Serum and urine malondialdehyde levels in NIDDM patients with and without hyperlipidemia

Malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of lipid peroxidation, was measured as thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) in 78 noninsulin-dependent diabetic patients, 38 hyperlipidemic patients, and 28 healthy subjects. Diabetic patients were divided into groups and subgroups according to the existence of hyperlipidemia and other complications. Serum and urine MDA concentrations were significantly higher in diabetic and nondiabetic patient groups than in the control group. By contrast to urine MDA level, serum MDA level was significantly higher in hyperlipidemic diabetics than that of normolipidemic diabetics. Serum MDA levels in the hyperlipidemic diabetic group and urine MDA levels in both diabetic groups were significantly higher than those in hyperlipidemic nondiabetic group. In both diabetic groups, the existence of complications didn't affect serum and urine MDA levels. No correlation existed between serum and urine MDA levels in both patient groups and control subjects. This study confirmed the existence of lipid peroxidation disorders in diabetic patients.     

The role of Coptidis Rhizoma extract in a renal ischemia–reperfusion model

The effect of Coptidis Rhizoma extract on ischemia–reperfusion in rats was examined. The blood levels of urea nitrogen and creatinine increased significantly more in rats subjected to 24-h reperfusion than those subjected to 6-h reperfusion following 1-h ischemia, indicating functional kidney damage was more severe after the longer reperfusion time. These parameters were reduced by oral administration of Coptidis Rhizoma extract. Greater activity was found in rats given the extract for 30 days than in rats given the extract for 10 days prior to ischemia–reperfusion. In addition, the serum malondialdehyde level was lower, while the glutathione/glutathione disulfide ratio and the activities of the antioxidation enzymes, superoxide dismutase and catalase, were higher in rats given Coptidis Rhizoma extract orally for 30 consecutive days prior to 1-h ischemia and 24-h reperfusion in comparison with control rats given water. These results indicate that Coptidis Rhizoma has a protective action against the renal dysfunction caused by the ischemia and reperfusion process. Furthermore, renal DNA of rats given Coptidis Rhizoma extract orally showed a significantly lower DNA fragmentation rate, which was dose-dependent, implying that the extract afforded the kidneys protection against oxidative stress-mediated apoptosis during the process and ameliorated renal function impairment.     

Carbon isotope discrimination function analysis and drought tolerance of stylo species grown under rain-fed environment

Limited germplasm and narrow genetic base in the past has hinders wider applicability of Stylosanthes in India. However, build up in Stylosanthes germplasm in recent years provided an opportunity to evaluate and use them under different agro-ecological situations preferably targeting drought tolerance. Rate reducing resistance (RRR) allo-tetraploid lines of S. scabra and diploid S. seabrana, a newly introduced species, observed well suited in hard and cracking soils under complete rainfed condition. Genotypes of S. scabra were more tolerant to drought over lines of other species as evidenced by high leaf thickness, more proline accumulation, contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), sugars, starch and chlorophyll and low carbon isotope discrimination (CID) values. Both in control and stress conditions, a positive relationship (r = 0.465 and 0.328) was observed between specific leaf area (SLA) and CID. Earlier reports have emphasized measurement of CID as an indirect way of measuring the transpiration efficiency (TE) in Stylosanthes (Thumma et al. Aust J Agr Res 49:1039–1045, 1998). The negative relationship observed between TE and CID suggested low CID bearing lines would have high TE, useful traits to select lines growing better in dry environments. Thus, selected lines having low CID provided better scope for the introduction of this important range legume for semi- arid regions of India.     

Characterization of antioxidant systems, oxidation status and lipids in brain of wild-caught size-class distributed Aristeus antennatus (Risso, 1816) Crustacea, Decapoda

The objectives of the study were to characterize the enzymic antioxidant system (free radical scavenging enzymes such as catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidases, glutathione transferase and glutathione reductase), dietary antioxidants (vitamin E), the oxidation status (malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and the fluorescence intensity of lipid-soluble fluorescent products (LSFP)) and lipid composition (lipid classes and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) as pro-oxidants) in neural tissues from males and females of wild-caught size-class distributed blue and red marine shrimp Aristeus antennatus (Risso, 1816), trawled off the south coast of Spain. Moreover, the mechanisms that may result in the deposition of age-pigments in relation to the physiological age of this species in its natural environment were investigated. Three different size classes were defined for males and four for females, and differences were observed for the different variables measured between sexes. The proportion of polar lipids (primarily phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine) predominated over that of neutral lipids, increasing significantly in males but decreasing in females. However, cerebrosides increased significantly from size–age class I to III in males but no significant differences were observed in females. The fatty acid composition showed increases in monounsaturated fatty acids (particularly 18:1 and 24:1 isomers) and dimethyl acetals, but decreases in PUFA (primarily 22:6(n-3)) with increasing size–age in both sexes. The concentration of MDA (nmol g⁻¹ brain) did not present any marked trend with size–age in both sexes. In contrast, fluorescence intensity showed increasing trends in both sexes with increasing size–age, when expressed as % fluorescence brain⁻¹ (λ_ex/em 350–445 nm and λ_ex/em 400–455). However, when expressed as % fluorescence mg⁻¹ brain total lipid, only males presented an upward trend with size–age (λ_ex/em 400–455). The concentration of vitamin E (ng mg⁻¹ brain) did not show significant differences between different size–age classes within the same sex and showed a molar ratio of one molecule of vitamin E per approximately 200 molecules of PUFA in brain membranes. The antioxidant enzyme activities showed clearer patterns with increasing size–age in males than in females, with catalase and glutathione transferase presenting downward trends and superoxide dismutase and total glutathione peroxidase showing upward trends. The fluorescence analysis of brain LSFP was not a useful tool to separate the population into different size–age classes, although the different patterns encountered between sexes for the variables measured points to males as better subjects for this type of study.     

Effect of carnitine administration on levels of lipid peroxides and activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase in isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in rats

The effect of carnitine administration on levels of lipid peroxide and activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase was studied in rats administered isoproterenol to induce myocardial infarction. Levels of fatty acid were lower in rats pretreated with carnitine at the peak period and given isoproterenol than the levels in isoproterenoltreated control rats. Lipid peroxides were decreased in the heart at peak infarction in carnitine-treated rats compared to the levels in isoproterenol-treated controls. Activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase showed no change in carnitine-treated animals given isoproterenol compared to those in normal control rats, while they decreased in animals treated with isoproterenol alone.     

The effect of redox signaling on extracellular matrix changes in diabetic wounds leading to amputation

Introduction& Objectives: Redox signaling is a critical regulator in the process of wound healing. This signaling pathway can be effective in the development or healing of diabetic ulcers through the ECM.In this study, the structure of extracellular matrix investigated in relation to redox signaling in the tissue of patients with diabetic ulcers that lead to organ amputation.Materials and methodsThe case-control design on diabetic patients ulcers as case group and non-diabetic limb ischemia as control were used.Hematoxylin-eosin, trichrome, and elastin staining methods were used for pathological evaluations of ECM. MDA, total thiol, and SOD levels were measured using ELISA kits to assess the oxidative stress level. Also, NO level was measured by using ELISA kits in both groups. Expression levels of genes MMP2, MMP9, and HIF were detected using real-time PCR with SYBR-green assay.ResultsThe pathological results showed an increase in the thickness of collagen and elastin fibers. Lipids atrophy was visible in the tissue isolated from the diabetic wound group. The amount of MAD to evaluate the level of lipid oxidation in patients with diabetic Ulcer was significantly higher than the control group(p < 0.01). Thiol level was significantly lower in the diabetic ulcer group than in the control group(p < 0.0001). The expression of metalloproteinases 2 and 9 genes in the tissues isolated from diabetic ulcers was lower than the control group(p < 0.0001). While the expression of the HIF gene in this group was higher than the control group(p < 0.0001).ConclutionIn the diabetic wound, the HIF secretion due to hypoxic conditions is beneficial for matrix deposition and prevents protease activity, but if the hypoxia persists, it can lead to ECM deposition subsequently increases the tissue pressure, increases of the collagen I-to-collagen III ratio in collagen accumulation that due to more hypoxia , lipidsAtrophy and eventually amputation.