Influence of α-lipoic acid on morphology of organs of rabbits fed a high fat diet with the addition of oxidised rapeseed oil

Introduction: The aim of the study was to assess the influence of α-lipoic acid (ALA) on the morphology of the aorta and liver of rabbits fed high fat diet with addition of oxidised (ORO) and non-oxidised rapeseed oil (N-ORO)

Prognostic Value of the Modified Atherogenic Index of Plasma during Body Mass Reduction in Polish Obese/Overweight People

Although weight loss is recommended for obese patients, it remains questionable how much weight loss is optimal. A novel index that accurately determines the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in terms of weight loss is needed. The modified Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP), presented here is unique in the literature. It is calculated based on data for anti-atherogenic, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) fractions, instead of the total HDL-C. This study investigates whether weight loss correlates with CVD risk, and whether the modified AIP allows more accurate diagnostics in obese/overweight people. According to the increase or decrease of AIP during weight loss, 52 Polish patients were subdivided into two groups: group I (increased AIP; n = 16) and group II (decreased AIP; n = 36). The patients’ body mass composition and fasting serum lipid parameters (total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-C, and LDL-C (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol)), and cholesterol in 21 lipoprotein sub-fractions were determined. Over six months, all patients reduced their body mass by about 10%. There were no significant differences in anthropometric measures between groups. Increases in large and intermediate HDL-C fractions 1 to 6 and decreases in smaller fractions 7 to 10 were observed in group II. In group I, HDL-C fractions 1 and 10 decreased, while cholesterol in other fractions increased. Increases were observed in the antiatherogenic HDL-C of 52% of group II and 4% of group I. As for atherogenic HDL-C, a decrease of 24% was observed in group II and an increase of 9% in group I. In group I, increases of very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL), and large LDL fractions were noticed, and the reverse in group II. The results show that the modified AIP is a more accurate indicator of CVD risk than existing indices, and that uncontrolled weight reduction does not necessarily have a beneficial influence, and may adversely affect the cardiovascular system

Viscosupplementation for treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee

WSTĘP: Choroba zwyrodnieniowa stawów kolanowych (gonartroza – GA) należy do najczęstszych schorzeń narządu ruchu, a ból i ograniczenie ruchomości kolana są najdotkliwiej odbieranymi przez pacjentów objawami zmian zwyrodnieniowych. Celem pracy było sprawdzenie, czy podanie dostawowe preparatu kwasu hialuronowego wpływa na funkcje stawu kolanowego, wybrane parametry układu antyoksydacyjnego i natężenie stresu oksydacyjnego we krwi u pacjentów z gonartrozą. MATERIAŁ I METODY: Grupa badana 1K obejmowała 96 pacjentów z chorobą zwyrodnieniową stawu kolanowego, którym podano kwas hialuronowy do jednego stawu kolanowego, natomiast do grupy badanej 2K włączono 33 pacjentów, którym podano kwas hialuronowy do obu stawów kolanowych. Badanie prowadzono przez 40 tygodni według ustalonego protokołu. Oznaczono całkowity status oksydacyjny (TOS) osocza, zawartość grup sulfhydrylowych (SH) w surowicy, aktywność katalazy (CAT) w erytrocytach, aktywność dysmutazy ponadtlenkowej (SOD) w osoczu i erytrocytach, aktywność peroksydazy glutationowej (GPx) w erytrocytach. WYNIKI: Po leczeniu wiskosuplementacyjnym odnotowano zmniejszenie nasilenia bólu oraz poprawę w badanych skalach VAS i HHS, przy czym nieco większą poprawę stwierdzono w przypadku zajęcia jednego kolana. Po leczeniu dostawowym kwasem hialuronowym stwierdzono znamienny spadek aktywności SOD oraz CAT a wzrost aktywności GPx, wzrost stężenia grup SH w obu grupach oraz spadek stężenia TOS. WNIOSKI: Wiskosuplementacja w chorobie zwyrodnieniowej stawu kolanowego istotnie redukuje ból kolana i poprawia jego funkcje oraz wywołuje korzystne zmiany w układzie antyoksydacyjnym krwi. Efekt leczenia jest porównywalny zarówno w przypadku podawania preparatu kwasu hialuronowego do jednego, jaki i do obu stawów kolanowych.INTRODUCTION: Osteoarthritis of the knee (gonarthritis – GA) is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders. Pain and limitation of joint movement are the most constant and troublesome symptoms of the joint pathology. The aim of the study was to examine viscosupplementation therapy with hyaluronic acid. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 96 patients were administered hyaluronic acid unilaterally (the 1K group), while 33 patients were administered hyaluronic acid bilaterally (the 2K group) in a 40-day cycle. The stage of the disease was assessed based on medical history, physical examination and a questionnaire survey. Analysis of the following parameters was performed: serum level of sulfhydryl groups (SH), total oxidant status (TOS), catalase activities (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in erythrocytes and superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) in plasma and erythrocytes. RESULTS: Viscosupplementation resulted in pain reduction and improvement in the HHS score. The SOD and CAT activities were significantly decreased, while GPx activity as well as the SH level significantly increased in both the examined groups. In addition the TOS values significantly decreased. CONCLUSION: Viscosupplementation therapy with hyaluronic acid significantly reduces pain of the knee joint, improves its function and has a beneficial effect on the pro/antioxidant balance in the blood of patients diagnosed with GA. The effects of uni- and bilateral administration of hyaluronic acid are similar