The effects of amalgam restorations on plasma mercury levels and total antioxidant activity.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the effects of amalgam restorations on plasma mercury levels and total antioxidant activities (TAA). DESIGN: The study was comprised of 48 subjects ranging in age from 20 to 32 years. Of these, 33 had dental amalgam restorations and 15 had no dental amalgam restorations. In those patients with amalgams, the total number of amalgam restorations and surfaces were counted, and the total and occlusal areas (mm(2)) of restorations were measured using a Counting Measurement Machine. Blood samples were collected from all participants. Plasma mercury levels were measured using an Atomic Absorption Spectrometer and Hydride System, and plasma TAA levels were measured using an Antioxidant Assay Kit. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS 10.01 software program. Data was evaluated by t test and correlation analysis. RESULTS: Plasma mercury (P-Hg) levels were found to be significantly higher in subjects with amalgam restorations when compared to subjects without amalgams (p<0.01); the differences in P-TAA levels between subjects with and without amalgams were not found to be statistically significant (p>0.05). No significant correlations were found between P-Hg concentrations and P-TAA levels (p>0.05). Significant positive correlations were found between P-Hg concentrations and the number of amalgam restorations (p<0.01), number of amalgam surfaces (p<0.05), total amalgam surface area (p<0.05) and amalgam occlusal surface area (p<0.01). However, no significant correlations were found between these parameters and P-TAA (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study showed that dental amalgams are a major source of plasma mercury; however, amalgam restorations were not found to have a significant effect on plasma-total antioxidant activities.

Cavernosal tissue nitrite, nitrate, malondialdehyde and glutathione levels in diabetic and non-diabetic erectile dysfunction.

The aim of this study is to investigate the role of nitric oxide (NO) stabile end products, membrane lipid peroxidation and antioxidant defensive mechanism in diabetic erectile dysfunction (ED) and compare these parameters with non-diabetic ED groups. We examined the penile cavernosal tissues, obtained from 22 patients who had undergone surgery of penile prostheses implantation, for the nitrite, nitrate, malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels. Eight patients were suffering from diabetic erectile dysfunction (ED) and 14 patients had non-diabetic ED. Nitrite and nitrate levels were lower; MDA and GSH levels were higher in the diabetic group. There were statistically significant differences between diabetic and non-diabetic groups amongst the nitrite (p<0.001), nitrate (p<0.01), MDA (p<0.001) and GSH (p<0.01) levels. Our data provide evidence that NO deficiency, possibly due to the membrane lipid peroxidation and defective antioxidant defensive mechanism, may contribute to the development of diabetic ED and thus is involved in the pathogenesis of ED in diabetic patients.

Mechanism of the beneficial effects of dantrolene sodium on ethanol-induced acute gastric mucosal injury in rats.

In our study, we examined anti-ulcerogen and antioxidant effects of dantrolene sodium on ethanol-induced gastric lesions in rats. Dantrolene sodium was administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) in several doses, and famotidine was used at a dose of 20 mg kg (-1). It was found that pretreatment with dantrolene sodium at doses of 1, 5 and 10 mg kg(-1) significantly reduced ethanol-induced gastric damage and malondialdehyde levels, and significantly increased antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities. We conclude that dantrolene sodium clearly has antioxidant properties and that the protective effect of dantrolene sodium against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal lesion, at least in part, depends upon the reduction in the lipid peroxidation and an increase in the activity of antioxidant enzymes SOD and GSH-Px.