Hepatitis C virus co-infection and sexual risk behaviour are associated with a high homocysteine serum level in HIV-infected patients.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: A better understanding of the relationship of homocysteine with cardiovascular risk factors is needed. The objectives of this study were to assess the serum level of homocysteine in HIV-infected patients and to analyse the possible association of increased levels of the amino acid with cardiovascular risk factors, demographic and clinical characteristics of participants. METHODS: Cross-sectional study carried out as a supplementary task to the usual controls necessary in HIV-infected patients in the outpatient clinic of the Hospital General of Castellon, Spain. For two consecutive visits the demographic, clinical and HIV-related characteristics and blood analyses result…

Exhaustive physical exercise causes oxidation of glutathione status in blood: Prevention by antioxidant administration

We have studied the effect of exhaustive concentric physical exercise on glutathione redox status and the possible relationship between blood glutathione oxidation and blood lactate and pyruvate levels. Levels of oxidized glutathione (GSSG) in blood increase after exhaustive concentric physical exercise in trained humans. GSSG levels were 72% higher immediately after exercise than at rest. They returned to normal values 1 h after exercise. Blood reduced glutathione (GSH) levels did not change significantly after the exercise. We have found a linear relationship between GSSG-to-GSH and lactate-to-pyruvate ratios in human blood before, during, and after exhaustive exercise. In rats, physical…

Free Radicals and Antioxidants in Physical Exercise

The beneficial effects of exercise are well documented. Indeed, it ameliorates diabetes mellitus, improves the plasma lipid profile, increases bone density and may help to lose weight. However, as stated in the old medical saying “the beneficial effects of exercise are lost with exhaustion”. It has been known for some time that exhaustive exercise causes muscle soreness, induces an elevation of cytosolic enzyme activities in blood plasma and may be harmful. In the last decade a considerable amount of information concerning production of free radicals in exhaustive exercise has been obtained. An international symposium took place in Valencia, Spain in 1993 and a book was published on the sub…

Diferencias entre sexos en pacientes con sospecha de síndrome coronario agudo sin elevación del segmento ST. Implicaciones en el tratamiento intervencionista

Sex differences have been observed in the clinical profile, prognosis, and treatment of patients with unstable ischemic heart disease. Men tend to receive more invasive management. We assessed these differences in 823 consecutive patients (543 men) with possible acute coronary syndrome without ST-segment elevation who were seen since our chest pain unit opened. A protocol for the management of unstable ischemic heart disease was followed. Women had a worse baseline clinical profile but men more frequently had a positive exercise stress test. Univariate analysis showed that angiography and revascularization procedures were performed more often in men. However, multivariate analysis did not c…

Mechanism of Free Radical Production in Exhaustive Exercise in Humans and Rats; Role of Xanthine Oxidase and Protection by Allopurinol

Exhaustive exercise generates free radicals, However, the source of this oxidative damage remains controversial. The aim of this paper was to study further the mechanism of exercise-induced production of free radicals, Testing the hypothesis that xanthine oxidase contributes to the production of free radicals during exercise, me found not only that exercise caused an increase in blood xanthine oxidase activity in rats but also that inhibiting xanthine oxidase with allopurinol prevented exercise-induced oxidation of glutathione in both rats and in humans. Furthermore, inhibiting xanthine oxidase prevented the increases in the plasma activity of cytosolic enzymes (lactate dehydrogenase, aspar…

Relationship Between Homocysteine Serum Level and Other Blood Analyses Parameters in HIV-infected Patients

Exercise causes blood glutathione oxidation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: prevention by O2 therapy

Viña, José, Emilio Servera, Miguel Asensi, Juan Sastre, Federico V. Pallardó, José A. Ferrero, JoséGarcı́a-de-la-Asunción, Vicente Antón, and Julio Marı́n. Exercise causes blood glutathione oxidation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: prevention by O2therapy. J. Appl. Physiol. 81(5): 2199–2202, 1996.—The aim of the present study was to determine whether glutathione oxidation occurs in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients who perform exercise and whether this could be prevented. Blood glutathione red-ox ratio [oxidized-to-reduced glutathione (GSSG/GSH)] was significantly increased when patients performed exercise for a short period of time until exhaustion. Their res…