The evaluation of protective and mitigating effects of vitamin C against side effects induced by radioiodine therapy

The goal of this study was to evaluate the protective and mitigative effect of vitamin C on oxidative stress in differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients ablated with radioiodine. 58 DTC patients selected for radioactive iodine therapy (RAIT) with 5550 MBq ¹³¹Iodine were divided into four groups. Group 1 (control group) consisted of patients who underwent RAIT routinely. Other patients received 1500 mg vitamin C daily 2 days after (group 2), 2 days before to 2 days after (group 3) and 2 days before RAIT (group 4). Serum oxidative stress markers including malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured immediately before and 2 days after RAIT. A significant increase in MDA after RAIT was observed in all groups (p?<?0.05). The concentrations of MDA were significantly higher in the control group compared to the intervention groups (p?<?0.05). A significant decrease in the control group (p?<?0.05) and increase in group 4 (p?<?0.05) were observed in GSH level after RAIT (p?<?0.05). Mean variation of GSH was significant between control group with groups 3 (p?<?0.01) and 4 (p?<?0.01). The results indicate that activity of SOD remained unchanged in all groups (p?>?0.05). A significant increase was observed in CAT activity after RAIT in all groups (p?<?0.05), which was higher in control group than intervention groups. In groups 3 (p?<?0.05) and 4 (p?<?0.05), this increase in CAT activity was significantly lower than the control group. RAIT causes serum oxidative stress, which can be ameliorated using vitamin C as an antioxidant. These results indicate that radioprotective effect of vitamin C is preferable to its mitigative effect.     

Stimulation and inhibition effects of algae-lytic products from Bacillus cereus strain L7 on Anabaena flos-aquae

Alga-bacterium relationships between a Bacillus cereus strain L7 and Anabaena flos-aquae were studied based on the effects of the algicidal substances on algal growth indicators such as enzyme activity and membrane lipid peroxidation. When exposed to algae-lytic products at a concentration of 0.05?mg?mL^?1, chlorophyll a (Chla), protein and phycobiliprotein contents increased significantly (p?<?0.05); superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) activities and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations increased slightly to stimulate the algae growth. When exposed to algae-lytic products at a concentration of 0.5?mg?mL^?1, algae growth and composition were inhibited. Chla, protein and phycobiliprotein concentrations decreased significantly (p?<?0.05 for protein, p?<?0.01 for Chla and phycobiliprotein). MDA concentrations increased significantly (p?<?0.05). POD and CAT activities increased by approximately six and three times, respectively, in 24?h compared with the control, then decreased to the initial level in 4?days. Algae-lytic products have not only inhibition but also stimulation effects on A. flos-aquae. Such effects are associated with antioxidative/oxidative reactions as indicated by the biomarkers SOD, POD, CAT, and MDA.     

Skeletal muscle post-conditioning by diazoxide, anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic mechanisms

Pretreatment with diazoxide, K_ATP channel opener, increases tissue tolerance against ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury. In clinical settings pretreatment is rarely an option therefore we evaluated the effect of post-ischemic treatment with diazoxide on skeletal muscle IR injury. Rats were treated with either saline, diazoxide (K_ATP opener; 40?mg/kg) or 5-hydroxydecanoate (5-HD; mitochondrial K_ATP inhibitor; 40?mg/kg) after skeletal muscle ischemia (3?h) and reperfusion (6, 24 or 48?h). Tissue contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities, Bax and Bcl-2 protein expression and muscle histology were determined. Apoptosis was examined (24 and 48?h) after ischemia. IR induced severe histological damage, increased MDA content and Bax expression (24 and 48?h; p?<?0.01) and decreased CAT and SOD activities (6 and 24?h, p?<?0.01 and 48?h, p?<?0.05), with no significant effect on Bcl-2 expression. Diazoxide reversed IR effects on MDA (6 and 24?h; p?<?0.05), SOD (6 and 24?h; p?<?0.01) and CAT (6 and 48?h, p?<?0.05 and 24?h p?<?0.01) and tissue damage. Diazoxide also decreased Bax (24 and 48?h; p?<?0.05) and increased Bcl-2 protein expression (24 and 48?h; p?<?0.01). Post-ischemic treatment with 5-HD had no significant effect on IR injury. Number of apoptotic nuclei in IR and 5-HD treated groups significantly increased (p?<?0.001) while diazoxide decreased apoptosis (p?<?0.01). The results suggested that post-ischemic treatment with diazoxide decrease oxidative stress in acute phase which modulates expression of apoptotic proteins in the late phase of reperfusion injury. Involvement of KATP channels in this effect require further evaluations.     

A Comparative Study of the Oxidative Profile in Graves’ Disease, Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, and Papillary Thyroid Cancer

The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the oxidative profiles of three thyroid disorders: Graves’ disease (GD), Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT), and papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Malondialdehyde levels (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activities were examined in the plasma of 52 patients (29 untreated HT, 16 untreated GD, and 7 PTC who underwent surgical therapy). Results were compared with those of 30 healthy controls and among the three groups of patients. The GD, HT, and PTC patients exhibited increased plasma MDA levels and SOD activities compared with the controls (p?<?0.05, p?<?0.05, and p?<?0.001, respectively). CAT activities significantly increased only for the PTC and HT patients (p?<?0.001 and p?<?0.05, respectively), whereas GPx activities significantly decreased only in the GD and PTC (p?<?0.05 and p?<?0.01, respectively). The comparison among the three groups of patients has shown increased MDA level and SOD activity for the PTC patients as compared to the GD patients (p?<?0.01 and p?<?0.001, respectively). Compared with HT, PTC patients exhibited significant higher MDA level, SOD, and CAT activities and a significant lower GPx activity (p?<?0.01, p?<?0.001, p?<?0.05, and p?<?0.05, respectively). No significant discrepancies were noted between the GD and HT patients. Our results have clearly shown an oxidative profile that is highly disturbed for the PTC patients as compared to those of autoimmune disorders. Future studies are needed to determine whether or not the oxidative stress has a prognostic value in this pathology.     

Effects of Zinc on Interleukins and Antioxidant Enzyme Values in Psoriasis-Induced Mice

The effects of zinc chloride (ZnCl₂), disodium zinc ethylenediamine tetraacetate (Zn-EDTA), and zinc gluconate (Zn-GLU) on the antioxidant enzyme activities and levels of interleukins (ILs) in psoriasis-induced mice were studied. One hundred twenty female mice were randomly divided into six groups with 20 mice in each group: the control, positive control (PC), methotrexate (MTX), ZnCl₂, Zn-EDTA, and Zn-GLU groups. All animals except the control group were given diethylstilbestrol for three consecutive days. After successfully inducing psoriasis, the control and PC groups were given normal saline (i.g.) daily while the remaining groups were given MTX, ZnCl₂, Zn-EDTA, and Zn-GLU, respectively. The results revealed that the zinc supplementation could significantly (p?<?0.05) inhibit mitosis in the mouse vaginal epithelium as methotrexate did and the inhibiting efficacy had nothing to do with the zinc forms. After ZnCl₂, Zn-EDTA, and Zn-GLU supplementation, the levels of liver superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT) activities increased and the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) decreased significantly (p?<?0.05) compared to the PC group. The levels of SOD, CAT activity, and MDA level between each zinc supplementation group and MTX group were insignificant (p?>?0.05). The zinc treatments also caused a significant (p?<?0.05) decrease in the raised IL-2 level of animal serum. The results obtained in the present work indicate the potential for zinc as a complementary pharmaceutical intervention for the treatment of topical psoriasis.     

Determining immunoassay cutoff value using Western blot results to predict hepatitis C infection in blood donors with low-titer anti-HCV reactivity

Since the 1990s, blood donors have been scanned for anti-hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) antibodies, which can be defined by enzyme immunoassay as a screening test. In this population, false-reactive ratios have been high. Recently, some authors have aimed to find a cutoff value for anti-HCV different from those established by test manufacturers to predict HCV infection. In this study, 321 patients, after two repeating tests, had reactive results in s/co <10 titers on anti-HCV test. The patients were 29.6 % (n?=?95) in women and 70.4 % (n?=?226) in men. The patients were classified into three groups by Western blot (WB) results (PS, positive; NG, negative; and ID, indeterminate). The average anti-HCV titer of the whole group was 2.61?±?1.96. Anti-HCV titers of subgroups were 2.43?±?1.95 in NG, 4.93?±?2.53 in PS, and 2.50?±?1.65 in ID (p?<?0.001). There was a significant difference between NG and PS and between PS and ID subgroups (p?<?0.001). There was a positive correlation between WB and anti-HCV titers in all patients (r?=?0.298, p?<?0.001), in women (r?=?0.282, p?<?0.001), and in men (r?=?0.337, p?=?0.002). According to receiver operator characteristic curve analysis, the cutoff value of anti-HCV titer to predict hepatitis C infection was >2.61 s/co, with 74.1 % sensitivity and 71.6 % specificity (area under the curve, 0.820; 95 % confidence interval, 0.753 to 0.887). We suggest that an effective cutoff value for anti-HCV other than that established by the manufacturer cannot be assigned to predict hepatitis C infection for blood donors in low-prevalence areas.     

Serum Trace Element Levels in Tuberculous Pleurisy

In this study, copper, zinc, magnesium, manganese, selenium, and iron were measured by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrophotometry in patients with tuberculous (TB) pleurisy (n?=?24) and in the control group (n?=?20). Selenium, magnesium, and zinc were found to be significantly lower in TB pleurisy cases than those in the control group (p?<?0.01, p?<?0.001, and p?<?0.001, respectively). There was no significant difference in the value of manganese and iron between TB pleurisy and the control group (p?>?0.05). Copper levels were significantly increased in the serum of the patients (p?<?0.0001). These results may provide an additional disease correlate for assessing TB pleurisy risk.     

Thiamine deficiency induces oxidative stress in brain mitochondria of Mus musculus

The present investigation evaluates the changes in the levels of antioxidant enzymes, lipid peroxidation (LPO), and protein carbonyl content (PCC) in brain mitochondria following thiamine deficiency (TD). The study was carried out on Mus musculus allocated into three groups, namely control and thiamine-deficient group for 8 (TD 8) and 10 (TD 10) days. The LPO was measured in terms of reduced glutathione (GSH) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS). Antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were measured biochemically. A significant increase in the TBARS (p?<?0.0001) and PCC (p?<?0.001) levels in group II (TD 8) and group III (TD 10) animals was observed in comparison to controls. The GSH levels were found to be reduced in both the treated groups compared to the control. A significant reduction in the activities of SOD was also observed in group II (p?<?0.01) and group III (p?<?0.0001) animals in comparison to the control. Enzymatic activities of CAT (p?<?0.001) and GPx (p?<?0.05) were found to be significantly reduced in group III (TD 10) in comparison to the control. In conclusion, reduction in the activities of antioxidant enzymes as well as an increase in LPO and PCC following TD implies oxidative stress in brain mitochondria that may further leads to neurodegeneration.     

Mercury Transfer During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: Hair Mercury Concentrations as Biomarker

Hair mercury (HHg) concentration is a biomarker of exposure that is widely used to assess environmental contamination by fish methylmercury and neurodevelopment in children. In the Rio Madeira basin (Brazilian Amazon), total HHg concentrations in 649 mother–infant pairs were measured at birth (prenatal exposure) and after 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding; these mother–infant pairs were from high fish-eating communities (urban, n?=?232; rural, n?=?35; and Riverine, n?=?262) and low fish-eating tin-miner settlers (n?=?120). Differences in kinetics were seen between Hg exposure from fish consumption and environmental exposure to a tin-ore mining environment. Overall maternal HHg concentrations (at childbirth and after 6 months of lactation) were higher than those of infant HHg. However, the relative change in HHg after 6 months of lactation showed that mothers decreased HHg while infants increased HHg. The relative change showed a consistently higher increase for girls than boys with a statistical significance only in high fish-eating mothers. The correlation coefficients between maternal and newborn hair were high and statistically significant for mothers living in urban (r?=?0.66, p?<?0.001), rural (r?=?0.89, p?<?0.001), and Riverine (r?=?0.89, p?<?0.001) communities not for tin miner settlers (r?=?0.07, p?=?0.427). After 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding, correlation coefficients showed high correlation coefficients and statistical significance for all groups (urban, r?=?0.73, p?<?0.001; rural, r?=?0.88, p?<?0.001; Riverine, r?=?0.91, p?<?0.001) except for Tin miners (r?=??0.07, p?=?0.428). A linear model analysis was used to assess the longitudinal associations of maternal total HHg and total HHg at birth (0 days) and 6 months of age in exclusively breastfed infants. Regression analysis significantly predicted HHg in newborn from maternal HHg for high fish-eating maternal-infant pairs. Conclusion: The concentration of mercury accumulated in newborn tissues (in utero and during breastfeeding) relevant to both, maternal sources and infant exposure, can be reliably assessed from maternal hair.     

Protective effects of the nuclear factor kappa B inhibitor pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate in bladder ischemia–reperfusion injury in rats

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective effects of the NF-кB inhibition with pyrrolidine-dithiocarbamate (PDTC) in ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury in the rat bladder. Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley male rats were divided into three groups. Group I; (n = 8) control, group II; (n = 8) I/R group; group III (n = 8) I/R and PDTC treatment. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and gluatathione-S-transferase (GST) enzymes was studied in bladder tissue. Lipid peroxidation (as TBARS) levels in tissue homogenate were measured with thiobarbituric acid reaction. All the slides were stained with NF-кB, p53 and HSP60 immunohistochemistry for detection genome destruction and tissue stress, respectively. Our results show that the mean TBARS levels were significantly higher in group II (p < 0.05). The TBARS levels were significantly decreased in group III compared with the group II (p < 0.05). CAT, SOD and GST activities were decreased in group II, but these enzymes levels were significantly increased in group III according to the group II (p < 0.05). Under microscopic evaluation NF-кB expression increased significantly in group II compared to the group I (p < 0.05) and then decreased in group III (p < 0.05). HSP60 and p53 expression in group II was increased significantly compared with group I. Under microscopic evaluation we detected that HSP60 and p53 expression was increased significantly in group II compared with group I. In group III PDTC administration was decreased the HSP60 and p53 expression, this difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The results of the present study have demonstrated that NF-кB inhibition with PDTC protects and provides beneficial effects on ischemia/reperfusion stress related bladder tissue destruction.     

Effects of Extremely Low-Frequency Magnetic Field on Caspase Activities and Oxidative Stress Values in Rat Brain

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of extremely low-frequency magnetic field (ELF-MF) on apoptosis and oxidative stress values in the brain of rat. Rats were exposed to 100 and 500 µT ELF-MF, which are the safety standards of public and occupational exposure for 2 h/day for 10 months. Brain tissues were immunohistochemically stained for the active (cleaved) caspase-3 in order to measure the apoptotic index by a semi-quantitative scoring system. In addition, the levels of catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), total antioxidative capacity (TAC), total oxidant status (TOS), and oxidative stress index (OSI) were measured in rat brain. Final score of apoptosis and MPO activity were not significantly different between the groups. CAT activity decreased in both exposure groups (p?<?0.05), while TAC was found to be lower in ELF 500 group than those in ELF-100 and sham groups (p?<?0.05). MDA, TOS, and OSI values were found to be higher in ELF-500 group than those in ELF-100 and sham groups (p?<?0.05). In conclusion, apoptosis was not changed by long-term ELF-MF exposure, while both 100 and 500 µT ELF-MF exposure induced toxic effect in the rat brain by increasing oxidative stress and diminishing antioxidant defense system.     

Serum Trace Element Levels in Febrile Convulsion

Febrile convulsion is the most common disorder in childhood with good prognosis. There are different hypotheses about neurotransmitters and trace element changes in biological fluids which can have a role in pathogenesis of febrile convulsion. In this study, serum selenium, zinc, and copper were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry in the children with febrile convulsion (n?=?30) and in the control group (n?=?30). The age and sex of the subjects were registered. Selenium and zinc were found to be significantly lower in febrile convulsion cases than in the control group (p?<?0.0001 and p?<?0.0001, respectively). There was no significant difference in the value of copper between the two groups (p?=?0.16). While selenium and zinc levels were 44.92?±?10.93 μg/l and 66.13?±?18.97 μg/dl in febrile convulsion, they were found to be 62.98?±?9.80 μg/l and 107.87?±?28.79 μg/dl in healthy children. Meanwhile, copper levels were 146.40?±?23.51 μg/dl in the patients and 137.63?±?24.19 μg/dl in the control group, respectively. This study shows that selenium and zinc play an important role in the pathogenesis of febrile convulsion.     

Effect of Pineal Proteins at Different Dose Level on Fluoride-Induced Changes in Plasma Biochemicals and Blood Antioxidants Enzymes in Rats

Pineal glands secrets melatonin and various proteins and peptides which has many physiological functions. In keeping with this view, present experiment was conducted to know the effect of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) pineal proteins (PP) at different dose level on fluoride-induced changes in plasma biochemicals and blood antioxidants enzymes in female rats. For this, we took 30 adult female Wistar rats (133–145 g body weights, BW) and divided into five groups (control, group I; 150 ppm fluoride (F), group II; F+ 50 µg pineal proteins, group III; F+ 100 µg PP, group IV; F+ 200 µg PP, group V). We administered fluoride (150 ppm, drinking water) and F+ pineal proteins at 50, 100, and 200 µg/kg BW, i.p. daily for 21 days. Blood samples were collected at the end of the experiments to estimate plasma glucose, proteins, F, lipid peroxidation (LPO), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and acetyl cholinesterase (AChE) activity. Red blood cells (RBCs) were separated for analysis of LPO, AChE, catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione reductase (GR) in different groups of animals. Total plasma glucose and protein level did not significantly change in F-treated rats. Plasma ALP and F level were significantly (p?<?0.05) high in group II as compared with control and groups III, IV, and V. Administration of PP at different dose level significantly (p?<?0.05) reduced the F concentration and ALP activity. Plasma and RBCs AChE activity was significantly (p?<?0.05) reduced in F-treated animals as compared with control rats and significantly (p?<?0.05) elevated on exogenous administration of PP (groups III and IV). Plasma and RBCs LPO level was significantly (p?<?0.05) high in F-alone-treated rats, and PP caused significant (p?<?0.05) reduction of LPO in groups IV and V. However, PP treatment in group IV brought better amelioration of F-induced high LPO than in groups III and V. At no dose level, PP-ameliorated F-induced depression of RBCs GSH, CAT, GR, and GPx level. Interestingly, SOD activity was elevated in dose-dependent manner at different dose level of PP in groups III, IV, and V than control and F-administered rats. These findings clearly indicate the beneficial effects of buffalo pineal proteins on fluoride-induced adverse changes in certain plasma biochemical and blood antioxidant systems of rats. It further indicates that PP has dose-dependent ameliorative function against F-induced adverse effects in plasma and blood.     

Tobacco Smoke Exposure During Pregnancy Increases Maternal Blood Lead Levels Affecting Neonate Birth Weight

To assess the effect of lead exposure from cigarette smoke on fetal growth, blood lead concentrations were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in 150 healthy pregnant women. Mean lead concentrations in plasma and whole blood were significantly higher in the smoking group compared with the nonsmoking group in each trimester of pregnancy (p?<?0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed the highest impact of the number of cigarettes smoked per day for serum lead concentration (β?=?0.238; p?<?0.05), while in whole blood, it was duration of smoking before conception (β?=?0.297; p?<?0.001). Birth weight of the smoking mothers' infants was significantly lower (mean?±?SEM, 3,192?±?50.8 and 3,569?±?49.6 g, respectively; p?<?0.001) and negatively correlated with lead levels in plasma (r?=??0.38; p?<?0.001) and in whole blood (r?=??0.27; p?<?0.001). Therefore, it is suggested that smoking during pregnancy increases lead concentrations in maternal blood. Fetal exposure to low doses of lead in utero may be a serious risk factor causing lower birth weight.     

Selenium, Zinc, and Copper Plasma Levels in Patients with Schizophrenia: Relationship with Metabolic Risk Factors

The aim of this study was to determine the plasma selenium (Se), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) levels and to evaluate their possible association with metabolic syndrome (MetS) components in patients with schizophrenia. The study group consisted of 60 patients with schizophrenia and 60 sex- and age-matched healthy controls. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, and biochemical analysis of fasting blood were performed in all subjects. Patients with schizophrenia had significantly higher plasma Cu concentrations compared with controls (0.97?±?0.31 vs. 0.77?±?0.32 mg/L, p?=?0.001). The plasma Cu concentration showed a positive correlation with plasma glucose and diastolic blood pressure in the patient groups (r _s ?=?0.263, p?<?0.05 and r _s ?=?0.272, p?<?0.05, respectively). The plasma Se level correlated positive with MetS score (r _s ?=?0.385, p?<?0.01), waist circumference (r _s ?=?0.344, p?<?0.05), plasma glucose (r _s ?=?0.319, p?<?0.05), and triglyceride concentrations (r _s ?=?0.462, p?<?0.001) in patients with schizophrenia. Plasma Zn did not correlate with any of the MetS components. These results suggest that alterations in plasma Cu and Se levels in medicated patients with schizophrenia could be associated with metabolic risk factors.     

Leptin restores markers of female fertility in lipodystrophy

Objectives

Female reproductive dysfunction occurs in patients with pathological loss of adipose tissue, i.e. lipodystrophy (LD). However, mechanisms remain largely unclear and treatment effects of adipocyte-derived leptin have not been assessed in LD animals.

Blood Metals Concentration in Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetics

Mechanisms for the onset of diabetes and the development of diabetic complications remain under extensive investigations. One of these mechanisms is abnormal homeostasis of metals, as either deficiency or excess of metals, can contribute to certain diabetic outcomes. Therefore, this paper will report the blood levels of chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), selenium (Se), and zinc (Zn) in subjects with type 1 diabetes (n?=?192, mean age 48.8 years, mean disease duration 20.6 years), type 2 diabetes (n?=?68, mean age 68.4 years, mean disease duration 10.2 years), and in control subjects (n?=?59, mean age 57.2 years), and discuss the results indicating their possible role in diabetes. The metal concentrations were measured by sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry after microwave-induced acid digestion of blood samples. The accuracy was checked using a blood-based certified reference material, and recoveries of all elements were in the range of 92–101 % of certified values. Type 1 diabetes was found to be associated with Cr (p?=?0.02), Mn (p?<?0.001), Ni (p?<?0.001), Pb (p?=?0.02), and Zn (p?<?0.001) deficiency, and type 2 diabetes with Cr (p?=?0.014), Mn (p?<?0.001), and Ni (p?<?0.001) deficiency. These deficiencies were appreciated also subdividing the understudied patients for gender and age groups. Furthermore, in type 1 diabetes, there was a positive correlation between Pb and age (p?<?0.001, ρ?=?0.400) and Pb and BMI (p?<?0.001, ρ?=?0.309), while a negative correlation between Fe and age (p?=?0.002, ρ?=??0.218). In type 2 diabetes, there was a negative correlation between Fe and age (p?=?0.017, ρ?=??0.294) and Fe and BMI (p?=?0.026, ρ?=??0.301). Thus, these elements may play a role in both forms of diabetes and combined mineral supplementations could have beneficial effects.     

Effects of Copper and Zinc Supplementation on Weight Gain and Hematological Parameters in Pre-weaning Calves

Cow-calf operations may be affected by trace mineral deficiencies, particularly copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) deficiency, which may decrease the calf daily weight gain and alter hematological parameters. We evaluated the effect of Cu and Zn supplementation on pre-weaning calves (n?=?40; 92?±?6 kg initial body weight) from the Salado River basin, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Calves were divided into four groups (n?=?10 each) and subcutaneously administered 0.3 mg/kg Cu (Cu group), 1 mg/kg Zn (Zn group), Cu and Zn together (Cu + Zn group), and sterile saline solution (control group) every 40 days for 120 days. Plasma Cu and Zn concentrations, hematological parameters, and weight were recorded every 40 days. A completely randomized 2?×?2 factorial treatment design was used and data were analyzed with a mixed model for repeated measures over time. Cu and Zn were detected in plasma after the second sampling. Cu × Zn interaction was significant (p?=?0.09), being Cu concentration higher in the Cu + Zn than in the Cu group. Differences in weight gain (Zn × time interaction; p?<?0.01) were observed in the Zn but not in the Cu group (p?>?0.1). On the other hand, none of the treatments altered any of the hematological parameters assessed (p?>?0.1). Our results show the risk of lower weight gain due to Zn deficiency in pre-weaning calves raised in the Salado River basin.     

Evaluation of Selenium,Redox Status and Their Association with Plasma Amyloid/Tau in Alzheimer’s Disease

The aim of the study was to evaluate blood selenium and antioxidants as possible oxidative stress markers in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) along with amyloid β42 (Aβ42) and tau by comparing them with vascular dementia (VD) and age-matched healthy controls. Selenium, total tau, Aβ42, glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and the activities of antioxidant enzymes were analysed in the blood of AD patients (n?=?30), VD patients (n?=?35) and controls (n?=?40) from South India. Plasma Aβ42 level was significantly higher (P?<?0.001) in both AD and VD compared to controls. Total tau and tau-to-amyloid ratio were significantly lower in both AD and VD (P?<?0.001), compared to controls, and a significant difference (P?<?0.01 and P?<?0.05, respectively) was also observed between AD and VD. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve-derived cutoff values of <3.5 for tau-to-Aβ42 ratio and <520 pg/ml for total tau showed sensitivity and specificity of around 67–72 % for differentiating AD from VD and around 90 % for AD from controls, indicating that they could serve as reliable AD-specific markers. The MDA levels were significantly higher (P?<?0.001) in both dementia groups along with a significant decrease (P?<?0.001) in reduced GSH levels, indicating elevated oxidative stress and altered redox status in both forms of dementia. Selenium levels did not vary significantly between the three groups. The activity of glutathione peroxidase increased in both AD and VD compared to controls, with a concomitant decrease in glutathione reductase and glucose-6-phospate dehydrogenase (P?<?0.001) activity. The activity of thioredoxin reductase was significantly lower in both patient groups (P?<?0.001) compared to healthy controls. No correlation was observed between selenium and activities of selenoenzymes, tau, Aβ42 or tau-to-Aβ42 ratio, when analysing independently, indicating that blood selenium may not be directly involved in Aβ production and in regulating tau/Aβ42-mediated mechanism in AD. The present study emphasizes the enhanced oxidative stress in AD pathology and plasma tau and tau-to-amyloid ratio as possible markers to differentiate AD from VD. The study also points that blood selenium may not be involved in regulating oxidative stress in AD, and a longitudinal study correlating plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) selenium and selenoprotein levels is warranted.     

Oxidative damage and alterations in antioxidant enzyme activities in the kidneys of rat exposed to trichloroacetic acid: protective role of date palm fruit

In this study, we investigated the antioxidant and protective properties of date fruit aqueous extract (DFAE) on trichloroacetic acid (TCA)-induced nephrotoxicity in rat. Oral administration of TCA as drinking water (0.5 and 2 g/L) daily for 2 months caused nephrotoxicity as evident by elevated levels of plasma creatinine, urea, and uric acid. Activity of antioxidant enzymes, catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), was decreased, whereas superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) level were increased along with histopathological injuries. The oral administration of DFAE (4 mL/kg/day) to TCA-treated groups proved some significant correction by increasing the antioxidant activity of the CAT and GPx enzymes and normalizing the SOD activity and the MDA level (p?<?0.05). It also protected kidney's histology and normalized the functions of this organ. It could be concluded that DFAE has a protective role against TCA-induced oxidative stress in rat, thereby protecting the renal tissue from TCA-induced damage.