This study analyzes fatty acid (FA) composition in plasma lipids and erythrocyte phospholipids while comparing septic and non-septic critically ill patients. The aim was to describe impacts of infection and the inflammatory process. Patients with severe sepsis (SP, n = 13); age-, sex- and APACHE II score-matched non-septic critically ill with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (NSP, n = 13); and age-/sex-matched healthy controls (HC, n = 13) were included in a prospective case-control study during the first 24 h after admission to the intensive care unit. In both SP and NSP, lower n-6 polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) accompanied by higher proportions of monounsaturated FA (MUFA) in plasma phospholipids (PPL) was observed relative to HC. MUFA proportion was negatively correlated with n-6 PUFA, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and albumin. MUFA was positively correlated with C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), interleukins (IL-6, IL-10), oxidized low density lipoproteins (ox-LDL), and conjugated dienes (CD). In both SP and NSP, inflammatory and lipid peroxidation markers were significantly higher-CRP (p < 0.001; p = 0.08), IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α (p < 0.01, p = 0.06), ox-LDL, and CD while total cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C albumin, and 20:4n-6/22:6n-3 and n-6/n-3 ratios were lower compared to HC. In conclusion, the changes in plasma lipid FA profile relate to the intensity of inflammatory and peroxidative response regardless of insult etiology. The lower MUFA and higher n-6 PUFA proportions in PPL were inversely correlated with cholesterol and albumin levels.

• Keywords
• Fatty acid profile, Inflammation, Lipoproteins, Oxidative stress, PUFA, Plasma lipids, Sepsis,
• MeSH
• Biomarkers blood   MeSH
• C-Reactive Protein metabolism   MeSH
• Phospholipids blood   MeSH
• Interleukins metabolism   MeSH
• Calcitonin metabolism   MeSH
• Critical Illness * MeSH
• Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated blood   MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Fatty Acids blood   MeSH
• Prospective Studies MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Sepsis immunology   metabolism   MeSH
• Case-Control Studies MeSH
• Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome immunology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Comparative Study MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Biomarkers MeSH
• C-Reactive Protein MeSH
• Phospholipids MeSH
• Interleukins MeSH
• Calcitonin MeSH
• Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated MeSH
• Fatty Acids MeSH

Markers of oxidative stress and antioxidant status in relation to inflammatory mediators in septic patients (SPs) during the course of sepsis and after recovery were analysed. Patients were 30 critically ill adults in severe sepsis/septic shock, 19 of which completed 3 samplings (S1: within 24 h after onset of sepsis, S7: 7 days after S1, R7: 7 days after clinical recovery). Comparing SPs with healthy controls (HCs), enhanced C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, bilirubin and CuZn-superoxide dismutase activity were found at S1 only. Oxidized low-density lipoprotein, conjugated dienes and nitrotyrosine were increased at S1, culminated at S7 and reverted nearly to HC levels at R7. Reduced catalase activity and serum amyloid were observed at S1 and endured until R7. Increase in IL-6, IL-10 and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) with accompanying decrease in apolipoprotein A1, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, selenium, zinc, albumin, paraoxonase 1 and glutathione peroxidase 1 activity appeared at S1 and persisted until R7. TNF-α, IL-10 and markers of oxidative stress were in negative correlation with HDL cholesterol and albumin at R7. After clinical recovery, increased cytokines and decreased antioxidants were accompanied by lower albumin and HDL cholesterol levels. During this important and beneficial period of tissue repair, patients with prolonged persistence of this status are probably more vulnerable to secondary infections and should be dealt with as constituting a high-risk population.

• Keywords
• Albumin, Antioxidant enzymes, Cytokines, HDL cholesterol, Oxidative stress, Sepsis,
• MeSH
• Cytokines blood   MeSH
• Cholesterol, HDL blood   MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Oxidative Stress MeSH
• Prospective Studies MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Sepsis immunology   metabolism   MeSH
• Serum Albumin metabolism   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Cytokines MeSH
• Cholesterol, HDL MeSH
• Serum Albumin MeSH

OBJECTIVE: In the pathogenesis of the metabolic syndrome (MetS), an increase of oxidative stress could play an important role which is closely linked with insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction, and chronic inflammation. The aim of our study was to assess several parameters of the antioxidant status in MetS. METHODS: 40 subjects with MetS and 40 age- and sex-matched volunteers without MetS were examined for activities of superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX1), glutathione reductase (GR), paraoxonase1 (PON1), concentrations of reduced glutathione (GSH), and conjugated dienes in low-density lipoprotein (CD-LDL). RESULTS: Subjects with MetS had higher activities of CuZnSOD (p < 0.05) and GR (p < 0.001), higher concentrations of CD-LDL (p < 0.001), lower activities of CAT (p < 0.05) and PON1 (p < 0.05), and lower concentrations of GSH (p < 0.05), as compared with controls. Activity of GPX1 was not significantly changed. CONCLUSIONS: Our results implicated an increased oxidative stress in MetS and a decreased antioxidative defense that correlated with some laboratory (triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)) and clinical (waist circumference, blood pressure) components of MetS.

• MeSH
• Antioxidants analysis   MeSH
• Aryldialkylphosphatase blood   MeSH
• Biomarkers blood   MeSH
• Enzymes blood   MeSH
• Glutathione blood   MeSH
• Glutathione Peroxidase GPX1 MeSH
• Glutathione Peroxidase blood   MeSH
• Glutathione Reductase blood   MeSH
• Catalase blood   MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Lipoproteins, LDL blood   MeSH
• Metabolic Syndrome blood   diagnosis   enzymology   MeSH
• Oxidative Stress MeSH
• Case-Control Studies MeSH
• Superoxide Dismutase blood   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Antioxidants MeSH
• Aryldialkylphosphatase MeSH
• Biomarkers MeSH
• Enzymes MeSH
• Glutathione MeSH
• Glutathione Peroxidase GPX1 MeSH
• Glutathione Peroxidase MeSH
• Glutathione Reductase MeSH
• GPX1 protein, human MeSH Browser
• Catalase MeSH
• Lipoproteins, LDL MeSH
• PON1 protein, human MeSH Browser
• Superoxide Dismutase MeSH