The understanding of oxidative damage in different neurodegenerative diseases could enhance therapeutic strategies. Our objective was to quantify lipoperoxidation and other oxidative products as well as the activity of antioxidant enzymes and cofactors in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples. We recorded data from all new patients with a diagnosis of either one of the four most frequent neurodegenerative diseases: Parkinson's disease (PD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), Huntington's disease (HD) and lateral amyotrophic sclerosis (ALS). The sum of nitrites and nitrates as end products of nitric oxide (NO) were increased in the four degenerative diseases and fluorescent lipoperoxidation products in three (excepting ALS). A decreased Cu/Zn-dependent superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity characterized the four diseases. A significantly decreased ferroxidase activity was found in PD, HD and AD, agreeing with findings of iron deposition in these entities, while free copper was found to be increased in CSF and appeared to be a good biomarker of PD.

Most of the biomaterials used nowadays for the reconstruction of the spinal cord (SC) tissue after an injury, tested in animals, have obtained modest results. This work presents a study about the compatibility of two novel, non-biodegradable, semi-conductive materials, obtained by plasma polymerization: iodine-doped pyrrole (PPy/I) and pyrrole-polyethylene glycol (PPy/PEG). Both polymers, separately, were implanted in the SC tissue of rats after a transection. Prior to implantation, the elemental composition and the physico-chemical properties of polymers were studied by electron scanning microscopy, IR Spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. We used adult female Long Evans rats, subjected to SC transection. Animals were randomized to be allocated in one of the treatment groups and were killed four weeks after the lesion for histology study. Results showed that both implants were integrated to the SC tissue, as inflammatory and gliotic responses, similar to those observed in the control group, and rejection of the implant, were not evident. Moreover, the immediate effect of PPy/I or PPy/PEG in the injured SC prevented secondary tissue destruction, as compared to non-implanted control animals. In conclusion, implants of semi-conductive polymers were well-tolerated and integrated favorably to SC tissue after transection.

BackgroundThe mechanisms of particulate matter (PM)-induced health effects are believed to involve inflammation and oxidative stress. Increased intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) appears to have anti-inflammatory effects.ObjectiveAs part of a trial to evaluate whether n-3 PUFA supplementation could protect against the cardiac alterations linked to PM exposure, we measured biomarkers of response to oxidative stimuli [copper/zinc (Cu/Zn) superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, lipoperoxidation (LPO) products, and reduced glutathione (GSH)] and evaluated the impact of supplementation on plasma levels.MethodsWe recruited residents from a nursing home in Mexico City chronically exposed to PM ≤2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5) and followed them from 26 September 2001 to 10 April 2002. We randomly assigned subjects in a double-blind fashion to receive either fish oil (n-3 PUFA) or soy oil. We measured PM2.5 levels indoors at the nursing home, and measured Cu/Zn SOD activity, LPO products, and GSH at different times during presupplementation and supplementation phases.ResultsSupplementation with either fish or soy oil was related to an increase of Cu/Zn SOD activity and an increase in GSH plasma levels, whereas exposure to indoor PM2.5 levels was related to a decrease in Cu/Zn SOD activity and GSH plasma levels.ConclusionSupplementation with n-3 PUFA appeared to modulate the adverse effects of PM2.5 on these biomarkers, particularly in the fish oil group. Supplementation with n-3 PUFA could modulate oxidative response to PM2.5 exposure.

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Manganese is of growing concern as a toxic air pollutant. It is readily transported from the olfactory epithelium to the olfactory bulb, and unlike other metals, it is transported transynaptically to structures deep within the brain. However, little is known regarding the possible effect of nonoccupational exposure to manganese on olfactory function. Using the Sniffin' Sticks test battery, we compared the olfactory performance of subjects from a manganese mining district living <1 km from a manganese processing plant, with nonexposed subjects living 50 km from the closest source of exposure (N = 30/group). Groups were matched for age, sex, and schooling, and none had ever worked in mining-related activities. Concentrations of manganese in hair were measured as a biomarker of exposure; exposed subjects had significantly higher concentrations than nonexposed subjects. They were also significantly outperformed by the nonexposed subjects on all olfactory measures (threshold, discrimination, and identification), indicating adverse effects of manganese exposure on a range of olfactory functions, including those involving higher order cognitive processes. This contrasts with previous findings showing adverse peripheral but not central effects on olfactory function of big city air pollution, which mostly consists of toxicants known to affect the olfactory epithelium but with lower transynaptic transport capacity compared with manganese. We conclude that nonoccupational exposure to airborne manganese is associated with decrements in both peripheral and central olfactory function.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to an alteration of energetic metabolism. As a consequence, glutamate, glutamine, aspartate and other important amino acids are altered after damage, leading to important disregulation of the neurochemical pathways. In the present study, we characterized the acute-phase changes in tissue concentration of amino acids involved in neurotransmitter and non-neurotransmitter actions after SCI by contusion in rats. Animals were submitted to either laminectomy or SCI by contusion and sacrificed at 2, 4, 8, and 12 h after lesion, for the analysis of tissue amino acids by HPLC. Results showed that both aspartate and glutamate contents diminished after SCI, while glutamine concentrations raised, however, the sum of molar concentrations of glutamate plus glutamine remained unchanged at all time points. GABA concentrations increased versus control group, while glycine remained unchanged. Finally, citrulline levels increased by effect of SCI, while taurine-increased only 4 h after lesion. Results indicate complex acute-phase changes in amino acids concentrations after SCI, reflecting the different damaging processes unchained after lesion.

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