Search Results (3)

Inflammatory periodontal diseases, despite all the efforts of modern dentistry, remain an important predictor of tooth loss worldwide. Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of periodontitis, making the use of antioxidants an attractive option for its treatment. Our attention was drawn to the selenium compound Selenase as an antioxidant therapeutic agent. In this study, we modeled a calcium-deficient prooxidant chronic generalized periodontitis (CGP) model in white non-linear rats. Then, after 14 days, Selenase (50 μg/kg) and Mexidol (250 mg/kg) were administered intragastrically. Blood samples from the animals were analyzed using ELISA and biochemical methods to determine Cu-Zn SOD, nitrotyrosine, GPX-4, iNOS, NO_x, GSH, and GSSG levels. The CGP model led to the typical clinical signs of periodontitis, including hyperemia, edema, gingival pocket formation, bleeding, tooth mobility, as well as an increase in molecular–biochemical markers of nitrosative stress and a reduction of endogenous antioxidants in the blood. Selenase resulted in a decrease in the clinical manifestations of CGP, reduced iNOS, nitrotyrosine, and NO_x levels, and an increase in Cu-Zn SOD and GPX-4 compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Mexidol had a less pronounced effect on these markers compared to Selenase (p < 0.05). Full article

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have been found to have decreased immune function. Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element that is beneficial for human health, which has a significant stimulating effect on immune function. We compared the effects of different Se forms on the alleviation of colitis in DSS-induced mice. Moreover, we also aimed to determine whether Se-enriched Lactobacillus paracasei CCFM 1089 could be used as a new organic Se supplement. Different Se supplements (Se-enriched L. paracasei CCFM 1089, Se-enriched yeast and sodium selenite) were given to Se-deficient mice suffering from colitis. Se-enriched L. paracasei CCFM 1089, which is based on selenocysteine (SeCys), had similar effects in terms of reducing oxidative stress and inhibiting pro-inflammatory factors to Se-enriched yeast; however, selenase activity in the Se-enriched L. paracasei CCFM 1089-treated mice was higher than that in other treatment groups. In addition, Se-enriched L. paracasei CCFM 1089 could better protect the intestinal mucosa, which increased the expression of tight junction proteins (ZO-1 and occludin) in mice. Thus Se-enriched L. paracasei CCFM 1089 was shown to alleviate IBD, suggesting that it has potential as a good organic Se supplement. Full article

Long-term surveillance is necessary to identify patients at risk of developing secondary lymphedema after breast cancer surgery. We assessed how sodium selenite supplementation would affect breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) symptoms and parameters in association with antioxidant effects. A randomized, double-blind, controlled trial was conducted on 26 participants with clinical stage II to III BCRL. The control group (CTRL, n = 12) and selenium group (SE, n = 14) underwent five sessions of 0.9% saline and 500 μg sodium selenite (Selenase^®) IV injections, respectively, within 2 weeks. All patients were educated on recommended behavior and self-administered manual lymphatic drainage. Clinical diagnosis on lymphedema by physicians, bioimpedance data, blood levels of oxidative markers, including glutathione (GSH), glutathione disulfide (GSSG), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase activity (GSH-Px), and serum oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) levels, were investigated at timelines defined as baseline, 2-week, and follow-up. Sodium selenite increased whole blood selenium concentration in the SE group. Compared to the baseline, at 2 weeks, 75.0% of participants in clinical stage showed improvement, while there was no change in the CTRL group. At follow-up, 83.3% and 10.0% of the SE and CTRL, respectively, showed stage changes from III to II (p = 0.002). Extracellular water (ECW) ratios were significantly reduced at 2 weeks and follow-up, only in the SE group. Blood GSH, GSSG, GSH/GSSG ratio, MDA, and ORAC levels did not change by selenium supplementation. Sodium selenite improved diagnostic stages of BCRL along with ECW ratios, although the beneficial effect might not be related to its antioxidant activity. Selenite’s effect on lymphedema may be associated with non-antioxidant properties, such as anti-inflammation and immune function. Further mechanistic research using a larger population is needed. Full article