Serum paraoxonase and arylesterase activities in patients with chronic otitis media

Is otitis media with effusion associated with oxidative stress? Evaluation of thiol/disulfide homeostasis

BACKGROUND

We evaluated the relationship between otitis media with effusion and thiol/disulfide homeostasis using a novel marker of oxidative stress.

METHODS

The study group consisted of 30 patients (mean age 8.33 ± 3.30 years) with bilateral otitis media with effusion admitted to our hospital. The control group consisted of 35 (mean age 7.40 ± 3.97 years) age-, sex-, and body mass index-matched healthy subjects. Thiol/disulfide homeostasis was measured using a newly developed method.

RESULTS

Native and total thiol levels were lower in the study than the control group (native thiols 421.37 ± 72 μmol/L vs. 464.46 ± 46.42 μmol/L, p < 0.05; total thiols 468.42 ± 77.89 μmol/L vs. 501.32 ± 50.30 μmol/L, respectively). Disulfide levels and the disulfide/native thiol and disulfide/total thiol ratios were higher in the study group (disulfides 23.56 ± 4.68 μmol/L vs. 18.43 ± 4.94 μmol/L; disulfide/native thiol ratio 5.65 ± 1.05 vs. 3.97 ± 1.03%; disulfide/total thiol ratio 5.06 ± 0.83 vs. 3.66 ± 0.88%, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Oxidative stress may be the major cause of the increase in oxidized thiols in patients with bilateral otitis media with effusion, however, this relationship requires further investigation.

The effect of melatonin and vitamin C treatment on the experimentally induced tympanosclerosis: study in rats

Introduction

The ethiopathogenesis of tympanosclerosis has not been completely under- stood yet. Recent studies have shown that free oxygen radicals are important in the formation of tympanosclerosis. Melatonin and Vitamin C are known to be a powerful antioxidant, interacts directly with Reactive Oxygen Species and controls free radical-mediated tissue damage.

Objective

To demonstrate the possible preventative effects of melatonin and Vitamin C on tympanosclerosis in rats by using histopathology and determination of total antioxidant status total antioxidant status.

Methods

Standard myringotomy and standard injury were performed in the middle ear of 24 rats. The animals were divided into three groups: Group 1 received melatonin, Group 2 received vitamin C, and Group 3 received saline solution.

Results

The mean values of total antioxidant status were similar in the all study groups before the treatment period. The mean values of total antioxidant status were significantly higher in the melatonin and vitamin C groups compared to control group but vitamin C with melatonin groups were similar after the treatment period (p < 0.001). Minimum and maximum wall thicknesses were lower in the melatonin and vitamin C groups compared to the control group but the differences were insignificant.

Conclusion

Melatonin increases total antioxidant status level and might have some effect on tympanosclerosis that develops after myringotomy.