DNA damage in a solution containing copper(II) ions and ascorbic acid: Effect of the presence of sulfite

Some antioxidant compounds have a pro-oxidant effect in the presence of transition metal ions, due to the reduction of Mn+ to M(n-1)+ with simultaneous formation of free radicals, which then promote DNA damage. In the present study, we evaluated the pUC19 DNA damage in a solution containing Cu(II) and ascorbic acid (AA) or S(IV) saturated with air by agarose gel electrophoresis. Our results showed that this damage decreases if AA and S(IV) are simultaneously added. This study also illustrates the importance of Cu(II) in this process, as no DNA damage was observed when AA or S(IV) were present in the absence of this metallic ion. Our data showed that DNA preservation depends on the concentration of AA and S(IV) and occurs when the [S(IV)]:[AA] ratio ranges from 1:1 to 20:1. Absorbance measurements and thermodynamic data show that no reaction occurs between AA and S(IV) when this mixture (pH 5.5) is added to pUC-19 DNA. The presence of dissolved oxygen may be the cause of AA consumption in the mixture of these two antioxidants, which subsequently decreases DNA damage.

Liberação de íons por biomateriais metálicos / Ion release from metallic biomaterials

OBJETIVO: todo biomaterial metálico implantado possui alguma interação com os tecidos em contato, havendo liberação de íons por dissolução, desgaste ou corrosão. O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar a liberação de íons metálicos por alguns tipos de biomateriais metálicos, descrevendo a interação íon/tecido e os possíveis efeitos adversos. CONCLUSÃO: os tratamentos de jateamento e ataque ácido propiciam aumento na dissolução e liberação de íons metálicos, mas o recobrimento destas superfícies com hidroxiapatita e o polimento eletroquímico reduzem esta tendência de liberação iônica. Na presença de sintomas de reação adversa ao biomaterial deve-se pesquisar sua composição, realizar testes de alergia e optar por materiais não-metálicos ou que não contenham o elemento agressor. As pesquisas sobre liberação de íons devem ser frequentes, devido ao crescente lançamento de novos biomateriais.

AIM: Every metallic biomaterial has some interaction with surrounding tissues, and ion release occurs by dissolution, wearing or corrosion of the alloy. The aim of this paper was to revise the metal ion release from some metallic biomaterials, describing the ion/tissue interaction and the possible side effects. CONCLUSIONS: Treatments such as sand blasting and etching increases the amount of metallic ion release, but the surface coated with hydroxyapatite and the polishing decreases the ion release. When clinical signs of side effects to the biomaterial are present one should search its composition, do allergic tests and choose non-metallic biomaterials or biomaterials without the aggressor element. The researches about ion release should be frequent due to the use of new biomaterials.

Terapia por quelacion: evolucion cientifica en enfermedades degenerativas cronicas / Chelation therapy: scientific evolution in chronic degenerative diseases

La terapia por quelacion consiste en el uso de aminoacidos no esenciales, para eliminar del organismo iones minerales, principalmente los denominados metales pesados; siendo un importante auxiliar terapeutico en el control de procesos isquemicos, enfermedades degenerativas cronicas, envejecimiento y el cancer. Se revisaron los conceptos cientificos que la consolidan, asi como se analizaron los estudios empiricos publicados, principalmente por parte del autor