Impact of stress, gender and menstrual cycle on immune system: possible role of nitric oxide.

Stress is a factor found to be involved in the etiology of many diseases. Gender and menstrual cycle phases are other factors affecting the predisposition of individuals for certain diseases. Results from animal and human studies suggest that the distribution of immune system cells may change at different phases of the menstrual cycle.

Protective effect of antioxidant vitamins on red blood cell lipoperoxidation induced by SO2 inhalation.

The aim of this research was to determine whether administration of antioxidant vitamins can reduce oxidant damage in erythrocytes induced by sulfur dioxide (SO2) inhalation. Meth- and sulfhemoglobin ratios, malonyldialdehyde (MDA) levels, osmotic fragility ratios and hematological parameters of a total of 28 rats were compared. SO2 was given at 10 ppm, 1 hour daily, for 45 days in a specially designed chamber.