Study on oxidative stress and antioxidant level in patients of acute myocardial infarction before and after regular treatment

In acute myocardial infarction (AMI), lack of oxygen delivery to myocardium leads to generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which play an important role in the pathogenesis of AMI. Endogenous anti-oxidants protect the myocardial tissues from the deleterious effect of free radical mediate injury. The study evaluates the extent of oxidative stress and antioxidant status against ROS in AMI patients and amelioration of oxidative stress after regular treatment and also assesses the association between oxidative stress and risk factors for atherosclerosis like dyslipidemia and diabetes mellitus (DM). The study was conducted on 72 AMI patients and age and sex matched 18 healthy controls. Patients were assigned to four groups, AMI without dyslipidemia or DM, with dyslipidemia, with DM and with both dyslipidemia and DM. Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) and GSH content and vitamin E levels were determined on admission into hospital and on the 5th day of treatment. Plasma MDA level increased significantly (p < 0.001) and erythrocyte GSH and plasma vitamin E levels were decreased (p < 0.001) in all the groups of patients as compared to control. On the 50th day of regular treatment MDA level reduced (p < 0.001) and GSH and vitamin E levels increased (p < 0.001) in patients. The plasma MDA level was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in patients with both dyslipidemia and DM or with only DM in comparison to patients without dyslipidemia and DM. The difference in the GSH level between patients with risk factors and without risk factors was not significant. It may be conclude that an imbalance exists between oxidant and antioxidant molecules in AMI patients which shift towards oxidative side and regular treatment restores this balance. There may be some association between oxidative stress in AMI and risk factors like dyslipidemia and diabetes mellitus.

Microbial contamination in herbal medicines available in Bangladesh

Plants have long been used as herbal medicines in many countries. However, microbial contamination of these medicines may affect human health. Present study was performed to assess the pathogenic proliferation in the locally available commercial herbal oral medicines. The pathogenic load was compared with the microbiological standard given by the British Pharmacopoeia. Out of 85 oral liquid samples, 2 were found to be highly contaminated with a total aerobic bacterial load of 1.24 x 10(5) cfu/ml, 10 samples were contaminated with fungi (1.2 x 10(4)-6.3 x 10(4) cfu/ml). Tests for specific pathogens were carried out. One sample showed contamination by coliforms but none of the samples were contaminated by Salmonella spp. and Shigella spp. Among 40 semisolid samples, one showed to be contaminated with bacteria (1.93 x 10(5) cfu/g) and 5 samples consisted of fungal load ranging between 1.5 x 10(4)-2.2 x 10(4) cfu/g. The presence of bacteria and fungi in these samples thus suggest the fact that aseptic handling is necessary during processing of oral herbal medicines.

Study of Seminal MDA Level as a Oxidative Stress Marker in Infertile Male

Male infertility is an important medical and psychosocial problem worldwide. However, the underlying mechanism is far from clear in many cases of male infertility. Apart from known factors, it is therefore very important to identify new and non-conventional factors that may play significant role in male infertility. Oxidative stress has recently been identified as an underlying mechanism of numerous chronic diseases. Some studies have already claimed a relationship between oxidative stress and male infertility. The aim of the present study was therefore to evaluate whether there is an association between oxidative stress and male infertility in Bangladeshi subjects. MDA, the marker of lipid peroxidation was measured in the seminal fluid of fertile and age-matched otherwise healthy infertile male subjects. The sperm count, sperm morphology and motility, as well as semen volume were all found significantly lower in infertile subjects compared with fertile subjects. Interestingly, lipid peroxidation was found elevated seminal fluid of infertile subjects. The MDA was measured by thiobarbituric acid method. In seminal plasma, the median (range) MDA level was found significantly higher in infertile group (3.17 (1.20-6.21) versus 1.88 (0.50-5.37) nmol/ml, p<0.001). DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jsf.v9i1-2.14651 J. Sci. Foundation, 9(1&2): 85-93, June-December 2011