The time course of serum malondialdehyde levels in burned humans

LIPID PEROXIDATION IN PATIENTS WITH BRAIN TUMOR

Molecular and genetic signatures may predict brain tumor behavior and may soon guide tumor classification, diagnosis, and tumor-specific treatment strategies. Free oxygen radicals (FOR) are thought to take part in oncogenesis and cellular differentiation. This article explored the state of FORs and antioxidant system in patients with cerebral tumor. The serum concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) enzyme activities were measured in the serum of 35 patients with cerebral tumors (21 glioma, 14 meningioma) and 11 controls. MDA measurement was done with fluorometric method and catalase and GSH-Px enzyme activities were done with photometric method. Mean serum MDA levels, catalase, and GSH-Px enzyme activities were significantly higher for both glial and meningiomal tumor cases when compared to controls (p < .05). There is no significant difference between glioma and meningioma groups in terms of the aforementioned parameters (p > .05). In conclusion, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes as assessed by MDA, catalase, and GSH-Px were increased in patients with brain tumors, for this respect there is no difference between gliomas and meningiomas.

Serum enzymes in thermal injury

Various metabolic and biological changes follow burn injury. Serum Thio-barbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), transaminases, alkaline phosphatase and amylase were measured in 43 patients with thermal injury over the first 10 days of post burn period. No clear correlation between elevated serum enzymes except amylase and the burn size was observed on admission. Mean serum TBARS were significantly increased in the burn patients. Transaminases values increased till 5(th) day then declined on 10(th) day, whereas alkaline phosphatase and amylase activities continued to rise till day 10. It is concluded that functional disturbances occur in liver and pancreas around a week after thermal injury. Monitoring serum ALP and amylase in postburn period has valuable prognostic importance.