Glycosaminoglycans of human serum and their alterations in diabetes mellitus.

Human serum contains several glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), mainly chondroitin sulphates and significantly less of heparan sulphate + heparin and dermatan sulphate. The non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (with vascular complications) was associated with a significant increase in total serum GAG concentration, mainly of chondroitin sulphates and dermatan sulphate, with a simultaneous decrease in heparan sulphate + heparin level. These alterations were much more evident in patients with poor metabolic control. Hyaluronic acid (undetectable in healthy subjects and in patients with good metabolic control) appeared only in trace amounts in poorly controlled diabetic individuals. The obtained data allow to conclude that the diabetes mellitus-associated disturbances in tissue GAG metabolism lead to significant alterations in serum GAG composition.

Collagen and elastin in the liver of rats intoxicated with mercuric chloride.

Intoxication of rats with mercuric chloride (0.5 mg Hg/kg of body weight, daily for 10 weeks) increased the hepatic contents of soluble and insoluble collagen and elastin. The increase was associated with elevated serum aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activities, and decreased total protein level in serum. Inflammatory changes were found in the liver. An increase in the fibrous protein content suggests that inflammatory reaction to mercuric chloride can result in hepatic fibrosis.

[Free oxygen radicals and their role in the etiopathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases]. / Wolne rodniki tlenowe i ich rola w etiopatogenezie chorób ukladu krazenia.

The role of the oxygen free radicals in etiopathogenesis of cardiovascular system diseases is described. The participation of free radicals in the heart muscle injury in the course of ischemia and reperfusion is also shown. In addition, the significance of antioxidant vitamins and substances in prevention and treatment of cardiovascular system diseases is presented.

[Effect of selenium on the connective tissue metabolism in rats]. / Vliianie selena na metabolizm soedinitel'noi tkani u krys.

Rats were chronically exposed to poisonous sodium selenite in concentrations 0.5 mg/kg b. m. for 10 weeks. As a result, hydroxyproline contents in blood serum increased, as well as its excretion with urine. It was proved that the procedure enhanced urinary glycosaminoglycane excretion and increased the contents of the protein-related glycosaminoglycanes in the serum. This was accompanied by increased quantities of keratane sulphate and heparin sulphate. The results confirmed that selenium poisonings influenced connective tissues.

[Effect of chronic mercuric chloride poisoning on the levels of connective tissue metabolites in the urine and blood of rats]. / Vliianie khronicheskogo otravleniia khloridom rtuti na soderzhanie metabolitov soedinitel'noi tkani v syvorotke krovi i moche krys.

Mercury chloride was administered into rats (1 mg/kg) in drinking water daily for 12 weeks. Revealed was an increase in the content of oxyproline and glycosaminglycanes in urine, as well as increased concentration of these compounds in blood serum. Glycosamine growth was accompanied by decreased contents of keratin sulphates and higher concentrations of heparin and heparin sulphates. The results indicated to the influence of mercury on the connective tissue metabolism.

The lipid peroxidation products and the enzymes of antioxidant system in patients with diabetes mellitus.

The lipid peroxidation product level (conjugated dienes, malonyldialdehyde) as well as superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activity in diabetic patients were studied. It was found that diabetes mellitus is accompanied by an increase in serum conjugated diene and malonyldialdehyde level as well as by an increased malonyldialdehyde concentration in red blood cells. No changes in erythrocyte superoxide and glutathione peroxidase activity in diabetic patients were found. There were also no differences between diabetic patients with poor and good metabolic control in any of the examined parameters.

Matrix-degrading lysosomal hydrolases in serum of rats with hepatic fibrosis treated with methylthiouracil or thyroideum.

Thyroid hormones or methylthiouracil (MTU) were given to healthy rats or animals with hepatic fibrosis. Administration of thyroid hormones to rats with carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic fibrosis caused an increase in serum activity of matrix-degrading hydrolases although the increase was lower than that in healthy animals treated with thyroid hormones only. Methylthiouracil administration had no effect on the enzyme activity in healthy rats and resulted in a decreased activity in rats with hepatic fibrosis.