Whether the incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) is related to a decrease in total antioxidant capacity (TAC) has not yet been completely clarified. We assessed TAC of blood serum in a group of 163 men with CHD aged 34.8–77.0 years and in 163 age-matched peers without CHD. Two spectrophotometric methods were applied to assess TAC: ferric reducing ability of serum (TAC-FRAS) and 2.2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (TAC-DPPH) tests. In the CHD group, multivariate analysis revealed that uric acid (UA), triglycerides, and systolic blood pressure contributed independently to the TAC-FRAS variance. TAC-DPPH was favorably predicted by UA concentration, but negatively so by current smoking and glucose levels. In men without CHD, UA was the only independent determinant of both TAC-FRAS and TAC-DPPH. Presence of CHD was not an independent predictor of TAC—observed between-group differences (higher TAC in CHD patients) disappeared after adjustment for other confounders. We conclude that UA is the main determinant of TAC of blood serum in men. TAC is not directly influenced by age or CHD but is related to several indices of overweight/obesity and laboratory measures of metabolic syndrome, especially in patients with CHD.

In the event of blood culture contamination (BCC), blood culture (BC) needs to be repeated. This may delay appropriate treatment, prolong hospitalization and, consequently, increase its costs. The aim of the study was to assess the frequency of BCC and associated factors in a general hospital in Poland based on reports of BC in samples submitted for laboratory testing in 2019–2020. BCC is recognized when bacteria (especially those belonging to natural human microbiota) are isolated from a single sample and no clinical signs indicated infection. True positive BC is confirmed by the growth of bacteria in more than one set of blood samples with the corresponding clinical signs present. The structure of BC sets, microorganisms, and laboratory costs of BCC were analyzed. Out of 2274 total BC cases, 11.5% were true positive BC and 9.5% were BCC. Of all the BCC identified in the entire hospital, 72% was from Internal Medicine (IM) and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) combined. When single sets for BC were used in IM in 2020, the use increased to 85% compared with 2019 (p < 0.05). The predominant isolates were coagulase-negative staphylococci (84%). The estimated extra laboratory costs of BCC exceeded EUR 268,000. The BCC was a more serious problem than expected, including non-recommended using of single BC sets. Compliance with the BC collection procedure should be increased in order to reduce BCC and thus extra hospital costs.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), α-linolenic acid (ALA), or linoleic acid (LA), have a particular role in counteracting cardiovascular diseases. They may regulate antioxidant potential and inflammatory reactions. Little is known whether other fatty acids, such as saturated fatty acids (e.g., short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) such as butyric or caproic acid) or monounsaturated fatty acids, may be involved and whether the level of Vitamin C intake may affect these processes. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of fatty acid intake on plasma and salivary total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and the salivary inflammation marker C-reactive protein (CRP). Eighty older adults (60–79 years old) were divided into two groups with high (n = 39) and low (n = 41) Vitamin C intake. In the group with high Vitamin C intake SCFA, ALA, LA positively correlated with the plasma TAC indices, and in the group with low Vitamin C intake, the salivary TAC was decreased in subjects with a higher SCFA intake. Salivary CRP negatively corresponded to SCFA, EPA, and DHA in the whole study group (p < 0.05 for all). Fatty acids and Vitamin C intake may influence antioxidant potential and salivary CRP.

Objectives: As plasma and salivary total antioxidant capacity (TAC) is mainly contributed by uric acid (UA), the present study measures non-urate TAC (Nu-TAC). The aim of the study was to correlate plasma native TAC, Nu-TAC and UA with their salivary analogues, and compare the UA contribution in both body fluids using two different methods. Methods: The study involved 55 middle-aged and older subjects (66.7 +/- 4.5 years). TAC was determined simultaneously with two methods (ferric reducing ability of plasma - FRAP, 2.2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl - DPPH and countertypes for saliva - FRAS and DPPHS test), with and without UA (native TAC and Nu-TAC, respectively). Plasma UA and salivary UA (SUA) were assessed. Results: Subjects with increased FRAP, DPPH and UA had higher FRAS, DPPHS and SUA, respectively (P < 0.05). Plasma Nu-TAC indices did not correlate with salivary Nu-TAC. The contribution of UA to the plasma and salivary DPPH tests was similar: 75.7 +/- 10.3% and 75.2 +/- 14.0%, respectively. However, the contribution of UA to FRAS was higher than that for FRAP (71.6 +/- 13.9% vs. 64.0 +/- 8.1%; P < 0.001). Discussion: Our findings suggest that saliva is a good predictor for native plasma TAC but not for Nu-TAC. UA level is comparably dominant in saliva and in plasma according to DPPH, but lower in plasma according to FRAP.

It is not clear whether habitual dietary intake influences the antioxidant or inflammatory status. The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of antioxidative vitamins C, E, and β-carotene obtained from daily food rations on plasma and salivary Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC), uric acid and salivary C-reactive protein (CRP). The study involved 80 older subjects (66.9 ± 4.3 years), divided into two groups: group 1 (n = 43) with lower and group 2 (n = 37) with higher combined vitamins C, E and β-carotene intake. A 24-h dietary recall was obtained from each individual. TAC was assessed simultaneously with two methods in plasma (Ferric Reducing Ability of Plasma—FRAP, 2.2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl—DPPH) and in saliva (FRAS and DPPHS test). Lower vitamin C intake corresponded to higher FRAS. There were no other correlations between vitamins C, E or β-carotene intake and antioxidant indices. Salivary CRP was not related to any antioxidant indices. FRAS was decreased in group 2 (p < 0.01) but no other group differences for salivary or for plasma antioxidant parameters and salivary CRP were found. Habitual, not extra supplemented dietary intake does not significantly affect plasma or salivary TAC and salivary CRP.

Objective.The purpose of the study was to assess total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of blood serum in relation with habitual leisure time physical activity (LTPA) and aerobic capacity in a group of 90 men with coronary heart disease (CHD) aged 34.8–77.0 years and in 90 age-matched peers without CHD.Methods.Two spectrophotometric methods were applied to assess TAC: Ferric Reducing Ability of Serum (TAC-FRAS) and 2.2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (TAC-DPPH) tests. Aerobic capacity was expressed as physical working capacity at 85% of the maximal heart rate (PWC85%HRmax).Results. CHD patients had higher values of TACFRAS (1.37±0.28versus1.27±0.23 mmol FeCl₂·L⁻¹;P<0.05) but there were no group differences for TAC-DPPH and for uric acid (UA). Negative correlation was found between LTPA (also when calculated per kg of body mass) and TAC-DPPH in CHD patients. In CHD patients, TAC-FRAS and UA were lower in subjects with higher aerobic capacity expressed asPWC85%HRmax/kg. Those associations were not found in healthy men.Conclusions. We conclude that TAC of blood serum is moderately adversely related to LTPA and aerobic capacity in patients with CHD. UA, as the main determinant of serum TAC, may be partially responsible for those associations.