THE EFFECT OF BLACK CUMIN SEED OIL CONSUMPTION ON CLOTTING TIME, BLEEDING TIME, AND PLATELET COUNTS IN HEALTHY-SMOKER VOLUNTEERS

Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the effect of consumption of black cumin seed oil (BCSO) on platelet count, clotting time (CT), and bleeding time (BT) in healthy-smoker volunteers (HSV). Methods: Participants were 39 healthy male smokers aged 18-66 y. Participants were divided into four groups randomly. The treatment group received BCSO for thirties days in 3x1, 3x2, and 3x3 capsules/day doses. The placebo group received a placebo preparation. We measured CT, BT, and platelet count on day 31. An analysis of the mean difference between CT, BT, and platelet counts was performed using one-way ANOVA. Result: The results showed that the CT, BT, and platelet counts in all groups were within normal. Consumption of BCSO for 30 d did not affect CT, BT, and platelet counts of HSV. The results of the analysis of the mean difference test between groups of CT, BT, and platelet counts indicated that there was no difference with p>0.05. Conclusion: We concluded that the 30-day BCSO consumption did not affect the CT, BT, and platelet count values in HSV.

Smoking induced alterations in auditory pathways: Evidence from evoked potentials

Objectives: Auditory Brainstem Responses (ABR) are used for assessment of integrity of auditory pathway. Given the widespread prevalence of smoking, interpretation of ABR data must be done in light of smoker/nonsmoker status. Materials and Methods: The present study was done on 30 normal, healthy non-smoker males and 30 healthy, smoker males in the age group of 18-40 years. Approval of Institutional Ethics Committee and written informed consent was taken from all volunteers. ABR was recorded using Biopac MP 150 system. The recordings were done in a state of abstinence of 12 hours (chronic smoking state) and 10 minutes after smoking (acute smoking state). In the non-smoker group, only one set of recordings were done. The peak latencies and amplitudes of the ABR waves were analyzed. Results: Analysis of data revealed a significant prolongation of the latencies of wave I and II and Inter-peak latency I-III in chronic smoking state as compared to non-smoking state. The amplitudes of waves I, II and V were also significantly reduced in chronic smoking state. A comparison between the non-smokers and acute smoking state revealed significantly prolonged latency of waves I and II in the acute smoking state accompanied by a significant decrease in the amplitudes of all waves of ABR. There were no significant differences in latencies and amplitudes of the chronic and acute smoking state. Conclusion: Smoking led to an increase in latency and decrease in amplitude, thereby indicating that it adversely affected the auditory pathway. Thus, interpretation of data of ABR should consider smoking as a confounding variable.

The Imbalance among Oxidative Biomarkers and Antioxidant Defense Systems in Thromboangiitis Obliterans (Winiwarter-Buerger Disease)

(1) Background: Thromboangiitis obliterans or Winiwarter-Buerger disease (WBD), is an inflammatory, thrombotic occlusive, peripheral vascular disease, usually occurring in young smokers. The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the disease are not clearly understood. The aim of this study is to investigate the imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants occurring in these patients. (2) Patients and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 22 male patients with WBD and 20 healthy male smoking habit matched control group were included. To evaluate the possible sources of oxidative stress, the antioxidant biomarkers, and the markers of lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation, serum samples were analyzed for total oxidative status (TOS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), myeloperoxidase (MPO), coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GR), malondialdehyde (MDA), and protein carbonyl (PC) activity and/or content. (3) Results: The circulating levels of TOS, TAC, and CoQ10 were significantly higher in WBD patients, with respect to healthy smokers as controls. No significant difference was found among the serum level of PC, total cholesterol, MPO, and GR activity in WBD patients and healthy smoker controls. The activity of SOD and the mean serum level of MDA were significantly lower in WBD patients, with respect to healthy smoker controls. (4) Conclusion: Considerably high levels of oxidative stress were detected in WBD patients, which were greater than the antioxidant capacity. The low level of MDA may be associated with the enzymatic degradation of lipid peroxidation products. High levels of CoQ10 and low levels of SOD may be related to a harmful oxidative cooperation, leading to the vasoconstriction of WBD, representing a promising tool to discern possible different clinical risks of this poorly understood peripheral occlusive disease.

MIP-T3 Expression Associated with Defects of Ciliogenesis in Airway of COPD Patients

Introduction. Some studies have found that cilia were shorter in COPD smokers than in nonsmokers or healthy smokers. However, the structural abnormalities of cilia and the cause of such abnormalities in COPD patients still remain unknown. Tumor necrosis factor alpha receptor 3 interacting protein 1 (MIP-T3) may play an important role in the progress of ciliary protein transporting. Objectives. This study aimed at exploring the dominated structural abnormalities of cilia and the involvement of MIP-T3 in the pathogenesis of cilia of COPD patients. Methods. Patients who accepted pulmonary lobectomy were divided into 3 groups: the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) smoker group, the healthy smoker group, and the nonsmoker group, according to smoking history and pulmonary function. The ultrastructure of cilia and the percentage of abnormal cilia were analyzed using a transmission electron microscope. Real-time PCR, immunohistochemical staining, and western blotting in bronchial epithelium were used to determine MIP-T3 mRNA and protein expression. The relationship between the percentage of abnormal cilia and lung function and MIP-T3 protein expression was analyzed. Results. Patients in the COPD smoker group had increased percentage of abnormal cilia comparing to both the healthy smoker group and the nonsmoker group (both P values <0.05). MIP-T3 expression was significantly declined in the COPD smoker group (P value <0.05). Moreover, the percentage of abnormal cilia was negatively correlated with FEV1, FEV1/FVC ratio, and FEV1%pred (all P values <0.05). Moreover, the MIP-T3 protein expression was positively correlated with the percentage of abnormal cilia (P value <0.05). Conclusions. Our results suggested that the abnormal ciliary ultrastructure, which was common in COPD patients, might be due to MIP-T3 downregulation.