Green tea supplementation in rats of different ages mitigates ethanol-induced changes in brain antioxidant abilities.

Oxidative stress induced by chronic ethanol consumption, particularly in aging subjects, has been implicated in the pathophysiology of many neurodegenerative diseases. Antioxidants with polyphenol structures, such as those contained in green tea, given alone for 5 weeks in liquid Lieber de Carli diet followed by administration with ethanol for 4 weeks with ethanol have been investigated as potential therapeutic antioxidant agents in the brain in rats of three ages (2, 12, and 24 months). Ethanol consumption caused age-dependent decreases in brain superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and catalase activities.

[Concentration of glutathione (GSH), ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and substances reacting with thiobarbituric acid (TBA-rs) in single human brain metastases].

The aim of the study was to estimate the concentration of glutathione (GSH), ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and thiobarbituric acid (TBA-rs) in single human brain metastases and histologically unchanged nerve tissue. The research was conducted on fragments of neoplasmatic tissue collected from 45 patients undergoing surgery in the Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Białystok in years 1996-2002. Concentration of GSH was evaluated using the GSH-400 method, vitamin C using the method of Kyaw and TBA-rs using the method of Salaris and Babs.

Evaluation of antioxidant enzymes activity and concentration of non-enzymatic antioxidants in human brain tumours.

Unlabelled: The purpose of our research was to assess the activity of GSH-Px, GSSG-R, SOD-1 and concentration of GSH, Vit.C and reactive substances with thiobarbituric acid, in brain tumours with Ist, IInd, IIIrd and IVth levels of biological malignancy. The research was conducted in 105 samples obtained from patients undergoing surgery in the Department of Neurosurgery of the Medical University of Białystok between the years 1996-2001.

The decrease in antioxidant potential in human brain tumours.

Unlabelled: The objective of our research was to estimate the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD-1), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and glutathione reductase (GSSG-R), as well as the concentrations of free oxygen radicals "sweepers" (GSH, Vit.C) and the concentrations of the substances reacting with thiobarbituric acid in brain tumours with II, III and IV level of biological malignancy. The research was conducted on 61 samples obtained from the patients operated in the Department of Neurosurgery of the Medical Academy of Białystok between the years 1996 and 2000.

[The role of platelet activating factor (PAF) in physiology and pathology of the central nervous system].

This review describes the role of platelet activating factor (PAF) in the central nervous system injury. Cerebral ischaemia, traumatic injury of central nervous system, metabolic, toxic and degenerative neuropathy, and also the increase in Ca2+ concentration in the cell, are strong stimulators of PAF synthesis and its release from cell membranes. Neurons, glial and microglial cells, monocyte cell populations, macrophages and endothelial cells of blood vessels are the targets of platelet activating factor.