Objectives: We undertook the present study to investigate the possible alteration of oxidant/antioxidant status in the circulation of patients with prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia.Design and methods: Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), the enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), catalase (CAT) and copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) levels were estimated in the erythrocytes of 25 non-metastatic prostate cancer patients, 36 benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients and 24 age-and sex-matched healthy subjects (controls).Results: TBARS concentrations were significantly increased, while erythrocyte GPX and SOD activities were significantly decreased in the prostate cancer group versus controls (P b 0.001) and BPH group (P b 0.05). Zn levels were lowered in prostate cancer patients versus controls (P b 0.01) with no significant changes between BPH and cancer groups. Similarly, lipid peroxidation was increased (P b 0.05) with decreased SOD activity and Zn level (P b 0.05) in BPH versus controls.Conclusion: These results reveal an alteration in the lipid peroxidation index, with concomitant changes in the antioxidant defense system in prostate cancer patients compared to BPH patients. We hypothesize that an altered prooxidant-antioxidant balance may lead to an increase in oxidative damage and consequently may play an important role in prostate carcinogenesis.

Objectives: The study was aimed to evaluate the oxidative/nitrosative stress status in prostate cancer (CaP) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Design and methods: 312 men from two different populations were included: 163 men from Macedonia (73 CaP patients, 67 BPH patients and 23 control subjects) and 149 men from Turkey (34 prostate cancer patients, 100 BPH patients and 15 control subjects). We measured erythrocyte malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, erythrocyte activities of superoxide dismutase (CuZn-SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and catalase (CAT); plasma nitrite/nitrate (NO 2 − /NO 3 − ), cGMP and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels.Results: A similar pattern of alteration in the oxidative/nitrosative stress-related parameters was found in both, Macedonian and Turkish studied samples: higher MDA concentrations with lower GPX and CuZn-SOD activities in CaP patients versus controls and BPH groups. The CAT activity was decreased in the CaP patients versus controls in the Turkish studied sample. Furthermore, CaP patients had increased plasma NO 2 − /NO 3 − and cGMP levels versus controls and BPH groups in both studied samples.Conclusions: This study has confirmed an imbalance in the oxidative stress/antioxidant status and revealed an altered nitrosative status in prostate cancer patients.

AIM:To determine whether cigarette smoking, as a risk factor for CAD, affects (anti)oxidant status.MATERIAL AND METHODS:The study included patients with CAD, divided according to their smoking status and the number of cigarettes smoked during a day. Biological markers of oxidative stress (concentration of oxidants and activity of antioxidant enzymes) were measured in all subjects.RESULTS:The study included 300 patients with CAD, (average age of 63 ± 11 years), predominantly males. Of the total, 34.0% were active smokers, 23.0% were former smokers, and 43.0% were non-smokers. Most of the active smokers smoked 1-20 cigarettes/day. In terms of concentration of oxidants (MDA and HP) there was not a significant difference between smokers versus non-smokers. As for the activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT and GPX), a statistically significant difference was found in the activity of GPX among the active smokers with CAD and the non-smokers with CAD (p = 0.039).CONCLUSION:Smoking as a risk factor for CAD is closely associated with increased oxidative stress, and the number of cigarettes smoked plays an important role in increasing the level of oxidative damage and reducing antioxidant defence.

Glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX1) is a ubiquitously expressed selenium-dependent enzyme that protects cells against oxidative damage by reducing hydrogen peroxide and a wide range of organic peroxides. Some epidemiological studies have correlated low GPX activity or particular GPX1 polymorphisms with enhanced risk of cancer, although these correlations have not been consistently observed in all populations. Therefore, we conducted the present study to evaluate the possible association of GPX1 Pro198Leu polymorphism and erythrocyte GPX activity with the risk of developing prostate cancer and to clarify whether erythrocyte GPX activity levels were correlated with the GPX1 Pro198Leu genotype in the Macedonian population. The GPX1 Pro198Leu genotype was determined in 82 prostate cancer cases and 123 control individuals. We found an overall protective effect of the variant Leu allele of the GPX1 polymorphism on the prostate cancer risk. Heterozygous carriers of the variant Leu allele had a significantly lower risk of prostate cancer compared with homozygous wild-type individuals (OR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.20-0.75; P = 0.004). Erythrocyte GPX activity was analyzed in 73 cases and 91 controls. The erythrocyte GPX activity in the cancer group was lower than in the healthy controls. Additionally, we compared the erythrocyte GPX activity in the control group of 90 subjects and found no significant differences by genotype. These findings suggest that individual susceptibility of prostate cancer may be modulated by GPX1 polymorphism and that the combination of genetic factors involved in oxidative response with environmental carcinogens may play an important role in prostate carcinogenesis.

PurposeThe aim of this review was to assess the efficacy of cannabis preparations for relieving pain in patients with malignant diseases, through a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), which were predominantly double-blind trials that compared cannabis preparation to a placebo.MethodsAn electronic search of all literature published until June 2017 was made in MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane Controlled Trials Register and specific web pages devoted to cannabis.ResultsFifteen of the 18 trials demonstrated a significant analgesic effect of cannabinoids as compared to placebo. The most commonly reported adverse effects were generally well tolerated, mild to moderate. The main side effects were drowsiness, nausea, vomiting and dry mouth. There is evidence that cannabinoids are safe and modestly effective in neuropathic pain and also for relieving pain in patients with malignant diseases. The proportion of “responders” (patients who at the end of 2 weeks of treatment reported ≥30% reduction in pain intensity on a scale of 0–10, which is considered to be clinically important) was 43% in comparison with placebo (21%).ConclusionThe target dose for relieving pain in patients with malignant diseases is most likely about 10 actuations per day, which is about 27 mg tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and 25 mg cannabidiol (CBD), and the highest approved recommended dose is 12 actuations per day (32 mg THC/30 mg CBD). Further large studies of cannabinoids in homogeneous populations are required.