Thiol/disulphide homeostasis levels in erectile dysfunction patients.

This study explored the use of thiol/disulphide homeostasis as a novel oxidative stress marker in patients with erectile dysfunction (ED). Fifty-five patients aged 40-57 were divided into two groups: Group I (International Index of Erectile Function [IIEF-5] score between 22 and 25, n = 20) and Group II (IIEF-5 score < 22, n = 35). Blood samples were used to evaluate hormone levels, lipid profile and thiol/disulphide levels. A novel, fully automated method measured plasma native thiol, total thiol and disulphide levels. Mean age, body mass index, total testosterone, HbA1c, triglyceride, atherogenic index (AIP) and total cholesterol levels did not significantly differ between Groups I and II (p > .05). IIEF-5 correlated weakly with native thiol level. Although non-statistically significant, native thiol (431 [SD: 105] µmol/L vs. 404 [110] µmol/L) and total thiol (426 [64] µmol/L vs. 41 [78] µmol/L) levels were lower in the ED group compared to the controls, and disulphide (14 [11] µmol/L vs. 18 [9] µmol/L) levels were higher. Mean disulphide/native thiol and mean disulphide/total thiol ratios did not statistically differ between groups. There was a weak positive correlation between AIP and total cholesterol/HDL and disulphide and disulphide/total thiol ratios. Thiol/disulphide haemostasis levels are not a single factor in ED pathophysiology but may contribute.

Comparison of serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid sialic acid levels between malignant and benign lung diseases.

BACKGROUND: It is known that tissue and serum sialic acid levels may be altered by malignant transformation. In this study, sialic acid levels were determined in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) and serum in two groups of patients with lung cancer and non-malignant diseases of the lung. METHODS: Colorimetric methods were used for determination sialic acid in serum and in BAL samples. Flexible bronchoscopy was used to obtain the latter. RESULTS: Sialic acid levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and serum did not show any statistically significant difference between subjects with malignant and the non-malignant lung diseases (p > 0.05). Sialic acid levels were also unrelated to the stage and localization of the tumor (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Sialic acid levels do not appear to be a good marker for discriminating malignant from non-malignant diseases of the lung.

Effect of urinary stone disease and extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy on excretion of glycosaminoglycans.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The effect of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in urinary crystal inhibition has been shown in vitro, but their inhibitor role in vivo has not been precisely determined in stone-forming patients. The aim of this study was to compare the levels of total GAGs and their components in primary stone-forming patients and a healthy control group and to investigate the impact of shockwave lithotripsy (SWL). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-eight patients with primary kidney stones and 31 healthy controls were included in this prospective study. Total urinary GAG concentrations were determined by the dimethylene blue assay (DMB), and GAG fractions (chondroitin sulfate, heparan sulfate, and dermatan sulfate) were studied by cellulose acetate electrophoresis. Analysis was repeated after SWL in the stone patients. RESULTS: Chondroitin sulfate was the major component secreted in the urine of the control subjects. Heparan sulfate was the major component in the urine of the stone patients with less chondroitin sulfate and dermatan sulfate (48%, 35%, 16.5%, respectively). Our study showed a significant increase in total urinary GAGs (4.75 v. 7.43 microg/mg of creatinine; P<0.0001) after SWL. Dermatan sulfate was the main component in this group (P<0.0001). The total urinary GAG concentrations remained high for at least 2 days after SWL. CONCLUSION: The elevation in total GAGs after SWL indicates the presence of tissue injury, which also renders dermatan sulfate the principal excreted component. Studies with longer follow-up periods are needed to determine whether these changes in the excretion of GAG components persist.

The effect of losartan and captopril on glomerular basement membrane anionic charge in a diabetic rat model.

OBJECTIVE: Although angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors are known to reduce albuminuria by preserving glomerular basement membrane anionic content, the effects of angiotensin II receptor blockage are currently not known. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of captopril and losartan on glomerular basement membrane anionic charges in a diabetic rat model. DESIGN: After diabetes induction with streptozotocin, female Wistar rats were divided into three groups: group A, losartan 10 mg/kg by gavage (n = 8); group B, captopril 50 mg/l in drinking water (n = 6); group C, diabetic control rats (n = 8) given only tap water. Group D (eight rats) served as non-diabetic controls. At the end of 8 weeks, erythrocyte membrane charge, serum sialic acid, urinary glycosaminoglycan and albumin were measured and kidney specimens stained with Alcian blue in order to assess basement membrane glycosaminoglycans. RESULTS: Red blood cell anionic charges (ng Alcian blue/ 10(6) red blood cells) were 371.5+/-9.9 for group A, 443.5+/-7.1 for group B, 400.1+/-14.7 for group C, 468.7+/-4 for group D (AD, P<0.01; A>B P<0.01). Albuminuria (microg/day) was 778+/-221 for group A, 719+/-314 for group B, 1724+/-945 for group C, 393+/-263 for group D (A, B