Increased serum concentrations of conjugated diens and malondialdehyde in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis

Lymphatic filariasis: possible pathophysiological nexus with oxidative stress

Wuchereria bancrofti-mediated lymphatic filariasis is widely prevalent. Diversity in immune response presumably may lead to myriad clinical presentations, such as overt chronic filariasis, occult filariasis with atypical systemic manifestation and asymptomatic microfilariae carrier state. Anticipated oxidative stress during inflammatory response to infective conditions might complicate the immune response and thus might alter the disease outcome. The present study was carried out to assess the status of oxidative stress in different clinical presentations of bancroftian filariasis. Twenty-five microfilariae carriers and 30 cases each of chronic filariasis and occult filariasis were compared to 30 endemic normal individuals. Serum malondialdehyde level and superoxide dismutase enzyme activity were measured by spectrophotometric methods and levels of filarial antigen were measured by ELISA. In the filarial cases, the levels of these parameters were assayed again after treatment with diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC). Results showed significant (P<0.05) association of oxidative stress with chronic and occult filariasis but not with microfilarial carriers. DEC therapy in both clinical cases and carriers resulted in a significant reduction of oxidative stress associated with decreased antigen level (P<0.01). These findings suggest the possible involvement of oxidative stress in filarial disease pathology.

Antihyperglycemic and antilipidperoxidative effects of Pongamia pinnata (Linn.) Pierre flowers in alloxan induced diabetic rats

Our aim was to evaluate the antihyperglycemic and antilipid peroxidative effect of ethanolic extract of Pongamia pinnata (Linn.) Pierre (Leguminosae) flowers (PpEt) in normal rats and alloxan induced diabetic rats. Hyperglycemia, elevated lipid peroxidation [thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS)] and disturbed nonenzymatic [Vitamin E, Vitamin C and glutathione] and enzymatic antioxidants status were noticed in alloxan induced diabetic rats. The oral administration of ethanolic extract of Pongamia pinnata flowers (300 mg/kg bw) showed significant antihyperglycemic, and antilipidperoxidative effects and enhancement in antioxidants defense system in alloxan induced diabetic rats. However, no significant characteristic changes were noticed in blood glucose level as well as in lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status in normal rats treated with "PpEt" alone. We have also observed that the "PpEt" considerably reduced the blood glucose concentration in a similar extent to that of the reference drug glibenclamide (600 microg/kg bw) in alloxan induced diabetic rats. Our results thus suggested that the "PpEt" could be used as a safe alternative antihyperglycemic drug for diabetic patients.

A New Parameter in the Detection of Tuberculosis Activity: Reactive Oxygen Metabolites

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

In countries with a high frequency of tuberculosis, there are problems not only with active lung tuberculosis but also with past lung tuberculosis. Cases with sequel tuberculosis very frequently present with complaints like tuberculosis, and it is very hard to determine whether it is a sequel tuberculosis complication or reactivation of tuberculosis. In this study, we measured the serum reactive oxygen metabolite (ROM) levels of patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis and healthy controls, and investigated if these metabolites can be used as a criterion for differentiation between active pulmonary tuberculosis and sequel pulmonary tuberculosis.

METHODS

40 patients with active tuberculosis, 35 patients with sequel pulmonary tuberculosis and 30 healthy control subjects with a similar age range and sex distribution were included in the study. Serum total ROM levels were detected in the patients and control group.

RESULTS

Mean serum ROM values were 994+/-236, 551+/-135 and 236+/-59 U/l among active lung tuberculosis cases, sequel lung tuberculosis cases and the healthy control group, respectively. As a result of these findings, serum ROM levels of active lung tuberculosis cases and sequel lung tuberculosis cases were significantly higher than those of the control group (both p<0.001). The serum ROM levels of active lung tuberculosis cases were also significantly higher than those of sequel lung tuberculosis cases (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

In the light of our findings, it may be assumed that serum total ROM values can be used as an activity criterion in the differentiation of active lung tuberculosis and sequel lung tuberculosis.

Melatonin prevents the free radical and MADD metabolic profiles induced by antituberculosis drugs in an animal model

The objective was to determine the effect of combined antituberculosis (anti-TB) drug therapy and an antioxidant, melatonin, on the free radical and organic acid profiles in an experimental rat model. A combined anti-TB drug, Rifater, consisting of 12.0 mg rifampicin, 0.8 mg isoniazid, and 23.0 mg pyrazinamide and 18.56 microg melatonin/kg body weight per day (corresponding to average physiological human intake) were orally administered to Sprague-Dawley rats. Hydroxyl radical production was monitored by quantifying 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid produced after intraperitonial sodium salicylate injections. Organic acid extractions and gas chromatography-coupled mass spectrometry analyses were performed on collected urine samples. The results show hydroxyl radicals (P = 0.0019) and organic acids (P-value range: 0.037 to <0.001), characteristic of a multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase defect (MADD), were elevated with Rifater treatment and these elevations were significantly lowered with melatonin pretreatment (P-value range: 0.031 to <0.001), probably because of its inherent antioxidant activity. We conclude that hydroxyl radical production and an increased organic acid profile induced by anti-TB medication indicates inhibition of the electron transport chain. We also conclude that free radicals leading to clinical symptoms associated with an MADD metabolic profile induced by anti-TB treatment could be alleviated by melatonin intervention.

Elevated exhalation of hydrogen peroxide and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in patients with community acquired pneumonia

BACKGROUND

Bacterial pneumonia involves influx of activated phagocytes into distal airways. These cells release oxidants including H2O2, that may be exhaled or induce peroxidative damage to lung tissues with formation of thiobarbituric reactive substances (TBARs).

STUDY OBJECTIVES

To determine whether concentrations of H2O2 and TBARs in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) is elevated and correlate with systemic response to pneumonia during 10 days of hospital treatment.

DESIGN

The concentration of H2O2 and TBARs was measured in EBC of 43 inpatients with community acquired pneumonia (CAP) and 20 healthy never smoked subjects over 10 days and were accompanied by monitoring of WBC count, serum concentration of C-reactive protein (CRP) and peroxyl radical-trapping capacity.

RESULTS

Patients with CAP exhaled 4.6-, 3.7-, 3.9-, 3.3-times more H2O2 than healthy controls at 1st, 3rd, 5th and 10th day of treatment (P<0.05), respectively. EBC concentrations of TBARs were elevated at 1st and 3rd day. H2O2 and TBARs levels decreased along with treatment course. Correlation (P<0.05) was found between H2O2 levels and CRP and WBC count (r = 0.31) at 1st day and between TBARs and CRP at 5th (r = 0.34) and 10th day (r = 0.46). The mean H2O2 exhalation estimated over ten days of treatment correlated with pneumonic chest X-ray score (r = 0.42), CRP levels (r = 0.46) and WBC count (r = 0.33) at admission (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Pneumonia is accompanied by oxidative stress in airways that moderately correlates with intensity of systemic inflammatory response. Determination of H2O2 in EBC may be helpful for non-invasive monitoring of oxidants production during lower respiratory tract infection.

Measurement of erythrocyte lipids, lipid peroxidation, antioxidants and osmotic fragility in cervical cancer patients

BACKGROUND

Our aim was to examine the structural integrity of red blood cells in cervical cancer patients by measuring the concentrations of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), antioxidant status, cholesterol/phospholipid (C/P) molar ratio, enzyme activity and osmotic fragility of erythrocytes.

METHODS

This study has been conducted on 32 adult female cervical cancer patients and an equal number of age- and sex-matched normal subjects. Erythrocyte concentrations of lipids, TBARS, vitamin E, reduced glutathione and enzymic activities of catalase and Na(+)K(+)-ATPase were measured as well as plasma concentrations of sodium and potassium. The present study also examined the changes in erythrocyte osmotic fragility in cervical cancer patients and normal subjects. The red cell fluidity and permeability were determined by estimating the C/P ratio and Na(+)K(+)-ATPase activity, respectively.

RESULTS

The release of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances was significantly higher in cervical cancer patients as compared to normal subjects. The increased lipid peroxidation with concomitant decrease in antioxidants was notable in cervical cancer patients. Red blood cells of cervical cancer patients were more fragile than those from normal subjects. Increase in red cell membrane C/P ratio and Na(+)K(+)-ATPase activity was noticed in cervical cancer patients as compared to normal subjects.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased lipid peroxidation, insufficient antioxidant potential and changes in C/P molar ratio as well as activity of Na(+)K(+)-ATPase cause structural and functional abnormalities in the erythrocytes of cervical cancer patients.

Protective effect of green tea extract against the erythrocytic oxidative stress injury during mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in mice

The present study has been undertaken to monitor the extent of oxidative stress in mice infected with M tuberculosis and the role of crude green tea extract in repairing the oxidative damage. The mice were divided into three groups of 9 each; normal, infected-untreated and infected-treated. The infected group of animals exhibited significant enhancement of erythrocytic catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities along with elevated levels of erythrocytic total thiols and plasma lipid peroxidation as compared to normal animals. The infected group also exhibited significantly decreased activity of superoxide dismutase and levels of glutathione in erythrocytes. Upon oral administration of green tea extract for seven days the oxidative stress parameters were reverted back to near normal levels as evidenced by a fall in catalase, glutathione peroxidase, total thiol and extent of lipid peroxidation with concomitant increase in the levels of SOD and reduced glutathione in infected animals. The findings thus, portray that there is a high oxidative stress during early stages of tuberculosis and antioxidants such as green tea extract, can play a vital role by reducing stress through adjuvant therapy.

Interleukin-1beta and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) levels after phase I periodontal therapy in patients with chronic periodontitis

BACKGROUND

Interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), a potent stimulator of bone resorption, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of periodontal tissue destruction. There is also a clearly defined and substantial role for free radicals or reactive oxygen species in periodontal destruction. The thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) is a commonly applied test to measure free radical activity. The aims of this study were to investigate the amount of crevicular IL-1beta, tissue TBARS levels, and the clinical status of patients with advanced chronic periodontitis and the effect of phase I periodontal therapy on these clinical parameters and measurements.

METHODS

Twenty-five chronic periodontitis and 25 healthy control (C) patients were selected for the study. Plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), probing depth (PD), and clinical attachment level (CAL) were recorded from each sampling area. Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) sampling and clinical index scores were recorded at the initial examination (IE) and 6 weeks after phase I periodontal therapy (APT). Assays for GCF IL-1beta were carried out by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Gingival tissue samples were obtained from sites requiring periodontal flap surgery due to unresolved pockets to determine the tissue TBARS levels. The paired-samples t test was used to compare the IL-1beta levels and clinical parameters between IE and APT. The independent-samples t test was used to determine the significance of all parameters between IE and C, and between APT and C. The correlation among the IL-1beta levels, clinical parameters, and tissue TBARS levels was analyzed using the Pearson correlation.

RESULTS

The concentration of IL-1beta levels was not statistically different among IE, APT, and C groups, but the total amount of IL-1beta levels was statistically different among the 3 groups. While the levels of IL-1beta and the clinical parameters were reduced following phase I periodontal treatment, pretreatment IL-1beta, post-treatment IL-1beta, and TBARS levels were statistically higher in IE and APT groups than C specimens. Tissue TBARS levels in the APT group were statistically greater than controls. No correlations were noted between tissue TBARS levels and clinical parameters in the APT group. A positive statistical correlation was detected between the total IL-1beta and TBARS levels in the APT group.

CONCLUSION

These data suggest that the levels of crevicular IL-1beta and gingival tissue TBARS are closely associated with periodontal status. This relationship may be valuable in treating and monitoring periodontal disease progression.