[Levels of Cu, Zn, Se and their relation to levels of ceruloplasmin and the activity of antioxidative enzymes]. / Koncentrácia Cu, Zn, Se a ich vztah k hladine ceruloplazmínu a aktivite antioxidacných enzýmov.

BACKGROUND: Essential trace elements copper, zinc and selenium are important parts of antioxidant enzymes as superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase as well as of transport protein with antioxidant properties-ceruloplasmin. Mentioned trace elements may affect antioxidant defence system. AIM OF STUDY: The aim of our study was to estimate serum levels of copper, zinc, and selenium in a group of healthy subjects and to correlate them with erythrocyte activity of Cu,Zn-SOD, GSH-Px and serum levels of ceruloplasmin. METHODS: We examined a group of 128 healthy volunteers (57 men and 71 women) aged 20 to 74 years. The analyses of trace elements we performed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, Cu,Zn-SOD were detected by Randox test, GSH-Px by kinetic method and ceruloplasmin was measured immunoelectrophoretically. RESULTS: We have not found any correlations between investigated trace elements, age and sex. Average serum levels were as follows: copper (17.26 +/- 2.71 mumol/L), zinc (15.30 +/- 1.92 mumol/L), and selenium (0.79 +/- 0.19 mumol/L). There was a weak linear correlation between serum levels of copper and ceruloplasmin. CONCLUSION: There was no relationship between serum copper and zinc levels and Cu,Zn-SOD activity, and serum concentration of selenium and GSH-Px activity in the group of healthy subjects. A moderate linear correlation was estimated between serum values of copper and ceruloplasmin. (Tab. 2, Fig. 4, Ref. 29.)

[Levels of erythrocyte glutathione and ceruloplasmin and transferrin in the serum and their role in antioxidant protection]. / Koncentrácia glutatiónu v erytrocytoch, ceruloplazmínu a transferínu v sére a ich úloha pri antioxidacnej obrane.

All organisms are protected from harmful reactive oxygen which is produced also under physiological conditions by a complex antioxidative system. Our work was aimed at the ascertainment of the level of reduced and oxidated glutathione in erythrocytes of healthy people, the concentrations of ceruloplasmin (GSH) and transferrin (GSSG) in the serum, as well as the investigation of the relationship to antioxidative enzymes ---Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and Se-glutathione-peroxidase (GPx) in erythrocytes. We discovered a mutual direct linear correlation between the levels of GSH, GSSG, CPL and TRF, indirect linear relation between the concentrations of TRF, GSH, GSSG and activities of SOD and GPx, between the concentrations of CPL and GPx activities, and a direct linear relation between concentrations of GSH and TRF with CAT activity. The results indicate to a mutual dependence of investigated nonenzymatic antioxidative factors and antioxidative enzymes. (Tab2, Fig. 4, Ref.13.).

[Antioxidative enzyme activity in the blood of healthy persons]. / Aktivita antioxidacných enzýmov v krvi zdrav ch osôb.

BACKGROUND: Under physiological conditions the dynamic balance between the reactive oxygen production and detoxication is maintained. OBJECTIVES: The study was aimed at the detection of the activity of antioxidant enzymes: superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in erythrocytes and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the serum of healthy subjects, their relation to age, body weight, sex, smoking, and the possible correlation between individual parameters. METHODS: The authors have examined 128 healthy volunteers (57 men and 71 women) from 20 to 72 years of age. The results were statistically evaluated by means of the ANOVA programme. RESULTS: The group of healthy people had a large dispersion of interindividual activities of antioxidant enzymes and MDA levels. Age and weight were reversely correlated to the CAT activity in erythrocytes. The CAT activity was significantly higher in women than in men, and the GPx activity was lower in smokers than in non-smokers. The rest of investigated parameters were not significantly influenced by sex of examined people and smoking. Mutual correlation between individual enzymes were highly significant. CONCLUSIONS: A large dispersion of activities of the investigated enzymes and MDA levels in healthy individuals do not allow to make a standard use of these parameters in clinical practice. (Tab. 5, Fig. 2, Ref. 20.).

Effect of intake of exogenous vitamins C, E and beta-carotene on the antioxidative status in kidneys of rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes.

We studied the effect of supplementation with vitamins C, E and beta-carotene (PARABION, produced by Syndipharma) on antioxidative status in kidneys of male Wistar rats with diabetes induced by intravenous application of streptozotocin (45 mg.kg-1 of body weight). The animals received subtherapeutic doses of Insulin Interdep (6 U.kg-1 of body weight). A significant decrease of malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) glutathione and reduction of the activities of Se-glutathione peroxidase (Se-GSH-PX, EC. 1.11.1.9.) and glutathione S-transferase (GST, EC. 2.5.1.18.) were observed in kidneys of diabetic rats treated with these vitamins. On the contrary, the activity of CuZn-superoxide dismutase (CuZn-SOD, EC. 1.15.1.1) and the level of vitamin C (vit. C) increased significantly. No changes were observed for vitamin E (vit. E), beta-carotene and catalase (CAT, EC. 1.11.1.6). Supplementation with vitamins C, E and beta-carotene resulted in an improvement of antioxidative status of kidneys of rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes.

[Activity of the antioxidant system in patients with idiopathic proctocolitis and the effect of 5-aminosalicylic acid (Salofalk)]. / Aktivita antioxidacného systému pacientov s idiopatickou proktokolitídou a vplyv kyseliny 5-aminosalicylovej (Salofalk).

There is a close relationship between inflammation and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Primary source of ROS are activated leucocytes. Antioxidant system protects organism against the deleterious effect of ROS. The aim of the present study was to follow the activity of antioxidant system in blood and colonic mucosa of 17 patients with idiopathic proctocolitis. All patients were treated with 5-aminosalicylic acid (Salofalk), 7 patients with a combination of prednison. The following biochemical parameters were ascertained: malondialdehyde (MDA) and ceruloplasmin in serum, glutathione (GSH) and activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase in erythrocytes and colonic mucosa. Before treatment there was found: an increase of MDA and all antioxidant enzyme activities, an a decrease of GSH. After 3 weeks of therapy in 59% of patients, initial clinical remission was observed without serious improvement of biochemical parameters. After 10 weeks of therapy the clinical course improved in all patients, a significant decrease of MDA and activities of all antioxidant enzymes as well as an increase of GSH were stated. The authors assume that IP was positively affected by 5-ASA, and in some patients by its combination with prednisom. The effect of 5-ASA is based on its known antiinflammatory impact and its functioning as a "scavanger" of free radicals (or ROS). (Tab. 1, Fig. 3, Ref. 23.)

[The effect of body weight reduction on apolipoprotein levels in obese patients]. / Vplyv redukcie hmotnosti tela na hladinu apolipoproteínov u obéznych pacientov.

In 16 obese male patients lipid and apolipoprotein A-I and B in serum were assessed before and after weight reduction. The mean age of the subjects was 34.7 +/- 2.7 years, the mean body weight 124.4 +/- 4.0 kg and the mean BMI 39.1 +/- 1.5 kg/m2. After 10 weeks on a low-energy diet of 2500-6000 kJ/day a decline of body weight was observed on average by 14% of the initial value. The total triacylglycerolaemia declined by 46% (p less than 0.02). The total cholesterol level declined by 12% (ns), HDL-cholesterol by 7% (ns), LDL-cholesterol by 8% (ns). The apo A-I did not change during weight reduction, apo B declined by 13% (ns). The ratio of apo B to apo A-I declined by 12.5% (p less than 0.05). The presented results indicate that after weight reduction of obese patients by a low-energy diet the risk of atherosclerosis declines as the apo B/apo A-I ratio declines.

Effect of oyster fungus (Pleurotus ostreatus) on serum and liver lipids of Syrian hamsters with a chronic alcohol intake.

The authors studied the effect of oyster fungus (Pleurotus ostreatus) (2% dried fruiting bodies in a standard diet) on the serum and liver lipids of growing male Syrian hamsters with a chronic alcohol intake (a 15% aqueous solution). After eight weeks' alcohol intake there was an increase in their serum cholesterol, triacylglycerol (TG) and phospholipid (PL) concentration, 40 - 60% of which was accounted for by an increase in the very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) concentration. The proportion of VLDL in the lipoprotein pool rose by almost 15%, whereas the proportion of high density lipoproteins (HDL) fell. The simultaneous administration of the fungus in the diet reduced the cholesterol level below the value in the control animals not given any alcohol. Both the serum TG and the VLDL concentration fell by 30%, but neither the chemical composition and concentration of the HDL nor the cholesterol concentration were affected. The addition of the fungus to the diet completely abolished the increase induced in the liver cholesterol and TG concentration by the chronic intake of alcohol.