Protective effects of N-acetylcysteine on the peroxidative changes of rat lungs exposed to inhalation of thinners.

Objective: Long-term inhalation of thinners may cause damage, both to the lungs and to other organ systems. It causes cellular damage via formation of reactive oxygen species. The lung is protected from oxidative stress by the glutathione (GSH) antioxidant system which can be augmented by the thiol drug, N-acetylcysteine (NAC).

Malondialdehyde, glutathione, glutathione peroxidase and homocysteine levels in type 2 diabetic patients with and without microalbuminuria.

Background: High levels of homocysteine and oxidative stress are known to be associated with premature vascular disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). The aim of this study was to estimate homocysteine levels and oxidant-antioxidant status and to determine the relationship between them in type 2 diabetic patients with and without microalbuminuria.

Methods: Fasting blood samples were obtained from 48 diabetic patients (17 with and 31 without microalbuminuria) and 20 healthy subjects.