role of Bcl2 and oxidative stress in juvenile diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is on of the most common non-communicable diseases, and if uncontrolled, targets multiorgan systems with serious debilitating and life threatening sequelae. Most diabetic cases fall under the type-2 category, characterized by relatively late onset, development of insulin resistance and for deficiency. Type-I diabetes on the other hand, manifest early during childhood and has an autoimmune component to it, that causes a severe deficiency in the circulating levels of insulin. The study included 32 diabetic child [17 males and 15 females] their age ranged from 3 to 14 years and 20 apparently healthy control of matching age and sex. All patients subjects for the following investigations: fasting glucose level, glycated hemoglopin[HBA[1]c],nitric oxide[NO], thiobarbituric acid [TBARS], hydrogen peroxide[H[2]O[2]], total antioxidant [TAO]and Bcl-2. Serum levels of glucose, HBA[1]c, NO[2], H[2]O[2] and TBARS were significantly higher in diabetic patients than in controls while serum levels of TAO and Bcl-2 were significantly lower in diabetic patients than in controls. Also there were positive correlations between serum glucose level with H[2]O[2], TBARS and NO serum levels and negative correlations between serum glucose level with TAO and Bcl-2 serum levels. In conclusion, Bcl-2 [as an anti-apoptotic factor] and oxidative stress state imbalance play an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus

comparative histological and biochemical study on the use of vitamins C, E and alpha lipoic acid either separately or in combination on acute hepatic toxicity with malathion

Malathion is one of the most popular organophosphorous insecticides. Free radical damage is an important direct or indirect factor involved in malathion poisoning. The objective of the present study was to estimate the role of vitamin C, vitamin E and alpha-lipoic acid either individually or in combination, in amelioration of acute hepatic toxicity induced by malathion. Sixty adult male albino rats were divided into six equal groups. Group iserved as control. Group 2 received malathion [1000 mg/kg body weight] once orally. Group 3 received malathion+ vit.C [200 mg/kg] once i.p. Group 4 received malathion+ vit. F [150mg/kg] once i.m. Group 5 received malathion+ alpha-lipoic acid [25mg/kg] once i.p. Group 6 received malathion+ vit. C+ vit.E+ aipha-liopic acid. Animals of all groups were sacrificed after 24 hours. Histological examination of the liver was performed. Biochemical assay of superoxide dismutase [SOD] activity and total thiols as antioxidant indices, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances [TBARS] as an index of lipid peroxidation [oxidative stress indices], aspartate aminotransferase [AST], alanine amino transferase [ALT], total protein, albumin and globulin as liver function tests was done. Light and electron microscopic examination of liver of group 2 exhibited foci of altered cells with dense nuclei and vacuolated cytoplasm, mononuclear cell infiltrations in portal areas, electron lucent areas in the cytoplasm of the hepatocytes, marginaton of nuclear chromatin. Biochemical analysis showed a significant increase in the serum levels of SOD, total thiols, TBARS, AST, ALT, total protein and globulin as compared to control. Treatment by any of the antioxidants variably reduced the hepatic structural changes induced by malathion, while combined treatment resulted in a significant degree of recovery. There was significant decrease in serum levels of all biochemical parameters when treated with one or combination of antioxidants [vitamin C, F or u lipoic acid]. Combination of the previous antioxidants could be used as helpful therapeutic line in treatment of acute hepatic toxicity with malathion rather than their use separately

Potential influence of pinoline as protective agent against cyclophosphamide-induced oxidative stress

Oxidative stress has been associated with increase in age. This study aimed to evaluate the potential influence of pinoline as protective agent against cyclophosphamide-induced oxidative stress in the liver of aged male rats. Pinoline's potency in the defense against oxidative stress was compared with that of melatonin as reference agent. The levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances [TBARS], reduced [CSH] and oxidized glittathione [GSSG], CSH/GSSG ratio, glutathione peroxidase [CSH-Px] and total superoxide dismutase [total-SOD] activities as well as nitric oxide [N0] level were estimated in the liver to detect oxidative stress induced by cyclophosphamide. Results indicate that: [1] cyclopliosphamide-induced a status of oxidative stress in the liver, characterized by a high levels of [BARS, GSSG and NO, there was a decrease in the level of GSH and GSH/GSSG ratio as well as in activities of GSH-Px and total-SOD. [2] pinoline counteracted the deleterious effects induced by cyclophosphamide on the oxidative stress markers. [3] pinoline have a lower potency than melatonin in abolishment of oxidative stress induced by cyclophosphamide. It is concluded that pinoline exhibits a preventive effect similar to that of melatonin against cyclophosphamide-induced oxidative stress in the liver of aged rats through its role in the scavenging of free radicals, prevention of lipid peroxidation and stimulation of antioxidant enzymes activities

Some biochemical aspects associated with accelerated atherosclerosis in chronic renal failure

This study included fifteen patients diagnosed as chronic non-nephrotic renal failure to whom dialysis had never been done and thirty patients diagnosed as chronic non-nephrotic renal failure who were under maintenance hemodialysis for at least one year. In addition a control group of 10 healthy subjects of matched age, sex and socioeconomic status was included in the study. To all subjects the following was done: serum Lp[a], apolipoprotein-B, Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances [TBARS] and lipid profile. Serum Lp[a] was found to be higher in both chronic renal failure groups, either dialyzed or un-dialyzed, when compared to controls. TBARS levels were significantly elevated in both dialyzed and undialyzed group of patients than the control group. The prevalence of cardiovascular diseases was 20% in the non-dialyzed group of patients and 40% in the dialyzed group in-spite of the normal or subnormal serum total cholesterol. This point out to the possibility that other lipoprotein abnormalities such as the increased Lp[a] and increased lipid peroxidation are probably incriminated in the prevalence of accelerated atherosclerosis. It could be concluded that Lp[a] is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis in chronic renal failure patients. This risk increases with the process of hemodialysis. Increased lipid peroxidation in these patients is an additional factor for the accelerated atherosclerosis