Background/Aims: In experimental models of polycystic kidney disease impaired bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO) and elevated mRNA expression of oxidative stress markers at the kidney level was noted. However, clinical studies investigating the potential role of endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) are limited. We evaluated asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) as marker of NO synthase inhibitor as well as 15-F_2t-Isoprostane and oxidized-low density lipoprotein (oxidized-LDL) as measures of oxidative stress in patients with early stages ADPKD. Methods: We recruited 26 ADPKD patients (Group A) with modestly impaired renal function (eGFR 45-70 ml/min/1.73m²), 26 age- and sex-matched ADPKD patients (Group B) with relatively preserved renal function (eGFR)>70 ml/min/1.73m²), and 26 age- and sex-matched controls (Group C). Determination of circulating levels of ADMA, 15-F_2t-Isoprostane, oxidized-LDL and routine biochemistry was performed. Results: Group A and B had significantly higher ADMA levels as compared to controls (1.68±0.7 vs 0.51±0.2 μmol/l, P<0.001 and 1.26±0.7 vs 0.51±0.2 μmol/l, P<0.001, respectively). 15-F_2t-IsoP and oxidized-LDL levels were also significantly higher in Group B relative to controls (788.8±185.0 vs 383.1±86.0 pgr/ml, P<0.001 and 11.4±6.6 vs 6.4±2.6 EU/ml, P<0.05 respectively) and were further elevated in Group A. In correlation analysis, ADMA levels exhibited strong associations with levels of 15-F_2t-Isoprostane (r=0.811, P<0.001) and oxidized-LDL (r=0.788, P<0.001), whereas an inverse correlation was evident between ADMA and eGFR (r=-0.460, P<0.001). Conclusion: This study shows elevation in circulating levels of ADMA along with aggravation of oxidative stress from the early stages of ADPKD.

Background/Aims: Fast intravenous (i.v.) iron administration during hemodialysis (HD) is associated with the augmentation of oxidative stress and the increase in inflammatory biomarkers, which are also induced by the hemodialysis procedure itself. The aim of this study was to investigate if slow i.v. iron administration would aggravate the status of oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers during a hemodialysis session. Methods: Twenty dialysis patients 30–92 years of age that were iron replete and had values for hemoglobin, transferrin saturation and serum ferritin among recommended goals were evaluated in three separate hemodialysis sessions. In the first session patients did not receive any iron treatment, whereas during the second and the third session patients received slow (60 min) i.v. infusions of 100 mg of iron sucrose and 100 mg of iron dextran, respectively. Blood samples were drawn before the hemodialysis session, 15 min after the end of iron administration and at the end of the hemodialysis session in all occasions, for the measurement of markers of oxidant stress (oxidized LDL and ischemia-modified albumin) and inflammation (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α). Results: Oxidized LDL was not significantly altered during hemodialysis and this pattern was similar between the three occasions studied. In contrast, ischemia-modified albumin was significantly increased and this effect was also not different between the net hemodialysis and the occasions of iron administration. High-sensitivity CRP, IL-6 and TNF-α were all significantly elevated during hemodialysis and again both types of iron administration did not produce significant changes in this pattern. Conclusion: We did not find an increase in the markers of oxidation/inflammation studied, after slow i.v. iron administration during hemodialysis session.

Background: Over the last few decades, there has been a dramatic increase in hematological malignancies (HMs) in the population of Sardinia. It is accepted that oxidative stress biomarkers have been demonstrated to be prognostically important in various neoplastic diseases. The aim of this study is to evaluate serum vitamin E, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), Malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in 80 Sardinian patients with different HMs [acute myeloid leukemia (AML)(n=20), myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) (n=20), Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) (n=20) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) (n=20)] on the day of their diagnosis. Materials and Methods: Samples from all participants were obtained after an overnight fast (at least 10 hours). This study was approved and conducted in accordance with Good Clinical Practice guidelines and the Declaration of Helsinki. Patients and controls provided written, informed consent before entering the study. All study participants’ medical history and their medication were documented upon enrolling. Results: Lower levels of TAC and Vitamin E were observed in most of the studied groups compared to healthy controls (0.41-0.49 mmol/L vs. 0.56 mmol/L) (19.55-28.55 μmol/L vs. 34.51 μmol/L). Moreover, higher average MDA levels were observed in HL and NHL patients compared to healthy controls (16.6 ng/ml-17.8 ng/ml vs. 7.4 ng/ml). Additionally, the ROS values of all studied groups were found elevated. Serum TAC showed significant negative correlations with MDA values (R= -0.51; P<0.001). Statistical significance was observed in all hematological parameters, producing either positive or negative correlation with at least one OS biomarker. Conclusion: The present data suggest that Sardinian patients with HL and NHL on the day of their diagnosis presented the highest OS in comparison to AML and healthy subjects. Moreover, MDS patients presented high OS status. Likewise, our results also indicated that changes in their hematological indices are eminent of their oxidative and antioxidative status.

AIM:The purpose of this study was to report obesity status and identify any dietary substances that may be related to obesity in healthy school children from Northern Greece.METHODS:Four hundred and twenty-five (n = 425) children were randomly selected to participate in the study. A 24-h recall of three days (two weekdays and one weekend day) was used to analyze the dietary data of the subjects.RESULTS:Out of 425 subjects, 146 (34.3%) of them were found to be overweight and obese. Energy, protein, carbohydrate and thiamin intake was statistically positively correlated with obesity while dietary iron intake was statistically negatively correlated with obesity. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the children with dietary iron deficiency were 1.128 (95% CI: 0.002, 0.161 P < 0.031) times more likely of being obese compared to the normal group after adjustment for energy intake.CONCLUSIONS:Although most of the dietary intakes of our subjects were adequate, special consideration should be given to energy, carbohydrate, protein, and sugar and iron intake especially and its relation to obesity. Furthermore, additional studies are required to investigate any possible relation of low dietary iron consumption and obesity.

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