The efficacy of alpha-lipoic acid and/or gabapentin on the oxidant-antioxidant system in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy

Background: Diabetic peripheral sensorimotor polyneuropathy is the most common complication seen in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Oxidant system plays a crucial role in its physiopathology. We investigated the changes in the serum levels of total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), paraoxonase-1 (PON1) and oxidative stress index (OSI) to evaluate the antioxidant efficacy of alpha lipoic acid (ALA) and/or gabapentin in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN).Methods: Sixty-three type 2 DM patients with diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) were enrolled in the study. Patients with DPN were divided into four groups in terms of their treatment: Group 1 consisted of treatment-naive patients; patients treated with ALA, gabapentin or combination of ALA and gabapentin comprised groups 2, 3, and 4, respectively. The patients received the medications for at least six weeks.  Serum levels of TAS, TOS, PON1 and OSI were analyzed.Results: No significant difference was observed between the groups according to the oxidative stress parameters studied.Conclusions: The use of ALA and/or gabapentin in patients with DPN did not significantly affect the oxidative stress parameters, including TAS, TOS, PON1, and OSI

Neonatology oxidative status in preterm infants with premature preterm rupture of membranes and fetal inflammatuar response syndrome

The aim of this study, to determine an index of oxidative stress index in preterm infants less than 34 weeks gestational age with premature preterm rupture of membrane (PPROM) and fetal inflammatory response syndrome (FIRS). Methods: This study was designed as a prospective study. Fifty-one premature infants less than 35 weeks of gestational age were included in the study. The umbilical cord blood concentrations of IL-6, TAC (total antioxidant capacity) and PON-1 (paraoxonase-1) levels and TOS (total oxidative stress) were studied. The oxidative stress index (OSI = TAC/TOS) was calculated in all of prematüre infants. PPROM was defined as rupture of membranes at least 24 hours before the onset of labor. FIRS was defined by an umbilical cord IL-6 level greater than 11 pg/mL. Premature infants included in the study were divided into 4 groups. Group 1 included preterm infants without FIRS and with PPROM (n = 16), while Group 2 included preterm infants without PPROM and with FIRS (n = 9), Group 3 consisted of premature infants with PPROM and FIRS (n = 21) and Group 4 included premature infants without PPROM or FIRS (n = 5). Results: Umbilical cord TOS level was found to be higher in the preterm infants without FIRS and with PPROM (36.1 μmol H2O2 Equiv./L) compared to the preterm infants without PPROM or FIRS (11.9 μmol H2O2 Equiv./L) (p = 0.03). Umbilical cord PON-1 level was found to be lower in the preterms without FIRS and with PPROM (32 U/L), preterms without PPROM and with FIRS (30. 3 U/L) and the preterm infants with both PPROM and FIRS (48.6 U/L) compared to the preterm infants having no PPROM or FIRS (85.6 U/L) (p = 0.001). Conclusion: High pro-oxidant capacity was found in PPROM and low antioxidant capacity in PPROM and FIRS

Altered Maternal Serum Dynamic Thiol-Disulfide Interchange Reactions in Pregnant Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the alteration of dynamic thiol/disulfide homeostasis which basically shows the oxidative stress in body in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) by using a newly developed and automated analysis method. STUDY DESIGN: Study population consisted of body mass index and gestational age-matched pregnant women. Patients were subdivided into 3 groups based on their response to glucose challenge test (GCT) and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) results: (1) control group (normal GCT test results n= 87); (2) Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) group ( n= 37); (3) GDM group (n=25). Maternal serum thiol and disulphide levels were compared among three groups. RESULTS: Maternal serum thiol values were found decreased and maternal serum disulphide levels were increased in GDM groups were compared to control and IGT groups (Thiols for controls: 398.19±30.49 µmol/L, for IGT group 395.92±35.52 µmol/L, and for GDM group 371.89±41.14 µmol/L p= 0.002). Disulphides for controls; 17.47±4.38 µmol/L, for IGT; 19.27±3.34 µmol/L, for GDM group; 25.46±4.21 µmol/L, (p=0.001). Disulphide/thiol ratio was found to be increased in GDM group comparing to other groups (Disulphide/thiol ratio: 0.044±0.012 for controls, 0.049±0.009 for IGT group, 0.068±0.0103 for GDM group p=0.001) CONCLUSION: Thiol- disulphide balance has shifted to the oxidative side in pregnant women with GDM. So blood glucose regulation is extremely crucial for reducing the oxidative stress which may lead to damages to vital organs of a mother or possibly to development of a fetus in women with GDM