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Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) with extracorporeal circulation produces changes in the immune system accompanied by an increase in proinflammatory cytokines and a decrease in anti-inflammatory cytokines. We hypothesize that dexmedetomidine (DEX) as an anesthetic adjuvant modulates the inflammatory response after coronary artery bypass graft surgery with mini-CPB. In a prospective, randomized, blind study, 12 patients (4 females and 8 males, age range 42-72) were assigned to DEX group and compared with a conventional total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) group of 11 patients (4 females and 7 males). The endpoints used to assess inflammatory and biochemical responses to mini-CPB were plasma interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, IL-10, interferon (INF)-γ, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, C-reactive protein, creatine phosphokinase, creatine phosphokinase-MB, cardiac troponin I, cortisol, and glucose levels. These variables were determined before anesthesia, 90 min after beginning CPB, 5 h after beginning CPB, and 24 h after the end of surgery. Endpoints of oxidative stress, including thiobarbituric acid reactive species and delta-aminolevulinate dehydratase activity in erythrocytes were also determined. DEX+TIVA use was associated with a significant reduction in IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α, and INF-γ (P<0.0001) levels compared with TIVA (two-way ANOVA). In contrast, the surgery-induced increase in thiobarbituric acid reactive species was higher in the DEX+TIVA group than in the TIVA group (P<0.01; two-way ANOVA). Delta-aminolevulinate dehydratase activity was decreased after CPB (P<0.001), but there was no difference between the two groups. DEX as an adjuvant in anesthesia reduced circulating IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α, and INF-γ levels after mini-CPB. These findings indicate an interesting anti-inflammatory effect of DEX, which should be studied in different types of surgical interventions.

In recent years, commercial glyphosate herbicide formulations have been widely used in agriculture to control aquatic weeds. These pesticides may result in disruption of ecological balance, causing damage to nontarget organisms including fish. Teleostean fish (Leporinus obtusidens) were exposed to commercial glyphosate herbicide formulation at 0 (control), 3, 6, 10 or 20 mg L(-1) for 96 h. The effects of herbicide on plasmatic metabolic parameters, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), catalase activity, protein carbonyl, and mucus layer parameters were studied. Plasmatic glucose and lactate levels increased but protein levels showed reduction after herbicide exposure. TBARS levels in brain showed a reduction at all tested concentrations. However, liver demonstrated increased TBARS levels at all tested concentrations, whereas in white muscle TBARS production did not change after exposure to herbicide. Fish exposed to all concentrations of glyphosate showed increase in liver catalase activity and protein carbonyl. Herbicide exposure increased protein and carbohydrate levels of the mucus layer at all tested concentrations. The present results showed that, in 96 h, glyphosate changed toxicological parameters analyzed in piava. Parameters measured in this study may be useful in environmental biomonitoring.

Our findings demonstrate a decrease in body mass and a subsequent improvement in biochemical, metabolic and anthropometric parameters in patients given bariatric surgery. This may contribute to the reduction of oxidative damage in these patients and consequently a reduction in the risk of the development and progression of multiple co-morbidities associated with obesity.

BackgroundWe sought to investigate the relationships among the plasma levels of carotenoids, tocopherols, endogenous antioxidants, oxidative damage and lipid profiles and their possible effects on the cardiovascular risk associated with hemodialysis (HD) patients.MethodsThe study groups were divided into HD and healthy subjects. Plasma carotenoid, tocopherol and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, as well as erythrocyte reduced glutathione (GSH), were measured by HPLC. Blood antioxidant enzymes, kidney function biomarkers and the lipid profiles were analyzed by spectrophotometric methods.ResultsPlasma lycopene levels and blood glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity were significantly decreased in HD patients compared with healthy subjects. Total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), creatinine, urea, MDA, GSH, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were significantly increased in HD (p < 0.05). Lycopene levels were correlated with MDA (r = -0.50; p < 0.01), LDL-c (r = -0.38; p = 0.01) levels, the LDL-c/HDL-c index (r = -0.33; p = 0.03) and GPx activity (r = 0.30; p = 0.03). Regression models showed that lycopene levels were correlated with LDL-c (β estimated = -31.59; p = 0.04), while gender was correlated with the TC/HDL-c index and triglycerides. Age did not present a correlation with the parameters evaluated. GPx activity was negatively correlated with MDA levels and with the LDL-c/HDL-c and CT/HDL-c indexes.ConclusionsLycopene may represent an additional factor that contributes to reduced lipid peroxidation and atherogenesis in hemodialysis patients.