Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) reduces the COX-2 mRNA expression in both subplantar and total brain tissues in the model of peripheral inflammation induced by administration of carrageenan.

In the classical model of edema formation and hyperalgesia induced by carrageenan administration in rat paw, the increase in prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production in the central nervous system (CNS) contributes to the severity of the inflammatory and pain responses. Prostaglandins are generated by the cyclooxygenase (COX). There are two distinct COX isoforms, COX-1 and COX-2. In inflammatory tissues, COX-2 is greatly expressed producing proinflammatory prostaglandins (PGs). Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has been used in the treatment of inflammatory pathologies, reducing both pain and acute inflammatory process. Herein we studied the effect of LLLT on both COX-2 and COX-1 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in either subplantar or brain tissues taken from rats treated with carrageenan. The experiment was designed as follows: A1 (saline), A2 (carrageenan-0.5 mg/paw), A3 (carrageenan-0.5 mg/paw + LLLT), A4 (carrageenan-1.0 mg/paw), and A5 (carrageenan-1.0 mg/paw + LLLT). Animals from the A3 and A5 groups were irradiated at 1 h after carrageenan administration, using a diode laser with an output power of 30 mW and a wavelength of 660 nm. The laser beam covered an area of 0.785 cm(2), resulting in an energy dosage of 7.5 J/cm(2). Both COX-2 and COX-1 mRNAs were measured by RT-PCR. Six hours after carrageenan administration, COX-2 mRNA expression was significantly increased both in the subplantar (2.2-4.1-fold) and total brain (8.65-13.79-fold) tissues. COX-1 mRNA expression was not changed. LLLT (7.5 J/cm(2)) reduced significantly the COX-2 mRNA expression both in the subplantar (~2.5-fold) and brain (4.84-9.67-fold) tissues. The results show that LLLT is able to reduce COX-2 mRNA expression. It is possible that the mechanism of LLLT decreasing hyperalgesia is also related to its effect in reducing the COX-2 expression in the CNS.

Investigation of subunit interactions by radiation inactivation: the case of Na+/K+-ATPase.

The target size of Na+/K+-ATPase has been determined by radiation inactivation. To interpret the results, we have performed Monte Carlo simulations of the inactivation process. This seems to be a general method for the interpretation of such studies. The simulation revealed that radiation inactivation can distinguish between monoprotomeric and multiprotomeric models of enzyme action only if the measured reaction requires the actual co-operation of, rather than the mere co-existence of, different protomeres.

[Effect of gamma radiation on selected indicators of oxygen metabolism in erythrocytes of patients with multiple sclerosis]. / Wplyw promieniowania gamma na wybrane wskazniki metabolizmu tlenowego w erytrocytach osób chorych na SM.

The aim of the work was to study certain parameters of aerobic metabolism in the erythrocytes of multiple sclerosis patients and healthy controls after exposure of the erythrocytes to ionising radiation. The group of patients included 32 cases (17 women and 15 men) aged 19-54 years. The control group comprised 60 healthy subjects (28 women and 32 men) aged 19-56 years. The erythrocytes were exposed at +20 degrees C in contact with air during 50 minutes. The source of gamma radiation was 60 Co of 1.33 MeV energy and 10 Gy/min yield. In the erythrocytes of the patients the activity of the antioxidative enzymatic system was reduced, with decreased activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD-1) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and with increased level of malonyl dialdehyde (MDA) at the same time gamma radiation as an additional source of free radical generation increased the changes of these biochemical parameters which suggested a greater susceptibility of multiple sclerosis erythrocytes to oxidative stress.

[Effect of gamma radiation on glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in the erythrocytes of healthy persons after submaximal physical exertion]. / Wplyw promieniowania gamma na aktywnosc dehydrogenazy glukozo-6-fosforanowej (G6P-DH) w krwinkach czerwonych ludzi zdrowych poddanych submaksymalnemu wysilkowi fizycznemu.

The authors studied effects of gamma radiation and submaximal physical exercise on G6P-DH activity in healthy men erythrocytes. Twelve men aged 20-22 were examined. They were loaded by physical exercise (at doses of 2 W/kg body weight) for 15 minutes. Erythrocytes were exposed to gamma radiation (500 Gy doses) from 60Co source. The activity of G6P-DH in erythrocytes was estimated by Boehringer-Mannheim test. Gamma radiation at 500 Gy dose was found to inhibit G6P-DH enzymatic activity in erythrocytes both at rest and after submaximal physical exercise. Furthermore, submaximal physical exercise was indicated to increase the G6P-DH activity in irradiated erythrocytes.