The difference in oxidative stress of the blood between using 5% glucose water and distilled water as the irrigant for BPH patients undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate

Effects of intravascular laser irradiation of blood in mitochondria dysfunction and oxidative stress in adults with chronic spinal cord injury

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the clinical effects of intravascular laser irradiation of blood (ILIB) therapy on oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in subjects with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) resulting from trauma.

BACKGROUND DATA

Little is known about how ILIB may generate antioxidant defenses in humans, and there is still a lack of randomized, sham-control studies to indicate its influence on different metabolic pathways.

METHODS

Twenty-four chronic SCI subjects (assigned to a sham and a study group), and 12 normal subjects were recruited. The study group underwent 1 h daily of ILIB for 15 days over 3 weeks. The sham group underwent ILIB with no laser power.

RESULTS

Baseline measurements established higher oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in the SCI subjects than in the normal subjects. At day 15 of therapy, the study group revealed a significantly higher mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number, white blood cell adenosine triphosphate (WBC ATP) synthesis, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) with significantly reduced malondialdehyde (MDA), than did the sham group. The study group intragroup comparison revealed significantly increased mtDNA copy numbers, WBC ATP synthesis, and TAC, with significantly reduced MDA, compared with its baseline measurements. The sham group intragroup comparisons demonstrated no statistical differences. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in the study group was significantly reduced at days 10 and 15, with significantly higher high-density lipoprotein (HDL) at day 45.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study results contribute to the knowledge about the effectiveness of ILIB in alleviating oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in chronic SCI patients.

Mitochondrial DNA damage in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy patients and carriers

BACKGROUND

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage may be involved in the pathogenesis of spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA).

METHODS

We recruited 20 SBMA patients, 20 SBMA female carriers, and 20 normal age-matched subjects. Mitochondrial DNA damage in the 3 groups of subjects was evaluated using three novel mtDNA oxidative markers: mtDNA copy number, 4977 bp deletion of mtDNA (mtDNA4977) and oxidative modification of mtDNA index (mtDNA(DeltaCT)) in leukocytes.

RESULTS

Decreased leukocyte mtDNA copy number, increased mtDNA(DeltaCT) value, and increased frequency of mtDNA4977 which correspond to the number of CAG repeats in the mutated androgen receptor gene, were found not only in SBMA patients but also in female carriers.

CONCLUSIONS

Leukocyte mtDNA copy number, mtDNA(DeltaCT) and mtDNA4977 may serve as useful biomarkers of mtDNA damage and can be used to monitor SBMA disease progression.