The Circulating Levels of Selenium, Zinc, Midkine, Some Inflammatory Cytokines, and Angiogenic Factors in Mitral Chordae Tendineae Rupture.

Chordae tendineae rupture process is associated with increased production of inflammatory and angiogenesis mediators in connective tissues, which contributes to chronic inflammation and pathogenesis of degenerative chordae. A few trace elements are known to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiangiogenic properties. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine whether zinc, selenium, midkine (MK), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB), and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels are associated with inflammation and angiogenesis processes in the context of a potential etiology causing aggravation of mitral regurgitation and/or ruptured chordae tendineae. Seventy-one subjects comprising 34 patients with mitral chordae tendineae rupture (MCTR) and 37 healthy controls diagnosed on the basis of their clinical profile and transthoracic echocardiography were included in this study. The levels of GSH, MK, selenium, and zinc were found to be lower in the patients group when compared to control group. There were no significant difference in plasma TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, VEGF-A, and PDGF-BB levels between two groups. There were positive significant correlations between MK and GSH, MK, and selenium levels in patients with MCTR. According to our data in which selenium, zinc, MK, and GSH decreased in MCTR patients, inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and trace element levels may contribute to etiopathogenesis of mitral regurgitation and/or ruptured chordae tendineae.

Protective effect of melatonin on experimental otitis media with effusion in guinea pigs.

The aims of this study were: (a) to assess whether the increased oxidative stress in otitis media with effusion (OME) induced in guinea pigs by histamine injection into the middle ear cavity is reflected by lipid peroxidation in erythrocytes, plasma, and middle ear effusion fluid; (b) to survey the alterations of oxidant and antioxidant enzyme activities in experimental OME; and (c) to determine the effects of melatonin and methylprednisolone on this oxidative stress. Malondialdehyde (MDA) level, erythrocyte total (enzymatic plus non-enzymatic) superoxide scavenger activity (TSSA), non-enzymatic superoxide scavenger activity (NSSA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and xanthine oxidase (XO) activities were measured in 4 groups of 7 guinea pigs at 3 hr after injection of 0.1 ml of histamine (or saline) into the middle ear. Group I was the control group, Group II was an experimental group with OME induced by histamine, Group III was a melatonin-pretreated OME group, and Group IV was a methylprednisolone-pretreated OME group. In erythrocyte, plasma, and middle ear effusion samples, MDA levels were significantly increased in guinea pigs with OME (Group II), compared to controls (Group I); erythrocyte TSSA and SOD activities were lower and erythrocyte XO activity was increased in guinea pigs with OME (Group II) compared to controls (Group I). No significant differences were found in erythrocyte NSSA and CAT activities. In Group III, pretreatment of guinea pigs with i.p. melatonin at 1 hr prior to histamine induction of OME decreased the erythrocyte, plasma, and effusion MDA levels, compared to Group II; erythrocyte XO activity was diminished and erythrocyte TSSA, SOD, and CAT activities were increased in Group III compared to Group II. In Group IV, pretreatment of guinea pigs with i.p. methylprednisolone at 1 hr prior to histamine induction of OME decreased the plasma and effusion MDA levels and increased the erythrocyte TSSA and SOD activities, compared to Group II. These results suggest that reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a role in histamine-induced OME. Pretreatment with i.p. melatonin or methylprednisolone both decrease the ROS generated by experimental OME, but melatonin appears to be more effective than methylprednisolone.

In vitro antioxidant properties of morphine.

Morphine is implicated in diverse functions, from development to immune modulation in the central and peripheral nervous systems. It has also been used extensively in the clinical management of pain due to its potent analgesic effect. This study was designed to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant capacity of morphine using different antioxidant tests, including total antioxidant activity, reducing power, free radical scavenging, superoxide anion radical scavenging, hydrogen peroxide scavenging and metal chelating activities. Morphine exhibited strong total antioxidant activity. The concentrations of 25, 50 and 75 microgml(-1) of morphine showed 79.1, 84.3 and 92.3% inhibition on peroxidation of linoleic acid emulsion, respectively. On the other hand, at 75 microgml(-1) concentration of standard antioxidant, such as butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and alpha-tocopherol, exhibited 88.7, 94.5 and 70.4% inhibition on peroxidation of linoleic acid emulsion, respectively. In addition, morphine had effective reducing power, free radical scavenging, superoxide anion radical scavenging, hydrogen peroxide scavenging and metal chelating activities at the same concentrations (25, 50 and 75 microgml(-1)). These various antioxidant activities were compared to standard antioxidants such as BHA, BHT and alpha-tocopherol.

Antioxidant and analgesic activities of turpentine of Pinus nigra Arn. subsp. pallsiana (Lamb.) Holmboe.

The aim of this study is to examine possible antioxidant and analgesic activities of turpentine exudes from Pinus nigra Arn. subsp. pallsiana (Lamb.) Holmboe (TPN). Total antioxidant activity, reducing power, superoxide anion radical scavenging, free radical scavenging, metal chelating, and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activities were studied. The total antioxidant activity increased with the increasing amount of extracts (100, 300, and 500 microg) added to linoleic acid emulsion. All of the doses of TPN showed higher antioxidant activity than alpha-tocopherol. The samples showed 49, 70, and 91% inhibition on peroxidation of linoleic acid emulsion, respectively. On the other hand, the 300 microg of alpha-tocopherol showed 40% inhibition on peroxidation of linoleic acid emulsion. There is correlation between antioxidant activity and the reducing power, superoxide anion radical scavenging, free radical scavenging, metal chelating, and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activities. Like antioxidant activity, the reducing power, superoxide anion radical scavenging, free radical scavenging, metal chelating, and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activities of TPN depending on concentration and increasing with increased concentration of TPN. These properties may be the major reasons for the inhibition of lipid peroxidation. The results obtained in the present study indicate that the TPN has a potential source of natural antioxidant. In addition, analgesic effect of TPN was investigated in present study and TPN had strong analgesic effect. The analgesic effect of TPN compared with metamizol as a standard analgesic compound.