Effect of Nitric Oxide Synthase Inhibition in Experimental Pseudomonas keratitis in Rabbits

Purpose The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NG-nitro-arginine-methyleser (L-NAME) in the treatment of experimental Pseudomonas keratitis. Methods Twelve young New Zealand white rabbits were given intrastromal injections of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains. Twenty-four hours later, the rabbits were randomly divided into four groups: group 1 was treated with topical 0.3% ciprofloxacin drops and a single subconjunctival injection of L-NAME (150 mg/kg); group 2 received topical 0.3% ciprofloxacin drops alone; group 3 received a single subconjunctival injection of L-NAME alone; group 4, the control group, was treated with topical balanced salt solution (BSS) drops. One drop of either ciprofloxacin of BSS was applied at each treatment interval. Twenty-six hours after the start of treatment, the eyes were examined by slit lamp to assess inflammation. Aqueous humor specimens were collected from each eye to measure the nitric oxide concentration. Corneas were removed to count bacteria results. Results Slit lamp examination cell scores were significantly lower for groups 1 and 3 than groups 2 and 4 eyes (p = 0.002 to p = 0.004). No viable bacteria were detected in the corneas of groups 1 and 2. Group 3 corneas had significantly fewer bacteria (6.33 ± 0.42 × 103) than group 4 (5.94 ± 0.16 × 104) (p &lt; 0.05). Nitric oxide levels in the aqueous humor were significantly lower for group 1 eyes than for groups 2, 3, or 4 (p = 0.02, p = 0.01, and p = 0.003, respectively). Conclusions We conclude that nitric oxide synthase inhibitors may be a useful adjunct but are not a replacement for traditional antibiotic drop therapy. </jats:sec

Antioxidant enzyme activities and oxidative stress in affective disorders

Recent data from several reports indicate that free radicals are involved in the biochemical mechanisms underlying neuropsychiatric disorders in human. The results of several reports suggest that lower antioxidant defences against lipid peroxidation exist in patients with depression and that there is a therapeutic benefit from antioxidant supplementation in unstable manic-depressive patients. We investigated the antioxidant enzyme status and the indices of oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation end products in erythrocytes from patients with affective disorder. For this purpose, we measured superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT) activities, as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) levels in patients with affective disorders (n=30) in both pre- and post-treatment periods, and in a control group (n = 21). CAT activities were significantly decreased in both pre-, and post-treatment periods in patients compared to the control group. GSH-Px activity in the pre-treatment period in the patients was significantly lower than both post-treatment patient and control groups. MDA levels were increased in both pre-, and post-treatment patient groups compared to the control group. NO level was lower in the pre-treatment patient group than in the control group. There were statistically significant correlations between SOD and MDA, and SOD and NO in the pre-treatment patient and control groups. Because the overall study sample was small, and the post-treatment patient group was even smaller, it can tentatively be suggested that the antioxidant system is impaired during a mood episode in patients with affective disorders, normalizing at the end of the episode. (C) 2004 Lippincott Williams Wilkins

Resveratrol successfully treats experimental endometriosis through modulation of oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation

Background and Aims: The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential therapeutic efficiency of resveratrol in the treatment of experimental endometriosis in rats. Settings and Design: Experimental study was carried out in a University hospital. Materials and Methods: Endometriosis was surgically induced in 24 female rats. Four weeks after this procedure, the viability and dimensions of the endometriosis foci were recorded. Rats were then randomly divided into three groups: (1) Control group (n = 8); (2) low dose (10 mg/kg) resveratrol group (n = 8); (3) high dose (100 mg/kg) resveratrol group (n = 8). At the end of the 7-day treatment, blood samples were taken and laparotomy was performed. The endometrial implants were processed for biochemical, histological and immunohistochemical studies. Statistical Analysis Used: The Kruskal-Wallis H test and one-way ANOVA test were used. Results: Resveratrol-treated rats showed significantly reduced endometriotic implant volumes (P = 0.004). After treatment, a significant and dose-dependent increase in activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in serum and tissue of the rats in Group 2 and Group 3 was detected. Similarly, serum and tissue malonyl dialdehyde levels and tissue catalase levels were significantly higher in Group 3 than that of control animals. Histological scores and proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression levels were also significantly reduced in Group 2 and Group 3 than that of control group. Conclusion: In a rat endometriosis model, resveratrol showed potential ameliorative effects on endometriotic implants probably due to its potent antioxidative properties

Melatonin, quercetin and resveratrol attenuates oxidative hepatocellular injury in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

In this study, effects of melatonin, quercetin and resveratrol on hepatocellular injury in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced experimental diabetes were aimed to be investigated by histological and biochemical methods. Thirty-five male Wistar albino rats were divided into five groups, namely, control, diabetes (STZ 45 mg/kg/single dose/intraperitoneally (ip)), diabetes + melatonin (10 mg/kg/30 days/ip), diabetes + quercetin (25 mg/kg/30 days/ip) and diabetes + resveratrol (10 mg/kg/30 days/ip). Initial and final blood glucose levels and body weights (BWs) were measured. At the end of the experimentation, following routine tissue processing procedure, sections were stained with haematoxylin–eosin (H-E), periodic acid Schiff and Masson’s trichrome. Tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were examined. The diabetic rats had significantly higher blood glucose levels than those of control rats ( p = 0.0001). Mean BWs of diabetic rats were significantly decreased when compared with the control rats ( p = 0.0013). Histopathological alterations including cellular glycogen depletion, congestion, sinusoidal dilatation, inflammation and fibrosis were detected in diabetes group. On the other hand, histopathological changes markedly reduced in all of the treatment groups ( p = 0.001). Mean tissue MDA level was increased but mean tissue CAT and SOD activities and GSH levels were decreased in the diabetes group. Melatonin, quercetin and resveratrol administered diabetic rats showed an increase in CAT activities and GSH levels and a decrease in MDA levels ( p &lt; 0.05, for all). Melatonin, quercetin and resveratrol administrations markedly reduced hepatocellular injury in STZ-induced experimental diabetes. </jats:p

Determination of copper, zinc and manganese in nail and serum from patients with migraine

Metallo-enzymes contain trace elements in their molecular structure to be metabolically active. Manganese-superoxide dismutase (Mn SOD) contains Mn and copper, zinc-superoxide dismutase (Cu, Zn SOD) contains Cu. and Zn as prosthetic groups. There have been some studies on the oxidant/anti oxidant status of patients with migraine. In the present study, the levels of copper, zinc and manganese in nail and serum were investigated in 53 patients with migraine and 19 healthy subjects. Copper, Zn and Mn levels were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry and results obtained were statistically compared. The concentration of Mn in nail and serum was significantly higher in migraine patients than those of control subjects. Although Zn and Cu concentrations in nail were increased in migraine group compared to control group, the difference was not statistically significant. There was a statistically significant increase in Cu level (p < 0.02) and decrease in Zn level in serum from patients with migraine compared to those of control group. The unchanged or increased levels of trace elements, which play important roles as prosthetic groups in SOD, in both nail and serum may suggest that the antioxidant enzyme activities are not negatively affected from the changes. The results obtained are discussed in the light of the literature on the relationship between migraine and trace elements plus antioxidant systems

Use of caffeic acid phenethyl ester to prevent sodium-selenite-induced cataract in rat eyes

Purpose: To investigate whether caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) prevents sodium-selenite-induced cataract