title: Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) is a state biomarker of oxidative stress in bipolar patients in a manic phase.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Oxidative stress may contribute to the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder. The aim of this study was to investigate the serum levels or activities of oxidative stress markers in bipolar patients in a manic phase, and evaluate the changes in superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), protein carbonyl content (PCC) and 8-hydroxy 2'-deoxyguanosine after treatment (8-OHdG).
  
  
  METHODS
  We consecutively enrolled 23 bipolar inpatients in a manic phase and 40 healthy subjects. Serum oxidative stress markers were measured with assay kits. All patients were evaluated by examining the correlation between oxidative stress markers and Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The serum TBARS levels in bipolar patients in a manic phase were significantly higher than those of healthy subjects (p=0.006), and serum GPx activity was significant lower than that of healthy subjects (p<0.05). The YMRS scores had a significantly positive association with CAT activity and PCC levels (p<0.05) and a negative association with GPx activity (p<0.05). Twenty bipolar patients were followed up, and their oxidative stress markers were measured at the end of treatment. We found significantly decreased changes in TBARS levels only in bipolar manic patients after treatment (p=0.019).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our sample size was limited.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that serum TBARS levels might be a state biomarker of oxidative stress in bipolar patients in a manic phase and after treatment. In addition, GPx deficit might be a trait biomarker of severity of mania.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Meng-Chang
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address: a540520@adm.cgmh.org.tw.
authors.forename: Tiao-Lai
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000097:blood*; D002374:Catalase / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D050050:Protein Carbonylation; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase
keywords: Bipolar; GPx; Mania; PCC; SOD; TBARS