[Advances of selenium supplementation in posttraumatic stress disorder risk group patients].

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a complex of symptoms developed in a patient after traumatic event. The basis of PTSD pathophysiology is hyper activation of neurones under stress factors influence, so-called excitotoxicity, followed by oxidative stress (OS) because of an accumulation of free radicals. Lipid peroxidation can lead to neurons damage. Neurons are especially susceptible to OS, changing signal transduction and information processing mechanisms. Clinically excitotoxicity preforms as different acute and/or chronic stress reactions and can cause PTSD. Selenium (Se) is involved on different stages of transport and metabolism of Glutamate. Research aim: to access PTSD incidence, OS parameters and their adjustment advances using organic Se in PTSD risk group patients. PTSD symptomatic severity (in PCL-M points) reduced for 5.85% to baseline, Prevalence Rate reduced for 46.03% to baseline in Se group patients. We can conclude that: 1) there is a statistically reliable correlations between the incidence of PTSD and OS parameters, between PTSD symptomatic severity and OS parameters; 2) the use of Se during the mission can reduce the OS parameters, minimize the incidence of PTSD and reduce the PTSD symptomatic severity.

Biochemical observations relating to oxidant stress injury in Chernobyl clean-up workers ("liquidators") from Latvia.

AIMS: To establish if there is further evidence for the long-term oxidant stress injury (as reported previously--Kumerova et al. in Biol Trace Elem Res 77:1-12, 2000) in surviving Chernobyl nuclear power plant (NPP) workers from Latvia. The overall objectives of this study have been to establish if there have been long-term systemic changes in the oxidant/antioxidant status of clean-up workers that might reflect adaptation to the progression of oxidative stress injury. METHODS: Biochemical analyses of the circulating levels of endogenous oxidants and anti-oxidants were undertaken over two periods (Stage 1 in 1998-1999 and Stage 2 in 2005-2006) at approximately 6-7 years time interval, in order to establish if there have been time-dependent changes in the parameters that may be important for the health of the clean-up workers. The biochemical analyses included (a) plasma levels of the anti-oxidant, selenium, (b) blood and plasma levels of glutathione peroxidase, (c) red blood cell catalase, (d) plasma total oxidant status as lipid peroxides and hydroperoxides, (e) plasma ceruloplasmin, and (f) total blood levels of zinc and copper. RESULTS: The circulating content of lipid peroxides, plasma oxidisability, lipid peroxides, catalase, Zn, and Cu were elevated above normal values at both the stages of this study. Glutathione peroxidase was increased above normal values at Stage 1 but not at Stage 2. The most pronounced changes between Stage 1 and Stage 2 were (a) a reduction by about (1/2) in the content of lipid peroxides and lipid peroxidation, but not in the blood oxidisability and (b) increased plasma selenium. The data show that there may be a partial improvement in the anti-oxidant/oxidant status of the Chernobyl NPP workers over the 7-year period of investigation. CONCLUSIONS: The NPP patients may be undergoing progressive reduction in blood oxidants accompanied by adaptation to oxidant stress injury due to the increased anti-oxidant activity measured in their plasma and blood.

Chronic hepatitis C: quantitative EPR analysis of nitrogen oxide and copper in patients' blood.

Measurements of nitrogen oxide and copper in the blood of 57 patients with chronic viral hepatitis C was carried out before antiviral therapy by electron paramagnetic resonance on a Radiopan EPR spectrometer. The results indicate elevated levels of nitrogen oxide and copper in the blood of these patients in comparison with normal subjects. Comparison of these findings with the results of a previous analysis of redox status of patients with chronic viral hepatitis C indicate that this disease is characterized by a significant pro-oxidant shift in the realization of redox processes and disorders in the metal ligand homeostasis (at least as regards copper).

[Assessment of some oxidative stress parameters in bronchial asthma patients beyond add-on selenium supplementation].

The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of selenium deficit replenishment in patients with bronchial asthma (BA) on manifestations of oxidative stress and conditions of the antioxidant system (AOS). The need of correction of selenium deficit in BA-patient is determined by the increased needs in antioxidants due to chronic inflammatory process responcible for pathogenesis of BA. Latvia and also Eastern Finland, Byelorussia, some regions of Ukraine, some regions of the NorthWestern Russia, New Zealand belong to endemic areas with marked selen deficit in soils and foodstuff. Twenty patients (7 men and 13 women) with selen deficit and verified diagnosis of BA have been examined. In addition to basic therapy all patients received organic selenium SelenoPRECISE, ("PharmaNord") 200 microg daily for 16 weeks. This caused statistically significant increase of plasma selenium from 50.94+/-7.58 microg/l to 63.59+/-10.87 microg/l (p<0.001), the increase of selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase (from 38.64+/-10.72 U/g Hb to 58.57+/-14.64 U/g Hb, p<0.001). Treatment of patients with selenium also normalized parameters charecterizing oxidative stress (chemiluminescence). The use of selenium in addition to basic therapy allows to abolish or alternate manifestations of oxidative stress by correcting the antioxidant system.

Anaemia and antioxidant defence of the red blood cells.

Antioxidant defence was investigated in red blood cells (RBC) in 56 patients with 3 different haemoblastoses: polycythemia vera (PV), chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML), chronic lymphoid leukemia (CLL) with and without anaemia, in 12 iron deficiency anaemia (A) patients and 50 healthy persons. The activities were determined of the following antioxidant enzymes: glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), glutathione reductase (GSSG-R), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and MDA levels. Antioxidant defence is decreased and the level of lipid peroxidation are increased in RBC in all patients (PV, CML, CLL, A). Different changes were detected in the antioxidative defence between normal red blood cells and those formed from leukaemic cells clone. In normal RBC in anaemia (CLL, A) opposite deviation of G6PD and GSSG-R activities was observed. In RBC formed from leukaemic cell clone (PV, CML), a simultaneous significant increase in G6PD and GSSG-R activities was found, which indicated activisation of pentose phosphate pathways (PPP) in these pathologies; in anaemia they function less effectively.

[The effect of treatment with superoxide dismutase and selenium on blood ferritin and transferrin level in patients with hemoblastosis]. / Vliianie terapii superoksiddismutazol i selenom na uroven' ferritina i transferrina v krovi bol'nykh gemoblastozami.

The effect of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and selenium on the blood level of ferritin and transferrin in patients with hemoblastosis was studied. Two-month treatment with SOD and selenium had no effect on the level of ferritin but reduced the concentration of malonic dialdehyde (MDA) in the native erythrocytes in patients with chronic lymphoid leukemia practically to that in healthy individuals. In erythrocytes which formed from cells of the leukemic clone (chronic myelocytic leukemia and erythremia) treatment with SOD and selenium reduced the pathologically high level of ferritin, but at the same time increased the concentration of MDA in the erythrocytes. In erythremia in the group with a low level of ferritin SOD and selenium caused no statistically significant increase in its level in blood.

[Erythremia: the activity of erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes and the association with iron deficiency]. / Eritremiia: aktivnost' antioksidantnykh fermentov éritrotsitov, sviaz' s defitsitom zheleza.

Concentration of malonic dialdehyde (MDA) and activity of antioxidant enzymes G-6-PD, glutation peroxidase (GP), glutation reductase, catalase, superoxide dismutase were measured in red cells of patients with polycythemia vera. Plasmic ions Fe3+ were estimated by means of electron-paramagnetic resonance. MDA concentration and antioxidant enzymes (except GP) in polycythemia red cells were found increased, while the activity of selenium-dependent GP was reduced, the inhibition being greatest in severe iron deficiency. It is suggested that GP activity in red cells depends on both selenium levels in the body and concentrations of non-hematic iron.

[Possible use of erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes as markers of the course of disease in patients with hemoblastoses]. / Vozmozhnost' ispol'zovaniia antioksidantnykh fermentov éritrotsitov v kachestve indikatorov, kharakterizuiushchikh techenie bolezni u bol'nykh gemoblastozami.

Blood and erythrocytes of 50 healthy volunteers and 105 patients with different forms of hemoblastoses were investigated. 54 patients had acute phase, 51 patients--remission stage of disease. Essential differences in the activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GSH-Px) were detected and compared with content of MDA and degree of anaemia. Acute phase had more significantly alteration of antioxidant defence: diverse changes of the activity of SOD and CAT, significantly inhibition of GSH-Px, the high level of MDA and increased degree of anaemia.

The activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydroxygenase and glutathione enzymes in red blood cells in patients with haemoblastoses.

The activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), glutathione reductase (GSSG-R), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and MDA levels have been assayed in red blood cells (RBC), obtained from 57 people suffering from haemoblastoses. The activities of G6PD in the RBC in patients with polycythemia vera (PV) and chronic lymphoid leukemia (CML) are significantly higher than those in healthy patients. Changes in the activity of glutathione dependent enzymes GSSG-R and those of GSH-Px in the RBC go in opposite directions: the activity of GSSG-R is significantly enhanced in patients with PV and CML, but the activity of GSH-Px is decreased in all patients suffering from haemoblastoses. The high levels of MDA in the RBC of all patients with haemoblastoses indicate intensification of lipid peroxidation in their RBC.

[Effect of pantethine on post-heparin lipolytic activity and lipid peroxidation in the myocardium]. / Vliianie pantetina na postgeparinovuiu lipoliticheskuiu aktivnost' i perekisnoe okisleniie lipidov v miokarde.

In the present work the effect of the precursor of Co a D-bis (N- pantothenyl-beta-aminoethyl) disulfide--pantethine on post heparin lipolytic activity and the intensity of lipid peroxidation has been investigated. Pantethine in doses of 5 mg/kg enhanced post heparin lipolytic activity (60.6%) and lipoprotein lipase activity (39.9%) in plasma and reduced the amount of NEFA (35.1%) and content of MDA (57.4%) in the mitochondria.

[Cardioprotective properties of a 1,4-dihydropyridine derivative, glutapyrone, in deep hypothermia]. / Kardioprotektornye svoistva proizvodnogo 1,4-digidropiridina glutapirona v usloviiakh glubokoi gipotermii.

Effect of the derivative of 1,4-dihydropyridine-glutapyron on the activity of Ca2(+)-ATPase, lipid peroxidation and formation of the high-energy phosphate in the myocardium under deep hypothermia was investigated. Analysis of chemiluminescence parameters and changes of malondialdehyde production as a measure of peroxidation has shown high antioxidant activity of glutapyron under deep hypothermia. The inhibition of peroxidation by glutapyron takes place in the lipids of erythrocyte and heart mitochondrial membranes. Due to antioxidant activity glutapyron is able to inhibit initiation of free radical lipid oxidation, to stabilize membrane structure and to preserve function of membrane integrated proteins. In the aggregate these actins promote activity maintenance of high-energy phosphate production and transport reactions in heart under deep hypothermia.

[Effect of serotonin and malate benzyl hydrazine on glutathione peroxidase and lipid peroxidation by rat heart and liver mitochondria]. / Vliianie serotonina i benzilgidrazina iablochnoi kisloty na aktivnost' gliutationperoksidazy i na perekisnoe okislenie lipidov v mitokhondriiakh aktivnost' gliutationperoksidazy i na perekisnoe okislenie lipidov v mitokhondriiakh serdtsa i pecheni krys.

The effect of serotonin and malate benzyl hydrazine (inhibitor MAO) on the activity of glutathione peroxidase and intensity of ascorbate-dependent peroxidation of lipids in mitochondria was investigated. Serotonin injected intraperitoneally at a concentration of 20 m/kg increased activity of glutathione peroxidase in liver mitochondria and nonfermented ascorbate-dependent peroxidation of lipids in heart mitochondria. In experiments in vitro serotonin and malate benzyl hydrazine decreased activity of glutathione peroxidase an inhibited nonfermented ascorbate-dependent peroxidation in mitochondria of the heart and liver of rats.