Study of Oxidative Stress in Relation with Antioxidant Status in Chronic Bronchitis

Lipid peroxide plays an important role in inflammatory lung diseases. Increased epithelial permeability produced by cigarette smoke is likely to be mediated though depletion of the Total Antioxidant Capacity .Oxidative stress has been recognized as a central feature of smoke induced chronic bronchitis. Imbalance between oxidants and Total Anioxidant Capacity is also an established fact in these patients. 60 patients with chronic bronchitis included in the study. Their base line clinical examination, malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide, alpha tochopherol and Total Antioxidant Capacity were measured. 100 healthy non-smokers\u27 were served as controls. The mean malondialdehyde levels and nitric oxide in the patients at base line were higher than Controls (p<0.001). Plasma alpha-tocopherol and total antioxidant capacity were lower (p<0.001) in the patients compared to controls. The present study shows that initially the plasma lipid peroxide (MDA) levels were high and antioxidants. (alpha- tocopherol, total antioxidant capacity) were low in patients with chronic bronchitis. Our results suggest the presence of oxidative stress and decrease in total antioxidant capacity in chronic bronchitis

Occupational Lead Exposure In Automobile Workers In North Karnataka (India): Effect On Liver And Kidney Functions

We studied liver and kidney function tests of occupational lead exposed Automobile Workers (N = 30), and normal healthy control subjects (N = 30), all 20 to 45 years of age, from Bijapur, North Karnataka (India). Venous blood and random urine samples were collected from both groups. The blood lead [PbB] (364%) and urinary lead [PbU] (176%) levels were significantly increased in automobile workers as compared with the controls. Liver function test parameters, i.e. Serum Aspartate Transaminase [AST] (23.88%), Alanine Transaminase [ALT] (24.03%), Alkaline Phosphatase [ALP] (17.99%), Total Bilirubin (45.83%), and Gamma glutamyl Transferase [GGT] (44.75%) were significantly increased in automobile workers as compared with the control group. Serum total protein, albumin, globulin, and A/ G ratio were not significantly altered in study group as compared with control subjects. In the kidney function tests levels of blood urea (26%), serum uric acid (13.11%) and serum creatinine (12.5%) were significantly increased in automobile workers as compared to control group. Increased PbB values in study group indicate the greater rate of lead absorption and impairment of liver and kidney functions in occupational lead-exposed automobile workers from Bijapur, North Karnataka (India)