Clozapine and risperidone influence on cortisol and estradiol levels in male patients with schizophrenia.

Estrogens role in schizophrenia patients is a subject, which has gained an increased attention from the medical community. Estrogens have been shown to inhibit dopamine actions, improve neuronal regeneration, and overall, have a protective role in the pathology of schizophrenia. The adjunctive estrogen therapy for men is currently under debate. Antipsychotic medication is known to influence the hypothalamo-hypophyseal - gonadal axis by inducing variable degrees of hyperprolactinemia. Several studies have found that some of the atypical antipsychotics lower cortisol levels in patients and also in healthy controls. We have investigated the effects of clozapine and risperidone on estradiol levels in men with schizophrenia. We have also evaluated the levels of prolactin and cortisol, taking into account the possible influence of antipsychotic drugs on both these hormones. Both prolactin and cortisol also have the potential to regulate sexual hormones biosynthesis. Our study found decreased estradiol levels in men with schizophrenia treated with clozapine and risperidone, while prolactin levels were increased only in the risperidone treated group. Cortisol levels are not statistically significant different between groups.

Venous versus arterial iron administration in haemodialysis. Influence on erythrocytes antioxidant parameters.

Introduction Intravenous iron administration in patients treated by haemodialysis for end stage renal disease can exacerbate oxidative stress by increasing the level of free redox active iron. A way to reduce the impact of iron on oxidative stress in haemodialysis patients may be the administration of iron through arterial extracorporeal circuit. Objective The aim of our study was to compare the influence of iron route of administration (venous versus arterial extracorporeal circuit infusion) on antioxidant parameters in red blood cells of haemodialysis patients in order to clarify if arterial iron administration can have positive impacts related to iron induced oxidative stress. Method Twenty stable patients on regular haemodialysis treatment were selected for the study. They were investigated in a cross-over design at 3 mid-week HD sessions, one week apart, without iron [HD basal] and with either IV infusion of 100mg iron sucrose over the first 20 minutes of HD session, via venous line [HDvenous], or the same solution infused on the arterial extracorporeal circulation [HDarterial]. Blood samples were drawn at 0 min, 40 min and 270 min. Erythrocytes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity, non-protein thiol levels and total antioxidant capacity (TEAC) were analysed. Conclusion Haemodialysis significantly decreases the total antioxidant activity in erythrocytes. Iron supplementation, through venous or arterial extracorporeal route has no impact on the total antioxidant activity in red blood cells. Venous iron administration increases GPx activity in erythrocytes suggesting increased lipid peroxidation compared with arterial extracorporeal administration.

The oxidative hypothesis of senescence.

The oxidative hypothesis of senescence, since its origin in 1956, has garnered significant evidence and growing support among scientists for the notion that free radicals play an important role in ageing, either as "damaging" molecules or as signaling molecules. Age-increasing oxidative injuries induced by free radicals, higher susceptibility to oxidative stress in short-lived organisms, genetic manipulations that alter both oxidative resistance and longevity and the anti-ageing effect of caloric restriction and intermittent fasting are a few examples of accepted scientific facts that support the oxidative theory of senescence. Though not completely understood due to the complex "network" of redox regulatory systems, the implication of oxidative stress in the ageing process is now well documented. Moreover, it is compatible with other current ageing theories (e.g, those implicating the mitochondrial damage/mitochondrial-lysosomal axis, stress-induced premature senescence, biological "garbage" accumulation, etc). This review is intended to summarize and critically discuss the redox mechanisms involved during the ageing process: sources of oxidant agents in ageing (mitochondrial -electron transport chain, nitric oxide synthase reaction- and non-mitochondrial- Fenton reaction, microsomal cytochrome P450 enzymes, peroxisomal beta -oxidation and respiratory burst of phagocytic cells), antioxidant changes in ageing (enzymatic- superoxide dismutase, glutathione-reductase, glutathion peroxidase, catalase- and non-enzymatic glutathione, ascorbate, urate, bilirubine, melatonin, tocopherols, carotenoids, ubiquinol), alteration of oxidative damage repairing mechanisms and the role of free radicals as signaling molecules in ageing.

Situaçäo nutricional e alimentar de pré-escolares no semi-árido da Bahia (Brasil): I. Avaliaçäo antropométrica / Nutritional status of pre-school children of the semi-arid region of Bahia (Brazil): I. Anthropometric status

Foram estudados 754 pré-escolares de áreas urbanas de sete municípios do semi-árido da Bahia, Brasil. Os objetivos foram determinar a prevalência de déficit ponderal e estatural, indicativos de desnutriçäo atual e/ou pregressa e sua associaçäo com a idade, sexo, renda em salário-mínimo (SM), escolaridade materna e adequaçäo do consumo alimentar. Encontrou-se 22,9 por cento de crianças com altura/idade abaixo de -2,0 DP (desnutriçäo pregressa), 19,1 por cento com peso/idade e 3,6 por cento com peso/altura abaixo de -2,0 DP (desnutriçäo atual). Em relaçäo ao inquérito dietético somente 6,8 por cento das crianças haviam consumido no dia anterior uma dieta que suprisse os requerimentos energéticos para sua faixa etária. Houve forte associaçäo entre os indicadores A/I e P/I inadequados com renda familiar per capita (p=0,001 e p=0,000, respectivamente); crianças de famílias com renda per capita < 1/4 SM tinham duas vezes mais chance de estar desnutridas se comparadas com as do estrato de renda > ou = 1/2 SM. Em relaçäo ao P/A como também P/I, os pré-escolares estudados no semi-árido apresentaram prevalências significativamente superiores às encontradas por pesquisa nacional realizada na mesma época (p=0,047 e p=0,000, respectivamente). Esses achados surpreendem, já que nas últimas décadas tem sido demonstrada no Brasil uma melhoria significativa na desnutriçäo e mortalidade infantil e parecem indicar que as crianças do semi-árido näo lograram ainda alcançar os mesmos benefícios que o restante da populaçäo infantil brasileira