Different profile of peripheral antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation in active and non-active inflammatory bowel disease patients.

BACKGROUND: The role of oxidative stress in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) has been extended lately from a simple consequence of inflammation to a potential etiological factor, but the data are still controversial. Active disease has been characterized before by an enhanced production of reactive oxygen species and the increased peroxidation of lipids, but patients in remission were generally not considered different from healthy people in terms of oxidative stress. AIMS: We evaluated the antioxidant defense capacity and lipid peroxidation status in the serum of patients with active and non-active disease compared with healthy matched control subjects. METHODS: The study included 20 patients with confirmed IBD in clinical and biological remission, 21 patients with active disease, and 18 controls. We determined the serum levels of two antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and a lipid peroxidation marker, malondialdehyde (MDA). RESULTS: Active disease patients had an increased activity of both SOD and GPX, as well as significant high values of MDA versus controls. Furthermore, patients being in remission had significantly lower values of antioxidant enzymes (SOD and GPX) and increased lipid peroxidation measured by MDA serum levels, as compared with healthy control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirmed the presence of high oxidative stress in active IBD. More importantly, we have demonstrated a lower antioxidant capacity of patients in remission versus control group. This may represent a risk factor for the disease and can be an additional argument for the direct implication of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of IBD.

Y chromosome analysis reveals a sharp genetic boundary in the Carpathian region.

Nine single nucleotide (SNP) or indel binary polymorphisms were used to determine the frequencies and phylogenetic relationships of 12 Y chromosomal haplogroups in 289 males from Romania and the Republic of Moldova. Our data indicated a low but not null rate of the homoplasic appearance of the DYZ3 (-) allelic state. All other markers confirmed the previously proposed phylogeny. Based on the affinities between populations in terms of haplogroup frequencies, this work identified the geographical region of the Carpathians as a break point in the gene geography of Eastern Central Europe, providing a finer definition of one of the possible sharp genetic changes between Western and Eastern Europe.

Tracing European founder lineages in the Near Eastern mtDNA pool.

Founder analysis is a method for analysis of nonrecombining DNA sequence data, with the aim of identification and dating of migrations into new territory. The method picks out founder sequence types in potential source populations and dates lineage clusters deriving from them in the settlement zone of interest. Here, using mtDNA, we apply the approach to the colonization of Europe, to estimate the proportion of modern lineages whose ancestors arrived during each major phase of settlement. To estimate the Palaeolithic and Neolithic contributions to European mtDNA diversity more accurately than was previously achievable, we have now extended the Near Eastern, European, and northern-Caucasus databases to 1,234, 2, 804, and 208 samples, respectively. Both back-migration into the source population and recurrent mutation in the source and derived populations represent major obstacles to this approach. We have developed phylogenetic criteria to take account of both these factors, and we suggest a way to account for multiple dispersals of common sequence types. We conclude that (i) there has been substantial back-migration into the Near East, (ii) the majority of extant mtDNA lineages entered Europe in several waves during the Upper Palaeolithic, (iii) there was a founder effect or bottleneck associated with the Last Glacial Maximum, 20,000 years ago, from which derives the largest fraction of surviving lineages, and (iv) the immigrant Neolithic component is likely to comprise less than one-quarter of the mtDNA pool of modern Europeans.

Network analyses of Y-chromosomal types in Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia reveal specific patterns of geographic distribution.

In a study of 908 males from Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia, the variation of four Y-linked dinucleotide microsatellites was analyzed within three "frames" that are defined by mutations that are nonrecurrent, or nearly so. The rapid generation and extinction of new dinucleotide length variants causes the haplotypes within each lineage to diverge from one another. We constructed networks of "adjacent" haplotypes within each frame, by assuming changes of a single dinucleotide unit. Two small and six large networks were obtained, the latter including 94.9% of the sampled Y chromosomes. We show that the phenetic relationships among haplotypes, represented as a network, result largely from common descent and subsequent molecular radiation. The grouping of haplotypes of the same network thus fits an evolutionarily relevant criterion. Notably, this method allows the total diversity within a sample to be partitioned. Networks can be considered optimal markers for population studies, because reliable frequency estimates can be obtained in small samples. We present synthetic maps describing the incidence of different Y-chromosomal lineages in the extant human populations of the surveyed areas. Dinucleotide diversity also was used to infer time intervals for the coalescence of each network.

Preliminary estimation of the Y Alu polymorphic (YAP) element in the Romanian population.

We analyzed the polymorphism for the presence/absence of the YAP element in two male Romanian samples. Frequencies of 3.7% and 10.5% were found for the presence of the element in Maramures (North Romania) and Vrancea (East Romania).

[Intraperitoneal and intragastric administration of Norartrinal in severe digestive hemorrhages]. / Administrarea intraperitoneala si intragastrica de Norartrinal în hemoragiile digestive grave.

A total of 23 successful treatments are described, in severe haemorrhages of the upper intestinal tract, which were either primitive (ulcer, gastritis), or secondary (due to stress), in seriously ill patients, by administration of 4 g of Norartrinal intragastrically or intraperitoneally. The absence of adverse reactions, that have been looked for at anatomo-pathological investigations and during surgery, as well as the good results recorded in patients in whom the classical treatment did not result in satisfactory results, recommend this method especially in limit cases.

[Decreased catabolism after toxico-septic aggression by administration of injectable amino acids]. / Scaderea catabolismului dupa agresiunea toxico-septica prin administrarea de aminoacizi injectabili.

Two comparative lots were established, of 48 and 44 patients respectively with toxico-septic syndromes, renal failure of the hypercatabolic type, that had received parenteral food for a period of between 3 and 11 days. The first group received only glucose while the second also had injectable aminoacids. In the first group was noted a daily rate of blood urea variation (r) of 1,65 mg% and a good nitrogen elimination. In the second group was noted an r of --8,13mg% (pless than 0,001) and a more rapid improvement of the clinical condition. Next to the fall in the absolute nitrogen elimination (p greater than 0,05), the nitrogen balance, computed at 36% incorporation of the administered nitrogen, was significantly improved in the second group (p greater than 0,01), demonstrating the lowering of the metabolic rate under perfusion with aminoacids.

[Causes of failure in surgical arteriovenous anastomoses]. / Cauzele de esec în anastomozele arteriovenoase terapeutice.

The causes of failure in surgical arteriovenous anastomoses are discussed with reference to 60 operations performed on 52 patients suffering from chronic renal insufficiency in the uremic stage. The various technical variants applied are shown, as well as the early and late complications and the order in which reinterventions were performed. The work concludes with an original mathematical study of the blood output in the three fistula variants practiced by the authors, designed to supply evidence of their functional value.

Parenteral nutrition in toxic septic states.

An analysis is made of two groups each of 20 patients with toxic septic states and hypercatabolic renal failure, who were given parenteral nutrition for at least 3 days. Each group was divided into two subgroups, given glucose, 13--20 and 20--27 kcal. 24 h--1 kg--1 body weight; the second subgroup was also given nitrogen-containing infusions of 0.05--0.12 or 0.12--0.17 g of N 24--1/kg--1 body weight, the total calorie intake amounting to 23--28 and 28--33 kcal. 24 h--1 kg--1 respectively, with nitrogen amounting to 150--400 kcal./g. A mean daily decrease of blood urea of 9.2 mg/100 ml was recorded, together with a positive catabolism in the series given nitrogen, and a rise of 0.8 mg/100 ml with negative catabolic index in the series fed with glucose (P less than 0.01); there were similar nitrogen losses in both the series, corrected by catabolism formula. The results demonstrated a decreased rate of catabolism in patients fed with a diet containing nitrogenous compounds.

[Limits of hemodilution in the treatment of hemorrhagic shock]. / Limitele hemodilutiei în tratamentul socului hemoragic

Clinical analysis of 168 cases of hemorrhagic shock of the 230 cases of hemorrhage and injuries admitted to the 2nd Surgical Clinic of Timisora between 1970 and 1973, showed that the administration of blood substitutes (crystalloid and colloid solutions) may be extended with good results in the management of hemorrhagic shock up to a hematocrit of 20%, respectively 7 g Hb. This treatment implies a careful selection of the cases, based upon objective criteria (listed in the text), so that the none administration of blood should not involve any risks. Even in the cases in which blood tranfusion is indispensable, hemodilution reduces to a great extent the amount of blood required.