5 articles
Pulmonary tuberculosis remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. According to data published by the World Health Organization in 2024, a total of 8.2 million people were newly diagnosed with TB in 2023, compared with 7.5 million in 2022, 7.1 million in 2019, and markedly higher than the 5.8 million and 6.4 million in 2020 and 2021, respectively.
The prospective study involved 59 participants before and after treatment: 11 women (18.6%) and 48 men (81.4%). The participants were divided into 2 groups: group L1 – patients with tuberculosis before treatment, and group L2 – patients with tuberculosis after treatment. Serum levels of nitric oxide, malondialdehyde, glutathione reductase, and total antioxidant activity were measured using a spectrophotometric method.
In the study, we demonstrated that nitric oxide and malondialdehyde serum concentrations were non-significantly higher in the L2 group compared with the L1 group. Glutathione reductase activity showed a significant decrease in antioxidant activity in the L2 group, indicating reduced antioxidant capacity. Total antioxidant activity showed a non-significant decrease in the L1 group compared with the L2 group.
The results of the research demonstrated that the administered anti-tuberculosis treatment increased nitric oxide and malondialdehyde levels, and reduced glutathione reductase and total antioxidant activity. This phenomenon indicates the persistence of oxidative stress even after treatment. The levels of nitric oxide, malondialdehyde, glutathione reductase, and total antioxidant activity in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis may serve as biomarkers for monitoring disease progression.
Diagnosing community-acquired pneumonia in patients with chronic heart failure can be challenging. Oxidative stress and inflammatory response play an important role in the development and diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia and are also involved in many cardiovascular diseases, including chronic heart failure.
A total of 210 patients were enrolled and divided into two groups: group 1 (n = 105) – patients with community-acquired pneumonia associated with chronic heart failure, and group 2 (n = 105) – patients with community-acquired pneumonia without chronic heart failure. Several biomarkers were measured. For oxidative stress, we assessed prooxidant markers (ischemic modified albumin, advanced glycation end-products, advanced oxidation protein products, malonic dialdehyde) and antioxidant markers (total antioxidant activity with CUPRAC and ABTS methods, superoxide dismutase and catalase). Inflammatory status was assessed by determining leukocyte count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, lactate dehydrogenase, fibrinogen and C-reactive protein. In all patients, N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide values were determined.
The age of patients in the study group ranged from 50 to 92 years, with an overall mean of 70.6 ± 8.89 years (95% CI [68.8-72.3]), (F = 18.109; p = 0.205). Ischemic modified albumin values were higher in patients in Group 1 compared to Group 2: 236.60 ± 57.23 µM/L and 229.77 ± 64.35 µM/L, respectively (F = 0.660; p = 0.045). Serum lactate dehydrogenase had higher values in Group 1, compared to the control group: 232.65 ± 109.80 units/L and 192.40 ± 44.98 units/L, respectively (p = 0.001). The mean fibrinogen values were also higher in Group 1 (5.24 ± 1.60 g/L), compared to Group 2 (4.51 ± 1.78 g/L), p = 0.002. Total antioxidant activity by CUPRAC method, had higher values in Group 1 (6.70 ± 4.62) versus Group 2 (4.99 ± 2.29), p = 0.006.
The coexistence of community-acquired pneumonia and chronic heart failure resulted in a higher inflammatory response and greater accumulation of pro-oxidative reaction products. This condition was characterized by increased serum lactate dehydrogenase, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and fibrinogen levels. Furthermore, the state of heightened oxidative stress was marked by increased ischemic modified albumin and total antioxidant activity detected with CUPRAC method.
Cholestatic jaundice installed in gallstones is considered a multifactorial pathogenetic process. The correlation of endogenous hepatic intoxication with the reaction of the pro- and antioxidant system, characteristic of various complications of gallstones associated with cholestatic jaundice, remains an undefined subject.
The study included the investigation of 105 patients with complicated gallstones and associated cholestatic jaundice, and the control group – 35 patients with uncomplicated gallstones. The age of the patients varied between 51 and 72 years, with an F/M ratio of 3/1.
The degree of endotoxemia, assessed at hospitalization by peptides with average mass values, was consistent with the inflammation present in groups 2 and 3, reporting a statistically significant difference compared to the control group [p c/2 < 0.001 (t = 11.1); p c/3 < 0.001 (t = 11.07)]. DAM, as the final product of lipid peroxidation, evaluated at hospitalization, shows double marked values in all groups compared to the control group [p < 0.001 (t = 10.7); (t = 10.9); (t = 16.5)]. The antioxidant activity, assessed at hospitalization, shows a statistically significant decrease in superoxide dismutase values [p < 0.001 (t = 6.4); (t = 4.1); (t = 5.7)], as well as catalase [p < 0.001 (t = 6.7); (t = 5.6); (t = 7.2)] in all groups, by 30-40% compared to the control group.
In established cholestatic jaundice, there is an obvious activation of lipoperoxidation processes, contributing to the increase of endogenous intoxication and early suppression of antioxidant activity. There is a direct relationship between the increase in prooxidant activity and the level of endogenous intoxication in all complications of gallstones associated with cholestatic jaundice, but it is more elevated in infectious complications, indicating a need for an early approach.
Premature birth can occur at any age; however, it is important to note that the risk of preterm birth can vary based on several factors, including the mother's medical history, general health, and lifestyle. There is thought to be a relationship between maternal age and the risk of preterm birth, although the exact nature of this relationship may vary. At the same time, it is considered for ages over 35, an increased risk factor for the evolution of pregnancies with complications. Pregnant women over 35 face a higher risk of premature birth. This increased risk may be associated with age-related factors such as underlying health conditions, higher rates of multiple pregnancies (due to fertility treatments), and potential placental dysfunction.
In the given study, the biomarkers IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, SDF-1α and VEGF in amniotic fluid (AF) and maternal blood were investigated, considering the above as predictive of premature birth outcome. At the same time, the oxidative stress status of maternal blood and amniotic fluid collected in the second trimester of pregnancy was identified.
In the research, we obtained statistically significant increases in the biomarkers AAT-isopropyl, G-GTP, HPL-isopropyl from the amniotic fluid taken from pregnant women over 35 years of age in the second trimester of pregnancy in those pregnant women who had a preterm birth. In the serum of pregnant women with premature birth, an increase in the concentration of carnosine-histidine peptides, G-GTP, GR and SH (thiol) groups was identified, and the decrease in the values of SDF 1α, HPL – hexane and IL-12 were statistically significant in the serum pregnant women compared to that of the amniotic fluid.
Identifying the values of biochemical mediators during pregnancy can be a method of predictive diagnosis
Our study shows the relationship between some concentrations of oxidative stress biomarkers (AAT-isopropyl, HPL-isopropyl and G-GTP, IL-12) in amniotic fluid, and values of (Carnosine Histidine Peptide, GR and SH and SDF-1α) in the serum of pregnant women, in the second trimester of pregnancy.
Identification, study and testing of new remedies for treatment approaches of diseases, resulting from imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants in favor of oxidants, with potentially destructive potential and pathogenesis in liver disorders is of particular interest due to the increase in incidence and severity of these pathologies.
The action of novel local copper coordination compounds, thiosemicarbazide derivatives - CMD-4, CMJ-33 and CMT-67, was evaluated in experiments on white rats after subcutaneous administration in two different doses (0.1 and 1.0 µM / kg) 3 times a week for 30 days. The main indices of oxidative stress were evaluated: the level of malonic dialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide derivatives (NO), S-nitrosothiols, advanced glycation end products (AGEs), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) and ischemia-modified proteins (IMP), and antioxidant system: - superoxidismutase (SOD) and catalase activity (CAT), the level of histidine (His) and total antioxidant activity (TAA) in liver tissue of white rats.
The administration of CC resulted in the reduction of oxidative stress indices - MDA, AGEs and S-nitrosothiols, which denotes the antioxidant effect of the studied compounds. The level of NO and AOPP derivatives does not change substantially. When administering CMD-4 (1 µM / kg), SOD activity and catalase function decreased markedly. Changes in the content of His and TAA have been shown to be inconclusive, maintaining within the limits of the values recorded in the control group.
The elucidation of the modifications of the free radicals processes in liver tissues, which are the basis of the CC action, broadens the theoretical knowledge about the biological properties of a number of chemical compounds; as well provide new possibilities to explore perspective objects in order to obtain new efficient drug preparations.