values. However, propofol produced significant increase in SOD levels after induction in traumatic and control groups when compared with their basal values. From this study, we conclude that propofol and ketamine decrease free radicals generation while propofol increased the antioxidant scavengers than ketamine. So, propofol could be more beneficial than ketamine for anaesthesia of polytraumatized individuals, which have oxidant and antioxidant imbalances

Laboratory diagnosis of anaerobic post-operative wound infection

The aim of this study is a comparative study between traditional methods for identification and isolation of anaerobes and detection by gas liquid chromatography. Postoperative pus specimens were collected from 75 patients with abdominal wound sepsis from gastroentrology, general surgery and obstetric and gynaecology departments. Each sample was studied by traditional methods for identification and isolation of anaerobes and detection of short chain fatty acids by gas liquid chromatography [GLC]. The results of this study revealed that 40 out 75 specimens showed anaerobic growth. The anaerobic isolates contained 75% bacteroid species, 20% peptostreptococcus and 5% fusobactrium. On the other hand short chain fatty acids were detected by GLC analysis in all specimens that yielded anaerobic growth. In addition, 4 specimens revealed short chain fatty acids by GLC analysis but their cultures yielded no anaerobic growth. Chromatographic study of short chain fatty acids produced by 44 specimens revealed that 100% produced acetic acid, 68.2% propionic, 54.5% butyric, 47.7% isovaleric, 31.8% formic, 11.3% isobutyric and 9.1% isocaproic. Detection of anaerobes by traditional methods is difficult, expensive and time consuming. On the other hand, GLC provides direct rapid diagnostic tool for anaerobic infection So investigation of clinical material by GLC presents a basis for preliminary diagnosis of causal factor and for direction of chemotherapy

Bladder microsomal enzymes in health and disease

The bioactivation of N-nitrosamines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [PAHs] is mediated primarily by the mixed-function oxidase system, which includes dimethylnitrosamine N-demethylase I, arylhydrocarbon hydroxylase, cytochrome P-450, cytochrome b[5], and ethoxycoumarin deethylase. Most of carcinogens and xenobiotics are conjugated and detoxified by phase II drug-metabolizing enzymes such as glutathione S-transferase. The present study showed the influence of Schistosoma haematobium on the activity of the above-mentioned enzymes in thirteen schistosome-infected human bladder tissues compared with those of fifteen schistosome-free samples. The contents of cytochrome P-450 and cytochrome b[5] increased in the bladder 157 tissues by 48% and 69% respectively. Moreover, the activities of dimethylnitrosamine N-demethylase I and arylhydrocarbon hydroxylase, ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase, ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase, and pentoxyresorufin O-depentylase increased by 75%, 159%, 49%, 63% and 44% respectively. The signal intensity for cytochrome P-450 2E1 was greatly increased over the control. The present study clearly demonstrated that S. haematobium changes the activity of carcinogen-metabolizing enzymes. We conclude that S. haematobium could enhance the carcinogenicity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [e.g. benzo[a]pyrene] and N-nitrosamines in the human bladder tissues, and probably other tissues, since there is an association between schistosomiasis and bladder cancer

Lipid peroxidation and glutathione redox system in human bladder tissues infected with schistosoma haematobium

The present study was carried on human bladder tissues infected with schistosoma haematobium to demonstrate the effects of schistosomiasis on lipid peroxidation and gluathione redox system. Bladder tissue samples were collected from 15 individuals free of schistosomiasis infection and 13 individuals infected with schistosomiasis. Schistosomal bladder specimens were histologically verified by the presence of schistosomal haematobium ova and schistosomal cystitis in bladder mucosa. The biochemical analysis of infected bladder tissues revealed that thio-barbituric acid reactant substances [TBARS], an intermediate product of the oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids, increase significantly by + 125% [P < 0.001]. On the other hand, the levels of reduced glutathione [GSH] and the activity of glutatione reductase decreased significantly by 57% [P < 0.01] and - 40% [P<0.001] respectively. Also, the activity of glutathione S - transferase [GST] increased significantly by + 89% [P<0.001]. In conclusion, these results indicate that schistosoma haematobium infection of human bladder tissues induce marked lipid peroxidation damage due to disruption of glurathione redox system