RESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: There is growing evidence that oxidative stress (OS) has a causal relationship with cancer and a weak antioxidant defense can aggravate it further. We therefore, undertook this study to examine lipid peroxidation (TBARS), total antioxidant activity (TAA), ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and α- tocopherol levels in cancer patients, with special attention to the influence of smoking. METHODS: The study subjects were 42 patients (61.19 ± 10.1 yrs) suffering from cancer and 43 normal subjects (NS) (56.69 ± 19.1 yrs). Plasma levels of TBARS, TAA, vitamin C and ?- tocopherol were estimated. RESULTS: TAA and α-tocopherol levels were significantly lower and TBARS levels significantly higher in cancer patients when compared to NS. In smoking cancer patient's ?-tocopherol levels were significantly low and TBARS significantly raised. CONCLUSION: Our observations indicate that increased lipid peroxidation, reduced total antioxidant activity and ?-tocopherol levels are associated with cancer development, with and without smoking. However, a greater reduction of TAA in smokers may be due to increased oxidants introduced by smoking.
Asunto(s)
Antioxidantes/metabolismo , Peroxidación de Lípido/fisiología , Neoplasias/metabolismo , Fumar/metabolismo , Ácido Ascórbico/sangre , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Neoplasias/sangre , Nepal , Estrés Oxidativo , Fumar/sangre , Sustancias Reactivas al Ácido Tiobarbitúrico/metabolismo , alfa-Tocoferol/sangreRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: India is a significant contributor to the world's total burden of deafness. Out of all causes, almost 50% of the causes of decreased hearing are preventable. With the launch of the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Deafness, the need for an effective information, education and communication (IEC) campaign was felt. There is negligible information available about the status of awareness levels of the community about the various aspects of hearing loss. We carried out this research with the objective of getting to know the existing awareness related to hearing loss in the community to generate an evidence base for formulating various messages to be incorporated in IEC materials for dissemination in the community. We also asked the participants about their suggestions for the various information resources so that an IEC campaign could be designed accordingly. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We carried out 10 focus group discussions among various groups of population and analyzed the discussion. RESULTS: A descriptive analysis of the observations regarding the awareness about deafness in the community and prevalent myths and suggested information resources is presented. CONCLUSION: We highlight the lacunae in the existing awareness of various causes of deafness and the preventive measures that could be taken to prevent hearing loss. The evidence generated was used to formulate relevant messages for the various target groups, which were then incorporated in development of the IEC materials for the dissemination in the community.