Evaluation of Advanced Oxidation Protein Products (AOPP) and Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) Tissue Levels in Patients with Nasal Polyps.

The aim of this study is to eveluate levels of advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) which are thought to increase in the polyp tissue and superoxide dismutase (SOD), an antioxidant enzyme, with using specthrophotometry in polyp tissue and healthy mucosa. 30 nasal polyp patients without inflammatory disease except for nasal polyposis were included in the study. The control group consisted of 18 patients who did not have allergy, asthma, inflammatory and granulomatous disease and planned surgery due to septum deviation and concha hypertrophy. AOPP and SOD tissue levels were measured by spectrophotometry in polyp tissue specimens taken from patients with nasal polyps and concha samples taken from patients in the control group. The mean AOPP tissue level of patients in the nasal polyposis group was statistically significantly higher than the control group. (p < 0.05). The mean SOD activity level was significantly lower in the nasal polyposis group than the control group. (p < 0.05) As a result of this study, high AOPP levels in polyp tissue and low SOD levels in polyp tissue compared to healthy nasal mucosa, oxidative stress plays an important role in nasal polyp development.

Evaluation of oxidative stress in pseudo-exfoliative glaucoma patients treated with and without topical coenzyme Q10 and vitamin E.

PURPOSE:: To evaluate the levels of oxidative stress markers such as superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde in eyes with pseudo-exfoliative glaucoma treated with and without topical coenzyme Q10 (CQ10) and vitamin E (Coqun drop). METHODS:: This prospective, randomized clinical study was conducted on 64 eyes of 64 patients. All patients underwent phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation surgery. Aqueous humor samples were aspirated from the anterior chamber at the beginning of cataract surgery. The pseudo-exfoliative glaucoma + Coqun group received topical Coqun (100 mg CQ10, 500 mg Vitamin E TPGS) twice daily for 1 month preoperatively, while the pseudo-exfoliative glaucoma group consisted of pseudo-exfoliative glaucoma cases who had not taken Coqun. Pseudo-exfoliation syndrome cases formed the pseudo-exfoliation syndrome group. The main outcomes were the superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde levels of aqueous humor in both groups. RESULTS:: The mean aqueous humor superoxide dismutase level was significantly higher in the pseudo-exfoliative glaucoma group than in pseudo-exfoliative glaucoma + Coqun and pseudo-exfoliation syndrome groups (p < 0.001, p = 0.004, respectively). Also, the mean aqueous humor superoxide dismutase level was significantly lower in the pseudo-exfoliation syndrome group than in pseudo-exfoliative glaucoma + Coqun group (p = 0.009). The mean malondialdehyde levels showed no significant difference between the groups (p > 0.05 for all). CONCLUSION:: Our study showed lower aqueous humor level of superoxide dismutase in pseudo-exfoliation syndrome patients compared to pseudo-exfoliative glaucoma patients. Significantly lower superoxide dismutase level was observed in pseudo-exfoliative glaucoma patients who received topical Coqun compared to pseudo-exfoliative glaucoma patients without Coqun treatment. No significant change was observed on the malondialdehyde level during 1-month follow-up period.

The Effect of Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) on Transepithelial Corneal Cross-Linking in Rabbits.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of ascorbic acid (vitamin C), the main antioxidant agent in the cornea on transepithelial corneal cross-linking (CXL) where the main mechanism is oxidation. METHODS: Twenty eyes of 20 rabbits were divided into 3 groups: Group 1 (7 eyes) had transepithelial corneal CXL after being fed with normal diet; Group 2 (7 eyes) had corneal CXL after once-daily subcutaneous injections of 200 mg of ascorbic acid in addition to normal diet; and the control group (6 eyes) was fed with normal diet but did not have corneal CXL performed. Ascorbic acid levels were measured in aqueous humor and plasma, and biomechanical measurements were applied to the cornea. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in ascorbic acid levels of plasma (P = 0.008) and aqueous humor (P = 0.006) between group 1 and 2. The Young's modulus values of group 1 and 2 were similar (P = 0.741) and were significantly higher than the control group (P = 0.02 and P = 0.01). The increase rate in Young's modulus values was 37.3% in group 1 and 43.9% in group 2 compared to control group. The ultimate strain values in group 1 and 2 were similar (P = 0.632) and were significantly higher than control group (P = 0.04, P = 0.03). The ultimate stress values in group 1 and 2 were similar (P = 0.836) and were significantly lower than control group (P = 0.001, P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Systemic vitamin C does not appear to decrease effectiveness of transepithelial corneal CXL. Therefore, there is no reason to stop or reduce vitamin C supplementation before corneal CXL therapy.