Comparison of effects of quercetin and ascorbic acid on inflammatory cytokines and antioxidant biomarkers in infant rats using an experimental sepsis model.

OBJECTIVE: There is ongoing research on treatments that promote antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms, which will reduce mortality in sepsis. In this study, we compared the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of quercetin and ascorbic acid using a sepsis model induced in infant rats. METHODS: A total of 28 infant rats 21-days-old that had just completed the lactation period were divided into four groups: control, sepsis, sepsis + quercetin, and sepsis + ascorbic acid. The sepsis model was created with an intraperitoneal injection of bacterial lipopolysaccharide. After 24 hours, blood samples were collected for analysis of serum levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α, and CRP) and antioxidants (CAT, GPx, SOD, and GST). RESULTS: The superoxide dismutase levels were significantly higher in the sepsis + ascorbic acid group compared to the sepsis and sepsis + quercetin groups. The levels of the most active cytokines in sepsis were significantly lower in the serum samples of the septic subjects who received quercetin and ascorbic acid. CONCLUSION: The antioxidant activity, which is impaired in sepsis, was increased by both molecules. We observed that these two molecules, which are free of side effects, have a positive influence on the progression of sepsis to severe and fatal sepsis in childhood (Tab. 2, Ref. 38).

Is Biochemical Follow Up Possible in Peripheral Arterial Disease Treatment: Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1 Alpha?

PURPOSE: The hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1 is a dimeric protein complex that plays an integral role in the body's response to hypoxia. This study aimed to analyze the regulation of HIF-1α following vascular and/or endovascular surgery in peripheral arterial disease (PAD) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 40 patients with PAD (≥Rutherford category 3) were included in this prospective study. The mean age was 61.9±9.2 years. Open surgery was performed in 16 patients, and endovascular intervention was performed in 34 patients. At preoperative (T1), postoperative day 1 (T2), and month 3 (T3), the serum HIF-1α levels were checked using the ELISA technique. RESULTS: At T3, the ankle-brachial index was significantly higher than the preoperative value (P<0.001). Serum HIF-1α levels at T1, T2, and T3 were 2.0±1.7 ng/mL, 1.9±1.7 ng/mL, and 1.6±1.4 ng/mL, respectively. Serum HIF-1α levels between T1 and T3 and between T2 and T3 were significantly different (P<0.05). The preoperative HIF-1α levels were lowest in iliac lesions compared to femoropopliteal or tibial lesions. CONCLUSION: The HIF-1α levels were decreased in all patients on postoperative days, T2 and T3, compared with the preoperative values. Our results indicated that HIF-1α may be a surrogate marker after revascularization in patients with PAD. Further studies are needed to analyze the sensitivity, specificity, and cut-off values of HIF-1α in patients with PAD.