Antioxidant status in cerebrovascular accident.

Ischemia is associated with the pathological changes caused by the accumulation of reactive oxygen metabolites (ROM) in cerebrovascular accident (CVA). The aim of this study was to determine red cell copper/zinc-superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD) and catalase activities and copper and zinc concentrations both in plasma and in red cells in CVA. Cu/Zn-SOD and catalase activities of 16 patients, with an average age of 64 yr, were measured spectrophotometrically; copper and zinc concentrations were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results showed that Cu/Zn-SOD activity was increased markedly in patients compared to the young controls and reached a peak on the d 5 of the disease, whereas the catalase activity of the patients on d 3 and d 5 were in the normal range, but higher on d 10. The enzyme activities of the elderly group were generally increased compared to the young controls. Copper and zinc concentrations showed corresponding alterations. These findings suggested that the effects of oxidative stress in CVA might be reflected in red cell and plasma parameters.

Erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity differs in clinical subgroups of Parkinson's disease patients.

There is controversy as to whether there are clinical subgroups in Parkinson's disease (PD). Six tremor-dominant and six bradykinesia-dominant patients identified among 29 cases with PD were compared in terms of erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and several clinical variables. Erythrocyte SOD activity in tremor-dominant patients was higher than in bradykinesia-dominant patients. According to our preliminary results obtained from small number of patients, the difference of SOD activity in clinically distinct subgroups suggests there may be separate clinical subgroups of PD which can be differentiated by a biological marker.

The effects of L-carnitine treatment on left ventricular function and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy.

We studied the effects of L-carnitine on left ventricular systolic function and the erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity in 51 patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy. They all previously were under the treatment of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, digitalis and diuretics. Patients were randomized into two groups. In group I (n=31), 2 g/day L-carnitine was added to therapy. L-Carnitine was not given to the other 20 patients (Group II). In group I (mean age 64.3+/-7.8 years), 27 of the patients were men, and four were women. In group II (mean age 66.2+/-8.7 years), 17 of the patients were men, and three were women. Twenty age-matched healthy subjects (mean age: 60.1+/-5.3 years) constituted the control group. In each group, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) by echocardiography and red cell superoxide dismutase activity by spectrophotometric method were measured initially and after 1 month of randomisation. Compared with normal healthy subjects (n=20), patients (n=51) had significantly higher red cell SOD activity (5633+/-1225 vs. 3202+/-373 U/g Hb, P<0.001). At the end of 1 month of L-carnitine therapy, red cell SOD activity showed an increase in group I (5918+/-1448 to 7218+/-1917 U/g Hb, P<0.05). In group II, red cell SOD activity showed no significant change after 1 month of randomisation (5190+/-545 to 5234+/-487 U/g Hb, P=0. 256). One month after randomisation there was a significant increase in LVEF in both groups I and II (37.8-42.3%, P<0.001 in group I; 41. 5-43.8%, P<0.001 in group II). The improvement in LVEF was more significant in the L-carnitine group (4.5% vs. 2.3%, P<0.01). We conclude that, as a sign of increased free radical production, superoxide dismutase activity was further increased in patients with L-carnitine treatment. L-Carnitine treatment in combination with other traditional pharmacological therapy might have an additive effect for the improvement of left ventricular function in ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Trace elements and superoxide dismutase in benign and malignant breast diseases.

This study was planned to determine the probable changes in trace element levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in women with neoplastic breast diseases. Measurements were performed in three different groups. The first group consisted of 20 healthy women, control group, the second group contained 16 patients with benign breast disease and the third group contained 39 patients with malignant breast disease. The trace element concentrations were determined by using atomic absorption spectrophotometry and SOD activity by using spectrophotometry. When compared with the control values, the plasma copper levels were slightly increased in the second group and significantly in the third group (p < 0.001). The difference between the benign and malignant groups was also significant (p < 0.001). The red cell copper values showed a marked decrease in both groups (p < 0 001). Although there were increases in the plasma zinc levels of both patient groups, the differences were not significant statistically. But, the red cell zinc values showed an significant increase in benign and malignant patients compared to the control group (p < 0.001) (p < 0.001). The plasma magnesium and red cell magnesium values did not show significant differences. The red cell SOD activity showed an significant increase in the benign and malignant patient groups (p < 0.001). The results of this study suggested that reactive oxygen metabolites may play a pathogenetic role in the both benign and malignant tumor development, which is reflected by the change in SOD activity, and in trace element concentrations.

Antioxidant defence system in a patient with cerebrovascular accident.

The increased production of reactive oxygen metabolites in the central nervous system may result in cellular damage and vascular-parenchymal injury. Vascular injury is also a cause of the vasoregulation deficiency. In this case report, a 60-year-old woman was admitted to the department of neurology, with a diagnosis of cerebrovascular accident. During 18 days of follow-up, the status of the antioxidant system was determined by measuring red cell superoxide dismutase and catalase activity. Red cell and plasma copper, zinc and magnesium concentrations were also measured. Red cell superoxide dismutase activity increased markedly by Day 2, reached a peak on Day 6 before decreasing to normal 18 days after the injury. Red cell catalase activity was below normal values during the whole of the 18-day study period and was at its lowest between days 6 and 7. Plasma copper, zinc and magnesium concentrations showed corresponding alterations.