Recent findings demonstrate that nutrition during the fetal and neonatal periods can affect the life span of an organism. Our previous studies in rodents using a maternal low protein diet have shown that limiting protein and growth during lactation [postnatal low protein (PLP group)] increases longevity, while in utero growth restriction (IUGR) followed by "catch up growth" (recuperated group) ...

The effects of nitroglycerin (glyceryl trinitrate - GTN) are mediated by liberated nitric oxide (NO) and formed reactive nitrogen species, which induces oxidative stress during biotransformation in red blood cells (RBCs). The aim of this study was to evaluate effects of GTN on antioxidative defense system (AOS) in rat erythrocytes (without) and reticulocytes (with functional mitochondria). Rat ...

Here we summarize and discuss the body of information concerning mechanisms and regulation of local short-duration preconditioning that may accompany experimental radiation therapy. Based on the results of our previous studies in vivo we investigated possible impact of local temporary ischemia on the effectiveness of ionizing radiation-based anticancer therapy. We used total body-irradiated or ...

Carbon monoxide (CO) is well-known as toxic gas and intrinsic signaling molecule such as neurotransmitter and blood vessel relaxant. Recently, it has been reported that low concentration of CO exerts therapeutic actions under various pathological conditions including liver failure, heart failure, gastric cancer, and cardiac arrest. However, little has been known about the effect of CO in neurod...

PURPOSE The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of the three different forms of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase [i.e., manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), copper zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD), and extracellular superoxide dismutase (EcSOD)] on the malignant phenotype of human pancreatic cancer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Human pancreatic cancer cell lines were i...

Ubiquinone (Q) is an essential, lipid soluble, redox component of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Much evidence suggests that ubiquinol (QH2) functions as an effective antioxidant in a number of membrane and biological systems by preventing peroxidative damage to lipids. It has been proposed that superoxide dismutase (SOD) may protect QH2 form autoxidation by acting either directly as a su...

In plants, CuZn superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD, EC l.15.1.1), ascorbate peroxidase (APX, EC 1.11.1.11), and catalase (CAT, EC l.11.1.6) are important scavengers of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to protect the cell from damage. In the present study, we isolated three homologous genes (GhSOD1, GhAPX1, and GhCAT1) from Gossypium hirsutum. Overexpressing cassettes containing chimeric GhSOD1, GhAPX1,...

Epidemiological and experimental data point to involvement of oxygen derived radicals in the pathogenesis of gynecological disorders, as well as in cancer development. The objective of the present study was to examine changes in activities and levels of copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) and lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH) in blood and endometrial tissue of patients diagnosed with uterine m...

The effects of long-term exposure to extreme space conditions on astronauts were investigated by analyzing hair samples from ten astronauts who had spent six months on the International Space Station (ISS). Two samples were collected before, during and after their stays in the ISS; hereafter, referred to as Preflight, Inflight and Postflight, respectively. The ratios of mitochondrial (mt) to nu...

Vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency during pregnancy has been linked to increased risk of preeclampsia. Placenta dysfunction plays an important role in the pathogenesis of this pregnancy disorder. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that disturbed vitamin D metabolism takes place in preeclamptic placentas. Protein expressions of vitamin D binding protein (VDBP), 25-hydroxylase (CYP2R1), 1α-h...