ascorbic-acid and Atrophy

Our purpose was to find out if morphometric techniques can document long term changes in gastric antral atrophy after curing Helicobacter pylori infection with or without dietary supplementation with antioxidant micronutrients.. Study subjects were 132 adult volunteers from a Colombian region with high gastric cancer rates. Participants were randomly assigned to ascorbic acid, beta-carotene, and anti-H. pylori treatment, following a factorial design. Gastric biopsies were obtained at baseline and after 72 months of intervention. Atrophy was evaluated by a standard visual analog scale and by morphometry.. Statistically significant changes in antral atrophy were detected with morphometric techniques after intervention in subjects who received anti-H. pylori treatment. A nonsignificant trend was also observed with visual scores. This effect was greater among those who were free of infection at the end of the trial. After accounting for the effect of anti-H. pylori treatment, no significant effect was noted for dietary supplementation with ascorbic acid and/or beta-carotene.. We conclude that gastric atrophy improves significantly after long term control of H. pylori infection. This effect can be demonstrated both by conventional histological grading and by morphometry.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Ascorbic Acid; Atrophy; beta Carotene; Female; Helicobacter Infections; Helicobacter pylori; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pyloric Antrum; Treatment Outcome

Post acne scars following sebaceous injury and abnormal wound healing during the course of acne is a prevalent and challenging to treat condition To evaluate microneedling by dermapen with topical vitamin C versus microneedling with topical insulin in treating atrophic post-acne scars. A split-face comparative study included 30 subjects with atrophic post-acne scars. Human insulin was topically applied to the left side of the face and on the right side, vitamin C serum was applied. Scars were assessed via the Acne Scar Assessment Scale (ASAS) and Scar quartile grading scale (SQGS). After 1 month of 4 treatments, a statistically significant mean improvement in ASAS value was reported on both split sides of the face (2.13 and 1.83) compared to baseline (3.03 and 2.93) (p = 0.005; p = 0.001 respectively). When compared to baseline, the mean ASAS value improved significantly with a slight more improvement on the vitamin c treated side. Topical insulin and vitamin c combined with microneedling, may both achieve comparable significant improvement for treating post acne scars. Insulin can be a promising novel anti-scarring therapy pending larger controlled studies to verify its efficacy.

Topics: Acne Vulgaris; Ascorbic Acid; Atrophy; Cicatrix; Connective Tissue Diseases; Cosmetic Techniques; Humans; Insulin; Needles; Treatment Outcome

Chronic fetal hypoxia is one of the most common outcomes in complicated pregnancy in humans. Despite this, its effects on the long-term health of the brain in offspring are largely unknown. Here, we investigated in rats whether hypoxic pregnancy affects brain structure and function in the adult offspring and explored underlying mechanisms with maternal antioxidant intervention. Pregnant rats were randomly chosen for normoxic or hypoxic (13% oxygen) pregnancy with or without maternal supplementation with vitamin C in their drinking water. In one cohort, the placenta and fetal tissues were collected at the end of gestation. In another, dams were allowed to deliver naturally, and offspring were reared under normoxic conditions until 4 months of age (young adult). Between 3.5 and 4 months, the behavior, cognition and brains of the adult offspring were studied. We demonstrated that prenatal hypoxia reduced neuronal number, as well as vascular and synaptic density, in the hippocampus, significantly impairing memory function in the adult offspring. These adverse effects of prenatal hypoxia were independent of the hypoxic pregnancy inducing fetal growth restriction or elevations in maternal or fetal plasma glucocorticoid levels. Maternal vitamin C supplementation during hypoxic pregnancy protected against oxidative stress in the placenta and prevented the adverse effects of prenatal hypoxia on hippocampal atrophy and memory loss in the adult offspring. Therefore, these data provide a link between prenatal hypoxia, placental oxidative stress, and offspring brain health in later life, providing insight into mechanism and identifying a therapeutic strategy.

Topics: Animals; Animals, Newborn; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; Atrophy; Dietary Supplements; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Fetal Growth Retardation; Fetal Hypoxia; Hippocampus; Male; Memory Disorders; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Rats; Rats, Wistar

Occupational and ecological contacts to lead persist as a universal concern. Lead alters most of the physiological processes via enhancing oxidative stress. Thus, this study was purposed to assess the influence of turmeric (TMRC) and/or vitamin C (VIT-C) on Lead diacetate (Lead diAC)-induced testicular atrophy with an emphasis on oxidative stress, inflammation, BAX/STAR and GRP-78/17β-HSD signalling. Rats were injected with Lead diAC and then treated with TMRC and/or VIT-C orally for 1 week. Lead diAC decreased serum testosterone and testicular glutathione levels. It also decreased superoxide dismutase activity. On the contrary, levels of malondialdehyde, tumour necrosis factor-α, IL-1β and caspase-3 were increased. mRNA levels and protein expressions of GRP-78 and BAX were upregulated, while the expression of both steroidogenic acute regulatory protein and 17β-HSD were downregulated. DNA fragmentation was increased as well. These changes were further confirmed by histopathological findings. Supplementation with TMRC and/or VIT-C ameliorated all of the above parameters. In Conclusion: TMRC or VIT-C specially in combination group prevents Lead diAC testicular damage via reduction of oxidative injury as well as inflammation, downregulation of GRP-78/BAX and upregulation of 17β-HSD and STAR expression as well as improvement in the histological architecture of the testis.

Topics: Animals; Ascorbic Acid; Atrophy; Curcuma; Male; Organometallic Compounds; Oxidative Stress; Rats; Testis; Testosterone

Topics: Animals; Ascorbic Acid; Ascorbic Acid Deficiency; Atrophy; Humans; Hyaluronan Receptors; Hyaluronic Acid; Mice; Signal Transduction; Skin; Skin Aging; Skin Diseases; Vitamins

The standard management of acne vulgaris in Japan includes a combination of topical treatment with benzoyl peroxide (BPO) and BPO/clindamycin (CLDM), topical adapalene and systemic antimicrobials. However, the treatment of therapy-resistant complications such as postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), erosions with inflamed red papules and atrophic scars has not been established. We performed chemical peeling with glycolic acid and iontophoresis with ascorbyl 2-phosphate 6-palmitate and DL-α-tocopherol phosphate for the treatment of PIH, erosions with inflamed red papules and non-inflamed atrophic scars in 31 patients with acne vulgaris (mild to severe severity), and evaluated the efficacy and safety of these interventions. In most of cases, there was remarkable improvement in PIH and erosions with inflamed red papules after treatment. There was also some improvement in non-inflamed atrophic scars without erythema. Mild redness and irritation was observed in four cases as adverse reactions. Early initial treatment of PIH and erosions with red papules by chemical peeling and iontophoresis is an effective and safe method to prevent the formation of atrophic scars in patients with acne vulgaris.

Topics: Acne Vulgaris; Adapalene; Adolescent; Adult; alpha-Tocopherol; Anti-Infective Agents; Ascorbic Acid; Atrophy; Benzoyl Peroxide; Chemexfoliation; Cicatrix; Clindamycin; Combined Modality Therapy; Erythema; Female; Glycolates; Humans; Hyperpigmentation; Iontophoresis; Japan; Male; Severity of Illness Index; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult

Vitamin C (VC) is an essential nutrient for humans and certain other animals. It has antioxidant properties and has been reported to ameliorate oxidative damage to lipids, DNA and proteins. However, the effects of VC on immune function are poorly understood, especially the influence of long-term high-dose VC intake on the number and function of immune cells. In the present study, to evaluate the immune effects of VC, VC-deficient senescence marker protein-30 knockout (SMP30KO) mice were fed a diet containing the recommended level of VC (20 mg/kg per d; 0·02 % VC) or a high level of VC (200 mg/kg per d; 0·2 % VC) for 1 year. The plasma VC concentration of the 0·02 % group was the same as that of age-matched C57BL/6 mice after 1 year of feeding; however, plasma VC concentration and thymus weight were significantly higher in the 0·2 % VC group than in the 0·02 % VC group. The total counts of leucocytes, lymphocytes, granulocytes and monocytes in the peripheral blood, as well as the number of splenocytes and thymocytes, were all significantly higher in the 0·2 % VC group than in the 0·02 % VC group. In addition, the number of naive T cells in peripheral blood lymphocytes, the number of memory T-cell populations in splenocytes, and the number of cluster of differentiation (CD)4⁺CD8⁺ or CD4⁺CD8⁻ or CD4⁻CD8⁺ T cells in thymocytes were all markedly higher in the 0·2 % VC group than in the 0·02 % VC group after 1 year of dietary treatment. These results suggest that a long-term high-dose intake of VC is effective in the maintenance of immune cells, partly through the suppression of age-related thymic involution in VC-deficient SMP30KO mice.

Topics: Aging; Animals; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; Ascorbic Acid Deficiency; Atrophy; Calcium-Binding Proteins; Dietary Supplements; Immunologic Factors; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Leukocyte Count; Lymphatic Diseases; Macrophages; Male; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; Organ Size; Random Allocation; Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; Spleen; T-Lymphocyte Subsets; Thymus Gland

Phthalates are widely used as plasticizer in various consumer domestic products and are known to disturb the male reproductive function in rodents. This study investigated the involvement of oxidative stress and the atrophy of the testes in pubertal rats exposed to mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP). Four-week-old pubertal male rats were separated into three groups. In group I, 21 rats were fed rat chow containing 2 % MBP for 3 days. In group II, 21 rats were fed rat chow containing 2 % MBP for 3 days and antioxidant vitamins C (250 mg/kg/day) and E (50 mg/kg/day) were injected daily. In group III, 21 rats were fed standard rat chow and used as controls. After 3 days, each testis was weighed and the germ cell development was evaluated using the Johnsen score. The urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels were measured as a biological marker of oxidative DNA damage. The mean testis weight was significantly lower for group I than groups II or III (p < 0.05). The mean Johnsen score was significantly lower for group I than for groups II or III (p < 0.05). Urinary 8-OHdG concentrations were higher in group I than in groups II or III. Short-time exposure to MBP may therefore induce oxidative DNA damage in rat testes, while antioxidant vitamins administered during exposure may protect against this stress.

Topics: 8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine; Animals; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; Atrophy; Deoxyguanosine; DNA Damage; Male; Oxidative Stress; Phthalic Acids; Plasticizers; Rats; Sexual Maturation; Testis; Vitamin E

The increased accessibility of antiretroviral therapy continues to positively drive the reduction in viral load and survival of patients despite the attendant reproductive toxicities. We propose that testicular damage caused by highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) can be attenuated by antioxidant treatment by investigating the testicular histomorphologic and stereological effects of antiretroviral drugs and its interaction with antioxidants using an experimental animal model. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into seven groups of six rats per group (A, B... G) using simple random sampling and treated orally with 0.9% normal saline as placebo, a HAART cocktail of stavudine, lamivudine and nevirapine using the adjusted human therapeutic doses of 200, 600 and 350-400 mg/day, respectively, and antioxidants ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and I.M α-tocopherol (vitamin E). Animals were killed after 4 weeks and testicular tissue harvested and processed for light microscopy and stereological evaluations. The results were interpreted by a Veterinary pathologist blinded to the study. No animal died during the experimental period. The histopathological assessment of the testis of animals treated with placebo, ascorbic acid alone and α-tocopherol alone as well as vitamin E + HAART displayed normal testicular microanatomy. Groups treated with HAART alone, HAART + vitamin C + vitamin E and vitamins C + HAART showed extensive seminiferous tubular atrophy, necrosis and hypocellularity in the histoarchitectural patterns. While testicular cross-sectional area of seminiferous tubules remained unaffected by HAART, epithelial heights significantly decreased (p < 0.05) when compared with controls. There was marked (p < 0.05) increased in testicular-body weight ratio in HAART group. The results show that vitamin E could be useful in protecting testicular tissue from toxicities of HAART regimes as these results mirrors stereological data for the groups. HAART presents with deleterious histopathological changes in the testes causing tubular atrophy with altered morphometric indices. Supplementation with vitamin E appears to be a better adjuvant antioxidant that ameliorates these deleterious effects.

Topics: alpha-Tocopherol; Animals; Anti-HIV Agents; Antioxidants; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Ascorbic Acid; Atrophy; Lamivudine; Male; Models, Animal; Necrosis; Nevirapine; Random Allocation; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Seminiferous Tubules; Stavudine

Age-related skin thinning is correlated with a decrease in the content of collagen in the skin. Accumulating evidence suggests that collagen peptide (CP) and vitamin C (VC) transcriptionally upregulate type I collagen in vivo. However, the additive effects of CP and VC on age-related skin changes remain unclear. We herein demonstrate that CP and a VC derivative additively corrected age-related skin thinning via reduced oxidative damage in superoxide dismutase 1 (Sod1)-deficient mice. Co-treatment with these compounds significantly normalized the altered gene expression of Col1a1, Has2, and Ci1, a proton-coupled oligopeptide transporter, in Sod1(-/-) skin. The in vitro analyses further revealed that collagen oligopeptide, a digestive product of ingested CP, significantly promoted the bioactivity of the VC derivative with respect to the migration and proliferation of Sod1(-/-) fibroblasts. These findings suggest that combined treatment with CP and VC is effective in cases of age-related skin pathology.

Topics: Aging; Animals; Ascorbic Acid; Atrophy; Collagen; Drug Synergism; Fibroblasts; Male; Mice; Oxidative Stress; Peptide Fragments; Phenotype; Skin; Superoxide Dismutase; Superoxide Dismutase-1; Transcriptome

Oxidative damages induced by a redox imbalance cause age-related changes in cells and tissues. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymes play a major role in the antioxidant system and they also catalyze superoxide radicals (O2·-). Since the loss of cytoplasmic SOD (SOD1) resulted in aging-like phenotypes in several types of mouse tissue, SOD1 is essential for the maintenance of tissue homeostasis. To clarify the cellular function of SOD1, we investigated the cellular phenotypes of Sod1-deficient fibroblasts. We demonstrated that Sod1 deficiency impaired proliferation and induced apoptosis associated with O2·- accumulation in the cytoplasm and mitochondria in fibroblasts. Sod1 loss also decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential and led to DNA damage-mediated p53 activation. Antioxidant treatments effectively improved the cellular phenotypes through suppression of both intracellular O2·- accumulation and p53 activation in Sod1-deficient fibroblasts. In vivo experiments revealed that transdermal treatment with a vitamin C derivative significantly reversed the skin thinning commonly associated with the upregulated p53 action in the skin. Our findings revealed that intrinsic O2·- accumulation promoted p53-mediated growth arrest and apoptosis as well as mitochondrial disfunction in the fibroblasts.

Topics: Animals; Apoptosis; Ascorbic Acid; Atrophy; Cell Cycle Checkpoints; Cell Survival; Cells, Cultured; Dermis; Fibroblasts; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial; Mice; Mitochondria; Phenotype; Superoxide Dismutase; Superoxides; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; Up-Regulation

To investigate the effects of an antioxidant cocktail (AC) on bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin (BEP)-induced testicular dysfunction.. In vivo study.. Research laboratory.. Adult male and female Sprague-Dawley rats.. The rats were treated with three cycles of 21 days each of therapeutically relevant dose levels of BEP (0.75, 7.5, and 1.5 mg/kg) with or without the AC (a mixture of α-tocopherol, L-ascorbic acid, Zn, and Se).. Sperm parameters, fertility, serum hormone levels (ELISA), testicular histopathology, and expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and transferrin (Western blotting and immunohistochemistry) were evaluated at the end of treatment and a 63-day recovery period.. At the end of treatment, the AC improved BEP-induced decrease in sperm motility and increase in abnormality but had no effect on reduced sperm count, fertility, and tubular atrophy, although it up-regulated germ cell proliferation. The AC normalized reduced inhibin B levels, but had no effect on decreased transferrin and testosterone and elevated LH levels. At the end of the recovery period, the AC enhanced the expression of PCNA and transferrin, repopulation of germ cells, LH-testosterone axis, and fertility, but had no effect on reduced FSH and elevated inhibin B levels.. The antioxidants protect and then enhance the recovery of testicular and reproductive endocrine functions when administered concomitantly with BEP therapy. The AC may be beneficial to regain testicular functions after chemotherapy.

Topics: alpha-Tocopherol; Animals; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; Atrophy; Bleomycin; Blotting, Western; Cisplatin; Cytoprotection; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Combinations; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Etoposide; Female; Fertility; Hormones; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Pituitary Gland; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Recovery of Function; Selenium; Sperm Count; Sperm Motility; Spermatogenesis; Testicular Diseases; Testis; Time Factors; Transferrin; Zinc

Intrinsic skin ageing is characterized by atrophy and loss of elasticity. Although the skin hypertrophy induced by photoageing has been studied, the molecular mechanisms of skin atrophy during ageing remain unclear. Here, we report that copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZn-SOD)-deficient mice show atrophic morphology in their skin. This atrophy is accompanied by the degeneration of collagen and elastic fibers, and skin hydroxyproline is also significantly reduced in deficient mice. These imply that the dysfunction of collagen and elastin biosynthesis are involved in the progression of skin thinning. Furthermore, transdermal administration of a vitamin C derivative which can permeate through the membrane, completely reversed the skin thinning and deterioration of collagen and elastin in the mutant mice. These indicate that the vitamin C derivative is a powerful agent for alleviating skin ageing through regeneration of collagen and elastin. The CuZn-SOD-deficient mice might be applicable to evaluation of therapeutic medicines against skin ageing.

Topics: Animals; Ascorbic Acid; Atrophy; Collagen; Cytoplasm; Elastin; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Skin; Skin Aging; Superoxide Dismutase; Superoxide Dismutase-1

Abdominal aortic surgery can cause ischemic/reperfusion (I/R) injury in not only the lower extremities, but also in the remote organs and tissues such as lungs, kidneys, heart, and liver during abdominal aortic surgery. It can result in mortality and morbidity because of the remote organ injury in early postoperative period. In this study, we investigate the effects of iloprost and vitamin C on the kidney remote organ damage after I/R following abdominal aortic surgery.. Thirty-four adult male Wistar rats were used and divided into five groups. I/R was studied infrarenally in the abdominal aorta following a median laparotomy. The left kidney was excised immediately following the laparotomy in group I (n = 6, normal group). Group II (n = 6) was the sham group. Group III (n = 6, control group) was subjected to 3 h of ischemia followed by an hour of reperfusion. Group IV (n = 8) was given iloprost 20 ng/kg/min during I/R period before aortic-clamping. Group V (n = 8) was given vitamin C 100 mg/kg during I/R period before aortic-clamping. Arterial blood samples were obtained to determine the levels of blood pH, pO(2) (mmHg), pCO2 (mmHg), HCO(3) (mmol/L), and plasma malondialdehyde (MDA, nmol/mL) at the end of reperfusion period in all groups. The left kidneys were used for remote measurements of tissue MDA (nmol/g.w.t) and scored by histopathological examination for acute inflammation.. While the arterial blood pO(2) and HCO(3) levels significantly increased, the plasma and renal parenchymal MDA levels significantly decreased in both group IV and group V when compared to group III (P < 0.05). Histopathological and acute inflammation scores statistically decreased in both group IV and V compared with group III (P < 0.05). Although MDA levels, histopathologic and acute inflammation scores in group V were lower than group IV, the differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05).. Both iloprost and vitamin C decreased remote organ damage on the kidney after I/R of lower extremities in the rat model. However, vitamin C is more effective than iloprost in preventing postoperative renal dysfunction.

Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Aorta, Abdominal; Ascorbic Acid; Atrophy; Carbon Dioxide; Hindlimb; Iloprost; Kidney; Kidney Diseases; Male; Malondialdehyde; Oxygen; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Reperfusion Injury; Vasodilator Agents

The refining of silver from old silver ornaments, articles and jeweller's waste by smelting these with lead scraps for the fabrication of new jewellery is an important small scale industry in India. The present survey and clinical investigations have shown that 31 out of 50 silver refiners with a mean blood lead level of 32.84+/-1.78 microg/dl (range 20.3-64.9), decrease in blood delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity and thiamine (as pyruvate) level and an enhanced urinary excretion of ALA as compared to control, were suffering from lead poisoning. Most of these workers have shown anaemia, abdominal colic, blue lining of gum and muscular wasting indicative of lead toxicity. Twenty-four workers with relatively high blood lead levels were equally divided into two groups and given either vitamin B1 (75 mg, once a day) or vitamin C (250 mg. twice a day) for 1 month. The treatment with both the vitamins significantly lowered the blood lead levels and reduced blood thiamine and copper deficiency. In addition, vitamin C was also effective in reversing the inhibition of blood ALAD activity while the effect of vitamin B1 on its activity was marginal. The daily intake of vitamin B1 and vitamin C may prevent the accumulation of lead and reduce its toxic effects particularly in those regularly exposed to lead.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Anemia; Ascorbic Acid; Atrophy; Colic; Health Surveys; Humans; India; Lead Poisoning; Male; Metallurgy; Middle Aged; Muscle, Skeletal; Porphobilinogen Synthase; Preventive Medicine; Silver; Thiamine

Topical treatment of striae rubra with 0.1% tretinoin and laser treatment of striae rubra and alba with the 585-nm pulsed dye laser are proven therapeutic options. However, little efficacy has been shown for treatment of striae alba topically, and the laser is currently not a suitable treatment option for darker ethnic skin types.. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate that selected commercial topical agents can improve the appearance of striae alba.. Ten patients of varying skin types (I-V) having straie distensae alba on the abdomen or thighs were selected to evaluate the effectiveness of two topical treatment regimens. Patients were placed on daily topical application of 20% glycolic acid (MD Forte) to the entire treatment area. In addition, the patients applied 10% L-ascorbic acid, 2% zinc sulfate, and 0.5% tyrosine to half to the treatment area and 0.05% tretinoin emollient cream (Renova) to the other half of the treatment area. The creams were applied on a daily basis for 12 weeks. Improvement was evaluated at 4 and 12 weeks in an objective unblinded fashion at the follow-up visits, a objective blinded fashion by visual grading at the conclusion of the study, and in an objective blinded fashion with profilometry. Additionally, histopathologic analysis was performed.. Analysis of these data reveals: 1) both regimens can improve the appearance of stretch marks; 2) these topical therapy regimens are safe and effective in study patients with minimal irritation; 3) elastin content within the reticular and papillary dermis can increase with topical 20% glycolic acid combined with 0.05% tretinoin emollient cream therapy; 4) both regimens increased epidermal thickness and decreased papillary dermal thickness in treated stretch marks when compared with untreated stretch marks; 5) combined epidermal and papillary dermal thickness in stretch marks treated with either topical regimen approaches that of normal skin; and 6) profilometry can objectively measure differences in skin texture associated with striae treatments when compared to controls, however, it is not sensitive enough to justify comparison or quantitative improvements between similarly effective treatments.

Topics: Abdomen; Administration, Cutaneous; Adult; Ascorbic Acid; Astringents; Atrophy; Connective Tissue Diseases; Dermatologic Agents; Drug Combinations; Elastic Tissue; Elastin; Emollients; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Glycolates; Humans; Keratolytic Agents; Middle Aged; Safety; Single-Blind Method; Skin; Thigh; Tretinoin; Tyrosine; Zinc Sulfate

Initial examination of an andrological patient revealed high-grade oligoasthenoteratozoospermia and ureaplasma infection. An elevated FSH level and significantly reduced testicular size were indicative of severely damaged testicular parenchyma. The presence of macrophages in the sperm smear was interpreted as a sign of chronic epididymitis. Antibiotic couple therapy with doxycycline, followed by a 3-month recovery period with combined treatment with vitamin C and E and zinc, resulted in a significantly improved spermiogram. After another 2 months intrauterine insemination resulted in pregnancy, and the birth of a healthy daughter followed. Preparation of the ejaculate was done by glasswool filtration. At that time, the patient had only mild teratozoospermia.

Topics: Adult; Ascorbic Acid; Atrophy; Combined Modality Therapy; Doxycycline; Epididymitis; Female; Follicle Stimulating Hormone; Humans; Insemination, Artificial, Homologous; Male; Oligospermia; Pregnancy; Sperm Count; Testis; Ureaplasma Infections; Vitamin E; Zinc

To determine the relevance of gastric juice factors to gastric carcinogenesis, 56 patients with unoperated stomachs undergoing endoscopy for dyspepsia had gastric juice aspirated and analysed for pH, ascorbic acid, total bile acids, nitrite, nitrate and total nitroso compounds (NOCs). Plasma was obtained for vitamin C estimation. Antral and body biopsies were assessed for gastritis, Helicobacter pylori, atrophy and intestinal metaplasia (IM). Patients with chronic atrophic gastritis (n = 17) had lower gastric juice ascorbic acid concentrations (P less than 0.001), higher pH (P less than 0.05) and higher incidence of H. pylori infection (P less than 0.001) than normal subjects (n = 12). Patients with reflux gastritis (n = 9) had higher total bile acids (P less than 0.01). Patients with chronic gastritis and IM (n = 11) had higher gastric juice pH (P less than 0.01) and total bile acid concentrations (P less than 0.05), and lower gastric ascorbic acid concentrations (P less than 0.01) than those with chronic gastritis and no IM (n = 24). In chronic gastritis, high nitrite concentrations were associated with high pH (P less than 0.01). However, there were no significant differences in plasma vitamin C or gastric nitrite, nitrate or total NOC concentrations in relation to gastric histology. We conclude that the premalignant condition IM is associated with H. pylori infection, low gastric ascorbic acid levels and elevated total bile acids, but not to elevation in nitrite or total NOCs in fasting gastric juice.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Ascorbic Acid; Atrophy; Bile Acids and Salts; Gastric Juice; Gastric Mucosa; Humans; Intestines; Metaplasia; Middle Aged; Nitrates; Nitrites; Nitroso Compounds; Precancerous Conditions; Stomach; Stomach Neoplasms

Two groups of guinea pigs were exposed to 1/3 octave band noise centered at 4 kHz, 113-118 dB SPL, for 2 h. The animals of the first group were treated with ascorbic acid (AA), 0.5 mg per 1 g of body mass injected intraperitoneally before noise exposure. The second group (control) was exposed without being treated. By means of the surface specimen method and consequent assessment of numerical atrophy of cochlear hair cells it was found that application of ascorbic acid before the noise exposure resulted in a lower or no loss of hair cells especially within the respective frequency segment of the basilar membrane. Possible protective effect of AA and/or the negative effect of hypovitaminosis "C" are discussed.

Topics: Animals; Ascorbic Acid; Atrophy; Basilar Membrane; Guinea Pigs; Hair Cells, Auditory; Hair Cells, Auditory, Inner; Injections, Intraperitoneal; Noise

Topics: Adult; Ascorbic Acid; Atrophy; Colon; Colonic Diseases, Functional; Female; Glycogen; Glycosaminoglycans; Humans; Intestinal Mucosa; Male; Middle Aged; Succinate Dehydrogenase; Sulfhydryl Compounds

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Adrenal Glands; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animals; Ascorbic Acid; Atrophy; Body Weight; Deoxyribonucleases; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; Hyaluronoglucosaminidase; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Hydrolases; Liver; Male; Organ Size; Rats; Testicular Diseases; Testis; Vitamin A; Vitamin A Deficiency

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Aspirin; Atrophy; Auscultation; Cellulitis; Drug Combinations; Edema; Humans; Leg Ulcer; Lymphatic System; Macrophages; Necrosis; Occlusive Dressings; Pigmentation Disorders; Posture; Respiration; Rest; Thrombophlebitis; Time Factors; Valsalva Maneuver; Varicose Veins; Venous Insufficiency; Venous Pressure

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Atrophy; Body Temperature Regulation; Burns; Fractures, Bone; Glycosuria; Humans; Hyperglycemia; Muscle Proteins; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Proteins; Wounds and Injuries

1. Cortisol, administered subcutaneously every day for long periods, caused growth retardation, adrenal atrophy and impaired hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) function in the rat.2. The growth rate and the functional activity of the HPA system gradually returned to normal after steroid withdrawal.3. Normal adrenal sensitivity to corticotrophin returned more rapidly than normal pituitary corticotrophic function, suggesting that the initial impairment of HPA function was due both to reduced responsiveness of the adrenal gland to corticotrophin and failure of the pituitary gland to secrete the hormone.

Topics: Adrenal Glands; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Animals; Ascorbic Acid; Atrophy; Corticosterone; Growth; Hydrocortisone; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System; Pituitary-Adrenal System; Rats; Time Factors

Topics: Adrenal Glands; Animals; Ascorbic Acid; Atrophy; Body Weight; Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; Cortisone; Hypothalamus; Male; Organ Size; Pituitary Gland; Rats

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Atrophy; Barbiturates; Carbamates; Cerebellar Ataxia; Cerebellar Cortex; Cerebellar Diseases; Friedreich Ataxia; Humans; Physical Therapy Modalities; Prognosis; Pyridoxine; Sulfides; Vitamin B Complex

Topics: Animals; Ascorbic Acid; Atrophy; Biological Assay; Female; Luteinizing Hormone; Mestranol; Norethynodrel; Organ Size; Ovarian Diseases; Ovary; Pituitary Gland; Rats

Topics: Adrenal Glands; Adrenocortical Hyperfunction; Animals; Ascorbic Acid; Atrophy; Diet; Drug Antagonism; Hypertrophy; Male; Rats; Testis; Tyrosine

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Atrophy; Humans; Male; Pathology; Pharmacology; Rats; Research; Spermatozoa; Testis; Toxicology; Tyrosine

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Atrophy; Carbohydrate Metabolism; Connective Tissue Diseases; Humans; Thiamine