Effect of ocimum flavonoids as a radioprotector on the erythrocyte antioxidants in oral cancer

Flavonoids extracted from the leaves of Indian holy basil, Ocimum sanctum showed promising results as radioprotector in rodents. Hence it was thought pertinent to analyze the antioxidants of erythrocytes in oral cancer patients who were concurrently treated with radiation and ocimum flavonoids. Oral cancer patients consisted of 2 groups. Group A (n=17) received radiation alone while Group B(n=17) received radiation and ocimum flavonoids(OF). Samples of heparinised blood were collected prior to treatment, 15 and 30 days respectively after treatment. Blood from normal healthy volunteers were taken as controls (n=25). Erythrocytes were analyzed for the antioxidants viz. glutathione, glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase by the standard methods. Results of analysis indicated that erythrocytes from cancer patients (Group A and B) had significantly high glutathione levels before as well as after treatment compared to controls. It was observed that Group B which received OF showed a significant reduction in glutathione levels in comparison with Group A. All the other parameters showed no statistical significant changes. Results of the study suggest that erythrocytes from cancer patients responded to oxidative stress by elevating glutathione levels, while a decrease in glutathione levels observed in Group B, could be due to the free radical scavenging effect of OF, sparing the glutathione. However OF did not seem to exert its effect on other antioxidants of erythrocytes.     

Evaluation of Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Status in Pregnant Anemic Women

The present study was conducted to investigate the oxidant–antioxidant status in iron deficient pregnant anemic women. One hundred thirty pregnant women with iron deficiency anemia (IDA) were divided into three groups, namely mild (50), moderate (50) and severe (30) anemic along with pregnant healthy women as controls (50). The complete blood count, plasma lipid peroxidation products, enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants were measured according to respective protocols. The levels of complete blood count, iron, ferritin along with antioxidant enzymes namely catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and reduced glutathione were significantly reduced in all IDA groups. However, the level of oxidized glutathione, lipid peroxides, protein carbonyls, conjugated dienes were found significantly increased in all anemic patients. Antioxidant vitamins, namely C, E and A were also found significantly decreased in IDA patients. On the basis of our results, it may be concluded that IDA tends to increase the pro-oxidant components, which may result in various complications including peroxidation of vital body molecules resulting in increased risk for pregnant women as well as fetus.     

Studies on biochemical changes with special reference to oxidant and antioxidants in malaria patients

Oxidative stress plays an important role in the development of malarial anemia. The present study was undertaken to study the role of oxidant and antioxidants in the patients ofPlasmodium falciparum malaria (n=25),Plasmodium vivax malaria (n=25) as against the normal control subjects (n=25). The parameters included are the hematological [hemoglobin, erythrocyte adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity, ADP-induced platelet aggregation] and serum total lipid peroxide as an index of oxidative stress and antioxidants [erythrocytic superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, serum vitamin E] & serum iron. Significant alterations in all above parameters were noted in both groups of malaria patients as compared to control subjects. Maximum significant alterations in hematological parameters were noticed inP. falciparum infection as compared toP. vivax malaria (p<0.001). Substantial rise in serum total lipid peroxides and a significant reduction in antioxidants such as serum vitamin E and serum iron were noted inP. falciparum malaria as compared toP. vivax malaria (p<0.001), whereas maximum decline in erythrocytic SOD activity was observed inP. vivax infection as compared toP. falciparum malaria (p<0.05). Follow-up examination revealed the restoration of the levels of all biochemical parameters to the normal level after 20 days of antimalarial therapy. The study specified severity ofP. falciparum malaria and also functional duality of oxidant.     

Effect ofOcimum sanctum (Tulsi) and vitamin E on biochemical parameters and retinopathy in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats

This study was carried out to see the effect of the aqueous extract ofOcitum sanctum Linn (Tulsi) with Vitamin E on biochemical parameters and retinopathy in the streptozotocin-induced diabetic albino male rats. Adult albino male rats weighing 150–200 gm were made diabetic by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin in the dose 60 mg/kg in citrate buffer (pH 6.3). The diabetic animals were left for one month to develop retinopathy. Biochemical parameters like plasma glucose, oral glucose tolerance and glycosylated hemoglobin HbA_1c, were measured along with lipid profile, and enzymes like glutathione peroxidase (GPX), lipid peroxidase (LPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) in normal, untreated diabetic rats and diabetic rats treated withOcimum sanctum L extracts and vitamin E. Fluorescein angiography test was done for assessing retinopathy. Results on biochemical parameters were analyzed statistically by using ANOVA followed by Dunnet's ‘t’-test. A p-value of <0.05 was considered as significant. Evaluation of biochemical profile in treated groups showed statistically significant reduction in plasma levels of glucose, HbA_1c, lipid profile and LPO, and elevation of GPX, SOD, CAT and GST. Treatment of the diabetic animals withOcimum sanctum and Vitamin E, alone and in combination for 16 weeks showed reversal of most of the parameters studied including plasma glucose levels. Angiography showed improvement in retinal changes following combined antidiabetic treatment.     

Role of bilirubin, vitamin C and ceruloplasmin as antioxidants in coronary artery disease [CAD]

A study has been carried out on 250 CAD patients to see how the serum levels of three antioxidants i.e., Vitamin C, Bilirubin and Ceruloplasmin are related to the CAD risk factors and characteristics in these patients. The number of severe category CAD patients declined by 7–18% with increasing serum levels of the three antioxidants and, triple vessel disease declined by 14–20%. A decline of 39% in Myocardial Infarction (MI) occurred with increasing serum Ceruloplasmin. Serum Ceruloplasmin was significantly lower in the MI group compared to the non MI group CAD patients. There was a steady and a significant decline in the mean values of serum levels of cholesterol, Triglyceride, VLDL cholesterol along with BMI with increasing serum level. The study indicates that with increasing serum levels of the three antioxidants studied, the % MI along with % Triple vessel disease and severity of CAD goes down suggesting that the modifiable risk factors have to be suitably modified in order to maintain a reasonably high level of these antioxidants, as the risk factors are inversely related to the serum antioxidant levels.     

Role of oxidative stress and antioxidants in aetiopathogenesis and management of oral submucous fibrosis

Lipid peroxidation product, malonaldehyde (MDA) and antioxidants were estimated in plasma and erythrocytes of 34 cases of oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) of different grades with equal number of healthy controls to evaluate the association of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and OSMF. While plasma MDA was found to be significantly higher in patients (3.3±0.4 nmole/ml, P<0.001) as compared to controls (2.4±0.5 nmole/ml), plasma beta carotene and vitamin E levels were found to be decreased significantly in patients (81.7±14.3 μg/100 ml, P<0.001; 9.3±0.9 mg/L, P<0.01 respectively) with respect to healthy controls (110±20.8 μg/100 ml and 10.1±1.2 mg/L). The decrease in beta-carotene and vitamin E was found to be more significant in OSMF grade II and III than in grade I. After 6 weeks of oral administration of beta-carotene and vitamin E, patients showed increase in plasma level of these two antioxidants along with decrease in MDA level associated with clinical improvement.     

Effect of vitamin E on protein bound carbhohydrate complexes in radiation treated oral squamous cell carcinoma patients

Serum glycoproteins were evaluated in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients treated with radiotherapy and also the effect of vitamin E was studied. Cell surface glycoconjugates are important parameters in the detection of malignancy. Thus, the objective of the present study is to evaluate the efficacy of vitamin E on glycoproteins in oral cavity cancer patients treated with radiotherapy. The study includes 26 age and sex matched normal healthy individuals and 26 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity. These patients were divided into two groups, one for radiotherapy alone (at a dosage of 6000 cGy in five fractions per week for a period of six weeks) and the other for radiotherapy plus vitamin E supplementation (at a dosage of 400 IU / day of vitamin E) for the entire period of radiotherapy. Levels of hexose, hexosamine, fucose and sialic acid were increased in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients and a significant decrease was observed in radiation treated patients when compared to control. The levels of glycoconjugates were significantly decreased in radiation treated patients supplemented with vitamin E. This measurement may be useful in assessing disease progression and identifying patients resistant to therapy and a possible role of vitamin E on reduction in glycoconjugate levels of radiation treated oral squamous cell carcinoma patients.     

Effect of supplementation of vitamin C and E on oxidative stress in osteoporosis

Osteoporosis encompasses a wide spectrum of conditions associated with imbalance of osteoclastic and osteoblastic activities. The increased activity of osteoclasts leads to increased free radical formation and hence lipid peroxidation. Present study probes into the role of antioxidants as a palliative treatment for osteoporosis. It involved 50 healthy controls and 75 clinically diagnosed osteoporosis patients. Both the groups underwent baseline assessment of biochemical markers viz. osteoblastic markers: serum Alkaline phosphatase. Free or ionic calcium and Inorganic phosphorus, osteoclastic markers: serum Tartarate resistant acid phosphatase and Malondialdehyde and the antioxidant status: serum Superoxide dismutase and Erythrocyte reduced glutathione. The osteoporotic group was then divided into groups A (Vitamin E-Evinal 400 mg), B (Vitamin C-Celin 500 mg), C (Vitamin E+C-Evinal+Celin) for antioxidant supplementation for a period of 90 days. The results reveal that there is significant fall in concentration of serum MDA (p<0.001), TrACP (p<0.01). Improvement in antioxidant status is reflected by significant rise in concentration of serum SOD (p<0.001) and erythrocyte GSH (p<0.001) after 90 days of antioxidant supplementation in osteoporosis. The findings indicate that on the whole bone status improved with prolonged antioxidant vitamin supplementation, which can be used as a palliative treatment for osteoporosis. The efficacy is not affected whether the vitamins are administered singly or conjointly.     

Hypomagnesaemia in type-2 diabetes mellitus patients: A study on the status of oxidative and nitrosative stress

This study was undertaken to evaluate the levels of plasma magnesium, lipid peroxides, nitric oxide end products, erythrocyte membrane lipid peroxides, erythrocyte reduced glutathione and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity in type-2 diabetes mellitus patients. 60 patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus and 30 healthy control subjects were included in this study. Among 60 type-2 diabetic patients, 30 patients were without complication and 30 patients were with various complications. Decreased levels of plasma magnesium, erythrocyte reduced glutathione and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity while increased levels of plasma lipid peroxides, nitric oxide end products and erythrocyte membrane lipid peroxides were observed in patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus. We propose that, under the shadow of hypomagnesaemia, there is excessive production of reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species as reflected by elevated lipid peroxides and nitric oxide end products concomitant with dwindled antioxidants and suggest their association with late complications in type-2 diabetes mellitus.     

Lipid peroxidation and the levels of antioxidant enzymes in coronary artery disease

Coronary Artery Disease is the major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Traditional risk factors account for only half of the morbidity and mortality from coronary artery disease. There is substantial evidence that oxidative stress plays the major role in the atherosclerotic process. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the level of lipid peroxidation (by measuring malondialdehyde) and antioxidant enzymes (ceruloplasmin, glutathione, superoxide dismutase) in coronary artery disease. Serum malondialdehyde levels and serum ceruloplasmin levels were significantly raised in all the subgroups of study group as compared to control group (p<0.001). Whole blood glutathione levels and hemolysate superoxide dismutase activity was significantly decreased in all the subgroups of study group as compared to control group (p<0.001). Above results suggests that the patients of coronary artery disease show increased oxidative stress and decreased levels of antioxidant enzymes. So it is recommended that the management protocol for coronary artery disease patients should include antioxidant supplementation along with simultaneous lowering of lipid peroxidation.     

Effect of antioxidants and antibiotics on levels of seminal oxidative stress in leukocytospermic infertile men

Defective sperm function is the most common cause of infertility. A prospective study was carried out to correlate the concentration of nitrite (the stable metabolite of nitric oxide) in seminal plasma with leukocytospermia, and sperm membrane integrity. Total Fifty-seven normozoospermic subjects with and without leukocytospermia visiting the Infertility clinic at KH and MRC, Karad, were included in the present study. Semen samples were checked for sperm concentration, total sperm count, sperm motility, seminal leukocyte concentration and sperm membrane integrity as Hypoosmotic Swelling Test. Similarly the concentration of nitrite in seminal plasma was measured by Griess reaction and total antioxidant power measured as ferric reducing ability of plasma. The concentration of nitrite in seminal plasma was found to be raised with significantly increased leukocyte concentration in semen. Also significantly lowered levels of total antioxidant power along with defective sperm function was observed. Our results suggest that supplementary treatment of antioxidants with antibiotic for leukocytospermic infertile male patients may improve the sperm membrane integrity.     

Evaluation of oxidative stress, antioxidants and prolactin in infertile women

The objective of the study was to estimate the serum concentrations of oxidative stress markers-lipid hydroperoxide (MDA-Malondialdehyde), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), nitrite; and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) — a measure of total antioxidant capacity in serum. Serum nitrite levels were high in fertile women than in infertile women (p<0.001), whereas MDA was high in infertile women than in fertile group (p<0.018). On classifying the entire group of women with infertility based on the etiology, serum MDA and LDH levels were higher in women with infertility due to unexplained factor than in women with other causes contributing to infertility compared to controls (p<0.001, p<0.02). A positive correlation among serum prolactin and nitrite suggested that hyperprolactinemia could contribute to infertility by inducing oxidative damage. Serum FRAP levels showed no significant difference in the groups studied. Lipid peroxidation was high in women with unexplained infertility which may be due to hyperprolactinemia.     

Hypoglycaemic, hypolipidemic and antioxidant properties of tulsi (Ocimum sanctum linn) on streptozotocin induced diabetes in rats

Effect of oral administration of 200 mg/Kg body weight of the aqueous extract ofOcimum sanctum (Tulsi) mixed with diet for eight weeks to diabetic (streptozotocin induced) rats was studied. There was significant reduction in fasting blood glucose, serum lipid profile, lipid peroxidation products, (LPO) and improvement in glucose tolerance. The aqueous extract also decreased LPO formation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances TBARS) and increased antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione transferase (GT) and one antioxidant reduced glutathione (GSH) in plasma and rat liver, lung, kidney and brain. The decrease in TBARS and increase in GSH, SOD, CAT, GPX, and GT clearly shows the antioxidant property ofOcimum sanctum.     

Evaluation of Oxidative Stress and DNA Damage in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Patients and Comparison with Controls

In the present study, oxidative stress and lymphocytic DNA damage in both pre-op and post-op benign prostrate hyperplasia (BPH) patients with age >50 years was evaluated and compared with normal healthy subjects (controls- without any evidence of disease) of the same sex and age group. From December 2007 to November 2009, oxidative stress in 45 BPH patients were evaluated both before (pre-op patients) and after 7 days of surgery (post-op patients) in terms of measurements of plasma levels of (1) various anti-oxidative enzymes, (2) non-enzymatic antioxidants and (3) malondialdehyde which is a product of lipid peroxidation. The lymphocyte DNA damage was also evaluated by single cell alkaline gel electrophoresis in terms of tail length migration in these patients. These values were compared with their respective control subjects of similar sex and age group. The activities of antioxidant enzymes and the levels of antioxidant, reduced glutathione were found significantly decreased (p < 0.05) in serum samples of pre-operative group of BPH patients as compared to the controls. These altered parameters increased significantly (p < 0.05) and returned to their near normal control values, but not up to baseline values, in post operative patients i.e. after the cancer load was decreased by surgery. Lymphocytic DNA damage was found to be significantly increased in pre-op group as compared to controls and was reduced after surgery in post-op group. The present study therefore, shows significantly increased levels of oxidative stress and DNA damage in BPH patients which were reduced after removal of tumour load. Thus oxidative damage plays an important role in prostate tumourogenesis and timely management of oxidative stress can be of importance in preventing the occurrence of BPH.     

Mn对6061合金组织和硬度的影响

通过扫描电镜/能谱仪、X射线衍射仪以及硬度计,研究了在6061合金中添加少量的 Mn,对6061合金的微观组织和硬度的影响。研究表明：在6061合金中添加微量的Mn,合金的微观组织中出现白色的鱼骨状和条块状的AlSiFeMn结晶相。在对含Mn量为0.7%的6061合金进行XRD分析时发现有Mn12Si7Al5相的衍射峰。对比6061合金的铸态硬度和时效硬度随Mn含量的变化趋势,发现添加微量的Mn对合金的铸态硬度的提高较明显,而对合金的时效硬度的提高所起的所用较小。     

浅谈高校科研管理部门在科技成果转化中的作用

在诸多影响高校科技成果转化的因素中,一个不能忽视的关键点就是高校的科研管理部门的中介作用。介绍了科研管理部门在科技成果转化中的定位及作用体现,并对如何充分发挥其自身中介作用提出了建议。     

再谈中医药在恶性肿瘤防治中的应用

肿瘤的治疗分为手术、放疗、化疗、生物治疗和中医中药治疗。中医中药治疗是肿瘤治疗的第五大手段,以其独特的学术理念和基于整体观的治疗方法为肿瘤患者,特别是已经失去手术机会的晚期恶性肿瘤患者提供了一种能改善生活质量、延长生存期的治疗手段;并对肿瘤的预防也起到一定的积极作用。     

技术联盟中技术合作效果的影响因素及对策研究

技术联盟作为企业间技术创新的合作模式,成为企业寻求技术进步的一种有效途径。但是,企业技术联盟中也存在着影响技术合作效果的诸多因素,为技术跨边界的有效合作制造了障碍。在文献研究的基础上,本文首先分析了技术联盟中影响技术合作效果的因素,包括技术特性、企业自身学习能力、企业的学习态度、联盟双方关系等;同时还提出了相应的对策措施,以期对促进企业在联盟中的技术合作效果有所帮助。     

战略导向均衡对产品创新与经营绩效影响研究

市场导向与技术导向是战略导向的核心内容,对科技企业持续成长具有重要价值。本文将组织均衡理论引入战略导向研究,探索"市场—技术"导向均衡对企业产品创新和经营绩效的影响机制。对228家科技企业数据的实证研究表明,两类战略导向匹配均衡对渐进型产品创新有积极作用,而两类战略导向联合均衡则对突破型产品创新影响显著;渐进型和突破型产品创新分别在匹配均衡和联合均衡与经营绩效关系中发挥部分中介作用;在不同环境动荡性条件下,产品创新与经营绩效关系存在差异性。研究结论对优化科技企业战略导向,推动产品创新并提升经营绩效具有理论价值和实践启示。     

Choronic effects of Lamotrigine on liver function in adult male rats

A number of newly developed antiepileptic drugs are currently in use, among them Lamotrigine (LTG) is more common. Despite the extensive use of this drug, it has not been possible to predict the side effects especially the hepatotoxic reactions after long-term treatment. The present study was designed to find out alterations in the activities of liver enzymes after chronic exposure of rats to different dose of LTG. Adults male (Wistar) rats were treated orally with LTG [5 mg/kg body weight or 25 mg/kg body wt.] for 60 days. After the experimental period, auto analyzer carried out liver function tests. The liver histopathology was obtained after scarifying the rats. There was a significant increase in the level of ALP, AST, ALT and bilirubin at therapeutic dose of LTG. The increase level of these enzymes and bilirubin at toxic dose were much higher and significant. However, the total protein and albumin significantly decreased at toxic dose of LTG. Elevation of liver enzymes and bilirubin after chronic exposure of rats to high dose of LTG reflects hepatocellular damage that may lead to hepatitis. It is concluded that regular liver function and drug monitoring should follow the treatment with LTG.