Serdal Öğüt

Oxidative stress in the blood of farm workers following intensive pesticide exposure

The aim of this study was to evaluate oxidative stress in workers who formulate organophosphate, synthetic pyrethroid and carbamate pesticides. In this survey, blood erythrocytes from a group of 94 pesticide-formulating workers (at least 5-years experience in pest-control in apple and cherry production) and 45 control subjects were examined for oxidative stress parameters. The control group was composed of 45 healthy people living in the same region with no exposure to pesticides. Lipid peroxidation level, catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities in erythrocytes were analysed as biomarkers of oxidative stress. In addition, the acetylcholinesterase activity was measured as a biomarker of toxicity. Results indicated that chronic exposure to organophosphate, synthetic pyrethroid and carbamate pesticides were associated with increased activities of catalase, SOD and lipid peroxidation in erythrocytes (p < 0.05). Acetylcholinesterase activity did not show any significant differences between the two groups (p > 0.05). It is concluded that human chronic exposure to pesticides may result in stimulated antioxidant enzymes.

Relationship between oxidative stress and clinical pregnancy in assisted reproductive technology treatment cycles

PurposeTo examine the relationship between serum total oxidant (TOS) and antioxidant (TAS) levels and clinical pregnancy in assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles.MethodsPrior to and after oocyte pick-up (OPU) and embryo transfer (ET), blood samples were collected from gynecologically normal females (n = 70) who were enrolled for ART solely due to male factor infertility. TAS, TOS levels and oxidative stress indexes (OSI: TOS/TAS) in four phases of treatment cycle (pre and post OPU and ET) between clinically pregnant and non-pregnant patients were compared. Critical cut-off values of significantly different TAS, TOS levels and OSIes for clinical pregnancy were established.ResultsThe TAS levels in patients with clinical pregnancy were significantly higher in all of the four phases of the cycle. Post-OPU and pre-ET TOS levels were significantly higher in clinically pregnant patients. According to OSIes; only the pre-OPU OSI was significantly lower in clinically pregnant patients compared with non-pregnant ones. Moreover, the highest area under the ROC curve (AUC) from the seven different significant measurements [1) pre-OPU OSI, 2) pre-OPU TAS, 3) post-OPU TAS, 4) pre-ET TAS, 5) post-ET TAS, 6) post-OPU TOS, 7) pre-ET TOS] was related to pre-OPU OSI.ConclusionsIn ART cycles, women with a higher total antioxidant status prior to and after OPU and prior to and after ET have an increased probability of clinical pregnancy. Additionally; OSI before OPU was one of the most important determinants for clinical pregnancy, so the oxidant and antioxidant balance is as important as the antioxidant concentration alone.

Effect of pesticide exposure on platelet indices in farm workers

We aimed to assess the effect of exposure to pesticide on platelet indices including mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet distribution width (PDW) in farm workers. The study group consisted of 40 farm workers (4 females, 36 males; mean age 42.6 ± 9.8 years). An age-, gender- and body mass index–matched control group was composed of 38 healthy volunteers (8 females, 30 males; mean age 46.1±8.9 years). Platelet indices were assessed in farm workers exposed to pesticides. MPV values were significantly lower in farm workers than in those of controls (6.3 ± 1.1 vs. 7.6 ± 0.7 fL, respectively; p < 0.001). Platelet count was significantly lower in farm workers than those of controls (155.7 ± 35.7 vs. 271.3 ± 96.2 × 109/L, respectively; p < 0.001). PDW was significantly lower in farm workers than in those of controls (8.9% ± 2.0% vs. 15.8% ± 0.8%, respectively; p < 0.001). We have found that MPV and other platelet indices were significantly lower in farm workers exposed to pesticides than those of controls. Our findings suggest that MPV may be a sensitive indicator of a pesticide-exposure effect.

Effects of 99mTc sestamibi on antioxidant defense system and lipid peroxidation in the heart of Sprague Dawley rats

Nuclear medicine has been using radiopharmaceuticals for the diagnostic and therapeutic purposes of many diseases. Technetium-99m methoxyisobutylisonitrile (99mTc sestamibi) is a lypophilic complex that has a positive-loaded isonitril group. Aim of the study is to investigate whether 99mTc sestamibi, which is one of the mostly used radiopharmaceuticals in nuclear medicine field, causes oxidative damage or not in rats’ heart after an injection. A total of 16 male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups: group I: 99mTc sestamibi group, 99mTc sestamibi administered intravenously with the dose of 25MBq; group II: control group, one dose of isotonic sodium chloride was administered intravenous with the same volume as 99mTc sestamibi group. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and total oxidant status (TOS) were used as markers of oxidative stress-induced heart impairment. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and total antioxidant status (TAS) activities were studied to evaluate the changes in the antioxidant status. In the 99mTc sestamibi group (group I), animals treated with 99mTc sestamibi produced a significant decrease in the activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT), while MDA level increased when compared with control group (group II) in myocardial tissue (p < 0.05). On the other hand, the GSH-Px activities were significantly increased in the 99mTc sestamibi-treated rats compared with the untreated rats (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the TAS and TOS levels of plasma.

The effects of pesticides on greenhouse workers and their produced products

Pesticides are chemicals used in agriculture but are known to produce adverse effects on humans. In this study, blood activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transaminase, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and levels of malondialdhyde (MDA) were determined in 44 greenhouse workers (24 tomato workers, 20 clove workers) and in tomato (24 samples) and clove (20 samples) products. At the end of this study, blood MDA levels and activities of ALT, AST, and LDH levels in greenhouse workers were significantly increased while SOD and CAT activity levels fell significantly. Pesticide residues were not found in agricultural worker blood. Malathion residues (average 0.8 ppm) were detected in tomatoes (8 samples) in these greenhouses. Data suggest that the health of the greenhouse workers may be adversely affected by pesticides.

Organik ve Organik Olmayan Elmalar ile Bu Elmaları Üreten Kişilerdeki Pestisit Kalıntıları ve Toplam Antioksidan Kapasiteleri

Pestisit (diazinon, chlorpyriphos, methidation, deltamethrin, cypermethrin) uygulamasi ile uretilen elmalar ile dogal hayvan gubreleri ve ticari organik gubre uygulanan elmalarda ve bu elmalarin uretiminde calisan kisilerin kan serumunda, pestisit kalintilari ve toplam antioksidan kapasiteleri arastirilmis ve karsilastirma yapilmistir. Calismada toplam 60 tarim iscisi ve bu iscilerin urettikleri 60 elma ornek grubu incelenmistir. Yapilan kromatografik analizlerde zirai ilac uygulanan 5 elma orneginde chlorpyriphos kalintisi belirlenmistir. Bunun sebebi elmalari orneklerinin alindigi ciftliklerde, toplamadan once en son uygulanan ilacin chlorpyriphos icermesidir. Organik olarak uretilen elmalarda ise pestisit kalintisina rastlanmamistir. 60 tarim iscisinin hicbirinin kaninda pestisit kalintisi rastlanmamistir. Spektrofotometrik analizler sonucunda ise toplam antioksidan seviyeleri (TAK) bakimindan iki grup elma arasinda anlamli bir fark bulunamamistir (p>0.05). Ancak elma uretiminde zirai ilac kullanan ureticilerin kanlarinda tespit edilen toplam antioksidan kapasiteleri, organik elma ureten kisilerin kanlarindaki toplam antioksidan kapasiteleri ile karsilastirildiginda anlamli seviyede azalma belirlenmistir (p<0.05). Bu sonuclar, zirai ilac uygulamalarinin, elmada toplam antioksidan kapasitede bir degisime neden olmadigini gostermistir.

Tam Kan Bağışçılarının Kanlarındaki Malondialdehit (MDA) ve Redükte Glutatyon (GSH) Seviyeleri

Bu calismadaki amac; donasyon oncesi ve sonrasi tam kan bagiscilarinin kanlarindaki malondialdehit (MDA) ve redukte glutatyon (GSH) seviyelerinin belirlenmesidir. Calisma kapsaminda tam kan donoru 20 kisinin kanlarinda spektrofotometrik analizler yapilmistir. Calisma sonunda, donasyon oncesi kan bagiscilarinda MDA ortalamasi 24.91 ± 4.37 µmol/g Hb iken, donasyon sonrasi bu deger 25.08 ± 4.66 µmol /g Hb olarak belirlenmistir. GSH degerleri ise donasyon islemi oncesi ortalama 23.85 ± 6.23 µmol/g Hb iken, donasyon sonrasi ortalama 23.58 ± 5.78 µmol/g Hb olarak hesaplanmistir. Istatistiksel analizler sonucunda, donasyon oncesi ve sonrasi MDA ve GSH seviyeleri arasinda anlamli bir fark bulunamamistir (p>0.05). Bu sonuclar, tam kan donasyon isleminin hucre fonksiyonu icin zararli olan MDA ve hucre ici ortamin en onemli antioksidan molekulu olan GSH uzerinde degisiklige neden olmadigini gostermektedir.