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W Wasowicz

Publications and source records attributed to W Wasowicz.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Optimized steps in fluorometric determination of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances in serum: importance of extraction pH and influence of sample preservation and storage.

A simple, reliable, and reproducible fluorometric method for measuring thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) in serum is proposed, based on the reaction between malondialdehyde (MDA) and thiobarbituric acid. Formation of TBARS was complete at pH 2.4-2.6, but extraction with n-butanol proved complete only at lower pH, i.e., 1.6-1.7. Analytical recoveries of MDA added to serum were 94%-101%; within- and between-run CVs were 2.4-3.6% and 4.6-5.5%; and the detection limit for TBARS in serum was 0.10 mumol/L. Optimized conditions included: (a) collection of either serum or heparinized plasma, (b) preservation from in vitro autoxidation by glutathione and EDTA, and (c) storage at -20 degrees C up to 35 days. The mean (+/- SD) TBARS concentration in 47 healthy adults was 1.01 (0.21) mumol/L; no sex-related difference was observed. Higher concentrations were measured in patients with renal insufficiency undergoing hemodialysis and in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes, chronic pancreatitis, or liver cirrhosis.

1-Butanol↗

Concentrations of selenium and lipid peroxides and glutathione peroxidase activities in plasma of thermally injured pigs.

The mechanism of behaviour of parameters involved in protection of the cell from oxidative damage in burn disease remains unclear. Therefore, selenium and lipid peroxide (MDA) levels, and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities have been measured for one month in plasma of thermally injured young pigs. Immediately post-burn mean MDA level and GSH-Px activity decreased, while Se concentration increased. After 3 week lipid peroxide levels reached top concentration. Only the enzyme activity returned to initial value at the end of the study, whereas the other two parameters were below the content noted at the beginning. The Se concentration was significantly and positively correlated with GSH-Px activity, and negatively with MDA levels. The similar relationship was also showed for the enzyme and lipid peroxides. The results indicate an interesting role of the studied agents in burn disease, but still suggestions of treatment of severely burned patients with antioxidants need to be supported by detailed studies.

Animals↗

Concentration of zinc and zinc-copper superoxide dismutase activity in red blood cells in normals and children with cancer.

Zinc concentrations and Cu, Zn superoxide dismutase activity in erythrocytes were investigated in 138 healthy children and in 35 children with cancer. The mean zinc concentration in the erythrocytes of healthy children was found to be age-dependent. In the youngest group (children up to 1 year of age) the zinc concentration in erythrocytes is 18.8 +/- 3.4 micrograms/g Hb (5.89 +/- 1.23 mg/l packed cells), which is significantly lower than in other age groups. A strong logarithmic correlation (r = 0.327, p less than 0.0001 and r = 0.436, p less than 0.00001) was found between age and zinc concentration in erythrocytes, expressed as microgram/g Hb and as mg/l packed red cells, respectively. Cancer children were divided into two groups (neuro- and nephroblastoma). In the group of children with neuroblastoma no statistical differences in zinc concentration or enzyme activity were observed. In the patients with nephroblastoma, significantly higher zinc concentrations (p less than 0.05) were observed in erythrocytes. The changes of zinc concentration are accompanied by significant (p less than 0.02) decreases of enzyme activity. In this group of cancer children, statistically significant differences were observed in the zinc concentrations in erythrocytes (microgram/g Hb) between the second and the third stages of the disease. No correlation was observed between the concentration of zinc and enzyme activity in healthy children or in cancer children.

Adolescent↗

Glutathione peroxidase activity, lipid peroxides and selenium status in blood in patients with Down's syndrome.

The concentrations of selenium and lipid peroxides and the catalytic activity of glutathione peroxidase were measured in the blood of 6 children (6-16 years of age) and 8 adults (17-27 years old) with Down's syndrome (trisomy 21). The values were compared with those for a control group of age-matched normal people. The selenium concentration in whole blood, erythrocytes and plasma was significantly lower in trisomy 21 patients than in normal subjects (p less than 0.001) in both age groups. No statistically significant differences were observed in selenium concentration in whole blood, erythrocytes and plasma between children and adults in the Down's syndrome group. Glutathione peroxidase catalytic activity in erythrocytes was significantly higher in Down's syndrome children than in healthy children (p less than 0.001). Plasma glutathione peroxidase catalytic activity in both investigated age groups was statistically considerably lower in the Down's syndrome patient group. The concentration of lipid peroxides, expressed as the malondialdehyde concentration, is lower in Down's syndrome patients. No correlation between selenium concentration, glutathione peroxidase catalytic activity and amount of lipid peroxides was found in the trisomy 21 patient group.

Adolescent↗

Glutathione peroxidase activity, selenium and lipid peroxides levels in blood of cancer children.

The concentrations of whole blood and plasma selenium, plasma lipid peroxides and the glutathione peroxidase activity in plasma and erythrocytes were measured in untreated and treated children with neuro- (n = 23) and nephroblastoma (n = 32) aged 6 months to 15 years. The patients were divided into the following groups: 0.5-1, 1-3, 3.5-6 and 8-15 years old. In all the groups of cancer patients investigated selenium concentration in whole blood and plasma and glutathione peroxidase activity in erythrocytes and plasma were significantly lower than in the age-matched healthy children. The concentrations of lipid peroxides in plasma of children with cancer was higher than in the age-matched control group. No differences were observed between the levels of the determined parameters in children with neuro- and nephroblastoma. Nor were there any differences in the determined parameters between children before and during treatment with cytostatics and between children at different stages of the disease. A significant linear correlation was found between plasma selenium concentration and glutathione peroxidase activity in the erythrocytes and plasma of children with cancer.

Adolescent↗

Glutathione peroxidase activity, lipid peroxides and selenium concentration in various rat organs.

Total and selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase activity, lipid peroxides and selenium concentration were determined in tissues of rats kept upon standard diet. The selenium concentration as calculated per mg of protein is as follows: liver greater than kidney greater than lung greater than heart greater than muscles greater than brain greater than erythrocytes. The lipid peroxide concentration as expressed by the malondialdehyde amount is a follows: brain greater than heart greater than muscles greater than lung greater than kidney greater than liver. In all the analyzed tissues, Se-GSH-Px activity was found as measured with t-butyl hydroperoxide as substrate, and total GSH-Px activity, as assayed with cumene hydroperoxide. A highly significant correlation was found between Se-GSH-Px activity and selenium concentration in selected tissues (r = 0.91, p less than 0.01), and an inverse linear correlation between lipid peroxides concentration and Se-GSH-Px activity (r = -0.75, p less than 0.1). Se-independent GSH-Px activity was estimated as the difference between total GSH-Px and Se-GSH-Px activity. In all the investigated rat tissues higher activity of Se-dependent GSH-Px than that of Se-independent GSH-Px was observed. In erythrocytes and muscles only the selenium dependent enzyme was detected. Also glutathione S-transferase activity was estimated in the above tissues. No GSH S-transferase activity was found in rat erythrocytes.

Animals↗

Selenium concentrations in the blood and urine of a healthy Polish sub-population.

Selenium (Se) levels in whole blood, red blood cells, and plasma taken from 199 healthy subjects were investigated and found to be 101.1 micrograms/1 (whole blood), 133.1 micrograms/1 (packed red blood cells), and 78.0 micrograms/1 (plasma). In 62 samples of urine, the selenium level, expressed as micrograms/g creatinine, was 11.4. The mean whole blood selenium concentration was significantly higher in men than women: 104.5 +/- 23.2 vs. 96.9 +/- 21.2 micrograms/1. No differences were found in red blood cells, plasma and urine between male and female subjects. A strong linear correlation was observed between red blood cell and whole blood selenium levels (r = 0.879; p less than 0.001) as well as between selenium levels in whole blood and plasma (r = 0.806; p less than 0.001). A weaker but still significant linear correlation was found between urine and whole blood as well as between urine and plasma selenium concentrations. The relatively low levels of the element in the blood and urine are probably due to its deficiency in the diet.

Adolescent↗

Red blood cell glutathione peroxidase activity as a function of selenium supplementation in dietary treated children with phenylketonuria.

Red blood cell glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity of six patients with phenylketonuria treated with aminoacid mixture and protein hydrolysate diets was significantly lower (11.2 IU/g Hb) than that of 21 age-matched healthy children (14.9 IU/g Hb). When the diets were supplemented with yeast rich in selenium the red blood cell GSH-Px activity increased already after one month of treatment to 16.1 IU/g Hb (P less than 0.001) and remained at that level during subsequent two months of selenium supplementation. A high significantly positive correlation has been found between calculated red blood cell selenium level and GSH-Px activity within three months of selenium supplementation.

Child, Preschool↗

Lipid peroxidation assessed by serum thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in healthy subjects and in patients with pathologies known to affect trace element status.

Serum thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), Zn, Cu, and Se concentrations were determined in 47 healthy adults and in patients with diseases, such as renal insufficiency, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, chronic pancreatitis, liver cirrhosis, or cancer, in order to clarify the relationship between this indicator of lipid peroxidation and antioxidative trace element status. TBARS levels were higher than control values in all pathological cases, except in cancer patients. Cu levels in patients highly correlated with ferroxidase ceruloplasmin activity (r = 0.86), but were only statistically different from controls in diabetics. Zn levels were lower than normal in dialysis, liver cirrhosis, and cancer patients. Se levels were significantly decreased in all pathological cases. Half of the subjects with liver cirrhosis or renal insufficiency and 3/4 of chronic pancreatitis or cancer patients had an active inflammatory process. Despite intense modifications in determined indicators, no clear correlation could be demonstrated between the different parameters. Basic antioxidative trace element status and inflammation are therefore not major determinants of TBARS levels in normal and in pathological conditions, despite of the frequent association of low serum Zn and mainly low serum Se with high TBARS levels.

Adult↗

Trace element status and inflammation parameters during chronic indomethacin treatment in adjuvant arthritic rats.

Oral indomethacin administration (2 mg/kg/d) was investigated in rats with adjuvant arthritis up to a period of 5 wk. Baseline low serum zinc levels in arthritic rats increased rapidly from the first week of indomethacin treatment (started 1 or 2 wk after disease induction), whereas baseline high serum copper decreased after 1-2 wk. After 3-4 wk of treatment, serum zinc levels returned to control values, but serum copper was somewhat higher in arthritic animals having received indomethacin 2 wk after disease induction than in controls. Clinical indices of inflammation simultaneously improved to reach control values at the end of the trial. Biological indicators of inflammation also improved, but did not reach control levels. Serum zinc correlated negatively with plasma fibrinogen (r = -0.69, p < 0.0005) and serum copper correlated positively with serum ceruloplasmin (r = 0.92, p < 0.0005) both in indomethacin-treated and untreated arthritic rats. Contrary to long-term glucocorticoid administration that was previously reported to maintain or aggravate hypozincemia, indomethacin treatment normalized perturbed zinc and copper status in arthritic animals.

Animals↗

Selenium concentration in human urine.

In this work we have determined selenium concentration in urine in two groups of healthy subjects. Selenium content in the younger group, aged 11-15 years (n = 41), was 13.7 +/- 6.5 micrograms/g-1 creatinine. In the older group, aged 17-97 years (n = 62), slightly but statistically significant lower selenium concentration in urine (11.4 +/- 4.9 micrograms/g Ct, p less than 0.05) was found. We have also shown a significant difference in the excretion of the element between the group of boys and men (p less than 0.05). Concentration of selenium excreted in urine in the population of healthy people (11-97 years, n = 103) is 12.3 +/- 5.4 micrograms Se/g Ct.

Adolescent↗

Selenium status, lipid peroxides concentration, and glutathione peroxidase activity in the blood of power station and rubber factory workers.

Concentration of selenium in whole blood and plasma, lipid peroxides in plasma, and glutathione peroxidase activities in red blood cell hemolysates and plasma were determined in 49 coal power plant workers and in 50 rubber factory workers. The results were compared with those obtained for 58 nonindustrial controls. Whole blood selenium was significantly lower and plasma lipid peroxides were significantly higher in power plant workers when compared to the nonindustrial group. In the rubber factory workers, whole blood selenium and red blood cells and plasma glutathione peroxidase activities were significantly lower than in the control group. Urinary output of selenium was also significantly decreased in rubber factory workers. Slightly elevated lipid peroxides were also observed in that group. It seems reasonable to conclude that the lower blood selenium and decreased urinary output of this element may result from increased loss of selenium with perspiration. No correlation has been observed between selenium concentration and glutathione peroxidase activity and between enzyme activity and lipid peroxides concentration in the industrial group.

Adult↗