Inflammatory biomarkers predict depressive, but not anxiety symptoms during aging: the prospective Sydney Memory and Aging Study.

This study addresses the paucity of research on the prospective relationship between a range of inflammatory markers and symptoms of depression and anxiety during aging. In the Sydney Memory and Aging Study, the relationships between remitted depression, current and first onset of symptoms of depression or anxiety (Geriatric Depression Scale and Goldberg Anxiety Scale (GDS, GAS), and markers of systemic inflammation (C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukins-1ß, -6, -8, -10, -12, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), serum amyloid A, tumor necrosis factor-α, and vascular adhesion molecule-1) were investigated. The sample consists of N=1037 non-demented community-dwelling elderly participants aged 70-90 years assessed at baseline and after 2-years. All analyses were adjusted for gender, age, years of education, total number of medical disorders diagnosed by a doctor, cardiovascular disorders, endocrine disorders, smoking, body mass index, currently using anti-depressants, NSAIDS or statins and diabetes mellitus. The results show a significant linear relationship between increasing levels of IL-6 and depressive symptoms at baseline only, whereas IL-8 was associated with depressed symptoms at baseline and at 2 years follow-up. In addition, IL-8 was associated with first onset of mild to moderate depressive symptoms over 2 years. Logistic regression analyses showed that PAI-1 (OR=1.37, 95% CI=1.10-1.71, p=0.005) was associated with remitted depression. Results for anxiety symptoms were negative. The findings are suggestive of IL-6 and IL-8 being associated with current symptoms and IL-8 being associated with first onset of depressive symptoms, whereas PAI-1 could be regarded as a marker of remitted depression.

Associations between plasma antioxidants and hypertension in a community-based sample of 415 Australians aged 60-64.

It has been suggested that increased oxidative stress may be both a cause as well as a consequence of hypertension. In vivo oxidation of low-density lipoproteins by oxygen-free radicals may increase hypertension-related atherogenesis, and antioxidants may be beneficial in this regard. Previous findings concerning associations between serum measures of antioxidants and hypertension have however been inconsistent. Plasma levels of beta-carotene, Vitamin A, E, uric acid, homocysteine and total antioxidant capacity, as well as two markers of oxidative stress, malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyls, were measured in morning fasting blood samples provided by 415 Australians aged 60-64 years, selected randomly from the community. Participants also provided information on sociodemographic attributes, mental and physical health, and provided two measures of resting blood pressure, allowing a diagnosis of definite or borderline hypertension. Those with hypertension had lower levels of beta-carotene and higher levels of uric acid and MDA compared to normotensive participants. The last two of these associations persisted when the analyses controlled for lifestyle and health factors. The findings from this study offer limited support for the proposition that lower antioxidant status and higher oxidative stress are associated with hypertension, and suggest the need for longitudinal studies to examine causality and intervention studies to determine the benefit of antioxidants in this group.

A preliminary open label dose comparison using an antioxidant regimen to determine the effect on viral load and oxidative stress in men with HIV/AIDS.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of antioxidant supplementation on viral load and the antioxidant/reactive oxygen species system in people with HIV. DESIGN: Single centre, prospective, dose comparison study. SETTING: Outpatient clinic specializing in HIV care. SUBJECTS: Sixty-six participants were sequentially recruited by advertisement, and 48 subjects completed the study. INTERVENTIONS: A recommended dose antioxidant regimen (5,450 IU vitamin A as beta-carotene, 250 mg vitamin C, 100 IU vitamin E, 100 microg selenium, 50 mg coenzyme Q10) or a high-dose antioxidant regimen (21,800 IU vitamin A as beta-carotene, 1,000 mg vitamin C, 400 IU vitamin E, 200 microg selenium, 200 mg coenzyme Q10) for a 12 week period. RESULTS: Using repeated measures analysis of variance, the changes over treatment time were significant for selenium, glutathione, glutathione peroxidase and lipid peroxides (P < 0.03). Changes in allantoin, uric acid and viral load were not significant (P > 0.05). The main effects for group and the interaction effects were not significant for any of the parameters measured (P > or = 0.05). CONCLUSION: Antioxidant supplementation significantly improved some measures of oxidative defence. There was no benefit in using a high-dose supplement in this study.

Chronic ethanol administration causes oxidative stress in the rat pancreas.

There is increasing evidence implicating oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of both acute and chronic pancreatitis. Because ethanol is a major cause of pancreatitis in Western society, the aim of this study was to determine whether chronic ethanol administration results in oxidative stress in the pancreas. Twelve pairs of rats were fed a diet containing ethanol as 36% of calories or an isocaloric control diet for 4 weeks. Ethanol feeding resulted in a 46% increase in pancreatic malondialdehyde (p=0.006). In addition, total pancreatic glutathione was increased by 22% (p=0.005). These biochemical changes occurred in the absence of histologic evidence of inflammation or necrosis, implying that the observed oxidative stress is a primary phenomenon rather than part of an inflammatory response.

Biological variability of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in blood.

The enzymatic antioxidant defences of mammalian cells include copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD)(Cu Zn-SOD; EC 1.15.1.1) which catalyses the dismutation of superoxide anions (O2(.-)) to hydrogen peroxide(H(2), O(2))and a seleno-dependent glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) (GSH-px; EC 1.11.1.9) which catalyses the degradation of H(2)O(2) to H(2)O and O(2). The measurement of these enzyme activities is often used as a possible biological index of oxidative stress in various clinical conditions. Complete understanding of such information requires knowledge of the random biological fluctuation of the enzyme activity which occurs in each individual. In the present investigation we examined this normal variability in 12 healthy volunteers (four women and eight men) aged 23-45 years, over 6 months. The intra-individual coefficients of variation (estimated using analysis of variance techniques) were 15% (SOD) and 13% (GSH-px). The analytical goal for imprecision was achieved for both enzymes, i.e. it was less than one half of the measured intra-individual variation. Both enzymes showed marked individuality, indicating that an individual's reference values are more useful than population-based data. The critical difference required for significant changes in serial results is 45% for SOD and 40% for GSH-px.

Biological variation of ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol.

Accumulating evidence that free radicals may contribute to various diseases, has sparked epidemiological and experimental studies of the correlation between plasma levels of antioxidant vitamins and risk to develop cancer, ischaemic heart disease and stroke. These studies often do not take into account the random biological fluctuation of the antioxidant concentration, which occurs in each individual. The weekly and monthly variability of the antioxidants ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol was studied in 12 healthy volunteers (4 women and 8 men) aged 23-45 years. Vitamin levels were determined using high performance liquid chromatography. Over 12 weeks the mean plasma concentration of ascorbic acid was 42± 12 µmol/I and of α-tocopherol was 31±3 µmol/I. The intraindividual coefficients of variation (estimated using analysis of variance techniques) were 26% (ascorbic acid) and 12% (α-tocopherol). The analytical goal for imprecision was achieved for both vitamins, i.e. it was less than one-half of the measured intraindividual variation. Both antioxidants showed marked individuality, indicating that an individual's reference values are more useful than population-based data. The critical difference required for significance of changes in serial results is smaller for α-tocopherol (34%) than that for ascorbic acid (72%).

[Treatment of distal ureteral calculi with extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy: experiences with 310 cases]. / Die Behandlung distaler Harnleitersteine mit ESWL: Erfahrung mit 310 Fällen.

Distal ureteral calculi are approached by ureterorenoscopy by most authors. With increasing experience ESWL of distal ureteral calculi gained in importance. The success rate of 96.2% in a large series of 310 consecutive patients treated in this manner, confirmed the results of other authors. Excluding women of child-bearing age and very large calculi (greater than 2 cm) the ESWL is a suitable treatment modality of distal ureteral calculi.

Vitamin E and rabbit corneal endothelial cell survival.

In this study, vitamin E (apha-tocopherol), a powerful antioxidant, is shown to double the survival time of isolated perfused rabbit corneal endothelium. The results are discussed and evidence concerning vitamin E in ocular tissue function is reviewed.

Survival of isolated rabbit cornea and free radical scavengers.

The survival time of perfused endothelium is doubled in presence of the free radical scavengers superoxide dismutase and catalase.