A Study of Oxidative Stress Parameters in Anti-Helicobacter Pylorus Immunoglobulin G Positive and Negative Gastric Cancer Patients

PURPOSE: Helicobacter pylorus (HP) is a Gram-negative spiral-shaped microaerophilic bacterium, which colonizes in the gastric mucosa of humans. The gastric human pathogen HP causes chronic gastritis and ulcers, and has a strong relationship with gastric cancer. The aim of this study was to determine advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) levels, activities of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and catalase (CAT) in two groups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For this aim, one group included 30 patients with gastric cancer (Group 1) and the other included 30 subjects with non-gastric cancer and Anti-HP immunoglobulin (Ig) G antibody positive (group 2). Anti-HP IgG antibody test values were found as positive in fifty percent of group 1 and all of the group 2 patients. RESULTS: Significantly increased AOOP levels were found in group 1 (p < 0.05) compared to group 2. There were no significant differences between the groups in regard to activities of MPO and CAT. In addition, AOPP level, MPO and CAT activities were similar among the Anti-HP IgG positive and negative subgroups of group 1 patients. CONCLUSION: The result of this study indicated that gastric cancer patients were characterized by increased protein oxidation, whereas there was no significant difference in oxidative stress parameters and antioxidant enzyme activity between the Anti-HP IgG positive and negative gastric cancer patients.

The Serum Vitamin C Levels in Behcet's Disease

Behcet's disease (BD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of unknown aetiology, and recognised as a multi-system vasculitis. It has been postulated that an imbalance of the oxidant and antioxidant systems related to the disease are important in its pathogenesis. Previous publications have reported increased levels of enzymatic antioxidant defence systems in patients with BD. The non-enzymatic antioxidant systems, including vitamin C and uric acid, were looked for in the present study. For this aim, the serum malondialdehyde (MDA), an end product of lipid peroxidation, and vitamin C and uric acid, as endogenous antioxidants, were determined in 20 patients with BD (11 in active and 9 in inactive periods) and 20 healthy subjects. The MDA level was significantly higher in both the active and inactive period patients compared with the control group (p 0.05). There was also no significant difference in uric acid levels between the groups (p > 0.05). In the patients group, a negative correlation was found between the levels of serum MDA and vitamin C (r=-0.517; p < 0.05). Our results indicate that decreased vitamin C and increased MDA levels reflect the increased levels of oxidative stress in BD patients, and this situation may be important in relation with its pathogenesis.