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Vitamin E but not Hippophea rhamnoides L. prevented nicotine-induced oxidative stress in rat brain.

Oxidant effects of nicotine in the central nervous system is not clear. The aim of this study was to investigate whether nicotine induces oxidative stress in rat brain, and if it does, to test the effects of Hippophea rhamnoides L. extract (HRe-1) and also vitamin E as a positive control. The groups were: nicotine [0.5 mg/kg/day, intraperitoneal (i.p.)]; nicotine-vitamin E [75 mg/kg/day, intragastric (i.g.)]; nicotine-HRe-1 (250 mg/kg/day, i.g.); and control group (receiving only vehicles). There were eight rats per group and supplementation period was 3 weeks. Malondialdehyde (MDA) level was increased by nicotine in brain tissue, which was prevented by vitamin E whereas not affected by HRe-1. Brain tissue glutathione S-transferase activities of nicotine administered and HRe-1 supplemented groups were lower than control and vitamin E supplemented groups, while glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities of vitamin E and HRe-1 supplemented groups were lower than the nicotine administered group. Superoxide dismutase activity was not affected by any of the treatments. Total glutathione level was higher in the vitamin E supplemented group compared with control and nicotine administered groups. Vitamin E might have easily diffused to rat brain as a lipid soluble antioxidant, however, the plant extract, HRe-1, would not have sufficiently diffused to the brain to exert its antioxidant effect.

Effects of unilateral nostril breathing on blood pressure and heart rate in right-handed healthy subjects

The effects of unilateral forced nostril breathing (UFNB) on systolic and diastolic blood pressures and heart rate (HR) were studied in 88 male and 41 female right-handed subjects. In men, both the right and left unilateral forced nostril breathings significantly increased the systolic blood pressure (SBP) and HR, but had no effect on the diastolic blood pressure (DBP). In women, the right UFNB increased, but the left UFNB slightly decreased the SBP and DBP. The results suggested that there may be a nostril laterality affecting the autonomous nervous system differentially.

Vitamin E and Hippophea rhamnoides L. extract reduce nicotine-induced oxidative stress in rat heart

The effects of vitamin E and Hippophea rhamnoides L. extract (HRe‐1) on nicotine‐induced oxidative stress in rat heart were investigated. There were eight rats per group and supplementation period was 3 weeks. The groups were: nicotine [0.5 mg kg−1day−1, intraperitoneal (i.p.)]; nicotine plus vitamin E [75 mg kg−1day−1, intragastric (i.g.)]; nicotine plus HRe‐1 (250 mg kg−1day−1, i.g.); and the control group (receiving only vehicles). Nicotine increased the malondialdehyde level, which was prevented by both vitamin E and HRe‐1. Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity in nicotine plus vitamin E supplemented group was higher than the others. Glutathione S‐transferase (GST) activity in nicotine plus HRe‐1 supplemented group was increased compared with the control group. Catalase activity was higher in nicotine group compared with others. GPx activity in nicotine plus vitamin E supplemented group was elevated compared with the others. Total and non‐enzymatic superoxide scavenger activities in nicotine plus vitamin E supplemented group were lower than nicotine plus HRe‐1 supplemented group. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was higher in nicotine plus HRe‐1 supplemented group compared with others. Glutathione reductase activity and nitric oxide level were not affected. Increased SOD and GST activities might have taken part in the prevention of nicotine‐induced oxidative stress in HRe‐1 supplemented group in rat heart. Flavonols such as quercetin, and isorahmnetin, tocopherols such as α‐tocopherol and β‐tocopherol and carotenoids such as α‐carotene and β‐carotene, reported to be present in H. rhamnoides L. extracts may be responsible for the antioxidant effects of this plant extract. Copyright

Hippophae rhamnoides attenuates nicotine-induced oxidative stress in rat liver.

The effects of vitamin E and Hippophae rhamnoides L. (Elaeagnaceae) extract (HRe-1) on nicotine-induced oxidative stress in rat liver were investigated. Four groups, eight rats each, were used in this study, and the supplementation period was 3 weeks. The groups were: nicotine (0.5 mg/kg/day, intraperitoneal (i.p.)); nicotine plus vitamin E (75 mg/kg/day, intragastric (i.g.)); nicotine plus HRe-1 (250 mg/kg/day, i.g.); and the control group. The malondialdehyde and nitric oxide levels, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase, glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase, and total and non-enzymatic superoxide scavenger activities were measured spectrophotometrically in supernatants of the tissue homogenates. Nicotine increased the malondialdehyde level in liver tissue compared with control. This nicotine-induced increase in lipid peroxidation was prevented by both vitamin E and HRe-1. Superoxide dismutase activity was higher in the nicotine plus vitamin E-supplemented group compared with nicotine and control groups. Glutathione reductase activity was higher in the nicotine group compared with the control group. However, glutathione peroxidase activity in the control group was higher than the levels in the nicotine, and the nicotine plus HRe-1 supplemented groups. The nitric oxide level was higher in the nicotine group compared with all other groups. Total and non-enzymatic superoxide scavenger activities and glutathione S-transferase activity were not affected by any of the treatments. Our results suggest that Hippophae rhamnoides extract as well as vitamin E can protect the liver against nicotine-induced oxidative stress.

THE RESEARCH OF INDIVIDUAL’S LIFE QUALITY LEVELS THAT PREFERS MASSAGE AND EXERCISING IN THERMAL HOTELS

Massage can be defined as systemic stimulation of soft tissues of body manually or mechanically to reduce pain, tiredness and tension by relaxing muscles. Besides, it is also used to reduce stress and ensure permanence of health. The study was carried out simultaneously with the voluntary participation of guests staying in balneological water and demanding massage from spa centers. The study was implemented with 173 people. The Quality of Life Scale, International Physical Activity Questionnaire and socio-demographic questionnaire, which was developed by the researcher, were used as data collection tools. Physical component score (PCS)values of men who had massage were found to be significantly higher than women who had massage. Among the people who had massage, PCS values in one week of light physical activity; pain and general health, mental health and vitality in moderate physical activity; PCS, general health, social function values in vigorous physical activity of participants who had had physical activity for 5 and 7 days were found to be higher than the participants who had exercised for 1 and 2-4 days. Preferring to have massage may stem from health, social and physical reasons. It is identified that general health, pain, physical function, physical role, mental health and vitality values and social function values of individuals who do exercise for 5 and 7 days in a week get more significance. It is observed in our study that, there are significant relations between reasons for preferring to have massage and exercise frequency and some values of quality of life.