Background: Stroke patients have a redox imbalance, a consequence of both the cerebrovascular event and the associated pathological conditions. Our study was aimed to investigate the dynamic of some oxidative and nitrosative markers during the convalescent phase of postacute stroke patients undergoing rehabilitation. Methods: We assessed thiol, advanced oxidation protein product, protein carbonyl, 3-nitro-L-tyrosine, ceruloplasmin and oxidized LDL concentrations, as well as gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) activity in 20 patients at the beginning of the hospitalization and at the discharge moment, respectively, and 24 apparently healthy controls. Results: We found significantly increased values for GGT (P ¼ 0.04), ceruloplasmin (P ¼ 0.01) and protein carbonyl (P ¼ 0.04) in stroke patients at the hospitalization moment when compared with healthy controls, while total thiols were significantly decreased (P ¼ 0.002). Rehabilitation was associated with a significant decrease of protein carbonyl (P ¼ 0.03) and oxidized LDL particle concentrations (P ¼ 0.03), as well as GGT activity (P ¼ 0.02). At the hospitalization moment, both GGT and ceruloplasmin were significantly negatively correlated with non-proteic thiols (r ¼ 20.44, P ¼ 0.049, and r ¼ 20.53, P ¼ 0.015, respectively) and significantly positively with protein carbonyls (r ¼ þ0.80, P , 0.001, and r ¼ þ0.69, P , 0.001, respectively) suggesting putative roles of GGT and ceruloplasmin in the redox imbalance. Conclusions: These results highlight the existence of a redox imbalance in postacute stroke patients, and the possible benefits of an antioxidant-based therapy for the recovery of these patients.
Introduction. Vitamin D (VD) levels were correlated with different health conditions, including reproductive disorders in males. Vitamin D action is mediated through vitamin D receptor (VDR), which acts as a transcription factor. VDR gene promoter is embedded in a GC-rich island. The VDR gene has been shown to have several polymorphisms that affect the receptor function.Aim. To examine the relationship between Cdx-2 polymorphism (rs17883968), the methylation status of VDR's promoter and serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in male infertility.Patients and Methods. A total of 69 infertile men and 37 age-matched controls were enrolled in this study. Vitamin D level assessments were detected using the electrochemiluminescent method. Cdx-2 VDR polymorphism identification was performed by PCR on DNA samples from blood, followed by restriction. Methylation of VDR gene promoter was assessed by qMS-PCR using bisulfite-treated DNA from fresh sperm.Results. Vitamin D levels was found to be significantly decreased in infertile groups compared the controls (p=0.0279). The GG genotype was found in a higher percentage in controls and the AA genotype was higher in infertile group (p=0.0056). Infertile homozygote (GG) and heterozygote (GA) individuals had significantly higher vitamin D levels than AA homozygote. Methylation is higher in individuals with lower vitamin D levels and AA genotype is characterized by higher methylation values.
Conclusion.The results provide new insights of Cdx-2 polymorphism is involved in vitamin D deficiency, highlighting the important role of epigenetic modification of vitamin D receptor and male infertility along with the genetic context.
Stroke is a pathological condition associated with an enhanced inflammatory response that has a multifactorial etiology. We evaluated the dynamic of plasma concentrations of IL-1α, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, soluble form of intercellular adhesion molecule 1, and lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] during the rehabilitation of post-acute stroke patients (n = 20), in parallel with control subjects (n = 24). Stroke patients had significantly increased concentrations of IL-6, TNF-α, and Lp(a) when compared to healthy controls. It was found that the changes in the IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α concentrations associated with the pathological condition were statistically significant (χ2 = 4.81, p = 0.028, χ2 = 10.40, p = 0.005 and χ2 = 6.73, p = 0.034, respectively). The decrease of Lp(a) during the rehabilitation had statistical significance (p = 0.043), while the decrease of IL-1α had marginal significance (p = 0.071). IL-1α, TNF-α, and Lp(a) concentrations were significantly negatively correlated with the Barthel index values, suggesting that the decrease of these inflammatory markers was beneficial for patients' recovery.
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