1. Initial glutathione depletion during short-term bed rest : pinpointing synthesis and degradation checkpoints in the γ-glutamyl cycleFilippo Giorgio Di Girolamo, Filippo Mearelli, Mariella Sturma, Nicola Fiotti, Kaja Teraž, Alja Ivetac, Alessio Nunnari, Pierandrea Vinci, Boštjan Šimunič, Rado Pišot, Gianni Biolo, 2024, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Hypokinesia triggers oxidative stress and accelerates the turnover of the glutathione system via the γ-glutamyl cycle. Our study aimed to identify the regulatory checkpoints controlling intracellular glutathione levels. We measured the intermediate substrates of the γ-glutamyl cycle in erythrocytes from 19 healthy young male volunteers before and during a 10-day experimental bed rest. Additionally, we tracked changes in glutathione levels and specific metabolite ratios up to 21 days of bed rest. Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and the internal standard technique, we observed a 9 ± 9% decrease in glutathione levels during the first 5 days of bed rest, followed by an 11 ± 9% increase from the 5th to the 10th day, nearly returning to baseline ambulatory levels. The cysteinyl-glycine-to-glutathione ratio, reflecting γ-glutamyl cyclotransferase activity (a key enzyme in glutathione breakdown), rose by 14 ± 22% in the first 5 days and then fell by 10 ± 14% over the subsequent 5 days, again approaching baseline levels. Additionally, the γ-glutamyl cysteine-to-cysteine ratio, indicative of γ-glutamyl cysteine synthetase activity (crucial for glutathione synthesis), increased by 12 ± 30% on day 5 and by 29 ± 41% on day 10 of bed rest. The results observed on day 21 of bed rest confirm those seen on day 10. By calculating the ratio of product concentration to precursor concentration, we assessed the efficiency of these key enzymes in glutathione turnover. These results were corroborated by directly measuring glutathione synthesis and degradation rates in vivo using stable isotope techniques. Our findings reveal significant changes in glutathione kinetics during the initial days of bed rest and identify potential therapeutic targets for maintaining glutathione levels. Ključne besede: antioxidant, muscle unloading, glutathion turnover, γ-glutamyl cycle, gamma-glutamyl cycle Objavljeno v DiRROS: 21.11.2024; Ogledov: 115; Prenosov: 1101 Celotno besedilo (1,84 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
2. Effect of the oral intake of astaxanthin on semen parameters in patients with oligo-astheno-teratozoospermia : a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trialSenka Imamović-Kumalić, Irma Virant-Klun, Eda Vrtačnik-Bokal, Bojana Pinter, 2021, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Background Higher concentrations of seminal reactive oxygen species may be related to male infertility. Astaxanthin with high antioxidant activity can have an impact on the prevention and treatment of various health conditions, including cancer. However, efficacy studies on astaxanthin in patients with oligospermia with/without astheno- or teratozoospermia (O+-A+-T) have not yet been reported. Our aim was to evaluate the effect of the oral intake of astaxanthin on semen parameters. Patients and methods In a randomized double-blind trial, 80 men with O+-A+-T were allocated to intervention with 16 mg astaxanthin orally daily or placebo. At baseline and after three months basic semen parameters, sperm deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragmentation and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) of spermatozoa and serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) value were measured. Results Analysis of the results of 72 patients completing the study (37 in the study group, 35 in the placebo group) did not show any statistically significant change, in the astaxanthin group no improvements in the total number of spermatozoa, concentration of spermatozoa, total motility of spermatozoa, morphology of spermatozoa, DNA fragmentation and mitochondrial membrane potential of spermatozoa or serum FSH were determined. In the placebo group, statistically significant changes in the total number and concentration of spermatozoa were determined. Conclusions The oral intake of astaxanthin did not affect any semen parameters in patients with O+-A+-T. Ključne besede: DNA fragmentation, antioxidant, cancer Objavljeno v DiRROS: 17.07.2024; Ogledov: 300; Prenosov: 195 Celotno besedilo (501,16 KB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
3. Antioxidant defence-related genetic variants are not associated with higher risk of secondary thyroid cancer after treatment of malignancy in childhood or adolescenceAna Lina Vodušek, Katja Goričar, Barbara Gazić, Vita Dolžan, Janez Jazbec, 2016, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Background. Thyroid cancer is one of the most common secondary cancers after treatment of malignancy in childhood or adolescence. Thyroid gland is very sensitive to the carcinogenic effect of ionizing radiation, especially in children. Imbalance between pro- and anti-oxidant factors may play a role in thyroid carcinogenesis. Our study aimed to assess the relationship between genetic variability of antioxidant defence-related genes and the risk of secondary thyroid cancer after treatment of malignancy in childhood or adolescence. Patients and methods. In a retrospective study, we compared patients with childhood or adolescence primary malignancy between 1960 and 2006 that developed a secondary thyroid cancer (cases) with patients (controls), with the same primary malignancy but did not develop any secondary cancer. They were matched for age, gender, primary diagnosis and treatment (especially radiotherapy) of primary malignancy. They were all genotyped for SOD2 p.Ala16Val, CAT c.-262C>T, GPX1 p.Pro200Leu, GSTP1 p.Ile105Val, GSTP1 p.Ala114Val and GSTM1 and GSTT1 deletions. The influence of polymorphisms on occurrence of secondary cancer was examined by McNemar test and Cox proportional hazards model. Results. Between 1960 and 2006 a total of 2641 patients were diagnosed with primary malignancy before the age of 21 years in Slovenia. Among them 155 developed a secondary cancer, 28 of which were secondary thyroid cancers. No significant differences in the genotype frequency distribution were observed between cases and controls. Additionally we observed no significant influence of investigated polymorphisms on time to the development of secondary thyroid cancer. Conclusions. We observed no association of polymorphisms in antioxidant genes with the risk for secondary thyroid cancer after treatment of malignancy in childhood or adolescence. However, thyroid cancer is one of the most common secondary cancers in patients treated for malignancy in childhood or adolescence and the lifelong follow up of these patients is of utmost importance. Ključne besede: secondary thyroid cancer, antioxidant genes, genetic polymorphism Objavljeno v DiRROS: 09.05.2024; Ogledov: 385; Prenosov: 261 Celotno besedilo (500,53 KB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
4. Is diet partly responsible for differences in COVID-19 death rates between and within countries? : protocol for a systematic reviewJean Bousquet, Josep M. Antò i Boquè, Guido Laccarino, Wienczyslawa Czarlewski, Tari Haahtela, Aram Anto, Cezmi A. Akdis, Hubert Blain, Giorgio Walter Canonica, Karmen Kramer Vrščaj, Tari Haahtela, Mitja Košnik, Anja Koren, Peter Kopač, Maja Jošt, Samo Kreft, Klemen Jenko, Bojan Madjar, Davor Plavec, Tanja Soklič, Jure Urbančič, Mihaela Zidarn, 2020, pregledni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Reported COVID-19 deaths in Germany are relatively low as compared to many European countries. Among the several explanations proposed, an early and large testing of the population was put forward. Most current debates on COVID-19 focus on the differences among countries, but little attention has been given to regional differences and diet. The low-death rate European countries (e.g. Austria, Baltic States, Czech Republic, Finland, Norway, Poland, Slovakia) have used different quarantine and/or confinement times and methods and none have performed as many early tests as Germany. Among other factors that may be significant are the dietary habits. It seems that some foods largely used in these countries may reduce angiotensin-converting enzyme activity or are anti-oxidants. Among the many possible areas of research, it might be important to understand diet and angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) levels in populations with different COVID-19 death rates since dietary interventions may be of great benefit. Ključne besede: coronavirus, diet, angiotensin-converting enzyme, antioxidant, food Objavljeno v DiRROS: 09.09.2020; Ogledov: 1864; Prenosov: 1478 Celotno besedilo (1,12 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |