Is Serum Antioxidant Status Impaired in Pregnant Women at High Risk for Carrying a Down Syndrome-affected Fetus?

ABSTRACT Objective: To establish the oxidant/antioxidant status in serum samples from pregnant women above the threshold for Down syndrome (DS) risk, according to the quadruple test. Methods: Thirty maternal serum samples that were above the threshold for DS risk (study group) were chosen from pregnant women whose quadruple tests were studied at Ankara University Ibni Sina Hospital Central Laboratory. They were matched with the control group consisting of 30 pregnant women whose DS risk were below threshold. Malondialdehyde level, glutathione peroxidase and non-enzymatic superoxide radical scavenger activities (NSSAs) were analyzed in the study and control groups. Results: It was found that NSSA was significantly decreased in the study group as compared to the control group (p = 0.006). Malondialdehyde levels had a tendency to increase with gestational week in both groups (p = 0.042 in the study group and p < 0.001 in the control group). Conclusion: There is a significant decrease in non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity in pregnant women that were above the threshold for DS risk, as compared to the control group. In the context of these results, dietary antioxidant supplementation might be a useful approach during early gestation, especially around the time of conception, possibly to prevent bearing a DS fetus.

The Effects of 2100 MHz Radio Frequency Radiation on Thyroid Tissues

ABSTRACT Objective: To reveal the effect of 2100 MHz radio frequency (RF) radiation on thyroid tissues of rats in the 10 days (group E1) and 40 days (group G1) exposure groups. Methods: In this study, 30 healthy female Wistar albino rats, weighing 200−256 g each, were used. The animals were randomly divided into four groups (E1, E2, G1 and G2). Groups E2 and G2 served as the control groups. The exposure groups were exposed to 2100 MHz RF radiation emitted by a generator, simulating a 3G-mobile phone for 6 hours/day, 5 consecutive days/week, at the same time of the day (between 9 am and 3 pm), for 10 days (group E1) and 40 days (group G1). Results: Catalase and xanthine oxidase enzyme activities were compared between the groups E1 and E2; it was found that the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Between the groups G1 and G2, the difference was found to be significant with respect to catalase activities. Tissue samples of the early and late groups showed no serious pathological findings in the histopathological examination. Conclusion: We believe that comprehensive, clinical and experimental studies are needed to assess the effect of the RF exposure duration and dosage of exposure on thyroid tissues.

Evaluation of Oxidative Stress Parameters and Antioxidant Status in Plasma and Erythrocytes of Elderly Diabetic Patients with Sarcopenia.

OBJECTIVES: Oxidative stress may play a role in the pathogenesis of both sarcopenia and diabetes. Although the risk of sarcopenia is increased in people with type 2 diabetes, the relationship between sarcopenia oxidative stress and antioxidant status among the older diabetes population is not well studied. The aim of this present study was to evaluate the relationship between oxidative stress and antioxidant status and sarcopenia in elderly diabetic patients. DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional designed study with a control group. A total of 60 type 2 diabetic elderly patients were enrolled in the study (30 sarcopenic and 30 controls). MEASUREMENTS: Comprehensive geriatric assessments and anthropometric measurements were performed. Sarcopenia was diagnosed according to the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People. Skeletal muscle mass was measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis. A handheld dynamometer was used for skeletal muscle strength measurements. Gait speed was measured using a 4 meter walking test. Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and erythrocyte MDA, GSH-Px, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and xanthine oxidase (XO) measurements were performed. RESULTS: While plasma XO was significantly higher in sarcopenic individuals (0.406(0.225-0.775)) compared to controls (0.312(0.112-0.712)) (p=0.006), plasma GSH-Px was significantly lower in sarcopenic individuals (0.154(0.101-0.274)) compared to controls (0.204(0.12-.0312)) (p=0.003). Plasma XO (OR: 2.69 (CI 95% 0.13-52.76, p=0.041) and BMI (OR: 0.6 (CI 95% 0.41-0.89, p=0.009) were independently associated with sarcopenia of diabetes in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Only plasma XO was found to be independently associated with sarcopenia. XO can be important in the pathogenesis of sarcopenia in diabetes. Oxidative stress and antioxidant status might be associated with sarcopenia in diabetic older individuals but this association seems to be mediated by other factors. Further studies are needed on this subject.

Effects of aqueous soybean, mistletoe and red clover extracts on activities of adenosine deaminase and xanthine oxidase enzyme.

Soybean (Glycine max), mistletoe (Viscum album) and red clover (Trifolium pratence) have been argued to have anti-cancer effects. In the present study it was aimed to investigate possible effects of these plant extracts on the activities of DNA turn-over enzymes, namely adenosine deaminase (ADA) and xanthine oxidase (XO) in cancerous and non-cancerous gastric and colon tissues. For this aim, 6 cancerous and 6 non-cancerous adjacent human gastric tissues, and 7 cancerous and 7 non-cancerous adjacent colon tissues were obtained by surgical operations. Our results suggest that aqueous soybean, mistletoe and red clover extracts may exhibit anti-tumoral activity by depleting hypoxanthine concentration in the cancer cells through XO activation, which may lead to lowered salvage pathway activity necessary for the cancer cells to proliferate in the cancerous colon tissue. Some foods like soybean, mistletoe and red clover may provide nutritional support to medical cancer therapy through inhibiting and/or activating key enzymes in cancer metabolism (Tab. 4, Ref. 33).

The effect of diosmin on pancreatic injury induced by hepatic ischemia reperfusion in rats.

PURPOSE: This experimental study aimed at comparing the cyanoacrylate abdomen closure to the effectiveness of triclosan coated polidioxanone abdomen closure. METHODS: The abdomen layers were closed with 3/0 polidioxanone suture in the first group. In the second group, the layers were closed with triclosan coated polidioxanone suture in a single layer. The abdomen layers of rats in the third group were attached with cyanoacrylates without sutures. The rats were sacrificed on the 14th day and the adhesive level was recorded. The incision resistance strength was measured. The tissue was examined blindly in the terms of inflammatory cell infiltration, capillary proliferation, fibrosis and micro-abscess by the pathologist. RESULTS: No significant difference was determined between the 1st and 2nd groups in the terms of inflammatory cell infiltration, capillary proliferation, collagen deposition, fibroblast activity, adhesive and tissue distension strength. The fibrosis and adhesive rate of the 3rd group was significantly higher than the 1st and 2nd groups statistically. The tissue distension strength was lower than in the other groups and the differences between the groups were found to be significant (p < 0.05). No significant difference was determined between the groups in the term of micro-abscess. CONCLUSIONS: Antibacterial suture is not superior to the conventional suture. It is concluded that cyanoacrylate is not an appropriate molecule for abdomen closure (Tab. 1, Fig. 3, Ref. 17).

The effects of dexamethasone on oxidant/antioxidant status in kidneys of rats administered mercuric chloride.

The study was aimed to evaluate the possible effects of dexamethasone on oxidant/antioxidant status in kidney tissues of rats administered mercuric chloride (HgCl2). Thirty male Wistar-albino rats were enrolled in this study. Rats were divided into 4 groups: G1 (n=7) underwent no therapy (control group), G2 (n=8) received HgCl2 + physiological saline, G3 (n=7) dexamethasone (DM) + physiological saline and G4 (n=8) received HgCl2 + DM. HgCl2 was injected subcutaneously into rats in the G2 and G4 on the first day of the study. Dexamethasone was injected intraperitoneally into rats in the G3 and G4 for 3 days. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), xanthine oxidase (XO) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were evaluated in the kidney tissues. Serum creatinine levels were also measured. Xanthine oxidase activity was increased in the G2 compared to the control group. Catalase activity in the control group was significantly higher compared to the other groups. In the histopathological examination of kidneys, there was a tubular degeneration in G2 and G4. It was concluded that HgCl2 administration may cause oxidative stress through increasing XO and decreasing CAT activities. Dexamethasone injection may partially protect the rat kidneys against oxidative reactions by preventing the increase in XO activity (Tab. 1, Ref. 33).

Diosmin ameliorates intestinal injury induced by hepatic ischemia reperfusion in rats.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion causes histologic injury to the intestinal mucosa. We investigated the effects of diosmin, a phelobotrophic drug with antioxidant and antiinflammatory effects, on intestinal injury in the experimental liver ischemia-reperfusion model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourty rats were divided into four groups: sham group (Group 1), control group (Group 2), perop diosmin group (50 mg/kg) treatment group (Group 3) and preop 10-day diosmin (50 mg/kg) treatment group (Group 4). Ischemia-reperfusion model was carried out by clamping the hepatic pedicle for 60 min and then reperfusing the liver for 90 min. At the end of procedures, blood and ileum tissue samples were obtained for biochemical and histopathological assessments. RESULTS: According to the results of liver function tests (AST, ALT and LDH) there was a significant difference between the control and other groups (p < 0.001 for all). According to the plasma and ileum oxidative stress parameters (MDA, GSH-Px and XO), there was a significant difference between the control and other groups (p < 0.05 for all). Histopathologically; the specimens in Group 2 showed specific morphological abnormalities (the epithelial lining of the apical surface of villi was degenerated and desquamated to the lumen). Group 3 and 4 showed ileal histomorphology similar to the sham group. Pathological scores were significantly different between Group 2 and other groups. CONCLUSIONS: Diosmin can be administered for protection from destructive effects of hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury on intestine in both emergent and elective hepatic surgical operations in which the possible ischemic periods are expected (Tab. 4, Fig. 1, Ref. 39).

Effect of propolis on oxidative stress and histomorphology of liver tissue in experimental obstructive jaundice.

BACKGROUND: Propolis is a natural product collected by honey bees from various plant sources. We aimed to determine the possible effects of propolis on oxidative stress and hepatocyte apoptosis in experimental obstructive jaundice. METHODS: Thirty rats were divided into three groups: group I, sham-operated; group II, ligation and division of the common bile duct (BDL); group III, BDL followed by oral supplementation of propolis in a daily dose of 100 mg/kg. Liver samples were examined under the light microscope and transmission electron microscope. Hepatocyte apoptosis was quantitated using the transferase-mediated uridine nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Plasma and liver malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities were measured. RESULTS: The plasma and liver levels of MDA were significantly lower in the propolis group than in the BDL group (p < 0.05 and 0.014, respectively). Although liver GSH-Px activities were significantly higher in the propolis group than in the BDL group (p < 0.001), there was no significant difference between the plasma GSH-Px activities of these groups (p > 0.05). In the propolis group, the enlargement of hepatocytes, dilatation of canaliculi and the edema regressed. The regenerating and normal hepatocytes were demonstrated. In the TUNEL assay, propolis administration reduced hepatocyte apoptosis. CONCLUSION: Propolis showed a significant hepatoprotective effect in this experimental obstructive jaundice model.

Oxidant status in maternal and cord plasma and placental tissue in gestational diabetes.

The aim of this study was to measure oxidant/antioxidant status in maternal and cord plasma and in placental tissue in gestational diabetes and to correlate the results with the quality of glycemic control of the mother. To achieve this, blood and placental tissue samples have been obtained from pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and from the umbilical cord of their fetuses. The same samples have been collected from pregnant women without GDM. In all the samples, oxidant and antioxidant parameters have been studied. It has been observed that the antioxidant defense system was impaired; xanthine oxidase, which is the main free radical-producing enzyme (XO) in the living cells, was activated; and oxidation reactions were accelerated in the samples obtained from patients with GDM. Results suggest presence of oxidant stress in the gestational diabetes, the reason probably being impaired antioxidant defense mechanism and increased free radical production through XO activation.

Effects of cholesterol supplementation on antioxidant enzyme activities in rat hepatic tissues: possible implications of hepatic paraoxonase in atherogenesis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The effects of cholesterol supplementation on antioxidant enzyme activities were investigated hepatic tissue taken from Sprague Dawley rats. METHODS AND REULTS: The study involved 14 male Sprague Dawley rats: seven fed a normal laboratory diet and seven a normal diet plus cholesterol (3.6 g/kg/day) for three months, during which blood samples were obtained to measure serum cholesterol levels. At the end of the 3-month period, the livers were surgically removed in order to measure antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and paraoxonase-1). At the end of the study period, serum total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol levels were significantly higher in the cholesterol-fed group than the control group. There were no significant between-group differences in hepatic superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities, but there was a significant decrease in hepatic paraoxonase-1 activity in the cholesterol-fed group. CONCLUSIONS: Cholesterol supplementation significantly decreases paraoxonase-1 activity in rat liver tissue without changing the activities of other antioxidant enzymes. These results suggest that cholesterol significantly suppresses hepatic paraoxonase-1 synthesis. It seems that the decreased paraoxinase-1 activity in the plasma HDL-fraction of atherosclerotic patients is associated with suppressed liver synthesis. A reduction in paraoxonase-1 activity may therefore lead to the more intensive exposure of LDL to oxidant attacks.