OBJECTIVETo examine changes of blood oxidative-antiovidative level in schizophrenic patients and its relationship with clinical symptoms.

METHODSForty-six Chinese patients met DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV) criteria for schizophrenia and fifty age- and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled in the present study. Baseline psychiatric symptom severity was assessed with brief psychiatric rating scale, positive and negative syndrome scale on the blood draw day. Fresh blood samples were collected to measure levels of nitric oxide and lipid peroxide in plasma as well as activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase in red blood cells by spectrophotometric assays simultaneously.

RESULTSComparison of the biochemical parameters indicated that the level of nitric oxide and lipid peroxide increased in patient group, which represented a positive correlation with positive scale scores; while the activities of three critical enzymes decreased and showed a negative linear correlation.

CONCLUSIONThis study showed that there are dysregulation of free radical metabolism and poor activities of the antioxidant defense systems in schizophrenic patients. Excess free radicals formation may play a critical role in the etiology of schizophrenia. Using antioxidants might be an effective therapeutic approach to partially alleviate or prevent the symptoms of schizophrenia.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Female ; Free Radicals ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxides ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Schizophrenia ; etiology ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe effects of ginsenoside-Rb (G-Rb) on total cholesterol, lipoprotein cholesterol metabolism and anti-oxidation in experimental hyperlipidemia rats.

METHODHyperlipidemia rats were respectively given G-Rb 50, 100, 200 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) ig for twelve days. Total cholesterol, lipoprotein cholesterol and lipid peroxidation (LPO) contents, prostacycline (PGI2), thromboxane (TXA2), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and blood viscosity were measured. Fat accumulation in liver was also observed.

RESULTTriglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) in serum, TXA2 in plasma, LPO in serum and liver, and blood viscosity were decreased significantly. High density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) in serum, PGI2 in plasma and SOD in serum and liver were significantly increased by G-Rb (100, 200 mg x kg(-1)) in experimental hyperlipidemia rats. In addition, G-Rb could decrease TC/HDL-c, LDLc/HDL-c ratio, increase PGI2/TXA2 ratio and inhibit fat accumulation in liver.

CONCLUSIONG-Rb could have anti-arteriosclerosis effect by improving cholesterol and lipoprotein-cholesterol metabolism, suppressing lipid peroxidation, increasing anti-oxidase activity and PGI2/TXA2 ratio.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Female ; Ginsenosides ; pharmacology ; Hyperlipidemias ; metabolism ; Lipid Peroxides ; metabolism ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

This study was performed to investigate the age-related changes of the lipid metabolism and thrombogenic capacity in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats at the ages of 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24 months old. Total lipid, triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol in plasma and liver, HDL-cholesterol concentration, and eicosanoid contents in plasma were measured. Lipid peroxides were determined by the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) in LDL fraction. Body weight was increased continuous until 16 months and decreased after 20 months. Epididymal fat pad (EFP) weight was increased continuously until 20 months and decreased at 24 months. Total lipid and TG concentrations in plasma were increased until 20 months and then rapidly decreased at 24 months but plasma cholesterol was increased continuously with aging. HDL-cholesterol level was increased continuously until 12 months, but decreased at 16 months and maintained there after. The TBARS levels in LDL fraction were the highest level at 24 months. Liver total lipid, TG, and total cholesterol concentrations were shown a tendency to increase with aging, and especially TG concentration was increased rapidly from 12 months to 16 months. Plasma thromboxane B2 (TXB2) and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 (6-keto-PGF1) contents did not change with aging, but the ratio of TXB2/6-keto-PGF1 was increased with aging, especially from 8 to 12 months. These results showed that lipid levels in plasma and liver, TBARS levels in LDL fraction, and TXB2/6-keto- PGF1 ratio were increased with aging.
Adipose Tissue ; Aging ; Animals ; Body Weight ; Child, Preschool ; Cholesterol ; Humans ; Lipid Metabolism* ; Lipid Peroxides ; Liver ; Plasma ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances ; Thromboxane B2 ; Triglycerides

OBJECTIVETo observe clinical therapeutic effect of head point-through-point electroacupuncture on Parkinson's disease and the mechanism.

METHODSSeventy-six cases of Parkinson's disease were randomly divided into a treatment group (n=37) treated with head point-through-point electroacupuncture and oral administration of madopa, and a control group (n=39) with only oral administration of madopa. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and lipids peroxides (LPO) were determined before and after treatment.

RESULTSThe effective rate was 97.3% in the treatment group and 61.5% in the control group with a very significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01). SOD activity and LPO content were significantly improved after treatment in the treatment group (P < 0.01), with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONHead point-through-point electroacupuncture can improve SOD activity and LPO content in the body so as to cure Parkinson's disease.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Aged ; Electroacupuncture ; methods ; Female ; Head ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxides ; analysis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parkinson Disease ; metabolism ; therapy ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the plasma levels of ascorbic acid and vitamin E in patients with liver cirrhosis and to explore their significance.

METHODSThe plasma levels of ascorbic acid,vitamin E and lipoperoxides in patients with liver cirrhosis were measured, and the results were compared with those of sex-and age-matched healthy subjects.

RESULTThe plasma levels of ascorbic acid, vitamin E and lipoperoxides in the patients group were (42.94 +/-6.99)micromol/L, (17.99 +/-3.51)micromol/L and (14.09 +/-1.28)micromol/L, respectively, while those in the control group were (53.30 +/-9.45)micromol/L (t=9.50, P=0.000), (24.59 +/-7.22)micromol/L (t=7.94, P=0.000) and (12.11 +/-1.20)micromol/L (t=17.21, P=0.000), respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe levels of ascorbic acid and vitamin E in patients with liver cirrhosis decrease significantly,which may indicates the disturbance of balance between oxidation and antioxidation.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Ascorbic Acid ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxides ; blood ; Liver Cirrhosis ; blood ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Vitamin E ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the acting mechanism of Buxu Huayu Qutan Decoction (BHQD) for impacting the anti-oxidative capacity in aged patients with stable angina pectoris of coronary heart disease (AP-CHD).

METHODSForty patients of AP-CHD, Chinese medicine diagnosed as Xiong-bi, were equally assigned to the treatment group and the control group. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and lipid peroxide (LPO) contents in blood, and mRNA expression of manganese-containing superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) in peripheral mononuclear cells were determined before and after treatment by biochemical and molecular biologic techniques.

RESULTSNo significant change of plasma SOD and LPO was found in the control group after treatment (P >0.05), while the plasma SOD activity increased and LPO content lowered in the treatment group significantly (P<0.01). Moreover, mRNA expression of MnSOD in the treatment group after treatment was obviously higher than that in the control group (P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe acting mechanism of BHQD for AP-CHD treatment might partially due to its effects in inducing gene expression of MnSOD in mononuclear cells, enhancing SOD activity, decreasing LPO content, maintaining oxidation/antioxidation equilibrium in myocardial cells, blocking the chain reaction of lipid peroxidation, intervening the production and enhancing the scavenging of oxygen free radicals.

Aged ; Angina Pectoris ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Coronary Disease ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Lipid Peroxides ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oxidative Stress ; Phytotherapy ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

Aging ; physiology ; Animals ; Catalase ; metabolism ; Circadian Rhythm ; Free Radicals ; metabolism ; Lipid Peroxides ; metabolism ; Male ; Melatonin ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Thymus Hormones ; pharmacology

This study was performed to investigate the effect of chongkukjang intake on lipid metabolism and liver function in ethanol consumed rats. Twenty one Sprague-Dawley male rats aging 4 weeks old were used as experimental animals, which were divided into three dietary groups: casein diet (CA), soybean diet (SB) and chongkukjang diet (CJ). Alcohol was consumed with water as 25% (v/v) ethanol solution. After 4 weeks of experimental period, rats were sacrificed to get blood and liver samples for analysis of lipids, lipid peroxides, antioxidative enzymes and biochemical indices of liver function. The mean body weight, food intake and liver index were not significantly different among three groups. Serum level of total lipid, triglyceride and total cholesterol of chongkukjang diet group was the lowest among three groups although the difference was not significant. HDL-cholesterol level was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in chongkukjang diet group than that of casein diet group. LDL-cholesterol level of chongkukjang and soybean diet group was significantly (p < 0.05) lower than that of casein diet group respectively. Liver TBARS of chongkukjang and soybean diet group was significantly (p < 0.05) lower than that of casein diet group respectively. The superoxide dismutase activity of chongkukjang diet group was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than that of casein diet group. Catalase activity was not significantly different among three groups. As indices of liver function, glutamic oxaloacetic transminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transminase (GPT), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GTP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were not significantly different among three groups. Serum alcohol concentration and activities of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) were not significantly different among three groups. The chongkukjang diet seems to give a beneficial effect for improving lipid metabolism by increasing HDLcholesterol level and SOD activity while reducing liver TBARS level. However, effect on liver function has to be investigated further.
Aging ; Alcohol Dehydrogenase ; Aldehyde Dehydrogenase ; Animals ; Body Weight ; Caseins ; Catalase ; Cholesterol ; Diet ; Eating ; Ethanol* ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase ; Humans ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; Lipid Metabolism* ; Lipid Peroxides ; Liver* ; Male ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Soybeans ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances ; Triglycerides ; Water

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is the mixture of positional and geometric isomers of linoleic acid (LA), which is found abundantly in dairy products and meats. This study was performed to investigate the anticarcinogenic effect of CLA in HepG2 hepatoma cells. HepG2 cell were treated with LA and CLA at the various concentrations of 10, 20, 40, 80 uM each at different incubation times. After each incubation times, cell proliferation, fatty acids incorporation into cell, peroxidation and postaglandin E2 (PGE2) and thromboxane A2 (TXA2) for the eicosanoid metabolism were measured. LA treated HepG2 cells were increased cell growth 6 - 70% of control whereas CLA increased cell death the half of those in LA group (p < 0.001). LA and CLA were incorporated very well into the cellular membranes four times higher than in control according to concentration and longer incubation times. Moreover, LA synthesized significantly arachidonic acids corresponding with LA concentration compared to CLA supplementation. The supplementation with LA increased intracellular lipid peroxides concentration corresponding with LA concentration and five times higher than those in CLA significantly at any incubation times (p < 0.001). PGE2 and TXA2 levels were three to twenty times lower in condition of CLA treatments than LA, respectively. Overall, the dietary CLA might change the HepG2 cell growth by the changes of cell composition, production of lipid peroxide. Since CLA have not changed the levels of arachidonic acid of cell membrane, which was sources of eicosanoids, eicosanoid synthesis was not increased in CLA compared to LA. Our results was suggest CLA has a possibility to protect the progress of atherosclerosis because CLA does not produce lipid production and endothelial contraction factors in liver.
Anticarcinogenic Agents ; Arachidonic Acid ; Arachidonic Acids ; Atherosclerosis ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Cell Death ; Cell Membrane ; Cell Proliferation ; Dairy Products ; Dinoprostone ; Eicosanoids ; Fatty Acids ; Hep G2 Cells* ; Humans* ; Linoleic Acid ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Lipid Peroxides ; Liver ; Meat ; Membranes ; Metabolism ; Thromboxane A2

This study was performed to investigate the effect of dietary beta-carotene supplementation on lipid metabolism and antioxidant enzyme activities in hyperlipidemic rats. Fifty Sprague-Dawley male rats aging 7 weeks were fed the control diet (CD, 5% corn oil) and the high fat diet (HFD, 15% beef tallow + 1% cholesterol) for 4 weeks and then 0.02% beta-carotene was supplemented to CD and HFD group for 8 more weeks. Serum lipid compositions, lipid peroxides and antioxidative enzymes in liver were analyzed at 4, 8 and 12week of the experiment. Serum levels of total lipid, total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol, VLDL-cholesterol were higher in HFD groups than in CD groups (p < 0.001). Serum levels of HDL-cholesterol were higher in CD groups than in HFD groups (p < 0.01). The effect of beta-carotene supplementation was not significant in all groups but tended to be lower in total lipid, total cholesterol and triglyceride. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels in plasma and liver were showed significantly higher in HFD groups (p < 0.001, p < 0.05). The effects of beta-carotene supplementation on the level of plasma and liver TBARS were not found except HFD groups at 12 week. Liver conjugated diene levels in HFD groups were higher than in CD groups (p < 0.01), but the effect of beta-carotene supplementation did not show any differences. Liver lipofuscin levels were not significantly different among all groups. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase were significantly lower in HFD groups at 8 week (p < 0.001) but were not significantly different at 4 and 12week. The activity of SOD in beta-carotene supplemented HFD group was significantly higher at 8 week (p < 0.01). Glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) activity was significantly lower in HFD groups (p < 0.01) and was significantly increased in groups supplemented beta-carotene (p < 0.05). It is suggested that beta-carotene supplementation partly decreases the serum lipid and lipid peroxide levels and increases the activities of antioxidant enzymes in hyperlipidemic rats.
Aging ; Animals ; beta Carotene* ; Catalase ; Cholesterol ; Diet ; Diet, High-Fat ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; Humans ; Lipid Metabolism ; Lipid Peroxides* ; Lipofuscin ; Liver ; Male ; Plasma ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances ; Triglycerides ; Zea mays