Assessment of free radical-mediated damage in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients and after treatment with radiotherapy.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced as a part of cellular metabolism can interact with biological macromolecules such as DNA, proteins and lipids and interfere with their normal functions, leading to the loss of cellular viability. ROS have been implicated in many pathophysiological conditions including cancer. In the present study, the damage caused by ROS and the effect of radiation in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients were assessed in the erythrocytes by analyzing the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities, and levels of total thiols (T-SH) and malondialdehyde (MDA, a marker for lipid peroxidation). Blood samples were collected before the start of treatment and after the completion of radiotherapy. Both SOD and CAT activities were decreased in untreated patients, but elevated in patients after treatment. The T-SH levels were also depleted in untreated HNSCC patients, but elevated non-significantly after radiation therapy (p>0.05). The levels of MDA showed a significant increase in both untreated patients and after radiation therapy when compared with normal subjects (p<0.05). Thus, the present study indicated that the free radical-mediated damage was aggravated in untreated HNSCC patients, but the levels of antioxidants returned to baseline or nearly so after the treatment with radiation therapy.

Therapeutic role of L-arginine on free radical scavenging system in ischemic heart diseases.

Increased production of free radicals under oxidative stress conditions plays a vital role in the impairment of endothelial function and also in the pathogenesis of ischemic heart diseases. Ischemia, followed by reperfusion, leads to the exacerbated formation of oxy- free radicals. These reactive oxygen species through a chain of reactions damage the cardiomyocytes and cause more injury to the myocardium. L-Arginine is reported to act as free radical scavenger, inhibits the activity of pro-oxidant enzymes and thus acts as an antioxidant and these roles of L-arginine are mediated by nitric oxide (NO). In the present study, the effect of oral administration of L-arginine (3 g/day for 7 days) on some antioxidant enzymes, total thiols, lipid peroxidation measured as malondialdehyde (MDA), and plasma ascorbate levels in myocardial ischemic patients was investigated. We observed an increase in the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), total thiols (T-SH) and plasma ascorbate levels and a decrease in the activity of xanthine oxidase (XO), MDA levels, carbonyl content and serum cholesterol in the patients on oral administration of L-arginine. The present study demonstrates that L-arginine administration may be beneficial to patients with myocardial ischemic disorders, such as acute myocardial infarction and acute angina.

Spectrum of benign breast disorders in a university hospital.

In a period of 2 years, 234 cases of benign breast disorder were studied. Breast pain and modularity was the commonest group (70.1%) followed by fibroadenoma (17.5%). Cyclical mastalgia (61.5%) is more common than non-cyclical mastalgia (38.5%). The age of the patients with cyclical mastalgia was significantly lesser than patients with non-cyclical mastalgia. Cyclical mastalgia was seen only in premenopausal females while non-cyclical mastalgia was also seen in postmenopausal females. Treatment with vitamin E showed 41% response rate with minimal side-effects while treatment with danazol showed 72.1% response rate but was associated with side-effects in one third of the patients.

Serum malate dehydrogenase (MDH) in portal hypertension--its value as a diagnostic and prognostic indicator.

Serum MDH levels were estimated in 29 consecutive patients of portal hypertension with the objective of ascertaining its diagnostic value as to the cause of portal hypertension and its prognostic significance. Higher levels of serum MDH were found in cirrhotic patients as compared to noncirrhotic ones. There were however no significant differences found in the values when extrahepatic obstruction group was compared with controls. Furthermore, higher MDH activity was found in those patients who died as compared to the surviving ones.