Studies on the biological effects of ozone: 8. Effects on the total antioxidant status and on interleukin-8 production.

Ozone (O3) is a controversial gas because, owing to its potent oxidant properties, it exerts damaging effects on the respiratory tract and yet it has been used for four decades as a therapy. While the disinfectant activity of O3 is understandable, it is less clear how other biological effects can be elicited in human blood with practically no toxicity. On the other hand plasma and cells are endowed with a powerful antioxidant system so that a fairly wide range of O3 concentrations between 40 and 80 microg/ml per gram of blood (approximately 0.83-1.66 mM) are effective but not deleterious. After blood ozonation total antioxidant status (TAS) and plasma protein thiol groups (PTG) decrease by 20% and 25%, respectively, while thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) increases up to five-fold. The increase of haemolysis is negligible suggesting that the erythrocyte membrane is spared at the expense of other sacrificial substrates. While there is a clear relationship between the ozone dose and IL-8 levels, we have noticed that high TAS and PTG values inhibit the cytokine production. This is in line with the current idea that hydrogen peroxide, as a byproduct of O3 decomposition, acts as a messenger for the cytokine induction

Effects of acute cigarette smoke exposure on macrophage kinetics and release of tumour necrosis factor α in rats

Some biological parameters before and after an acute episode of cigarette smoking in rats have been evaluated. The carboxyhaemoglobin levels depended either on the number of cigarettes, or on the time of exposure to cigarette smoke and returned to pre-smoking values in about 2 h. The evaluation of the kinetics of alveolar and peritoneal macrophages in rats after a smoking session of three cigarettes within an hour, indicated that alveolar macrophages in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid significantly increased 8 h after the smoking, whereas the number of peritoneal macrophages remained practically constant. The incubation of these cells for various times at 37°C in a humidified atmosphere, resulted in a spontaneous release, 24 h thereafter, of variable amounts of tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα), which remained practically constant during the following days. Neither alveolar macrophages of control rats, nor peritoneal macrophages of both control and smoking rats were able to release TNFα. Moreover, after lipopolysaccharide induction of alveolar macrophages of both control and smoking rats, an increased release of TNFα was observed, indicating that these cells were in an active state

Chronic cigarette smoking enhances spontaneous release of tumour necrosis factor-α from alveolar macrophages of rats

Some biological effects of chronic cigarette smoking (two cigarettes for 2 h, daily for 4 months) in rats were evaluated. During the smoking period, body weight of smoker rats was always significantly lower than that of control rats. Immediately after the last smoking session the carboxyhaemoglobin concentration in the blood was about 8.5% and the polymorphonuclear cells in the bronchoalveolar fluid increased significantly. At the same time, enzymatic analyses on the supernatants of bronchoalveolar fluid revealed a significant increase of β-glucuronidase in the smoker group. Alveolar macrophages, collected 0, 8 and 24 h after the last smoking session, significantly increased the generation of superoxide anion and, after incubation for 24 h at 37° C in a humidified atmosphere, released significantly high amounts of TNF-α. When challenged with lipopolysaccharide, alveolar macrophages of smoker rats released much more TNF-α but, in such a case, TNF-α release was about one half of that observed in the control group. Peritoneal macrophages of both control and smoker rats were unable either to generate high levels of superoxide anion or to release significant amounts of TNF-α. The results clearly demonstrated the activated state of alveolar macrophages and the resting state of peritoneal macrophages

Systemic effects after colorectal insufflation of oxygen/ozone in rabbit

urrently, with reappraisal of ozone therapy, it has been utilized worldwide in research and clinical field. Most of the studies investigating effects of ozone on blood parameters are conducted by directly ozonating the blood. Rectal insufflation is a simple, easy and inexpensive method of delivering ozone. Little is known how these gases affect some fundamental hemorheologic parameters when given by insufflation. We aimed to investigate the effects of colorectally insufflated oxygen-ozone on red blood cell rheology in rabbits. Rabbits were divided into Group 1 (control); Groups 2, 3 and 4 (oxygen rectally insufflated respectively for 15, 21 and 36 days); Groups 5, 6 and 7 (ozone rectally insufflated respectively for 15, 21 and 36 days). Erythrocyte deformability, aggregation and osmotic fragility were determined from blood samples at the end of each treatment period. Our study showed an improvement in deformability, a decrease in aggregation and an increase in fragility following a 15 day ozone treatment. With longer ozone application the changes in aggregation and fragility returned back to control levels, however its effect on deformability sustained. Therefore, more than two weeks ozone insufflation may induce adaptation to changes induced by ozone suggesting its systemic effects

ENTERIC ABSORPTION OF HUMAN INTERFERON-ALPHA AND INTERFERON-BETA IN THE RAT

The absorption of both human lymphoblastoid interferon α and natural interferon β from the large intestine has been evaluated in the rat. We have shown that the addition of Labrafil R.M.1944 to the citrate buffer containing interferon α favours its absorption through the enteric mucosa in a significant way while it has practically no beneficial effect for interferon β. It appears worthwhile to pursue this line of investigation because the enteric route may enlarge the field of therapeutic application of interferon

COLORECTAL ADMINISTRATION OF HUMAN INTERFERON-ALPHA

The possibility that human interferon-α may be absorbed by the colorectal mucosa has been evaluated in the rat. Suppository bases per se do not allow interferon absorption as it was undetectable in peripheral plasma. Inclusion of physiological amounts of Na-ursodeoxycholate favours some interferon absorption although plasma levels remain at a much lower level after comparative subcutaneous administration. Although the results are encouraging, we have been unable to achieve a marked increase of interferon levels in the portal blood that may render rectal administration a selective route in the treatment of hepatitis

Effect of Omega-3 and Policosanol supplementation on attention and reactivity in athletes.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of omega-3 fatty acids and policosanol supplementation on the cognitive processes involved in the control of reactivity in karateka engaged in attention tests. METHODS: Eighteen karateka were randomly assigned to 2 groups. One group (10 subjects) took the supplement of omega-3 fatty acids (2.25 g) plus policosanol (10 mg) (O3 + P) for 21 days, and the other group was supplemented with placebo (oleic sunflower oil). Subjects were tested at the beginning of the experiment (Test 1), after 21 days (Test 2), and after 42 days (Test 3). The experimental procedure consisted of an Alert and a Sustained Attention (SA) reaction time test: the subject had to react by pressing a key of a computer keyboard in Alert and a sequence of 3 keys in SA in response to stimuli, activating a complex go/no-go paradigm. For each test, we recorded the reaction time and the event-related potentials by electroencephalogram and electromyography (EMG) of the forefinger flexor muscle. The Profile of Mood States (POMS) test was also administered. RESULTS: After 21 days of supplementation, subjects who received O3 + P showed a reduced reaction time and increased vigor sensation associated with a reduction of the negative states measured with the POMS test. Analysis of the event-related brain potentials showed a reduced latency of the movement-related brain macropotentials. In particular, the potentials recorded in the premotor period and motor period occurred earlier and the latency of EMG activation was reduced. In the third test, 21 days after the last O3 + P supplementation, the positive effects on the mood state persisted, while the reaction time, EMG, and brain potential latencies increased, although their values remained lower than in the first test. The placebo group did not show any significant differences in Tests 2 and 3 compared to Test 1 for either POMS or reactivity and brain potentials. CONCLUSIONS: Supplementation with O3 + P may be effective in improving mood state and reactivity. The reaction time reduction appears to be due to a central nervous system effect, as shown by the reduced latency of movement-related brain macropotentials and EMG activation. These results are in line with previous experiments

Studies on the biological effects of ozone: 8. Effects on the total antioxidant status and on interleukin-8 production.

Ozone (O3) is a controversial gas because, owing to its potent oxidant properties, it exerts damaging effects on the respiratory tract and yet it has been used for four decades as a therapy. While the disinfectant activity of O3 is understandable, it is less clear how other biological effects can be elicited in human blood with practically no toxicity. On the other hand plasma and cells are endowed with a powerful antioxidant system so that a fairly wide range of O3 concentrations between 40 and 80 microg/ml per gram of blood (approximately 0.83-1.66 mM) are effective but not deleterious. After blood ozonation total antioxidant status (TAS) and plasma protein thiol groups (PTG) decrease by 20% and 25%, respectively, while thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) increases up to five-fold. The increase of haemolysis is negligible suggesting that the erythrocyte membrane is spared at the expense of other sacrificial substrates. While there is a clear relationship between the ozone dose and IL-8 levels, we have noticed that high TAS and PTG values inhibit the cytokine production. This is in line with the current idea that hydrogen peroxide, as a byproduct of O3 decomposition, acts as a messenger for the cytokine induction