A comparative evaluation of total antioxidant capacity of saliva in children with and without Gingivitis

Gingivitis is a reversible and non-destructive form of periodontal disease. Oxidative stress contributes in the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases5. The oxidative stress has been implicated as one of the important contributory etiologic factors in many of the oral inflammatory pathologies including gingivitis. This research analyzed the "Total antioxidant capacity" (TAC) of biological fluids including saliva. The present cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of saliva in children with/ without gingivitis and its relation with Age and Gender. For measuring the TAC of saliva: Cayman's Antioxidant Assay Kit was used and Gingival Index Measured through The Gingival Index (Löe and Silness, 1963). The results were analyzed using descriptive statistics and making comparisons between cases and control by using SPSS software version 20. In this result, mean TAC of saliva in case children group was found lower 0.203 ± 0.053 compared to control children group was higher 0.236 ± 0.048. While, in male and female children of aged 3-5 years were found antioxidant activity (TAC) lower in compared to control groups. But among males aged 6-13 years it was found that the mean antioxidant capacity of saliva in case group was 0.259 ± 0.040 while in control group it was 0.295 ± 0.026. The TAC of saliva in males was found high compared to female. A weak negative correlation was found between the TAC and gingival index. In conclusion TAC decreases in children with gingivitis compared to healthy children. The gingivitis was more observed in female leading to lower TAC value

Effects of rotating night shift and exposure of light at night on circadian pattern of salivary cortisol and urinary melatonin levels.

Objectives: The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of rotating night shift and light exposure at night on circadian pattern of salivary cortisol and urinary melatonin levels. Methods: 62 healthy nursing professionals of both genders performing day and night shifts (continuous 9 days night shift with alternate day shifts) were recruited. Each month scheduled to continuous 9 days night shift (12 hours in regular 9 nights, from 20:00 to 08:00); after 9 days night shift they perform remaining duties in day shift and 4 days off. Saliva and Urine samples were collected at around 8 hours interval while they were performing night duties and repeated when they were assigned day duties. Saliva and Urine samples were analyzed by the ELISA method. Results: Significant difference was found in night cortisol among night (4.34 ± 3.37) vs day shift (2.70 ± 2.32), (p<0.001). Alteration in morning cortisol was also found between night (3.73 ± 2.47) vs day shift (5.00 ± 2.73). Night melatonin level was decreased as compared to morning melatonin. Significant deference were observed when compared night melatonin between night (16.71 ± 11.98) vs day shift (22.71 ± 13.25) (p<0.001), morning melatonin between night (20.07 ± 14.13) vs day shifts (28.26 ± 14.14) (p<0.001). The circadian pattern of cortisol and melatonin was altered by rotating night shift particularly at night and in the morning time. Conclusion: The present study concluded that the desynchronization was appeared during night shift and entrainment of circadian rhythm in the day shift.

Comparative status of oxidant /antioxidant in pregnancy induced Hypertension and cervical dysplasia.

Present study is aimed to delineate a co-relation between status of anti-oxidant enzymes, lipid peroxidation products with severity of Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH) and cervical dysplasia. The study has been done on 66 patients out of whom 14 were normal pregnancy and had no disease, 31 patients of PIH and 21 patients having cervical dysplasia gr. I-II. Enzymatic activities of Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), vitamin C and vitamin E and malonaldehyde levels (MDA, a marker of lipid peroxides) were assessed spectrophotometrically. Mean Malonaldehyde level in PIH patients (8.48 ± 0.96) & Cervical patients (8.31 ± 1.25) in comparison to normal patients (4.88 ± 1.035), the rise was found highly significant (p < 0.001). The enzymatic activity of antioxidants such as Superoxide dismutase, Catalase, vitamin C and vitamin E was decreased in PIH patients & cervical dysplasia patients as compared to normal patients (p < 0.001). The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001) whereas the same was observed in cervical dysplasia patients. No statistically difference was observed between the levels of antioxidants of PIH patients & cervical dysplasia patients (p < 0.01). Co-relation of Hb with MDA level showed that aneamic patients have raised level of MDA as compared to non aneamic patients. There is positive oxidant/antioxidant balance which may aggravate free radical damage during pre eclampsia and eclampsia with cervical dysplasia.

Role of free radicals in Plasmodium berghei infected Mastomys natalensis brain.

Lipid peroxide, lipid hydroperoxide, reduced glutathione, oxidised glutathione, lipofuscin contents and the activity of the enzyme superoxide dismutase were assessed in P. berghei infected M. natalensis brain. The results showed significant increase in the levels of lipid peroxides, lipid hydroperoxides and lipofuscin in brain subcellular fractions of P. berghei infected M. natalensis. Furthermore, a depressed superoxide dismutase activity was observed along with regulation in glutathione content. An elevated level of lipid peroxidation products along with depressed activity of scavengers in brain during malaria highlights the role of free radicals in malarial pathology.

Biochemical studies on mouse liver following Plasmodium berghei infection.

The lipid composition of mouse liver following infection with P. berghei was investigated. The liver lipid contents of infected animals were greatly increased mainly due to the accumulation of triacylglycerides. There was enhanced lipid concentration (85.29%). Significantly (23.7%) depleted liver cholesterol was also found in the mice. Similarly, phospholipid contents of liver were also decreased by 19.90 per cent. The liver from P. berghei infected mouse produced more lipid peroxide, as compared to control animals (314%). Significant depletion was also observed in carbohydrate, glycogen and glucose (79.1, 86.26 and 78.6% respectively) contents of liver at high parasitaemia. The lower contents of nucleic acid in the infected hosts observed in the study may be partly due to the absorption of nucleic acids by the parasites from the host cells.

Pathogenesis of cerebral malaria.

Plasmodium knowlesi infected rhesus monkeys were employed for investigating brain tissue damage in experimentally induced cerebral malaria. Light microscopic studies revealed parasitic infiltration of virtually all the regions of CNS. Electron microscopic observations confirmed the light microscopic findings. These studies further revealed the presence of macrophages in the blood vessels of infected monkeys. In conclusion, the pathogenesis of cerebral malaria seems to be an outcome of a typical triad consisting of: (1) mechanical obstruction of the blood capillaries by parasitized RBCs; (2) biochemical events, involving free radicals, and (3) immunological dysfunction.