No abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the antioxidative Cu/Zn-SOD (superoxide dismutase) response to obesity-related stress in obese children compared to a similar-aged control group. Forty-eight exogenic obese children and 11 healthy children were compared for red cell Cu/Zn-SOD, glucose, and lipid profiles and the relations between them were investigated. Antioxidant response as Cu/Zn-SOD was significantly higher in the obese group (p<0.05). Although glucose and lipid levels were statistically higher in the obese group, a certain relation with the SOD level was not established in childhood. This is the first study showing the oxidative stress caused by obesity and related antioxidative response even in the childhood period. Interventions, including diet modifications, should be kept in mind to diminish the obesity-related oxidative stress from the childhood period.

We studied the effects of L-carnitine on left ventricular systolic function and the erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity in 51 patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy. They all previously were under the treatment of angiotensin-converting enzyme Ž . inhibitor, digitalis and diuretics. Patients were randomized into two groups. In group I n s 31 , 2 grday L-carnitine was added Ž . Ž . to therapy. L-Carnitine was not given to the other 20 patients Group II . In group I mean age 64.3" 7.8 years , 27 of the Ž . patients were men, and four were women. In group II mean age 66.2" 8.7 years , 17 of the patients were men, and three were Ž . women. Twenty age-matched healthy subjects mean age: 60.1" 5.3 years constituted the control group. In each group, left Ž . ventricular ejection fraction LVEF by echocardiography and red cell superoxide dismutase activity by spectrophotometric Ž . method were measured initially and after 1 month of randomisation. Compared with normal healthy subjects n s 20 , patients Ž . Ž . ns51 had significantly higher red cell SOD activity 5633" 1225 vs. 3202 " 373 Urg Hb, P -0.001 . At the end of 1 month Ž . of L-carnitine therapy, red cell SOD activity showed an increase in group I 5918 " 1448 to 7218 " 1917 Urg Hb, P-0.05 . In Ž group II, red cell SOD activity showed no significant change after 1 month of randomisation 5190" 545 to 5234 " 487 Urg . Ž Hb, P s 0.256 . One month after randomisation there was a significant increase in LVEF in both groups I and II 37.8᎐42.3%, . P-0.001 in group I; 41.5᎐43.8%, P -0.001 in group II . The improvement in LVEF was more significant in the L-carnitine Ž . group 4.5% vs. 2.3%, P-0.01 . We conclude that, as a sign of increased free radical production, superoxide dismutase activity was further increased in patients with L-carnitine treatment. L-Carnitine treatment in combination with other traditional pharmacological therapy might have an additive effect for the improvement of left ventricular function in ischemic cardiomyopathy. ᮊ

Although the inguinal hernia is among the most commonly encountered and well-described health problems all over the world, the etiology is still controversial. The aim of this study was to compare the plasma and hernia sac tissue copper levels in direct and indirect inguinal hernia patients. Plasma and hernia sac tissue copper levels obtained from patients operated under spinal anesthesia with primary direct (group I, n = 55, 45 male, mean age = 45.68 yr) and indirect (group II, n = 55, 40 male, mean age = 38.57 yr) hernias were detected by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Significantly lower plasma and hernia sac tissue copper levels were detected in group I in comparison to group II (p < 0.001). Both plasma and hernia sac tissue copper levels were significantly lower in males when we compare the patients according to their sex characteristics, including both direct and indirect hernia groups (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). Age was not a significant factor. The plasma and hernia sac tissue copper levels were significantly lower in direct hernia patients in comparison to indirect hernia patients. Copper is a cofactor of lysyl oxidase, an important enzyme in collagen tissue metabolism, so there might be a defect in the collagen synthesis of direct hernia patients because of the decreased activity of the lysyl oxidase. Further investigations are necessary to clarify this concept.

Subacute boric acid exposure caused dose-dependent histopathological changes in kidney tissue.