Oxidants and antioxidants levels in patients with rhinoscleroma

Antioxidant enzymes work together in human blood cells against toxic reactive oxygen species. Recently, oxidative stress has been linked to the pathogenesis of several chronic inflammatory disorders of the respiratory tract. However, little is known about the connection between oxidative products and antioxidant enzymes in rhinoscleroma. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate and to determine the level of lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide and antioxidant enzyme activities in blood of patients suffering from rhinoscleroma. The study was carried out on 33 patients and 15 normal healthy controls. Venous blood samples were taken from all subjects. The specific activity levels of malondialdehyde [MDA] and nitric oxide [NO] as oxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase [SOD], and catalase [CAT] as antioxidant enzymes were estimated in all blood samples. Levels of MDA, and NO were significantly higher [P <0.001], whereas levels of SOD, and CAT showed no significant change [P >0.05] in rhinoscleroma patients when compared with control group. These results provide some evidences for potential role of oxidative products as contributing factors in patients with rhinoscleroma, and estimation of antioxidant enzymes in blood may, therefore, help to orientate rhinoscleroma therapy

effect of garlic on protein content in brown adipose tissue and catecholamine secretion in albino rats

The effect of garlic supplementation on triglyceride metabolism was investigated by measurements of the degree of thermogenesis in interscapular brown adipose tissue [IBAT] and catecholamine secretion in rats fed two types of dietary fat. Rats were given isoenergetic high fat diets containing either high fat without cholesterol or high fat with cholesterol content with or without garlic powder supplementation [8g/kg of diet]. After 4 weeks feeding, body weight, plasma triglyceride level and the weight of perirenal adipose tissue and epidiymal fat pad were significantly lower in rats fed diets supplemented with garlic powder than in those fed diets withut garfic powder. The content of protein in IBAT and plasma catecholamine concentration were significantly greater in rats fed a high fat diet [with cholesterol] supplemented with garlic powder than in those fed the same diet without garlic. Other than adrenaline secretion, differences due to garlic were also significant in rats fed high fat diet without cholesterol. These results suggest that in rats, garlic powder enhance thermogenesis by increasing protein content in IBAT and catecholamine secretion

Pulmonary function testing in children with chronic liver disease

Hepatopulmonary syndrome [HPS] is a rare but severe complication in children with chronic liver disease [CLD] that may necessitate "urgent" liver transplantation. This study aimed at studying the feasibility and usefulness of pulmonary function testing [PFT] in the diagnosis of lung affections in a group of Egyptian children with chronic liver disease [CLD] in order to diagnose HPS in them. Twenty five Egyptian children [aged 10-16 years with a mean of 12.4 +/- 1.8 years] with different causes of CLD and 8 age-matched, healthy controls were subjected to arterial blood gas analysis, PFT and measurement of mean pulmonary artery pressure [MPAP]. Arterial oxygen pressure [Pa0[2]] less than 80 mmHg was present in 10 patients, forced expiratory volume in I second [FEV[1]] less than 80% predicted in 15, forced vital capacity [FVC] less than 80% predicted in 15 and the ratio FEV[1]:FVC less than 65% predicted in 20. Carbon monoxide diffusion capacity [DL[CO]] was less than 80% predicted in 15 patients and 4 controls. Hypoxemia occurred in 60% of patients with decreased DL[co] but none of controls. MPAP was significantly lower in patients than controls, it increased with exercise but not significantly. Neither portal hypertension nor sclerotherapy showed a significant relation to hypoxemia, or low MPAP. Also the duration of CLD, its histological severity and grading of fibrosis were not related to any of the pulmonary function tests. Arterial hypoxemia is present in CLD. PFT was rather "tedious" but non-invasive investigation in children with CLD. It did demonstrate obstructive airway as well as diffusion defects in these children. Therefore we may recommend PFT in the work-up of children with CLD, particularly if liver transplantation is contemplated

Oxidative stress in smokers, asthma and COPD

An imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants is proposed in smokers, and in patients with airways diseases. We tested this hypothesis by measuring the plasma levels of oxidants [MDA, N. O]* and antioxidants [SOD* and Catalase] in three different groups. Healthy control group [30], divided to healthy smokers [15] and healthy non smokers [15]. Asthmatic group [30] divided to chronic persistent [15] and acute asthma [15 cases]. COPD* group divided to stable COPD [15 cases] and acute exacerbation of COPD [15 cases]. The plasma oxidants was markedly increased with reduced levels of antioxidant, in healthy smokers, as compared with healthy non smokers, [p < 0.001], Plasma oxidants was also increased in patients presenting with asthma, and COPD [p <0.001 and <0.05], and even higher in those with acute exacerbation of these conditions, with reduced the plasma antioxidant products. There was a negative correlation between oxidants and antioxidants with respect on MDA and SOD in asthmatic and COPD patients, [r = -0.16. p<0.001 and r=- 0, 72, p <0.05 respectively]. There was no significant correlation between plasma antioxidant and age, [r = 0.35, p >0.05]. Our data also demonstrate a positive correlation between Pa02 and plasma antioxidant [SOD] in patients with acute exacerbation of COPD. In summary, our results provide new evidence for profound oxidant -antioxidants imbalance in smokers, patients of COPD and asthma, associated with evidence of increased oxidative stress. The relationship between the decrease in antioxidant products in plasma and the pathogenesis of acute exacerbation of these conditions may result from different mechanisms and require further study. *MDA = malondialdehyde-*N. O = nitric oxide-*COPD - chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-*SOD = sodium oxide dismutase

Role of endogenous antioxidants after experimental uninephrectomy and contralateral clamping of renal artery in albino rats

This study was done to investigate lipid peroxidation by measuring MDA in plasma in experimental uninephrectomy and contra-lateral renal clamping in albino rats. The role of endogenous, antioxidants plasma sodium dismutase [SOD], catalase, vitamin E and vitamin C to antagonise lipid peroxidation was measured. Also, total lipids, blood urea and creatinine was measured to detect lipid peroxidation process and chronicity of tested rats. MDA significantly elevated in tested rats and endogenous antioxidants was lowered as compared with control and sham operated rats except plasma SOD level increased. Also, total lipids, blood urea and creatinine significantly elevated in tested rats after two months. So, it was suggested that whenever patients with renal impairment with hyperlipidaemia develops renal insufficiency, it is better to add antioxidant drugs like vitamin E and vitamin C which may be protective to vessel wall damage in such cases

Serum sialic acid concentration as a useful biochemical marker for early detection of nephropathy in insulin dependent diabetic children

Elevated serum sialic acid concentration is a strong predictor of cardiovascular morbidity in non-diabetic subjects. Because patients with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus [IDDM] and albuminuria have a highly increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, this study hypothesized that IDDM patients with albuminuria would have an increased concentration of serum sialic acid. One hundred children and adolescents were selected and divided into a diabetic group [n-75] and a healthy control group [n=25]. The diabetic group was further subdivided into three IDDM groups according to the duration of diabetes. Serum sialic acid, fasting blood sugar, HbAIc, creatinine, and urea were assayed in the blood. Microalbumi-nuria was assayed in urine. The mean value of total serum sialic acid concentration, fasting blood glucose HbAIc, were significantly increased in diabetic group when compared with control group [P<0.001]. Also microalbuminuria in urine as AER was significantly increased when compared with the control group [P< 0.001]. An increased serum sialic acid concentration is found to be predictive for the onset of microalbuminuria. There was a significantly positive correlation between total serum sialic acid, microalbuminuria and fasting blood glucose in the diabetic group. There was highly significant positive correlation between the mean value of sialic acid and albumin / creatinine ratio in group II and III diabetic children. Early detection of diabetic children who are prone to develop diabetic nephropathy is of utmost clinical importance and raised serum sialic acid could be used as a useful biochemical marker for early detection of diabetic nephropathy in children

Effect of a training program on physical fitness and serum levels of lactate and lactic dehydrogenase enzyme in beginner boxers

This study was designed to investigate the effect of a suggested physical training program on the level of physical fitness and the serum levels of lactate and lactate dehydrogenase enzyme in 30 male volunteered beginner boxers. Also, a special interest was focused on the relationship between the changes in both physical fitness and the serum biochemical parameters. The results showed that exhaustive muscular exercise caused significant increase in HR, Mean ABP, serum lactate and LDH either before the training program or after it. The results also showed that a training program of 3 months duration caused significant improvement in physical fitness parameters with significant decrease in serum lactic acid and significant increase in serum LDH. The results showed significant correlations between the physiological parameters and the biochemical parameters. So, it could be concluded that measuring serum lactic acid and LDH concentrations, in addition to the physiological measures, could be beneficial in designing and follow up of training programs