Anti-MCV and anti-CCP antibodies-diagnostic and prognostic value in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

The goal of the study was to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic value of anti-mutated citrullinated vimentin (anti-MCV) antibodies in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) comparing to anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP). Thirty children with confirmed JIA diagnosis and 20 children as a control group were included into the study. Serum and synovial fluid levels of anti-CCP, anti-MCV, and immunoglobulin M rheumatoid factor (IgM-RF) antibodies have been assessed.

The relationship between peripheral blood mononuclear cells telomere length and diet - unexpected effect of red meat.

Background: Repeated nucleotide sequences combined with proteins called telomeres cover chromosome ends and dictate cells lifespan. Many factors can modify telomere length, among them are: nutrition and smoking habits, physical activities and socioeconomic status measured by education level. The aim of the study was to determine the influence of above mentioned factors on peripheral blood mononuclear cells telomere length.

Reactive oxygen species and serum antioxidant defense in juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

In autoimmune inflammatory diseases, including juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), which leads to joint destruction, there is an imbalance between production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and their neutralization which, as a consequence, leads to "oxidative stress." The aim of the study was to assess the concentration of oxidative stress markers: nitric oxide (NO), a degree of lipid membrane damage, and total antioxidant plasma capacity in children with JIA. Thirty-four children with JIA were included into the study.

Myocardial oxidative stress in patients with active infective endocarditis.

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) induces the rise of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Some of them can stimulate oxidants production in myocardium with subsequent peroxidative damage to various biomolecules. We compared indices of oxidative stress: H2O2, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARs), thiols in myocardium specimens between patients with active IE and those with valvular heart disease (VHD) of rheumatic etiology who underwent surgical valve replacement.

Uric acid but not apple polyphenols is responsible for the rise of plasma antioxidant activity after apple juice consumption in healthy subjects.

Objective: To determine whether (1) rapid consumption of 1 L of apple juice increases blood antioxidant capacity, measured as ferric-reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) and serum 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity, and (2) apple polyphenols or fructose-induced elevation of plasma uric acid contributes to post-juice increase of blood antioxidant activity.

Methods: The study involved 12 (mean age 32 ± 5 years, mean body weight 73 ± 7 kg) healthy nonsmoking subjects. Tested subjects consumed 1 L of clear apple juice and then FRAP; serum DPPH-scavenging activity, serum uric acid, and total plasma phenolics and quercetin levels were measured just before juice ingestion and 1, 2.

Is Hsp27 a marker of myocardial ischaemia?

Background: Heat shock protein (Hsp) 27 expression in cardiomyocytes increases in response to ischaemia. The extracellular release of Hsp27 from cardiomyocytes is proportional to its intracellular levels.

Aim: To assess the influence of significant coronary artery disease (CAD), which by definition results in chronic myocardial ischaemia, on blood serum levels of Hsp27.

No evidence of enhanced oxidant production in blood obtained from patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a recognized risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, perhaps due to causative exacerbations of systemic oxidative stress. Putative oxidative stress related to numerous episodes of intermittent hypoxia, may be an oxidants chief driving force in OSAS patients.

Methods: We assessed the resting and n-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP)- induced whole blood chemiluminescence (as a measure of oxidant production by polymorphonuclear leukocytes and monocytes), ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) and H2O2 generation in the whole blood of 27 untreated OSAS patients, 22 subjects after a night of CPAP therapy and 11 controls without OSAS.

Elevated resting and agonist-induced whole blood chemiluminescence in patients with active infective endocarditis.

Infective endocarditis (IE) and surgical procedures related to cardiac surgery are accompanied by inflammatory responses that may alter production of oxidants by phagocytes. This study evaluates luminol enhanced whole blood chemiluminescence (LBCL) as a measure of oxidative production by circulating phagocytes in 26 IE patients in comparison to 27 matched patients with acquired valvular heart disease and 25 healthy controls. Blood was collected the day before and 3, 7, 12 and 21 days after valve replacement surgery for LBCL measurement; resting (rCL) and agonist (fMLP)-stimulated total light emission (tCL).

Increased whole blood chemiluminescence in patients with chronic renal failure independent of hemodialysis treatment.

Introduction: The luminol-enhanced whole blood chemiluminescence (LBCL) assay is a rapid assay for the measurement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation by circulating phagocytes. This study's aim was to determine if patients on maintenance hemodialysis (HD) and non-dialyzed patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) have altered LBCL and if dialysis itself affects ROS production in the blood.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-six HD patients, 11 non-dialyzed patients with CRF, and 20 gender- and age-matched healthy controls were studied.

Increased hydrogen peroxide concentration in the exhaled breath condensate of stable COPD patients after nebulized N-acetylcysteine.

Background: The oxidative burden in the airways is a hallmark of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Aims: This prospective, cross-over, placebo (PL)-controlled study was designed to investigate the effect of N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) on hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), nitrites and nitrates (NO(2)(-)+NO(3)(-)), and thiol (RSH) concentrations in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) in stable COPD patients (n=19, aged 52.6+/-15.

Elevated exhalation of hydrogen peroxide and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in patients with community acquired pneumonia.

Background: Bacterial pneumonia involves influx of activated phagocytes into distal airways. These cells release oxidants including H2O2, that may be exhaled or induce peroxidative damage to lung tissues with formation of thiobarbituric reactive substances (TBARs).

Study Objectives: To determine whether concentrations of H2O2 and TBARs in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) is elevated and correlate with systemic response to pneumonia during 10 days of hospital treatment.

Effect of inhaled N-acetylcysteine on hydrogen peroxide exhalation in healthy subjects.

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has antioxidant properties and its oral administration decreased H(2)O(2) exhalation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In this study we tested whether inhaled NAC could suppress H(2)O(2) levels in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) of eight healthy subjects that have never smoked (never-smokers). Original NAC solution (ACC vial, 300 mg NAC in 3 ml solvent), NAC-placebo (vehicle), sterile 0.

Increased hydrogen peroxide in the exhaled breath of uraemic patients unaffected by haemodialysis.

Background: Uraemia is accompanied by conditions favouring the rise of H2O2 activity in body fluids. This results from the increased release of H2O2 by polymorphonuclear leukocytes and decreased plasma glutathione peroxidase activity. The purpose of this study was to determine if patients on chronic haemodialysis (HD) exhale more H2O2 than healthy individuals, and if dialysis affects breath H2O2 content.