A b s t r a c tBackground: The balance of oxidant and antioxidant status plays a key role in the coronary artery diseases (CAD). Thiol is one of the most important antioxidant barriers in humans, and thiol/disulphide homeostasis is a novel oxidative stress marker. Aim:We aimed to investigate the relation of serum thiol levels and thiol/disulphide homeostasis with the presence and severity of CAD. Methods:A total of 161 patients who underwent coronary angiography owing to stable angina pectoris were consecutively enrolled. They were divided into three groups. Group I -47 age-and gender-matched subjects with normal coronary angiography (control); group II -71 newly diagnosed CAD patients with noncritical stenosis; and group III -43 newly diagnosed CAD patients with critical stenosis. Serum native thiol, total thiol, and disulphide levels were measured, and disulphide/thiol ratios were calculated. Gensini scores were calculated in CAD patients.Results: While the highest thiol levels were found in group I, the lowest one was observed in group III (p < 0.001). Total and native thiol levels were significantly lower in group II than in group I (p < 0.001 for each), but they increased considerably in group II compared with group III (p = 0.031 and p = 0.028, respectively). Disulphide levels decreased in group II and III compared with group I (p < 0.001 for each). No statistically significant changes were observed in disulphide/thiol ratios (p > 0.05). Gensini scores were negatively correlated with total and native thiols, and positively with age and dyslipidaemia.Stepwise linear regression analyses showed that native thiol was an independent predictor in the final model for Gensini score. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that thiol values of 310.7 or below could predict CAD with 89% sensitivity and 85% specificity (AUC = 0.918; 95% CI 0.870-0.965). Conclusions:While the disulphide/thiol ratio did not change significantly, decreased native thiol levels were associated with the presence and severity of CAD. This result indicates that the reduction of thiols may be an important factor in the development of CAD.

We found decreased PON-1, ARE activity and TAS, and increased TOS and OSI in children with ADHD. Our study showed that there is significantly increased oxidative stress in children with ADHD.

Sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) is a longevity factor in mammals initiating the cell survival mechanisms, and preventing ischemic injury in heart. In the etiopathogenesis of heart failure (HF), impairment in cardiomyocyte survival is a notable factor. Oxidative stress comprises a critical impact on cardiomyocyte lifespan in HF. The aim of the present study was to investigate SIRT1 expression in patients with compensated (cHF) and decompensated HF (dHF), and its correlation with oxidative stress. SIRT1 expression in peripheral leukocytes was examined using quantitative RT-PCR in 163 HF patients and 84 controls. Serum total oxidant status (TOS) and total antioxidant status (TAS) were measured via colorimetric assays, and oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated. Lipid parameters were also determined by routine laboratory methods. SIRT1 mRNA expression was significantly downregulated in HF with more robust decrease in dHF (p=0.002, control vs cHF; p<0.001, control vs dHF). Markedly increased oxidative stress defined as elevated TOS, OSI and low TAS levels were detected in HF patients comparing with the controls (TAS; p=0.010, control vs cHF, p=0.045 control vs dHF, TOS; p=0.004 control vs cHF; p<0.001 control vs dHF, OSI; p<0.001 for both comparisons, respectively). With SIRT1 expression levels, TAS, TOS, OSI, and high density lipoprotein levels in cHF and dHF were determined correlated. SIRT1 expression were significantly reduced in both HF subtypes, particularly in dHF. SIRT1 expression was correlated with the oxidant levels and antioxidant capacity. Data suggest that SIRT1 may have a significant contribution in regulation of oxidant/antioxidant balance in HF etiology and compensation status.

IntroductionA nationwide multicentre study was conducted to establish well-defined reference intervals (RIs) of haematological parameters for the Turkish population in consideration of sources of variation in reference values (RVs).Materials and methodsK2-EDTA whole blood samples (total of 3363) were collected from 12 laboratories. Sera were also collected for measurements of iron, UIBC, TIBC, and ferritin for use in the latent abnormal values exclusion (LAVE) method. The blood samples were analysed within 2 hours in each laboratory using Cell Dyn and Ruby (Abbott), LH780 (Beckman Coulter), or XT-2000i (Sysmex). A panel of freshly prepared blood from 40 healthy volunteers was measured in common to assess any analyser-dependent bias in the measurements. The SD ratio (SDR) based on ANOVA was used to judge the need for partitioning RVs. RIs were computed by the parametric method with/without applying the LAVE method.ResultsAnalyser-dependent bias was found for basophils (Bas), MCHC, RDW and MPV from the panel test results and thus those RIs were derived for each manufacturer. RIs were determined from all volunteers’ results for WBC, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, MCV, MCH and platelets. Gender-specific RIs were required for RBC, haemoglobin, haematocrit, iron, UIBC and ferritin. Region-specific RIs were required for RBC, haemoglobin, haematocrit, UIBC, and TIBC.ConclusionsWith the novel use of a freshly prepared blood panel, manufacturer-specific RIs’ were derived for Bas, Bas%, MCHC, RDW and MPV. Regional differences in RIs were observed among the 7 regions of Turkey, which may be attributed to nutritional or environmental factors, including altitude.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of lycopene (Lyc) on methotrexate (Mtx) induced liver toxicity in rats. METHODS: Twenty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four equal groups: control, Lyc, Mtx and Mtx-L: Control group: Rats were given only the vehicle. Lyc group: Rats were given Lyc (10 mg/kg) with corn oil by oral gavage for ten days. Mtx group: Rats were injected intraperitoneally with a single dose of 20 mg/kg of Mtx and given corn oil by oral gavage. Mtx-L group: Rats were post-treated with Lyc (10 mg/kg) for ten days after a single dose of Mtx (20 mg/kg). RESULTS: Mtx administration increased histopathological damage, TNF-α, IL-1β, TOS, TAS and OSI levels in tissues; AST, ALT levels in the blood. Sinusoidal dilatation, infl ammatory cell infi ltration and congestion were signifi cantly improved in the Mtx-L aon histopathologic examination of the rats. In Mtx-L group that were treated at the Lyc, TNF-α and IL-1β levels of liver tissue were decreased signifi cantly compared to Mtx group whereas the decrease in OSI was not signifi cant. Lyc treatment improved the AST and ALT values in Mtx-L group. But only AST improvement was signifi cant. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study revealed that Lyc might be useful in protecting the liver from injury due to Mtx in rats by reducing the increased proinfl ammatory cytokine levels (Tab. 4, Fig. 1, Ref. 44). Text in PDF www.elis.sk.