Evaluation of Salivary Antioxidants and Oxidative Stress Markers in Male Smokers.

BACKGROUND: Cigarette smoke free radicals can cause cellular damage and different diseases. All the body fluids have antioxidants which protect against free radicals. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate salivary total antioxidant capacity and peroxidase, uric acid and malondialdehyde levels in smokers and a nonsmoking control group. METHODS: Unstimulated saliva was collected from 510 males. A total of 259 subjects were current smokers and 251 were non-smokers. The levels of salivary total antioxidant capacity, uric acid, peroxidase and malondialdehyde were measured using standard procedures. Data were analyzed with t test and ANOVA. RESULTS: The smokers were younger and dental hygiene index was higher than healthy nonsmoking controls. The mean total antioxidant capacity in smokers and nonsmokers was 0.13±0.07 and 0.21±011, respectively (P=0.001). Smokers had significantly lower peroxidase and uric acid levels than healthy controls. In addition, the mean malondialdehyde levels in the smokers and nonsmokers were 4.55 ±2.61 and 2.79 ±2.21, respectively (P=0.001). CONCLUSION: Cigarette smoke produces free radical and oxidative stress, causing many side effects. Salivary antioxidant levels decreased and malondialdehyde levels increased in smokers, indicating the high oxidative stress among smokers compared to nonsmokers. Cigarette smoke had deleterious effects on main salivary antioxidants levels.

Evaluation of Salivary Alkaline Phosphatase and Albumin in HIV Infected Patients: A Historical Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Saliva is a very important complex biological oral fluid .Antioxidants are present in all body fluids. Uric acid, albumin and vitamins are some of the non- enzymatic molecular antioxidants. Alkaline phosphatase is related to cell injury and death. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was the evaluation of salivary alkaline phosphatase and albumin level in HIV positive patients in comparison to healthy control group. METHODS: Case groups were 49 HIV positive subjects, compared with 49 healthy control group. Oral clinical examination was carried out. Five ml unstimulated whole saliva was collected during 5 min with the Navazesh method. Alkaline phosphatase was determined by spectrophotometric assay. Albumin was assessed by the nephelometric method. RESULTS: The results of this study showed significantly lower salivary albumin in the case group in comparison to healthy control group (p= 0.001). HIV positive group had greater alkaline phosphatase than the healthy control group. However, this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.458). CONCLUSION: Salivary albumin level was significantly decreased and salivary alkaline phosphatase level slightly increased in HIV positive patients in comparison to healthy control group. All of the HIV infected patients were in early phase of HIV infection with normal immune status. More research is needed to estimate these enzymes changes in late phase of HIV infection and AIDS step.

Evaluation of Salivary and Serum Antioxidant and Oxidative Stress Statuses in Patients with Chronic Periodontitis: A Case-Control Study.

Aim: Local bacteria stimulate polymorphonuclear neutrophils to release reactive oxygen species in periodontitis. Increased levels of oxidative stress play a significant role in the pathogenesis of periodontitis. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate total salivary and serum antioxidant capacity and malondialdehyde in patients with chronic periodontitis. Materials and methods: Fifty-five healthy subjects and 55 patients with chronic periodontitis, with an age range of 30-50 years, were evaluated. After clinical examination and case selection, unstimulated whole saliva was collected in the morning. Blood samples were taken from the antecubital vein. Total antioxidant capacity and malondialdehyde levels were evaluated by spectrophotometric assay. Data were analyzed with t-test, using Stata.11 software program. Results: The periodontitis group exhibited lower salivary (0.16) and serum (0.36) total antioxidant capacity (P = 0.11) compared to the control group. Mean salivary malondialdehyde levels in the case and control groups were 0.80 ± 0.09 and 0.42 ± 0.08, respectively. The results showed significantly higher levels of salivary and serum malondialdehyde in the periodontitis group. Gender did not have any effect on antioxidant and oxidative stress levels. Conclusion: This study indicated increased levels of salivary and serum oxidative stresses in patients with chronic periodontitis. Total antioxidant capacity was mildly lower in the saliva and serum of these patients. Higher malondialdehyde levels with no changes in antioxidant status can result in systemic and local complications in these patients.

Increased Expression of the Receptor for Advanced Glycation End-Products (RAGE) Is Associated with Advanced Breast Cancer Stage.

BACKGROUND: The receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) is a multiligand transmembrane receptor that is overexpressed in various pathological conditions including cancers. However, the expression pattern of RAGE in breast cancer tumors is still not completely clear. METHODS: In this study, we investigated the expression levels of RAGE in 25 fresh-frozen breast cancer samples and corresponding noncancerous tissue samples collected from breast cancer patients, by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Additionally, we performed immunohistochemistry on breast cancer specimens. RESULTS: The results indicate a high expression of the RAGE-encoding gene in the cancerous tissues. RAGE expression at the mRNA and protein levels was statistically significantly up-regulated in advanced-stage and triple-negative breast tumors and node-positive tissues compared with other tissues (p < 0.001). A significant association between RAGE expression and tumor size was observed (p = 0.029). CONCLUSIONS: Overexpression of RAGE in advanced-stage tumors may be a useful biomarker for diagnosis and the prediction of breast cancer progression.

Comparison of Salivary pH, Buffering Capacity and Alkaline Phosphatase in Smokers and Healthy Non-Smokers: Retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: Saliva contains alkaline phosphatase (ALP)-a key intracellular enzyme related to destructive processes and cellular damage-and has buffering capacity (BC) against acids due to the presence of bicarbonate and phosphate ions. Smoking may have deleterious effects on the oral environment due to pH changes which can affect ALP activity. This study aimed to evaluate the salivary pH, BC and ALP activity of male smokers and healthy non-smokers. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study took place between August 2012 and December 2013. A total of 251 healthy male non-smokers and 259 male smokers from Hamadan, Iran, were selected. Unstimulated whole saliva was collected from each participant and pH and BC were determined using a pH meter. Salivary enzymes were measured by spectrophotometric assay. RESULTS: Mean salivary pH (7.42 ± 0.48 and 7.52 ± 0.43, respectively; P = 0.018) and BC (3.41 ± 0.54 and 4.17 ± 0.71; P = 0.001) was significantly lower in smokers compared to non-smokers. Mean ALP levels were 49.58 ± 23.33 IU/L among smokers and 55.11 ± 27.85 IU/L among non-smokers (P = 0.015). CONCLUSION: Significantly lower pH, BC and ALP levels were observed among smokers in comparison to a healthy control group. These salivary alterations could potentially be utilised as biochemical markers for the evaluation of oral tissue function and side-effects among smokers. Further longitudinal studies are recommended to evaluate the effects of smoking on salivary components.

Can aspirin protect or at least attenuate gentamicin ototoxicity in humans?

OBJECTIVE: To investigate and prove that Aspirin as an antioxidant protects, or at least attenuates Gentamicin ototoxicity in humans. METHODS: A prospective, randomized, double-blind trial was conducted in 60 patients that completed all requirements. This study was conducted in the Department of Otolaryngology and Orthopedics, Besat Hospital, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran, between December 2007 and November 2008. The patients were divided into 2 groups, the experimental and the control groups that were similar with respect to gender, age, and weight. The treatment group received 1.5 g/day (500 mg every 8 hours) Aspirin, and the control group received placebo similar to the other group. RESULTS: Comparison of the pure tone audiometry (PTA) at 1000 Hertz (Hz) (p=0.03), 2000 Hz (p=0.003), 4000 Hz (p=0.001), and 8000 Hz (p=0.0010) showed significant differences between mean of PTA at the beginning, 8th, and 15th day. The threshold of PTA at 250 Hz was significantly different only at the 8th and 15th day (p=0.004), also at the frequency of 500 Hz, the difference between the beginning within 15th day and 8th day with 15th day was significant (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: In the present study, we had shown that Aspirin can protect the ototoxic effect of gentamicin in patients.

Study of oxidative stress in type 2 diabetic patients and its relationship with glycated hemoglobin.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the activity of antioxidant enzymes in diabetic patients and also to determine the correlation between hyperglycemia and lipid peroxidation. METHODS: Thirty patients with type 2 diabetes and 30 healthy individuals control group participated in this case-control study. The patients were referred to Sina Hospital, Hamadan, Iran from April to June 2006. Glycated hemoglobin HbA1c was measured as a marker of hyperglycemia using the chromatography method Biosystem and malondialdehyde MDA was determined using the colorimetric method. Glutathione peroxidase GPx and superoxide dismutase SOD activity were assessed using the UV-Vis spectrophotometric technique Randox kit. RESULTS: The mean of HbA1c was higher in diabetic patients compared to the healthy group, and the difference was statistically significant p<0.001. Serum MDA in diabetics was higher compared to those of healthy subjects p<0.001. There were significant differences in activities of SOD and GPx between the 2 studied groups indicating lower activity in diabetic patients p<0.001. There was a significant relationship between MDA and HbA1c in diabetic and healthy subjects. CONCLUSION: The data showed an increase in lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress in diabetes and also indicated a positive correlation between the degree of hyperglycemia and oxidative stress. Evaluation of oxidative status and choosing the appropriate treatment may help to support antioxidant defense in these patients.