Biomedical subjects

Franjo Skreb

Publications and source records attributed to Franjo Skreb.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

The effect of antioxidant supplementation on superoxide dismutase activity, Cu and Zn levels, and total antioxidant status in erythrocytes of patients with Graves' disease.

The effects of supplementation with a fixed combination of antioxidants (vitamins C and E, beta-carotene and selenium) on superoxide dismutase activity, copper and zinc concentrations, and total antioxidant status were monitored in erythrocytes derived from a group of patients with Graves' disease treated with methimazole, with respect to the rate of achieving euthyroidism. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroid hormones and the above-mentioned parameters were measured before therapy, and on days 30 and 60 after therapy initiation. The patients receiving antioxidant supplementation along with methimazole therapy (group A, n = 27) achieved euthyroidism at a faster rate than those treated with methimazole alone (group B, n = 28). The activity of superoxide dismutase decreased significantly in both patient groups during the treatment; however, there was no significant difference between the groups. There was no significant change in the erythrocyte concentration of copper, whereas the zinc concentration and total antioxidant status showed significant between-group differences. The study results clearly show that antioxidant supplementation in the treatment of Graves' disease is justified, while zinc and total antioxidant status in erythrocytes seem to be sensitive indicators of the efficacy of supplemental therapy.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Supplementation with antioxidants in the treatment of Graves' disease; the effect on glutathione peroxidase activity and concentration of selenium.

BACKGROUND: The effect of supplementation with a fixed combination of antioxidants (vitamins C and E, beta-carotene and selenium) was monitored on the speed of attaining euthyroidism in a group of patients with Graves' disease, treated with methimazole. METHODS: The activity of glutathione peroxidase in whole blood and the concentrations of selenium, pituitary and thyroid hormones in serum were measured, prior to commencement of therapy and after 30 and 60 days. RESULTS Patients who received supplementation with antioxidants in addition to therapy with methimazole (Group A, n=29) attained euthyroidism faster than the patients treated with only methimazole (Group B, n=28). The concentration of selenium in the serum of patients in Group A increased significantly during treatment (p<0.001), while there was no statistically significant change in the patients in Group B. The concentration of selenium in the serum between the groups differed statistically significantly 30 days (p<0.05) and 60 days (p<0.01) after the commencement of therapy. Activity of glutathione peroxidase in whole blood increased during treatment in both groups of patients. However, a statistically more significant increase occurred in Group A compared to Group B, 30 days after the commencement of therapy (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The results of the study clearly indicate that supplementation with antioxidants in the treatment of Graves' disease is justified, particularly those containing selenium.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Antioxidants in patients with hyperthyroidism.

Hyperthyroidism is a hypermetabolic state accompanied by increased oxygen utilization, increased production of reactive oxygen species and consequentially measurable changes in antioxidative factors. Therefore, the activities of whole blood glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant status (TAS) in serum and erythrocytes, and serum urate and transferrrin concentrations were determined in 70 women: 14 with newly diagnosed Graves' disease (group A); 28 with hyperthyroidism on therapy with methimazole (group B, divided into two subgroups, B1 and B2) and 28 healthy women (group C). In comparison with control group C, GPx activity was significantly decreased in all patient groups (p < 0.05), whereas SOD activity was significantly decreased in group A (p < 0.01) and significantly increased in group B (p < 0.01). In comparison with the control group, serum TAS activity was significantly decreased in group A, and erythrocyte TAS activity in all patient groups. Study results suggest that the impaired antioxidative factor balance leads to the development and presence of oxidative stress in women with hyperthyroidism. The severity of these alterations, considered contradictory by some authors, appears to depend on the use of therapy.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Supplementation with antioxidants in the treatment of Graves' disease: the effect on the extracellular antioxidative parameters.

In this study, the effect of supplementation with a fixed combination of antioxidants (vitamins C and E, beta-carotene and selenium) on concentrations of antioxidative parameters in serum was monitored. Measurements were performed prior to the commencement of therapy and after 30 and 60 days in patients with Graves' disease treated with methimazole. Patients who received extra supplementation with antioxidants (group A, n = 29) attained euthyroidism faster than the patients treated only with methimazole (group B, n = 28). Statistically significant differences were achieved after supplementation with antioxidants for all investigated parameters (uric acid, transferrin, ferritin), except TAS and glucose. Nevertheless, due to the fact that all measured parameters remained within the range of referent values, they may not be proposed as reliable indicators of the level of oxidative stress in Graves' disease.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Ultrasonographic measurement of the thyroid volume.

According to the published data, endemic goiter was until recently, still present in some regions in Croatia. In this study the thyroid volume in grown-up, student population was measured. It was also analyzed which of the several traditional physiological attributes (body weight, body height, and body surface area (BSA)) were best correlated with the thyroid volume. Fifty one randomly selected female students from University of Zagreb Medical School were studied. Mean age of our subjects was 22 (range 20-38). All of them were healthy and with normal thyroid hormonal status. The mean thyroid volume was 10.68+/-2.83 mL (range 5.71-17.09 mL). The results show that thyroid volume was best correlated with body height (r=0.37; p=0.001), followed with body surface area (r=0.28; p=0.017). The thyroid volume was found normal in all our subjects.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Influence of the incoming solar radiation on the bone mineral density in the female adult population in Croatia.

The relationship between the bone mineral density (BMD) in Croatian female adults and the average incoming solar radiation at the ground was investigated. The study included 387 volunteers of average age of 60 years from three different towns: Pula (n = 128, age from 35 to 76), Krapina (n = 141, age from 43 to 77), and Zagreb (n = 118, age from 32 to 79). Apart from the different lifestyle, each of above towns is characterized by different incoming solar radiation, where values of 503.3 kJ cm-2, 471.2 kJ cm-2 and 436.3 kJ cm-2 correspond to average annual radiation at the ground for Pula, Krapina and Zagreb, respectively. Heel BMD was measured by clinical bone sonometer (Sahara). On the average the BMD was highest for Pula (0.469 g cm-2) and the lowest for Zagreb (0.433 g cm-2). Similarly, the percentage of normal bones was the highest for Pula (46.1%) and the lowest for Zagreb (32.2%). Osteopenic bones were the most frequent for Zagreb (61.0%), while corresponding figures for Pula and Krapina were 46.9% and 43.6%, respectively. Osteoporosis varied from 6.8% in Zagreb to 11.4% in Krapina. A test of independence by contingency table confirmed at the significance level alpha = 0.05 that probability of normal bone occurrence increases with the increase of incoming solar radiation. Results of the multiple regression analysis suggest the dependence of BMD on woman's age and weight, and incoming solar radiation at the place of habitation.

Adult↗