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Background and Objectives: Oxidative stress has been implicated in various pathological consequences including such as cardiovascular disease , cancer, diabetes and aging. The present study investigated the effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Nasturtium Officinale on antioxidant status and DNA damage in arsenic -induced oxidative damage in liver and kidney tissue. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study ,48 male rats were selected and randomly divided into 6 groups: Group 1: normal healthy rat, group II was treated with sodium arsenite (SA) {i.p. injection at dose of 5.5 mg/kg body weight }, group III and group IV was treated with hydroalcoholic extract of N.Officinale (via gavage) at a dose of 200 and 500 mg/kg body weight respectively , group V and group VI was treated with hydroalcoholic extract of N.Officinale (via gavage) at a dose of 200 and 500 mg/kg body weight respectively + SA. Blood samples were collected and then examined antioxidant enzymes: Catalase (CAT), Superoxiddismutase (SOD) and Glutathion Peroxidase (GPx) activities, MDA (Malondialdehyde) content, 8OHdG concentration in liver and kidney. Results: Results of current study indicates that N.Officinale consumption significantly increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes and decreased MDA content, 8-OHdG(8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine) Concentration in liver. The consumption of plant extract significantly increased the activity of GPx in kidney. Conclusions: N.Officinale (Watercress) reduces the arsenic-induced oxidative damage in liver and it has the little protective effect in kidney. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Human milk is a complex biologic fluid that contains nutritional and protective factors such as Osteoprotegerin (OPG), at level that is 1000-fold higher than that found in normal human serum. Since OPG and Receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL) system are tightly involved in bone remodeling and immuno activity the present study was designated to evaluate the effect of breastfeeding on serum Soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (sRANKL)/ OPG ratio in full term neonates in comparison with those of formula feeding full term neonates. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study serum levels of OPG and sRANKL in 45 breastfed infants were compared with those of 44 formula-fed full term infants. The levels of serum OPG, sRANKL, were determined by standard techniques using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits (ELISA methods). Results: The serum levels of OPG were significantly higher in breastfed infants (P<0.001). No marked differences were observed between the serum levels of sRANKL in the two study groups (p=0.8). Conclusion: High OPG and level in serum of breastfed infants are important factors involved in remodeling of bone and immuno activity may prove superiority of breast feeding over formula feeding during infancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Wet type Age-related Macular Degeneration (Wet type AMD) is a debilitating ocular disease which generally occurs among elderly population. Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF- ) is a reactive phase protein which is associated with Alzheimer, atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes mellitus and aging. Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, 40 eyes of 40 patients with wet type age-related macular degeneration and 49 normal eyes of 49 healthy people were randomly selected and serum levels of TNF- , lipid profile and fasting blood glucose were checked. Results: The difference of mean ages and male to female ratio were not statistically significant (P=0.441, P=0.091). Serum level of TNF- was significantly higher among patients with retinal degeneration (Median (IQR) = 0.2 (0.1-0.58) vs. 0.1 (0-0.2); P=0.002). Conclusion: TNF- would have a role in the pathogenesis of the wet type age-related macular degeneration and pharmaceutical and/or non-pharmaceutical interventions might decelerate or even cease the progression of this ominous disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many chemotherapeutic regimens used in the treatment of cancer generate free radicals that may be a part of their beneficial effects. The aim of this study was to assess the oxidative status in patients undergoing chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Methods: Thirty-eight patients with AML (17 female and 21 male patients) with a mean age 34.05±12.49 years were included in the study. All the patients received cytarabine and daunorubicin as their standard induction therapy. Serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and also the erythrocyte superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities were measured before and 14 days after chemotherapy. Results: Plasma malondialdehyde concentrations increased significantly (from a former 2.68±0.89 nmol/ml to 3.14±1.29 nmol/ml) 14 days post chemotherapy (p=0.04). Moreover, the total plasma antioxidant capacity changed from 1.09±0.15 mmol/L to 1.02±0.14 mmol/L (p=0.005). Erythrocyte superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activity decreased over time from 1157.24±543.61 U/gHb to 984.01±419.09 U/gHb (p=0.04) and 46.96±13.70 U/gHb to 41.40±6.44 U/gHb (p=0.02), respectively. Conclusion: In this study, an increase in malondialdehyde levels and a decrease in the levels of antioxidant enzymes and total antioxidant capacity were observed. It seems that chemotherapy by cytarabine and daunorubicin generates enormous amounts of free radicals in patients undergoing the treatment for AML. Use of antioxidant supplementation during chemotherapy i is discouraged as it may interfere with the generation of free radicals that may be a part of the therapeutic efficacy of these drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]