Homocysteine thiolactone is formed in all cell types studied thus far as a result of editing reactions of some aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. Because inadvertent reactions of thiolactone with proteins are potentially harmful, the ability to detoxify homocysteine thiolactone is essential for biological integrity. This work shows that a single specific enzyme, present in mammalian but not in avian s...

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to measure paraoxonase/arylesterase activities and to evaluate the total oxidant and antioxidant capacities in obese children and in children with metabolic syndrome (MetS). METHODS A total of 151 children of comparable ages (13.23±1.96 years, 13.45±1.85 years and 13.95±1.31 years) were enrolled in the study. Forty of these were children with MetS, 55 were obese and...

PURPOSE Behçet's disease is a multisystem disease characterized by recurrent oral and genital ulcers, relapsing uveitis, mucocutaneous, articular, gastrointestinal, neurologic, and vascular manifestations. Paraoxonase is believed to play an important role in protection of LDL and HDL particles from oxidation, in antioxidant effect against lipid peroxidation on cellular membranes, and in anti-in...

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effects of Urtica dioica on hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury. METHODS Thirty adult male Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups: sham group (group 1), control group (group 2), and Urtica dioica group (group 3). All the rats were exposed to hepatic ischemia for 60 min, followed by 60 min of reperfusion. In group 2, a total of 2 ml/kg 0.9% saline solution...

BACKGROUND It has been proposed that reactive oxygen species (ROS) is involved in the pathogenesis of various diseases. Paraoxonase, a high-density lipoprotein associated enzyme, prevents low-density lipoproteins from oxidation. OBJECTIVES The aim of the present study was to investigate the serum activities of paraoxonase-1 (PON-1), and aryleterase (ARE) as well as total antioxidant capacity ...

OBJECTIVE To compare the effects of pneumoperitoneum on lung mechanics, end-tidal CO2 (ETCO2), arterial blood gases (ABG), and oxidative stress markers in blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) by using lung-protective ventilation strategy. MATERIALS AND METHODS Forty-six patients undergoing LC and abdominal wall hernia (AWH) surgery were assign...

Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) provides nourishment and protection to the eye. RPE dysfunction due to oxidative stress and inflammation is one of the major reason for many of the retinal disorders. Organophosphorus pesticides are widely used in the agricultural, industrial and household activities in India. However, their effects on the eye in the context of RPE has not been studied. In this ...

Although largely deemed as structurally conserved, catalytic metal ion sites can rearrange, thereby contributing to enzyme evolvability. Here, we show that in paraoxonase-1, a lipo-lactonase, catalytic promiscuity and divergence into an organophosphate hydrolase are correlated with an alternative mode of the catalytic Ca(2+). We describe the crystal structures of active-site mutants bearing mut...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Squalene, the main hydrocarbon in the unsaponifiable fraction of virgin olive oil, is involved in cholesterol synthesis and it has been reported to own antiatherosclerotic and antiesteatosic effects. However, the squalene's role on lipid plasma parameters and the influence of genotype on this effect need to be addressed. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACHES Three male mouse models (...