Changes in Neutrophil Oxidative Potential in Patients Undergoing Cardiopulmonary Bypass with Polypropylene Hollow Fiber Oxygenators

Neutrophil oxidative metabolism, C3d and beta 2 microglobulin levels, were assessed in nine consecutive patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass surgery with polypropylene hollow fiber oxygenators for open cardiac operations. Generation of oxygen free radicals by neutrophils was measured as luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence after stimulation with opsonized Zymosan and phorbol myristate acetate. A significant increase in light emission was detected by using both of the chemiluminescence stimulators. Moreover, a remarkable and significant increase in C3d levels was found already at 10 min. Conversely minimal changes in levels of beta 2 microglobulin were detected during cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. These data suggest that the impact of the patient blood with the foreign surface of cardiopulmonary bypass results in activation of phagocyte cells with increased potential in oxygen consumption. These effects could be partially complement-mediated.     

Oxidative stress: does it play a role in the genesis of essential hypertension and hypertension of uraemia?

Reactive oxygen species: general aspects Reactive oxygen species, including superoxide radicals, hydrogenperoxide, nitric oxide, peroxynitrite, hydroxyl radicals andhypochlorous acid are by-products of normal metabolic processesin cells. Reactive oxygen species can be found in several cellsincluding macrophages and vascular smooth muscle cells. At lowconcentrations reactive oxygen species can act as physiologicalmediators of cellular responses whereas higher concentrationsmay cause cell damage [1,2]. The major sources of reactive oxygenspecies are leakages from the electron transport chains of mitochondriaand endoplasmic reticulum. Cellular energy metabolism is basedon the production of ATP through the electron transport reactionin which O₂ accepts electrons and H⁺ and then is eventuallyreduced to water. Only 1–2% of the electrons are leakedto generate superoxide radicals in reactions mediated by coenzymeQ and ubiquinone and its complexes. During ageing (and probablyin patients     

Effect of dialysis flux and membrane material on dyslipidaemia and inflammation in haemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Dyslipidaemia, inflammation and oxidative stress are prominent risk factors that potentially cause vascular disease in haemodialysis patients. Dialysis modalities affect uraemic dyslipidaemia, possibly by modifying oxidative stress, but the effects of dialyser flux and membrane material on atherogenic remnant particles and oxidized low-density lipoproteins (LDL) are unknown. METHODS: We performed a randomized crossover study in 36 patients on haemodialysis to analyse the effect of dialyser flux and membrane material on plasma lipids, apolipoproteins and markers of inflammation and oxidative stress. Stable patients on low-flux dialysis with polysulphone for >/=6 weeks were assigned to high-flux polysulphone or high-flux modified cellulose with similar dialyser surface area and permeability characteristics and crossed over twice every 6 weeks. RESULTS: Thirty patients completed the study per protocol. Treatments with high-flux polysulphone and modified cellulose lowered serum triglyceride (by 20% and 10%, respectively; P<0.05) and remnant-like particle cholesterol by 32% (P<0.001) and 11% (NS) after the first 6 weeks of treatment. Oxidized LDL decreased significantly with high-flux polysulphone, but not with modified cellulose. Apolipoproteins CII and CIII were reduced, whereas the ratio CII/CIII was increased (all P<0.05). Acute-phase proteins and LDL and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol remained unaffected. CONCLUSIONS: This randomized crossover study demonstrates a potent effect of high-flux haemodialysis on uraemic dyslipidaemia. Polysulphone membrane material showed superiority on oxidatively modified LDL, an indicator of oxidative stress in haemodialysis patients.     

还原型谷胱甘肽和L-NAME对体外培养的脊髓运动神经元的影响

目的 :探讨还原型谷胱甘肽 (GSH)和L NAME对体外培养的脊髓运动神经元的保护作用。方法 :不同浓度的GSH和L NAME作用于脊髓运动神经元 ,3d后计算存活率。并测量存活率高的两组和对照组的免疫细胞化学标本的神经元形态学指标。结果 :GSH 10mmol·L-1和L NAME 1× 10 -3 mol·L-1组存活率最高。两实验组轴突长度、树突总长度、树突分叉点数目和胞体面积高于对照组。结论 :抗氧化剂和NOS抑制剂可以提高脊髓运动神经元的存活率 ,促进神经元生长     

益气复脉汤对脑缺血再灌注损伤大鼠ET及CGRP影响的实验研究

目的：观察益气复脉汤对脑缺血再灌注模型大鼠血浆内皮素（ET）和降钙素基因相关肽（CGRP）含量变化的影响，探讨大鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤的中医药治疗方法。方法：采用线栓法制备大鼠右侧大脑中动脉脑缺血再灌注损伤模型，分别用益气复脉汤高、低剂量组、尼莫地平水溶液予以治疗，然后采用放射免疫法检测血清ET和CGRP含量。结果：模型组脑缺血再灌注大鼠血浆ET含量明显增高，而CGRP下降，治疗后ET值比对照组下降明显（P〈0．01），CGRP值比对照组增高明显（P〈0．05）。结论：益气复脉汤通过降低ET和增高CGRP，能够对脑缺血再灌注损伤脑起保护作用，其疗效优于尼莫地平。     

Centella asiatica extract selectively decreases amyloid β levels in hippocampus of Alzheimer's disease animal model

PSAPP mice expressing the ‘Swedish’ amyloid precursor protein and the M146L presenilin 1 mutations are a well‐characterized model for spontaneous amyloid β plaque formation. Centella asiatica has a long history of use in India as a memory enhancing drug in Ayurvedic literature. The study investigated whether Centella asiatica extract (CaE) can alter the amyloid pathology in PSAPP mice by administering CaE (2.5 or 5.0 g/kg/day) starting at 2 months of age prior to the onset of detectable amyloid deposition and continued for either 2 months or 8 months. A significant decrease in amyloid β 1–40 and 1–42 was detectable by ELISA following an 8 month treatment with 2.5 mg/kg of CaE. A reduction in Congo Red stained fibrillar amyloid plaques was detected with the 5.0 mg/kg CaE dose and long‐term treatment regimen. It was also confirmed that CaE functions as an antioxidant in vitro, scavenging free radicals, reducing lipid peroxidation and protecting against DNA damage. The data indicate that CaE can impact the amyloid cascade altering amyloid β pathology in the brains of PSAPP mice and modulating components of the oxidative stress response that has been implicated in the neurodegenerative changes that occur with Alzheimer's disease. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Homocysteinylation of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) from subjects with Type 1 diabetes: effect on oxidative damage of human endothelial cells.

BACKGROUND: Homocysteine (Hcy) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Individuals with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are more susceptible to the effects of homocysteine than non-diabetic subjects. The interaction between homocysteine-thiolactone (Hcy-thiolactone), a reactive product of Hcy, and low-density lipoproteins (LDL) induces the formation of homocystamide-LDL adducts (Hcy-LDL) and it has been suggested that homocysteinylation could increase atherogenicity of lipoproteins. AIM: The aim of the study was to compare the effect of in vitro homocysteinylation of LDL isolated from healthy control subjects (C-LDL) and from Type 1 diabetic patients (DM-LDL) and to investigate the effect of homocysteinylated LDL (Hcy-C-LDL and Hcy-DM-LDL) on peroxynitrite production of endothelial cells. METHODS: The in vitro homocysteinylation of LDL isolated from control (n = 12) and DM subjects (n = 12) was carried out by incubating lipoproteins with Hcy-thiolactone. The reaction was verified by quantifying the increase in sulphydryl groups (-SH groups) in Hcy-LDL with respect to control LDL. Control and homocysteinylated LDL were incubated with human aortic endothelial cells (HAEC) in culture. Peroxynitrite production in cells treated in different experimental conditions was assayed by a fluorimetric method. RESULTS: The increase in -SH groups after incubation with homocysteine was greater in LDL from diabetic subjects compared with LDL from control subjects (P < 0.001). In addition, peroxynitrite production from HAEC incubated with Hcy-LDL from diabetic patients was greater than after incubation with Hcy-LDL from control subjects and untreated LDL from diabetic patients (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These results show that LDL from diabetic patients is more susceptible to in vitro homocysteinylation than LDL from non-diabetic individuals and demonstrate that the compositional changes in Hcy-LDL from diabetic subjects have cytotoxic effects on human endothelial cells.     

UVA对人角质形成细胞的氧化损伤作用

①目的　探讨紫外线A(UVA)对人角质形成细胞氧化损伤的机制。②方法　用 5J/cm2 UVA照射角质形成细胞 ,酶生化法检测活性氧 (ROS)的含量及超氧化物歧化酶 (SOD)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶 (GSH PX)活性的变化 ,流式细胞仪测定紫外线对角质形成细胞凋亡的影响 ,原位杂交技术观察 p2 1mRNA的变化 ,并与非照射组比较。③结果　与对照组比较 ,UVA照射组ROS含量升高 (t =113.6 8,P <0 .0 0 1) ,SOD、GSH PX活性下降 (t =5 7.2 3、19.0 4 ,P <0 .0 0 1) ,细胞凋亡率升高 (t=5 3.2 8,P <0 .0 0 1) ,p2 1mRNA表达增强。④结论　UVA对人角质形成细胞的损伤与氧自由基生成增多及细胞抗氧化能力抑制有关