title: Effect of craniotomy on oxidative stress and its effect on plasma L-carnitine levels.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to investigate the impact of craniotomy on oxidative stress and its effect on levels of plasma L-carnitine (LC).
  
  
  METHODS
  plasma levels of reactive oxygen species, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathion peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT), total antioxidative capacity (T-AOC), and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were measured in 34 patients (26 males and 8 females, mean age 47.7 ± 6.7 years) before and after craniotomy. Plasma levels of LC, acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC), and propionyl-L-carnitine (PLC) were also measured before and after the craniotomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  the plasma concentrations of SOD, GSH-Px, CAT, and T-AOC within the first 4 h after craniotomy were lower than their baseline values (P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the mean plasma levels of SOD, GSH-Px, CAT, or T-AOC between the baseline and 24 h post-operative values. The level of TBARS at 4 h after the craniotomy was lower than the pre-operative level (P < 0.05), but the 24 h post-operative value was similar to the baseline concentration (P > 0.05). Plasma levels of LC, ALC, and PLC were lower after the craniotomy (P < 0.05), but these levels returned to the baseline levels 24 h after the operation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  craniotomy and the associated procedures for surgery/anesthesia temporarily reduce antioxidant activity and plasma levels of L-carnitine.
authors.affiliation: a The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, China.
authors.forename: Huan-ting
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhen-huan
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Hai-yan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Le-xin
authors.initials: LX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002331:Carnitine / Q000097:blood*; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001798:Blood Proteins; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D002331:Carnitine
keywords: acetyl-l-carnitine; acétyl-l-carnitine; antioxidant; antioxydant; brain trauma; espèces réactives d’oxygène; humain; human; reactive oxygen species; trauma cérébral