Synergistic Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Physical Activity on Oxidative Stress Markers and Antioxidant Mechanisms in Aged Rats.

Background: Aging induces degenerative processes in the body, contributing to the onset of various age-associated diseases that affect the population. Inadequate dietary habits and low physical activity are major contributors to increased morbidity during aging. This study aimed to investigate the combined effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation and physical activity on the markers of oxidative stress and antioxidant defense mechanisms in aged male Wistar rats (23-24 months).

Longitudinal Assessment of Cognitive Function in Survivors of Testicular Germ Cell Tumor.

Background And Objective: Survivors of testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT) may experience long-term cognitive changes. The aim of our prospective study was to longitudinally assess cognitive function among TGCT survivors to identify potential lasting cognitive changes over a period of 5 yr.

Methods: TGCT survivors (n = 151) completed Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Cognitive Function (FACT-Cog) questionnaires annually, with median time to first follow-up visit (FUV) of 8 (range 4-24) yr since completion of treatment.

Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN) as a Predictor of Decreased Quality of Life in Testicular Germ Cell Tumor Survivors.

Background: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) after curative treatment for testicular germ cell tumors (GCTs) has been previously reported. It has been shown that CIPN can contribute to impaired quality of life (QOL) in cancer survivors. Herein, we aimed to evaluate CIPN in association with QOL in GCT survivors.

Prognostic role of plasma vitamin D and its association with disease characteristics in germ cell tumours.

Background: Testicular cancer is the most common malignancy among young men. Vitamin D has pluripotent effects on cancer pathogenesis and plays a role in the metastatic cascade. The aim of this study is to analyze plasma vitamin D in association with clinico-pathological findings and prognosis in patients with germ-cell tumors (GCTs).

Cognitive impairment and biomarkers of gut microbial translocation in testicular germ cell tumor survivors.

Background: Survivors of testicular germ cell tumors (GCT) may suffer from late cognitive impairment. We hypothesized that disruption of intestinal barrier during chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy may be a contributing factor of cognitive dysfunction within the gut-blood-brain axis.

Methods: GCT survivors (N = 142) from National Cancer Institute of Slovakia completed the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Cognitive Function questionnaires during their annual follow-up visit at 9-year median (range 4-32).

Phase II study of Disulfiram and Cisplatin in Refractory Germ Cell Tumors. The GCT-SK-006 phase II trial.

Background: Multiple relapsed/refractory germ cell tumor (GCT) patients have extremely poor prognosis. Cisplatin resistant testicular GCTs overexpress aldehyde-dehydrogenase (ALDH) isoforms and inhibition of ALDH activity by disulfiram is associated with reconstitution of cisplatin sensitivity in vitro as well as in animal model. This study aimed to determine the efficacy and toxicity of ALDH inhibitor disulfiram in combination with cisplatin in patients with multiple relapsed/refractory GCTs.

Improvement in cardiovascular risk markers by the combined effect of natural polyphenols and vitamins in patients after kidney transplantation.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of supportive therapy by natural polyphenols combined with vitamins C and E on kidney function and risk factors of cardiovascular diseases in renal transplant recipients (RTR).

Background: Transplant patients have an altered lipid profile associated with the development of cardiovascular disease, which is a major cause of graft loss and mortality in patients.

Methods: The study included 29 renal transplant recipients with mean graft function levels.

Long-Term Cognitive Dysfunction in Cancer Survivors.

Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) is a frequent side effect experienced by an increasing number of cancer survivors with a significant impact on their quality of life. Different definitions and means of evaluation have been used in available literature; hence the exact incidence of CRCI remains unknown. CRCI can be described as cognitive symptoms reported by cancer patients in self-reported questionnaires or as cognitive changes evaluated by formal neuropsychological tests.

Covalent and noncovalent interactions of coordination compounds with DNA: An overview.

Deoxyribonucleic acid plays a central role in crucial cellular processes, and many drugs exert their effects through binding to DNA. Since the discovery of cisplatin and its derivatives considerable attention of researchers has been focused on the development of novel anticancer metal-based drugs. Transition metal complexes, due to their great diversity in size and structure, have a big potential to modify DNA through diverse types of interactions, making them the prominent class of compounds for DNA targeted therapy.

Challenges and solutions in management of cardiotoxicity induced by checkpoint inhibitors.

Background: The use of immune checkpoint inhibitors has dramatically improved the prognosis of many cancer patients. However, their increasing use has also revealed several unexpected side effects - including cardiovascular complications. Increased attention was paid to them in recent years only, especially due to their potentially fatal character.

Role of oxidative stress, adiponectin and endoglin in the pathophysiology of erectile dysfunction in diabetic and non-diabetic men.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) and diabetes mellitus (DM) share common pathophysiological risk factors including endothelial dysfunction which together with hyperglycemia contribute to the increased oxidative/glycooxidative stress. A reduced NO concentration is insufficient for relaxation processes in the penis. Chronic inflammation and endoglin are involved in the regulation of endothelial function.

The effect of natural polyphenols on the oxidative stress markers in patients with diabetic nephropathy.

Background: Nephropathy remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the diabetic population and is the leading cause of end-stage renal failure, hence kidney transplantations. As a result of the diabetic milieu, increased generation of reactive oxygen species is thought to play a key role in the progression of diabetic nephropathy. Aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Pycnogenol (Pyc), the extract from Pinus pinaster, on the level of glucose, advanced glycation end products (AGE) and oxidative stress markers in patients with Diabetic nephropathy (DN).

An Effect of Oak-Wood Extract (Robuvit®) on Energy State of Healthy Adults-A Pilot Study.

The purpose of our study was to examine the psychological benefits of the treatment with Robuvit® (Horphag Research Ltd.) - polyphenolic extract obtained from the wood of oak Quercus robur - on the healthy elderly individuals using energy subscale scores of the Activation - Deactivation Adjective Check List. Analysis was focused on the comparison of pre-post treatment effect of Robuvit on symptoms of fatigue.

Influence of oak wood polyphenols on cysteine, homocysteine and glutathione total levels and PON1 activities in human adult volunteers - a pilot study.

Oxidative stress reflects an imbalance between antioxidants and pro-oxidants. Many diseases like atherosclerosis or heart failure are involved in oxidative stress. Increased oxidative stress is one of the potential contributing factors to aging.

Effect of the French oak wood extract Robuvit on markers of oxidative stress and activity of antioxidant enzymes in healthy volunteers: a pilot study.

We examined in vitro antioxidant capacity of polyphenolic extract obtained from the wood of oak Quercus robur (QR), Robuvit, using TEAC (Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity) method and the effect of its intake on markers of oxidative stress, activity of antioxidant enzymes, and total antioxidant capacity in plasma of 20 healthy volunteers. Markers of oxidative damage to proteins, DNA, and lipids and activities of Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were determined in the erythrocytes. We have found an in vitro antioxidant capacity of Robuvit of 6.

Probiotics and vitamin C for the prevention of respiratory tract infections in children attending preschool: a randomised controlled pilot study.

Background: This pilot study investigates the efficacy of a probiotic consortium (Lab4) in combination with vitamin C on the prevention of respiratory tract infections in children attending preschool facilities.

Subjects/methods: In a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled pilot study with children aged 3-6 years, 57 received 1.25 × 10(10) colony-forming units of Lactobacillus acidophilus CUL21 (NCIMB 30156), Lactobacillus acidophilus CUL60 (NCIMB 30157), Bifidobacterium bifidum CUL20 (NCIMB 30153) and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp.

Effect of natural polyphenols (Pycnogenol) on oxidative stress markers in children suffering from Crohn's disease--a pilot study.

Crohn's disease (CD) is a nonspecific, chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract. It is supposed that in etiopathogenesis oxidative stress (OS) plays a role. However, its precise role in the active and non-active states of disease is not known yet.

Effects of N1-methylnicotinamide on oxidative and glycooxidative stress markers in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus.

Objectives: This study was focused on the monitoring how the anti-inflammatory substance, N(1)-methylnicotinamide (MNA), could influence oxidation and glycooxidation stress markers in rats under conditions of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes mellitus.

Methods: Diabetes mellitus was induced in 60 male Wistar rats by intraperitoneal injection of STZ and after 7 days diabetic animals were allocated to five groups according to the dose of MNA administered for 7 weeks. The degree of DNA damage in lymphocytes, as well as advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs), protein carbonyls, lipid peroxides, and total antioxidant capacity (TEAC) in plasma were measured.

Influence of pyridoxylidene aminoguanidine on biomarkers of the oxidative stress and selected metabolic parameters of rats with diabetes mellitus.

Oxidative damage is considered to play an important role in the pathogenesis of several diseases, such as diabetes mellitus (DM), atherosclerosis, cardiovascular complications and chronic renal failure. DM is associated with the oxidative stress and formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Different drugs inhibit oxidative stress and formation of advanced glycation end products.

The effect of selected membrane active substances on erythrocyte deformability.

Aminoguanidine improved the erythrocyte filterability by 4%, pyridoxyliden-aminoguanidine by 11% and pyridoxal by 13% in healthy subjects. In diabetic patients the aminoguanidine effect on erythrocyte filterability was improved by 7%, PAG effect by 9% and pyridoxal effect by 15% in comparison to the control group. The other investigated haematological variables in both groups were within the range of the physiological standard.

Fluidising effect of resorcylidene aminoguanidine on sarcolemmal membranes in streptozotocin-diabetic rats: blunted adaptation of diabetic myocardium to Ca2+ overload.

The "remodelling" of cardiac sarcolemma in diabetes is believed to underlie the reduced sensitivity of diabetic hearts due to their overload with extracellular calcium. Along with a non-enzymatic glycosylation and the free radical-derived glycoxidation of sarcolemmal proteins there is ongoing reduction in cardiomyocyte membrane fluidity, the modulator of cardiac sarcolemmal functioning. Aminoguanidine derivatives, that inhibit glycation and glycoxidation, might suppress myocardium "remodelling" occurring in diabetic heart.

[Effect of vitamin C and E on nonenzymatic glycation and physico- chemical properties of isolated erythrocyte membranes in diabetic patients].

Non-enzymatic glycation, accompanied by the formation of free radicals, represents a serious problem in diabetes mellitus. It is supposed to be the cause of the development of long-term diabetic complications. The aim of this work was to estimate the effect of treatment with vitamin C (1 g per day) and E (600 mg per day) on selected biochemical parameters as well as to determine the physicochemical state of erythrocyte membranes in diabetics.

Antioxidant systems in polymorphonuclear leucocytes of Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Aims: To examine the effect of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) on enzymes of importance for oxygen-dependent killing of microorganisms by leucocytes.

Methods: Twenty patients with Type 2 DM and 20 nondiabetic controls provided blood samples for analysis.

Results: The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was lower by 41% in polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNL) from patients with Type 2 DM than in controls (3.