The Role of Systemic Oxidative Status in Coronary Arterial and Peripheral Venous Blood of Patients with Unstable Angina Pectoris.

(1) Background: We aimed to analyze the oxidative status of patients with unstable angina pectoris (UA), as well as to determine the correlation of these parameters between coronary arterial and peripheral venous blood samples. (2) Methods: The study included 47 human subjects with UA and 45 control subjects. We performed clinical examinations, hemodynamic and coronary angiography measures. Also, in the blood samples, we measured routine laboratory markers and the concentration of pro-oxidants: index of lipid peroxidation (TBARS), superoxide anion radical (O2-), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and nitrites (NO2-), while antioxidant parameters were determined from red blood cells: reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). All parameters were determined spectrophotometrically. (3) Results: Significantly higher values of TBARS and all measured antioxidants SOD, CAT and GSH were observed in the coronary arterial blood of the UA group relative to coronary arterial blood of the control subjects. On the other hand, in the peripheral venous blood samples, a significantly lower GSH value was found in the UA group compared to the control. (4) Conclusions: This study has shown that the majority of changes in all measured redox markers are found in coronary blood, especially related to the activity of antioxidant components. In patients with an unstable form of angina, prooxidants (superoxide anion radical and index of lipid peroxidation) and endogenous antioxidants (catalase, superoxide dismutase and reduced glutathione) are in direct correlation with the course of ischemic disease. Future studies, where participants would be randomized depending on symptom duration, are necessary to confirm these conclusions.

Atrazine exposure decreases cell proliferation in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO-K1) cell line.

The aim of this study was to determine the toxic effect of atrazine at the ovarian cellular level. Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO-K1) cell line was used to evaluate the degree of in vitro atrazine cytotoxicity and the morphological changes were followed during the cell death. Application of four bioassays confirmed that atrazine decreases ovarian cell proliferation and IC(50) were determined with each assay after 72 h of exposure. The level of apoptosis in atrazine treated cells was low.

Cortisol and immune measures in boars exposed to three-day administration of exogenous adrenocorticotropic hormone.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of adrenal stimulation by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) on blood cortisol concentration and on circulating total and differential leukocyte counts during and in the 16 days after ACTH administration. Swedish Landrace boars aged approximately 6-7 months were used. ACTH-treated animals (n = 7) were given ACTH intravenously at 10 microg/kg body mass for 3 days. A control group of animals (n = 7) received 1 ml of sterile 0.9% saline intramuscularly. ACTH induced a highly significant increase (p>0.0001) in serum cortisol in treated boars. On the day after the last ACTH dose, the cortisol concentration was significantly higher, but the level of significance was lower than during ACTH administration (p>0.05). During ACTH treatment, a significant increase was recorded in total leukocyte count and neutrophil percentage (p>0.05 to p>0.0001), along with the increase in blood cortisol concentration, whereas percentage lymphocyte count showed a significant decrease. Lymphopenia disappeared upon cessation of treatment, but neutropenia developed in the week after treatment. On all three days of ACTH challenge, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was significantly increased. An increase in eosinophil percentage was recorded on treatment days 1 and 2, whereas ACTH treatment had no effect on basophil percentage. In conclusion, three-day administration of ACTH to young boars during restraint caused effects similar to acute stress situations, as suggested by disappearance of the effects on immune function after the last drug dosage.

Effect of ACTH administration on biochemical and immune measures in boars.

The effects of stress induced by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) on biochemical and immune changes in Swedish Landrace boars aged approximately 6-7 months were observed during ACTH administration and for 16 days after the cessation of treatment. Adrenocorticotropic hormone treated animals (n = 7) were given intravenously 10 microg/kg body mass of ACTH for 3 days. Control group of animals (n = 7) received intramuscularly 1 ml of sterile 0.9% saline. Total protein and globulin levels were significantly elevated during the induced stress period and for the next 16 days (P < 0.01 to P < 0.0001, respectively). Also, serum immunoglobulin IgG concentration was significantly elevated during and after ACTH injection (P < 0.001 to P < 0.0001). Adrenocorticotropic hormone treatment had no effect on serum albumin, IgA and IgM concentrations. Glucose concentration was significantly decreased on the second day of ACTH administration (P < 0.001) and on day 9 after treatment (P < 0.001). Calcium level was significantly decreased only for 24 h after the last ACTH dosage (P < 0.01). Also, serum phosphorus level was significantly decreased on the first (P < 0.05) and third (P < 0.001) days of ACTH challenge but remained unaffected after the cessation of ACTH treatment. It is concluded that the administration of ACTH to boars results in immune humoral and biochemical changes during stress and the post-stress period.

Disorders of male rat reproductive tract under the influence of atrazine.

The effects of atrazine exposure on testicular sperm number, epididymal sperm number and motility and alpha-glucosidase activity in the epididymis were studied in Fischer rats. Histological changes in the testicular tissue were followed by light and electron microscopy. Groups of adult animals were treated i.p. with 60 and 120 mg atrazine kg(-1) body wt. twice a week over 60 days. The results indicate a decrease in the body weight and relative weights of pituitary and ventral prostate vs control, measured on the last day of treatment in both treated groups. Testicular sperm number (expressed as number of sperm per 500 Sertoli cells) in atrazine-treated groups increased with the treatment time due to the reduced sperm motility. Therefore atrazine treatment provoked a significant decrease in sperm number and motility in epididymis, measured after the last day of treatment. alpha-Glucosidase activity in the epididymis, after the last day of treatment, showed a decrease in both treated groups vs control values. Histological analysis of testicular tissue from treated rats showed the cell disorganization and cell clusters together with spermatocytes. Electron microscopy presented differently vacuolated cytoplasm, collagen fibre was reduced, Leydig cells were of irregular shape with unequal form and cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum were accentuated and softly widened. In Sertoli cell cytoplasm, atrazine treatment provoked degenerative changes. According to the results obtained, it is evident that atrazine exerted morphological changes and a toxic effect on sperm and their motility.

Influence of Ethynodiol Diacetate on the Formation of A-Homo-3Oxa-5?-Pregnane-4,20-Dione in Female Rats.

OBJECTIVE: To give more insight in the progesterone metabolism in rat after the treatment with the progestin ethynodiol diacetate. METHODS: Urinary excretion of the metabolites of subcutaneously administred (4-14C)-progesterone was studied in female rats. After an acid hydrolysis and extraction of urine the metabolites were analysed by thin layer chromatography and by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. RESULTS: The most of radioactivity was excreted during the first 24 h, and total of 8.36 % has been recovered within four days. The excreted metabolites in urine were found as glucuronides and free steroids (80.72 %), and 19.28 % were determined as sulphates. Among detected metabolites, 5alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione, 3alpha-hydroxy-5alpha-pregnan-20-one and A-homo-3-oxa-5alpha-pregnane-4,20-dione were determined in the urinary extracts. The last one has not yet been identified before in rat urine. CONCLUSIONS: Consecutive injections of progestin ethynodiol diacetate (6 mg/kg b.w. daily) to adult female rats during 10 days (short-term treatment), or during 70 days (long-term treatment), starting on the 21st day of life, caused significant differences in the amounts of excreted 3alpha-hydroxy-5alpha-pregnan-20-one and A-homo-3-oxa-5alpha-pregnane-4,20-dione. Significant increase in the weights of pituitary, liver and kidneys were noted in rats treated with ethynodiol diacetate. The short-term treatment caused an increase, while after the long-term treatment a decrease of the ovarian weight was observed.

Effects of atrazine on reproductive performance in the rat.

The effects of subacute exposure to atrazine on body weight, ovarian cycling, conception rate and the size of litters in Fischer strain rats were studied. An atrazine dose of 120 mg kg-1 body wt given p.o. daily for 7 days to both female and male rats caused statistically significant loss of body weight in both sexes during the period of treatment. After the cessation of treatment the body weight of female rats remained below control body weights at least for 2 weeks. In male rats the difference in body weights narrowed with time and reached control level 5 days after the last dose. Atrazine caused a significant increase in the relative weights of pituitary and prostate. Atrazine also transiently prolonged the oestrous cycle, characterized by extended vaginal dioestrus. As a result of disturbed ovarian cycling, the rate of successful mating decreased in the first week after treatment when both sexes were exposed or exposed females were mated with an unexposed male. No similar effect was observed when only the males were exposed. The size of litters did not differ significantly between experimental groups.

Effect of pesticides on oestradiol-receptor complex formation in rat uterus cytosol.

The effect of gamma-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane (lindane), 2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-s-triazine (atrazine) and 2-methylthio-4,6-bis-isopropylamino-s-triazine (prometryne) on the formation of a specific oestradiol-receptor complex in the rat uterus cytosol has been examined in vitro and in vivo. Both in vitro and in vivo, the pesticides significantly (P < 0.001) inhibited the formation of the complex in the rat uterus cytosol. The decrease in the number of free specific binding sites on the receptors was determined. The affinity of binding was not modified under the influence of pesticides, and the Kd value was of the same order of magnitude (10(-9) M). The inhibition was found to be fully non-competitive.

Testosterone metabolism and formation of cytosol 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone-receptor complex in the rat prostate in vitro: Effects of lindane and malathion.

The effects of gamma-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane (lindane) and O,O-dimethyl-S-(1,2-dicarbethoxyethyl)phosphorodithioate (malathion) on testosterone metabolism in rat prostate tissue in vitro was investigated. The influence of lindane on the formation of 5alpha-androstan-17beta-ol-3-one (5alpha-DHT)-receptor complex in the rat prostatic cytosol has also been examined. Lindane and malathion inhibited the formation of 5alpha-DHT, and lindane caused a decrease in the formation of 5alpha-androstane-3,17-dione (androstanedione) in the rat prostate tissue. A mixture of lindane and malathion exerted a synergistic effect on testosterone metabolism in the rat prostate, as indicated by lower 5alpha-DHT and higher 5alpha-androstane-3alpha,17beta-diol formation. The presence of lindane significantly inhibited 5alpha-DHT-receptor complex formation in the rat prostatic cytosol, and this inhibition was of a fully noncompetitive type.

[Android and gynecoid types of obesity as factors in the onset of certain related diseases]. / Androidni i ginoidni tip gojaznosti kao faktor u nastajanju nekih relevantnih bolesti.

The prevalence of some diseases was studied in 238 android and 720 gynoid obese women and 180 android obese men with the aim to establish the relationship between the type of obesity and relevant diseases. In the selected group of obese patients (25 android and 90 gynoid obese women and 26 android obese men) fed on a reducing diet (1000 kcal--4.2 M.J.) 67 women were engaged in intensified physical activity during the 90 days of dieting. The relationship between the weight loss and the type of obesity as well as the relationship between the weight loss in women engaged in intensified physical activity and those abstaining from it was investigated. The investigation has shown that the prevalence of hypertension, coronary heart disease and diabetes was much higher in men and women affected by the android type of obesity than in women affected by the gynoid type of obesity. The prevalence of gallbladder's as well as venous system diseases and spondylosis in women affected by both types of obesity was much higher than in android obese men, but the prevalence of constipation was higher in gynoid obese women. From data relating to response to reducing diet it is concluded that the weight loss was equal among the women affected by the android and gynoid types of obesity, but the weight loss in android and gynoid obese women engaged in intensified physical activity was significantly higher than in those abstaining from it.2+herefore, for the prevention and

Childhood obesity as a risk factor in adulthood and its prevention.

Investigation of the relationship between relative body mass (RBM) of women immediately upon giving birth and birth weight (BW) of newborns showed that variables are positively correlated (r = 0.56, P less than 0.05). Data on distributions of adult RBM and BW show that it is more likely that children with a BW greater than or equal to 4.5 kg will become obese in a later stage of life than those whose BW was less than or equal to 3.2 kg. The regression lines in a group of children indicated a positive correlation between RBM and glycemia (r = 0.30, P less than 0.01), cholesterolemia (r = 0.223, P less than 0.05), and triglyceridemia (r = 0.239, P less than 0.05). After the same duration of dieting, those adults who became obese in early childhood lost as much from their initial body mass and fat as those who became obese in adulthood. A reducing diet produced a decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure in both groups, but was significant only in the latter. Therefore, the prevention of obesity and its consequences should begin in the intrauterine stage and be continued through early childhood, adolescence, and adulthood with dietary measures and increased physical activity.