Pozytywne aspekty generowania reaktywnych form tlenu w organizmie człowieka

For aerobes including human, the oxygen is an indispensable element for life, but simultaneously at too high concentration this gas becomes toxic. On the physiological level, the appropriate concentration of oxygen which is the source of reactive oxygen species (ROS), is necessary for the proper functioning of the organism. O2 and its derivatives as free radicals influence the maintenance of homeostasis of the human organism by acting at a cellular level on repair, protective, and energetic mechanisms, and at an intercellular level on communication between neighbouring cells and tissues. In turn, excess or impaired removal of ROS lead to so-called ‘oxidative stress’ that is associated with the pathogenesis of many diseases - from cancers to neurodegenerative, autoimmune and infectious diseases. In the paper the significance of only physiological level of reactive oxygen species in the human organism was presented.Dla organizmów aerobowych, w tym człowieka, tlen jest pierwiastkiem niezbędnym do życia, ale równocześnie w zbyt wysokich jego stężeniach staje się toksyczny. Na poziomie fizjologicznym, odpowiednie stężenie tlenu i reaktywnych form tlenu (RFT), których jest źródłem, jest niezbędne do prawidłowego funkcjonowania organizmu. O2 i jego wolnorodnikowe pochodne wpływając na mechanizmy naprawcze, ochronne i energetyczne komórek oraz na komunikację między sąsiadującymi komórkami i tkankami, biorą udział w utrzymaniu homeostazy organizmu człowieka. Nadmiar RFT lub zaburzenia w ich usuwaniu prowadzą z kolei do tzw. stresu oksydacyjnego, który związany jest z patogenezą wielu chorób - od nowotworów, po choroby neurodegeneracyjne, autoimmunologiczne i infekcyjne. W pracy przedstawiono znaczenie wyłącznie fizjologicznego poziomu reaktywnych form tlenu w organizmie człowiek

Dietary folate intake and concentration of folate in serum and red blood cell in a group of female university students in Tehran, Iran

Adequate intake of folate has an important role in the prevention of nutritional anemia and other complications in childbearing age women. This study was undertaken to determine dietary folate intake and concentration of folate in serum and red blood cell (RBC) in female students of a medical university in Tehran, the capital of Iran.  In this cross sectional study, 346 female students were randomly selected from students' lists of eight schools at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran. Those who were interested and eligible participated in this study. For each student, questionnaires about general characteristics were completed. Dietary folate intake was assessed by 3 days food recall questionnaire. These data were analyzed by Food Processor (FP). Folate in serum and RBC were determined by Radio Immunoassay (RIA).  The results showed that mean age and body mass index in these students were 21.4±4.2 yrs and 22.2±3.2 kg/m2, respectively.  Mean of 3 days folate intake was 239.4±101.8 µg/d. The majority of subjects (93%) did not meet the reference dietary intake for folate. Mean serum folate levels in whole population was 7.8±3.6 ng/ml and RBC folate was 249.6±124.9 ng/ml. No correlation was found between folate concentrations in serum and RBC with folate intake from food. The result of this study showed that folate intake of students is very low. Therefore, appropriate intervention is necessary for adequate intake of folate.

Positive Effect of Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species on the Human Organism

For aerobes including human, the oxygen is an indispensable element for life, but simultaneously at too high concentration this gas becomes toxic. On the physiological level, the appropriate concentration of oxygen which is the source of reactive oxygen species (ROS), is necessary for the proper functioning of the organism. O2 and its derivatives as free radicals influence the maintenance of homeostasis of the human organism by acting at a cellular level on repair, protective, and energetic mechanisms, and at an intercellular level on communication between neighbouring cells and tissues. In turn, excess or impaired removal of ROS lead to so-called ‘oxidative stress’ that is associated with the pathogenesis of many diseases - from cancers to neurodegenerative, autoimmune and infectious diseases. In the paper the significance of only physiological level of reactive oxygen species in the human organism was presented.Dla organizmów aerobowych, w tym człowieka, tlen jest pierwiastkiem niezbędnym do życia, ale równocześnie w zbyt wysokich jego stężeniach staje się toksyczny. Na poziomie fizjologicznym, odpowiednie stężenie tlenu i reaktywnych form tlenu (RFT), których jest źródłem, jest niezbędne do prawidłowego funkcjonowania organizmu. O2 i jego wolnorodnikowe pochodne wpływając na mechanizmy naprawcze, ochronne i energetyczne komórek oraz na komunikację między sąsiadującymi komórkami i tkankami, biorą udział w utrzymaniu homeostazy organizmu człowieka. Nadmiar RFT lub zaburzenia w ich usuwaniu prowadzą z kolei do tzw. stresu oksydacyjnego, który związany jest z patogenezą wielu chorób - od nowotworów, po choroby neurodegeneracyjne, autoimmunologiczne i infekcyjne. W pracy przedstawiono znaczenie wyłącznie fizjologicznego poziomu reaktywnych form tlenu w organizmie człowiek

Mercury chloride-induced oxidative stress in human erythrocytes and the effect of vitamins C and E in vitro

Mercury can exist in the environment as metal, as monovalent and divalent salts and as organomercurials, one of the most important of which is mercuric chloride (HgCl2). It has been shown to induce oxidative stress in erythrocytes through the generation of free radicals and alteration of thecellular antioxidant defense system. The effect of simultaneous pretreatment with vitamins C and E on the toxicity of HgCl2 in human erythrocytes was evaluated. We examined the effect of several differentdoses of HgCl2 (1.052, 5.262, 10.524 M), or HgCl2 in combination with vitamin C (VC; 10 M) and vitamin E (VE; 30 M), on the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities in human erythrocytes in vitro. Erythrocytes were incubated under various treatment conditions (HgCl2 alone, vitamins alone, or HgCl2 plus vitamin) at 37°C for 60 min and the levels of MDA and SOD, CAT and GPx activities, were determined. Treatment with HgCl2 alone increased the levels of MDA and decreased SOD, CAT and GPx activities in erythrocytes (P < 0.05). VC and VE-pretreated erythrocytes showed a significant protection aganist thecytotoxic effects induced by HgCl2 on the studied parameters. There were no statistical differences among VC+VE-treated erythrocytes, as compared to non-treated control cells. These results indicated that the presence of vitamins at concentrations that are similar to the levels found in plasma could be able to ameliorate HgCl2-induced oxidative stress by decreasing lipid peroxidation and altering antioxidant defense system in erythrocytes

Lifestyle changes and risk factors for non-communicable chronic diseases and immune system of sedentary women

OBJETIVO: Observar os efeitos de dois meses de um programa de reeducação de hábitos sobre variáveis do sistema imunológico e de risco para doenças crônicas não transmissíveis e as associações destas entre si e com a composição corporal. MÉTODOS: Cinqüenta mulheres sedentárias, com idade de 36 anos (DP=10), e índice de massa corporal de 31kg/m² (DP=12) participaram do estudo. Foram avaliados a composição corporal (antropometria e bioimpedância), o hemograma, o perfil lipídico, as concentrações plasmáticas das vitaminas A, C, betacaroteno, do zinco, do ácido úrico e da glicemia. O treinamento consistia de circuito de peso ou caminhada por 1h, três vezes por semana no primeiro mês e 1h, quatro vezes por semana no segundo mês, mais reeducação alimentar. RESULTADOS: A gordura corporal, as concentrações plasmáticas do ácido úrico, do colesterol total e da lipoproteína de alta densidade foram significativamente reduzidas. Os triglicérides, a lipoproteína de baixa densidade e as variáveis do sistema imunológico não foram alterados. O zinco não foi associado a qualquer variável. Os glóbulos brancos, os linfócitos, as plaquetas e a vitamina C foram positivamente associados à gordura corporal e negativamente, quando divididos pela massa corporal (kg). O colesterol total e a lipoproteína de baixa densidade divididos pela concentração de vitamina A e do betacaroteno foram negativamente correlacionados à gordura corporal. A vitamina C teve a maior correlação com outros fatores bioquímicos de risco. CONCLUSÃO: Houve redução dos fatores de risco para doenças crônicas não transmissíveis, mas não nos marcadores do sistema imunológico. O aumento da gordura corporal foi associado negativamente aos marcadores do sistema imunológico e das vitaminas.OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to observe the effects of two months of a lifestyle-changing program on the immune system and risk of non-communicable chronic diseases and how they associate with each other and with body composition. METHODS: Fifty women aged 36 years (SD=10) with a mean body mass index of 31kg/m² (SD=12) participated in this study. The following data were investigated: body composition (by anthropometry and bioimpedance), complete blood count, lipid profile, plasma concentrations of vitamins A and C, beta-carotene, zinc, uric acid and glucose. The program consisted of circuit weight training or walking for 1 hour, three times per week during the first month and for 1 hour, four times per week during the second month and changes to their eating habits. RESULTS: There was a significant reduction in body fat and plasma concentrations of uric acid, total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein. Triglycerides, low density lipoprotein and immune system variables remained unchanged. Zinc was not associated with any variable. The leukocytes, lymphocytes, platelets and vitamin C were positively associated with body fat and negatively associated when divided by body mass (kg). Total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein divided by vitamin A and beta-carotene concentrations had a negative correlation with body fat. Vitamin C correlated the most with other biochemical risk factors. CONCLUSION: The risk factors for non-communicable chronic diseases reduced, but immune system markers remained unchanged. Increased body fat was negatively associated with immune system markers and vitamins

Effect of Mycophenolate Mofetil on Plasma Bioelements in Renal Transplant Recipients

The proper concentrations of plasma bioelements may favorably reduce the incidence of metabolic disorders, which often occur during immunosuppressive therapy. Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is currently one of the most frequently administered immunosuppressive agents; however, MMF treatment is often related to gastrointestinal side effects. The aim of this study was thus to verify whether the MMF treatment itself, or its metabolite pharmacokinetics, has an effect on the concentrations of plasma bioelements. To determine this, the effect of MMF on the levels of both major (sodium [Na], potassium [K], calcium [Ca], magnesium [Mg]), and trace (iron [Fe], zinc [Zn], copper [Cu]) plasma bioelements in 61 renal transplant recipients was assessed in comparison to a control group (n = 45). The pharmacokinetic parameters of mycophenolic acid were determined by the high-performance liquid chromatography method. All patients filled out a 24-h diet history questionnaire. The results showed high plasma concentrations of Fe and low plasma concentrations of Mg and Zn as compared with diagnostic norms. The patients treated with MMF had significantly lower plasma Na (P < 0.001) and significantly higher plasma Zn (P = 0.030) and Cu concentrations (P < 0.001). In conclusion, MMF treatment was found to affect plasma Fe, Zn, and Cu levels by increasing their concentrations while decreasing the plasma Na concentration. Mg and Zn deficiencies, as well as excessive Fe levels, are frequently observed irrespective of the immunosuppressive regimen applied, which suggests that monitoring of these bioelements may be favorable

Relationship between tobacco, cagA and vacA i1 virulence factors and bacterial load in patients infected by Helicobacter pylori

Background and Aim Several biological and epidemiological studies support a relationship between smoking and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) to increase the risk of pathology. However, there have been few studies on the potential synergistic association between specific cagA and vacA virulence factors and smoking in patients infected by Helicobacter pylori. We studied the relationship between smoking and cagA, vacA i1 virulence factors and bacterial load in H. pylori infected patients. Methods Biopsies of the gastric corpus and antrum from 155 consecutive patients in whom there was clinical suspicion of infection by H. pylori were processed. In 106 patients H. pylori infection was detected. Molecular methods were used to quantify the number of microorganisms and presence of cagA and vacA i1 genes. A standardized questionnaire was used to obtain patients’ clinical data and lifestyle variables, including tobacco and alcohol consumption. Adjusted Odds Ratios (ORadjusted) were estimated by unconditional logistic regression. Results cagA was significantly associated with active-smoking at endoscope: ORadjusted 4.52. Evidence of association was found for vacA i1 (ORadjusted 3.15). Bacterial load was higher in active-smokers, although these differences did not yield statistical significance (median of 262.2 versus 79.4 copies of H. pylori per cell). Conclusions The association between smoking and a higher risk of being infected by a virulent bacterial population and with higher bacterial load, support a complex interaction between H. pylori infection and environmental factors

Involvement of Oxidative Stress in Cardiovascular Diseases

Many research studies support the evidence that free radicals stress is involved in the pathogenesis of many diseases in human and animals. The current review aimed to throw the light on sources of free radicals in the cardiovascular system, involvement of oxidative stress in cardiovascular diseases and the role of the antioxidants in alleviating the damage produced by oxidative stress

Hranidbeni čimbenici kao podrška imunom odgovoru u životinja

The immune system in animals and in humans as well, is a “specific network of specialized organs, tissues and cells” and different intrinsic biochemical substances that protect the host organism against invasions and unfavourable effects of pathogenic microorganisms. It plays the essential role in maintaining the resistance to disease. It is also known that some groups of specific nutrients can affect, positively or negatively the immune response of animals. In present review some connections between nutrition and immune response will be discussed.Imuni sustav u životinja kao i u ljudi je "specifična mreža specijaliziranih organa, tkiva i stanica" te različitih važnih biokemijskih tvari koje štite organizam domaćina od napada i nepovoljnog djelovanja patogenih mikroorganizama. On ima bitnu ulogu u održavanju otpornosti na bolesti. Isto tako je poznato da neke skupine hranjivih tvari mogu djelovati pozitivno ili negativno na imuni odgovor životinja. U ovom radu raspravlja se o povezanosti između hranjivih tvari i imunog odgovora