Total antioxidant status and severity of community-acquired pneumonia: Are they correlated?

Background: Oxidant/antioxidant imbalance has been reported in various respiratory diseases including pneumonia. However, the role of blood antioxidants has not been fully discussed. Objectives: The aim of this exploratory study was to assess serum total antioxidant status (TAS) in patients with community-acquired pneumonia ( CAP) and the probable correlation with the severity of the disease. Methods: Thirty patients (22 men, 8 women; mean age of 48 +/- 21 years) and 10 healthy nonsmokers ( mean age 44 +/- 16 years) were studied. Clinical, laboratory and radiological findings were recorded on the day of admission and on the 7th day. A severity score was calculated using the Fine scale. Serum TAS was measured at the same time points using a colorimetric method. Results: On admission, TAS (TAS1) was significantly lower than on the 7th day (TAS2) (0.84 +/- 0.13 mmo/l vs. 1.00 +/- 0.17 mmo/l; p=0.0001) and compared with the healthy subjects (0.84 +/- 0.13 vs. 1.19 +/- 0.09 mmol/l; p<0.001). TAS change (TAS2-TAS1) was statistically significantly more marked in smokers (0.17 vs. 0.28, p=0.001), in patients with factors predisposing to CAP (0.12vs. 0.37; p=0.000) and in patients with gram-negative pneumonia (0.16 vs. 0.35; p=0.000). On the other hand, change in TAS was statistically significantly less marked in patients with lobar pneumonia (0.27 vs. 0.17; p=0.001). Additionally, TAS change was positively correlated to white blood count on admission (r=0.39; p=0.029). Conclusions: It is concluded that serum TAS is decreased in patients with CAP, suggesting the presence of oxidative stress, and that change in TAS seems to be influenced by disease severity. TAS measurement may be useful in estimating the severity of CAP and is a probable indication for the administration of antioxidants in the management of the disease. Copyright (C) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel

Low T-3 syndrome with asynchronous changes of TT3 and rT(3) values in laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Non-thyroidal illnesses, such as surgical stress, are associated with abnormal metabolism of thyroid hormones. However, the potential impact of variable surgical procedures remain to be elucidated. In order to evaluate the effect of mild surgical stress upon thyroid function, TT4, TT3, rT3 and TSH were measured in twenty-two patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy before (Stage 1), during (Stages 2-5), at the recovery room (Stage 6) and 24h postoperatively (Stage 7). The values of TSH remained within the normal limits with transient changes during the study period. Similarly,TT4 values displayed normal variations within the normal range without reaching a statistically significant difference during the study period. A decrease of TT3 values was detected early at stage 2 during induction of anaesthesia. TT3 remained at low levels during the perioperative period, and a further decrease was observed 24 h postoperatively. The above profile of thyroid hormone metabolism, reflects a low-T3 syndrome in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Interestingly, there was a tendency for rT3 to increase and it reach its highest value 24h postoperatively with the difference being statistically significant (p<0.05). The asynchronous distribution of rT3 and TT3 might be attributed to multifactorial influences

Serum total antioxidant status in severe exacerbation of asthma: Correlation with the severity of the disease

Oxidative processes, mediated by oxygen free radicals are recognized to contribute significantly to the inflammatory pathology of bronchial asthma. An imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants has also been proposed in this disease. This study examines the serum total antioxidant status (TAS) in asthmatic patients with severe exacerbation of their disease and the probable correlation with clinical or laboratory findings. The TAS was measured in 20 patients (10 men and 10 women, with a mean age of 41.95 +/- 20.75 years), using a colorimetric method. On the days of admission and discharge, the forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1), the partial arterial oxygen pressure (PaO2), and severity criteria were recorded and correlated with TAS at the same time. The TAS was also measured in 10 healthy subjects (8 men and 2 women, mean age of 39 +/- 9 years). A statistically significant decrease of TAS was observed on admission day compared to that on discharge day (0.98 +/- 0.08 vs. 1.12 +/- 0.17 mmol/L, p < 0.001, respectively, paired t-test) suggesting the presence of oxidative stress during an asthma attack. The TAS on admission was also statistically significantly decreased compared to that of normal subjects (0.98 0.08 vs. 1.19 +/- 0.09 mmol/L, p < 0.001, respectively, paired t-test). A statistically significant correlation was observed between FEV1 change and TAS change, from admission to discharge day (r=0.58, p=0.007, Pearson correlation). Finally, a statistically significant correlation was found between FEV1 change and TAS on discharge day (r = 0.65, p = 0.002). Decreased TAS was found during an asthma attack, probably as a consequence of increased oxidative stress. The TAS change was correlated with severity criteria, such as FEV1. Therefore, it seems that measurement of TAS could be a simple and useful tool in the evaluation of an asthma attack. The supplementary administration of antioxidants in future needs further clarification

Human galanin secretion is increased upon normal exercise test in middle-age individuals

Galanin, a neuropeptide, is found in the central nervous system and in a number of nonbrain areas including adrenal sympathetic medullar tissue and pancreas. Several studies involve galanin in the regulation of GH, which responds to stressful stimuli. This study refers to the investigation of the effect of a 20-min exercise on plasma human galanin (hGAL) and GH in middle-aged healthy volunteer adults. Thirteen individuals, 5 males and 8 females aged 40-50 years (44.7 +/- 2.95) were selected on the basis of normal body mass index (22.5 +/- 2.3 kg/m(2)) and the absence of endocrine or any other abnormality. Basal concentrations of GH and hGAL were measured between 0800 and 0900h after an overnight fast. Post exercise levels were recorded after termination of the stressful test and 15 min thereafter. GH and hGAL were determined by an immunoradiometric and radioimmunoassay, respectively. The exercise-potentiated GH response in all subjects with post-exercise levels significantly higher (11.09+/-1.8 ng/ml vs 1.27+/-0.7 ng/ml, p<0.0001, F=32.44) with the peak in the hormone level detected 15 min after the end of exercise (12.09+/-1.96 ng/ml). Plasma hGAL levels were also substantially affected by the acute exercise test, in that post exercise peripheral blood concentration was significantly higher from the basal values (21.51+/-9.94 vs 13.46+/-7.2 pg/ml, p<0.02, F=5.50). Again the hGAL values peaked 15 min after the end of exercise (24.0+/-10.5 pg/ml, P<0.015, F = 4.68). However, the time-correlation of the increments of GH and hGAL did not reach a statistically significant level (20 min: r=0.41, p=0.161., 35 min: r=-0.095, P=0.758). These results clearly show an independence of the two hormones. The responsivity of hGAL of middle-aged individuals to the exercise stimulus might be due to the higher releasable pool of the hormone