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Background: Oxidative stress is supposed to be implicated in the pathogenesis of several diseases which are connected with increased formation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS). Oxidative stress could play an important role in the pathogenesis of inflammation and sepsis, acute and chronic pancreatitis or in the development of cancer. Organisms are protected against RONS from antioxidant system that is composed of antioxidant enzymes and non-enzymatic antioxidants. To the most important antioxidant enzymes belong superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and paraoxonase (PON). The aim of this Doctoral Thesis was to investigate the behaviour of three of these antioxidant enzymes - CuZnSOD, CAT and PON1 in different pathophysiological states. Materials and methods: The activities of CuZnSOD, CAT and PON1 were measured in six different pathophysiological states. Forty patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS), 35 women with depressive disorder (DD), 30 septic patients (SP), 50 patients with pancreatic cancer (PC), 50 patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP) and 13 patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) were included in different studies together with sex- and age-matched healthy controls (CON). Patients with AP and SP were observed in the course...

This study is focused on study of changes of enzyme and low-molecular weight antioxidants in different fruits during long-term storage. In theoretical part individual low-molecular weight antioxidants and enzymes are described. The main causes of fruit decay and some possibilities of fruit preservation and storage are summarized. As biological material some common fruits were chosen - green and red apples, peaches, plums and white grapes. The fruits were stored in laboratory, cellar, in refrigerator and in freezer. In freezing experiments some ways of fruit preparation and processing were tested and their influence on fruit antioxidant status was compared. Shortened storage experiment was applied on blueberries, cranberries, raspberries and strawberries too. In fruits some group parameters – total antioxidant status, dry mass content, ascorbate level, total flavonoids and total phenolics were analyzed spectrophotometrically. Individual flavonoids and phenolics were determined by RP-HPLC/UV-VIS and on-line LC/PDA/ESI-MS. Antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase SOD, catalase CAT, polyphenol oxidase PPO and lipoxygenase LOX) were measured by spectrophotometry. The surface microscopy and cultivation of moulds from fruit surface were performed too. Influence of storage conditions on biological activities is dependent on fruit sort. Freezing is the most suitable procedure for long-term storage without significant changes of active substance content. Long-term storage in controlled temperature conditions and/or atmosphere is usable for fruits with longer storage period. In these fruits stabile levels of antioxidant enzymes are stored for relatively long time. Some of enzymes act synergistically. Enzyme activities differed according to storage phase; at the beginning mainly high SOD and LOX activities were observed. CAT and PPO are probably activated as defence systems in rippened and/or damaged fruits. Levels of total as well as individual low molecular weight antioxidants varied during storage in all sorts, generally, increased course with longer storage period can be observed.