The goal of this study was to evaluate the role of oxidant-antioxidant balance in the pathogenesis of COPD. We included 30 healthy nonsmokers [24 male, 6 female; mean age (yr) +/- SD: 62.4 +/- 9.3], 30 healthy smokers [27 male, 3 female; mean age (yr) +/- SD: 58.7 +/- 6.0], 71 patients with stable COPD [68 male, 3 female; mean age (yr) +/- SD: 63.5 +/- 7.9], and 31 patients with COPD exacerbation [30 male, 1 female; mean age (yr) +/- SD: 64.2 +/- 7.3]. In all study groups the peripheral venous blood samples were taken for plasma malonyldialdehyde (MDA), a parameter of lipid peroxidation caused by the oxidants, and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD), an antioxidant enzyme. The mean plasma MDA level was higher in healthy smokers and in patients with COPD than in healthy nonsmokers (p < 0.05), and erythrocyte SOD enzyme activity in patients with COPD exacerbation (1048.2 +/- 226.5 Ug/Hb) was significantly higher than in healthy nonsmokers (947.9 +/- 198.0 Ug/Hb) (p < 0.05). Although mean erythrocyte SOD enzyme activity in healthy smokers and patients with stable COPD was higher than in healthy nonsmokers, the difference was not statistically significant. We found that healthy smokers and stable and exacerbated COPD patients had an impairment in oxidant-antioxidant balance. We suggested that new therapeutic interventions, which may repair the impaired oxidant-antioxidant balance in COPD, are needed to prevent the development of COPD.

Methyl methacrylate (MMA) is a monomer, commonly used in neurosurger y, orthopedic surgery, and in dental clinics. The adverse effects of this monomer are well described in the literature. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of MMA on nasal cavity, lung, and antioxidant status. For this purpose, two experimental groups of rats were exposed to MMA (at 1000 ppm, 6 h/day, 5 days/week for 4 weeks) by inhalation under poor (group A, n 12) and normal ventilation (group B, n 11) conditions. A control group (group C, n 10) received normal air. Degeneration of olfactory epithelium, bronchopneumonia , interstitial pneumonia , hemorrhage , atelectasis, edema, emphysema , and bronchial epithelial hyperplasia were observed in groups A and B. Emphysema was the most common lesion. Bronchopneumoni a with abscesses was only observed in group A. Glutathione levels were signi cantly decreased and malondialdehyd e levels were signi cantly increased in group A. No signi cant difference was observed in superoxide dismutase levels between the groups. The data presented indicate that before using MMA, adequat e protection systems should be in place to prevent occupationall y related MMA respiratory-tract injuries.

We investigated the oxidant-antioxidant balance and the effect of inhaled corticosteroids on this balance in mild stable asthmatics. Included in the study were 30 mild asthmatic patients (11 male, 19 female, mean age (year) +/- SD: 35.1 +/- 9.7) and 26 healthy adults (7 male, 19 female, mean age (year) +/- SD: 40.8 +/- 13.3). In all study groups, the peripheral venous blood samples were taken for plasma malonyldialdehyde (MDA), a parameter of lipid peroxidation caused by the oxidants, and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD), an antioxidant enzyme. The mean plasma MDA level was lower in the asthmatic group (5.7 +/- 1.2 nmol/ml) than in the healthy group (6.3 +/- 1.7 nmol/ml); and the mean erythrocyte SOD level was higher in asthmatic group (1086.4 +/- 247.4 U/gHb) than in the healthy group (1028.0 +/- 230.0 U/gHb). However, there were no significant differences in measurements of both plasma MDA levels and erythrocyte SOD enzyme activities between the groups (respectively, p = 0.1 and p = 0.4). When asthmatic patients were divided into subgroups as "inhaled steroid user" and "no inhaled steroid user", no significant differences were observed in the measurements of either plasma MDA level or erythrocyte SOD enzyme activity between the mentioned subgroups. According to the results of our study, we can say that oxidant-antioxidant balance is not significantly affected in mild asthmatics or measurement of plasma level of MDA and erythrocyte SOD enzyme activity is not sensitive to the oxidant-antioxidant balance in mild asthmatics.

No abstract

No abstract