Bøger af Nick Gilmour

Oxidative stress is defined as the imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in the body. Free radicals refer to oxygen containing molecules consisting of uneven number of electrons. Oxidation is a process in which free radicals can stimulate large chain chemical reactions in the body. If functioning properly, the free radicals can help fight-off pathogens which might lead to infections. The presence of more free radicals in the body than can be kept in balance by antioxidants, leads to oxidative stress, which can cause damage to fatty tissue, DNA and proteins in the body. The diseases associated with oxidative stress include diabetes, atherosclerosis, or the hardening of the blood vessels, inflammatory conditions, high blood pressure (hypertension), etc. Some of the common sources of free radicals in the environment are ozone, certain pesticides and cleaners, cigarette smoke, radiation, and pollution. Adding enough antioxidants such as berries, cherries, citrus fruits, broccoli, olives, etc. in diet, can help prevent oxidative stress. Certain lifestyle changes such as the application of sunscreen, regular exercise, reducing alcohol intake, etc. can also help reduce oxidative stress. The topics included in this book on oxidative stress are of utmost significance and bound to provide incredible insights to readers. Those in search of information to further their knowledge will be greatly assisted by it.

Oxidative stress occurs due to an imbalance between the systemic manifestation of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the biological system's ability to repair the subsequent damage or detoxify the reactive intermediates. The disturbances in the redox state of cells may lead to toxic effects by producing free radicals and peroxides, which harm all components of the cells, such as DNA, proteins, and lipids. Oxidative stress occurring due to oxidative metabolism causes strand breaks in DNA along with base damage. ROS generated hydrogen peroxide, superoxide radical and hydroxyl radical causes base damage indirectly. Oxidative stress is known to contribute to diabetes and its complications such as retinopathy. Diabetic patients with retinopathy are prone to acquired blindness. Oxidative stress can lead to development of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), also called diabetic macular edema, which may lead to visual impairment in DR patients. This book provides comprehensive insights on the role of oxidative stress in diabetic retinopathy. It will serve as a reference to a broad spectrum of readers.