Local and Systemic Oxidative Stress in Balkan Endemic Nephropathy Is Not Associated with Xanthine Oxidase Activity

Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) represents a chronic tubulointerstitial nephropathy which is followed by the progression of kidney fibrosis to end-stage kidney failure. The critical involvement of poisons in food (aristolochic acid (AA), ochratoxin, and heavy metals) and selenium deficiency are among nutritive factors which contribute to the pathogenesis of BEN, due to reactive oxygen species (ROS) liberation and/or decreased antioxidative defence system. The aim of the study is to distinguish a possible systemic and local origin of ROS through the measurement of xanthine oxidase (XO) activity in urine and plasma, along with the determination of the oxidative changes in lipids and proteins. The study included 50 patients with BEN and 38 control healthy subjects. We noted increased levels of both thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs) in the plasma of patients with BEN, compared to the control group (p<0.001). The urinary levels of AOPPs were higher in patients with BEN in comparison to the control (p<0.001). The specific activity of XO was significantly lower in plasma and urine in BEN samples, compared to controls (p<0.005). Based on these results, we hypothesize that XO might not be considered a direct systemic or local contributor to ROS production in BEN, most probably because of the diminished kidney functional tissue mass and/or AA-induced changes in purine nucleotide conformation. The increased AOPP and TBARS level in both plasma and urine in BEN may predict ROS systemic liberation with toxic local effects.

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Testament's ability in Balkan endemic nephropathy

Medicinski pregled ◽

10.2298/mpns0906268n ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 62 (5-6) ◽

pp. 268-272

Author(s):

Milan Novakovic

Keyword(s):

Bosnia And Herzegovina ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Descriptive Analysis ◽

Balkan Endemic Nephropathy ◽

Control Group ◽

Chi Square ◽

Endemic Nephropathy ◽

Chi Square Test ◽

Discriminative Function ◽

And Control

Introduction Testament is a solemn, authentic instrument in writing, by which a person declares his or her will as to disposal of his or her estate, and it has a psychopathological, lawful and ethical importance to a person, family and society. The aim of the study was to assess if the ability to make a testament was more damaged in patients with Balkan Endemic Nephropathy (BEN) than in patients with other diseases that resulted in Chronic Renal Failure in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the period from the 1st January 2001 to 31st December 2006. Material and methods The 753 respondents were divided into two groups in the study: BEN group (n=150) and control group made of patients with other diseases resulting in CRF (n=150). In a multicentric longitudinal study we used: adapted questionnaire from the Renal Register of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, and Mini-Mental State Examination. Descriptive analysis, discriminative function and regression model have been done statistically. Results In BEN group, heirs are mostly mentioned - 84.0% (t=14.391; P=0.001), and in control group: heirs - 66.6%, relatives - 43.3% (t=7.751; P=0.003), carers - 44.0% (t= 6.678 P=0.032), and institutions 10.0% (t=5.147, P=0.061). The discriminative function shows differences between BEN and control group: canonical correlation (rc) =0.827, Wilkinson lambda (lnj) =0.871, Chi-square test =141.575 and significance (P=0.001). The regression course of the analysis can be used for prediction of the ability to make testament for the patients on dialysis: [y=-0.95x + 15.715, and OR = 0.785, (95%) for CI = -0.997 - -0.375); Can Fanc r2=0.861; Significance is P=0.002]. Conclusion The ability to make a testament is more damaged in patients from the nephropathy group than in the patients from the control group who are on dialysis in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This has been confirmed by socio-demographic and psychological parameters, and it is very important for preservation of the ethic norms of the patients on dialysis, responsibility of the expert teams and persons who are benefitiaries of the testament.

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Tanatophobia in the patients on dialysis

Vojnosanitetski pregled ◽

10.2298/vsp0604397n ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 63 (4) ◽

pp. 397-402 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Milan Novakovic ◽

Danijela Tiosavljevic-Maric ◽

Milan Gajic

Keyword(s):

Mental Disorders ◽

Fear Of Death ◽

Balkan Endemic Nephropathy ◽

Control Group ◽

Direct Connection ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Endemic Nephropathy ◽

Anxiety Depression

Background/Aim. Thanatophobia is an exaggerated, specific, structured fear of death. It appears in childhood and continues to grow over the years, and in the old age it is accompanied with nosophobia and other mental disorders. The aim of this study was to analyze thanatophobia in dialysed patients which was in the direct connection with a basic disorder, and the influence of this disorder on functioning and the quality of life of the patients on dialysis. Methods. In the study we examined 753 patients from the chronic program of haemodialysis in a period from 1999 to 2004. The patients were classified in two groups: 348 randomized patients with Balkan Endemic Nephropathy (BEN), and the control group (N18) of patients with terminal renal insufficiency, and other diagnoses (n = 405). Since the study was a comparative, cross-sectional one, the patients were tested by the appropriate questionnaires for anxiety, depression and general mental functioning. Statistical analysis was done by the standard descriptive and analytic statistic methods. Results. Based on socio-demographics data we revealed a highly significant difference regarding the place of living between the groups BEN and N18 (?2 = 23.970; p < 0.01), the frequency of occurrence of renal comorbidity (?2 = 23.970; p < 0.01), the frequency of family renal comorbidity in siblings (?2 = 23.970; p < 0.01), and the frequency of migrationes (?2 = 4.874; p < 0.01). According to psychiatry scales, the patients from the BEN group were significantly more anxious and depressive than those from the control group. Conclusion. The signs of thanatophobia were revealed in both examined groups, but significantly more in the patients with BEN than in those with other nephrologic diseases. Thanatophobia starts before dialysis, and dialysis structures it into fear of death which is in a direct connection with the basic disorder. This intensive fear may be connected with dementia and depression, but also with other mental disorders.

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Contribution of biotransformation enzymes to the development of renal injury and urothelial cancer caused by aristolochic acid: urgent questions, difficult answers

Interdisciplinary Toxicology ◽

10.2478/v10102-010-0023-1 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 8-12 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Marie Stiborová ◽

Jiří Hudeček ◽

Eva Frei ◽

Heinz Schmeiser

Keyword(s):

Renal Injury ◽

Urothelial Cancer ◽

Aristolochic Acid ◽

Cytochromes P450 ◽

Balkan Endemic Nephropathy ◽

Kidney Fibrosis ◽

Relative Contribution ◽

Biotransformation Enzymes ◽

Endemic Nephropathy

Contribution of biotransformation enzymes to the development of renal injury and urothelial cancer caused by aristolochic acid: urgent questions, difficult answersIngestion of aristolochic acid (AA) is associated with the development of aristolochic acid nephropathy, which is characterized by chronic renal failure, tubulointerstitial fibrosis and urothelial cancer. AA may also cause a similar type of kidney fibrosis with malignant transformation of the urothelium, the Balkan endemic nephropathy. Understanding which enzymes are involved in AA activation and/or detoxication is important in the assessment of a susceptibility to this carcinogen. The most important human enzymes activating AA by simple nitroreductionin vitroare hepatic and renal cytosolic NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase, hepatic microsomal cytochrome P450 1A2 and renal microsomal NADPH:cytcohrome P450 reductase, besides cyclooxygenase, which is highly expressed in urothelial tissue. Despite extensive research, contribution of most of these enzymes to the development of these diseases is still unknown. Hepatic cytochromes P450 were found to detoxicate AA in mice, and thereby protect the kidney from injury. However, which of cytochromes P450 are the most important in this process both in animal models and in humans have not been entirely resolved as yet. In addition, the relative contribution of enzymes found to activate AA to species responsible for induction of urothelial cancer in humans remains still to be resolved.

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Resistance of erythrocytes from Brown trout (Salmo trutta m. trutta L.) affected by ulcerative dermal necrosis syndrome

Polish Journal of Veterinary Sciences ◽

10.2478/v10181-011-0065-0 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 14 (3) ◽

pp. 443-448 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

N. Kurhalyuk ◽

H. Tkachenko ◽

K. Pałczyńska

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Lipid Peroxidation ◽

Brown Trout ◽

Salmo Trutta ◽

Thiobarbituric Acid ◽

Control Group ◽

Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substance ◽

Tbars Level ◽

Reactive Substance ◽

Brown Trout Salmo Trutta

Resistance of erythrocytes from Brown trout (Salmo trutta m. trutta L.) affected by ulcerative dermal necrosis syndrome In the present work we evaluated the effect of ulcerative dermal necrosis (UDN) syndrome on resistance of erythrocytes to haemolytic agents and lipid peroxidation level in the blood from brown trout (Salmo trutta m. trutta L.). Results showed that lipid peroxidation increased in erythrocytes, as evidenced by high thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) levels. Compared to control group, the resistance of erythrocytes to haemolytic agents was significantly lower in UDN-positive fish. Besides, UDN increased the percent of hemolysated erythrocytes subjected to the hydrochloric acid, urea and hydrogen peroxide. Results showed that UDN led to an oxidative stress in erythrocytes able to induce enhanced lipid peroxidation level, as suggested by TBARS level and decrease of erythrocytes resistance to haemolytic agents.

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Oxidative Stress Status in Patients with Choledocholithiasis: Before and After Endoscopic Sphincterotomy and Biliary Clearance

Revista de Chimie ◽

10.37358/rc.18.8.6493 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 69 (8) ◽

pp. 2172-2176

Author(s):

Catalin Victor Sfarti ◽

Alin Ciobica ◽

Carol Stanciu ◽

Gheorghe G. Balan ◽

Irina Garleanu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Endoscopic Sphincterotomy ◽

Specific Activity ◽

Oxidative Stress Marker ◽

Control Group ◽

Oxidative Stress Parameter ◽

Extrahepatic Cholestasis ◽

Biliary Clearance ◽

Oxidative Stress Status ◽

Before And After

Choledocholithiasis may cause biliary obstruction which leads to hepatocellular injury. Oxidative stress has been proposed as a possible mechanism involved in this disorder. This study evaluates the oxidative stress burden in patients with choledocholithiasis and secondary cholestasis, before and after endoscopic sphincterotomy. Experimental part: Patients diagnosed with choledocholithiasis and secondary extrahepatic cholestasis were included in the study between January 1st 2016 and October 31st 2016. In all patients oxidative stress markers were collected within 2 hours before and 48 hours after therapeutic ERCP. Selected markers were superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and malondialdehyde (MDA). The results were compared to those from a group of 40 healthy subjects. Significantly lower concentrations of SOD (p = 0.03) and GPX (p [ 0.0001) activities, associated with an increased level of MDA level (p [ 0.0001) were shown in patients before biliary clearance compared with the healthy control group. After ERCP the only oxidative stress parameter which showed improvement was the SOD specific activity (p = 0.037). This study shows that extrahepatic cholestasis secondary to choledocholithiasis is associated with increased oxidative stress status. After biliary clearance one oxidative stress marker was significantly improved (SOD), suggesting a possible antioxidant effect of such procedure.

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Analysis of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Phthalate Esters in Soil and Food Grains from the Balkan Peninsula: Implication on DNA Adduct Formation by Aristolochic Acid I and Balkan Endemic Nephropathy

Environmental Science & Technology ◽

10.1021/acs.est.1c00648 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Wanlin Guo ◽

Jiayin Zhang ◽

Zhihan Sun ◽

William H. Orem ◽

Calin A. Tatu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Aristolochic Acid ◽

Phthalate Esters ◽

Balkan Peninsula ◽

Adduct Formation ◽

Dna Adduct ◽

Balkan Endemic Nephropathy ◽

Food Grains ◽

Polycyclic Aromatic ◽

Endemic Nephropathy ◽

Aristolochic Acid I

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Gut Digestive Function and Microbiome after Correction of Experimental Dysbiosis in Rats by Indigenous Bifidobacteria

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms9030522 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 522

Author(s):

Lyudmila V. Gromova ◽

Elena I. Ermolenko ◽

Anastasiya L. Sepp ◽

Yulia V. Dmitrieva ◽

Anna S. Alekseeva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Digestive Enzymes ◽

Specific Activity ◽

Control Group ◽

Enteropathogenic Escherichia Coli ◽

Beneficial Bacteria ◽

Opportunistic Bacteria ◽

Dyspeptic Symptoms ◽

Specific Activities ◽

Impaired Motor Function

In recent years, great interest has arisen in the use of autoprobiotics (indigenous bacteria isolated from the organism and introduced into the same organism after growing). This study aimed to evaluate the effects of indigenous bifidobacteria on intestinal microbiota and digestive enzymes in a rat model of antibiotic-associated dysbiosis. Our results showed that indigenous bifidobacteria (the Bf group) accelerate the disappearance of dyspeptic symptoms in rats and prevent an increase in chyme mass in the upper intestine compared to the group without autoprobiotics (the C1 group), but significantly increase the mass of chyme in the colon compared to the C1 group and the control group (healthy animals). In the Bf group in the gut microbiota, the content of opportunistic bacteria (Proteus spp., enteropathogenic Escherichia coli) decreased, and the content of some beneficial bacteria (Bifidobacterium spp., Dorea spp., Blautia spp., the genus Ruminococcus, Prevotella, Oscillospira) changed compared to the control group. Unlike the C1 group, in the Bf group there was no decrease in the specific activities of maltase and alkaline phosphatase in the mucosa of the upper intestine, but the specific activity of maltase was decreased in the colon chyme compared to the control and C1 groups. In the Bf group, the specific activity of aminopeptidase N was reduced in the duodenum mucosa and the colon chyme compared to the control group. We concluded that indigenous bifidobacteria can protect the microbiota and intestinal digestive enzymes in the intestine from disorders caused by dysbiosis; however, there may be impaired motor function of the colon.

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Effects of Dietary Inclusion of Bilberry and Walnut Leaves Powder on the Digestive Performances and Health of Tetra SL Laying Hens

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani10050823 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 823 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Roua Gabriela Popescu ◽

Sorina Nicoleta Voicu ◽

Gratiela Gradisteanu Pircalabioru ◽

Alina Ciceu ◽

Sami Gharbia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Histological Analysis ◽

Specific Activity ◽

Basal Diet ◽

Intestinal Content ◽

Final Concentration ◽

Control Group ◽

Villus Height ◽

Tissue Samples ◽

Walnut Leaves ◽

Digestive Health

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of dietary inclusion of two additives at the final concentration of 0.5% bilberry (E1) and 1% walnut (E2) leaves powder in the basal diet on digestive health of hens. A total number of 90 Tetra SL hens were divided into two experimental groups (E1 and E2) and one control group (C) consisting of 30 hens each. After four weeks, 10 hens of each group were sacrificed and tissue samples and intestinal content were taken from the duodenum, jejunum, and cecum in order to perform histological, enzymatic, and microbiota analyses. In groups E1 and E2, the histological analysis showed a significant increase of villus height, resulting probably in increased absorption of nutrients in duodenum and jejunum. A decrease in the specific activity of alpha-amylase and trypsin in E1 and E2 for both duodenum and jejunum compared to the control one was also recorded. In addition, the maltase and invertase specific activity in duodenum increased, a tendency that was kept for maltase but not for invertase in jejunum. The cecal microbiota of E1 and E2 individuals was characterized by an increase of Firmicutes and Lactobacilli and a decrease of Enterobacteriaceae. In conclusion, our results indicate that bilberry and walnut leaves additives in feed may improve the health status of the poultry gastrointestinal tract.

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