Prognostic significance of cytochrome C release and tissue lactate dehydrogenase in patients with breast cancer

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of cytochrome c release and tissue lactate dehyrogenase [LDH] in patients with breast cancer. This study included 90 patients with breast cancer and 35 patients with benign breast lesions. In cytosolic fraction, release of cytochrome c from mitochondria to cytosol was detected by Western blot, while total LDH activity was measured spectrophotometrically. Tissue LDHA mRNA was assessed by RTPCR. We observed a significant increase in cytochrome c release, LDH activity and LDHA mRNA in patients with breast cancer compared to patients with benign breast lesions. Cytochrome c release was significantly declined in poorly differentiated tumors [grade 3] compared to well-differentiated and moderately differentiated tumors [grades 1, 2]; and in stages III and IV compared to stages I and II of breast cancer. Levels of LDH activity and LDHA mRNA were remarkably elevated in breast cancer patients with grade 3 compared to those with grades 1, 2; and in stages III and IV compared to stages I and II of breast cancer. High levels of LDH activity and LDHA mRNA were detected in breast cancer patients with positive lymph node compared to those with negative lymph node. These data indicate that cytochrome c release, cytosolic LDH activity and tissue LDHA mRNA can be considered as useful prognostic markers in patients with breast cancer

Effect of soybean on bone and gonad hormones in lead intoxicated rats

Protective and treated dietary soybean against lead toxicity in male rats was investigated in bone and hormonal changes of reproductive system. Sixty adult male rats were divided into the following groups: Group I: 30 rats fed on standard casein and were divided into three equal subgroups Group la: control casein. Group Ib: [casein-protected] rats fed casein before lead intoxication Group I c: [casein-treated] rats fed casein after lead intoxication. Group II: 30 rats fed on standard soybean. They were also divided into three equal subgroups. Group IIa: control soybean. Group IIb: [soybean-protected] rats fed soybean before lead intoxication. Group IIc: [soybean-treated] rats fed soybean after lead intoxication. Results demonstrated that accumulation of lead in soft tissues [liver, kidney and testis] was much greater in protective groups than curative ones. There was slightly significant increase in femoral bone mass density [BMD] in soybean protected group as compared with either soybean treated or casein protected group. Serum testosterone was slightly significantly increased in soybean treated group compared to soybean protected group but these levels of hormone do not reach to normal level. Serum LH hormone level was not changed between both groups. It can concluded that soybean diet ameliorate the bone and testis intoxicated with lead

Haptoglobin gene polymorphism in type 2 diabetic patients with and without nephropathy

The development and progression of diabetic microvascular complications including nephropathy are related to the degree of glycemic control and oxidative stress and may be influenced by genetic factors. The aim of the present study has been to investigate the association between haptoglobin [Hp] gene polymorphism and the occurrence of diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and to find a possible link between haptoglobin phenotypes and inflammatory parameters; serum C - reactive protein [CRP], interleukin- 6 [IL - 6] and haptoglobin. The study included 60 normotensive type 2 diabetic patients of more than 5 years duration categorized in 3 equal groups according to urinary albumin excretion [UAE] into normo, micro and macroalbuminuric. In addition, 20 individuals of matched age and sex were selected to serve as a control group. Serum CRP, IL - 6 and haptoglobin concentrations were measured and haptoglobin phenotyping was conducted using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The frequency of haptoglobin phenotype 1- 1 [Hp 1 - 1] in diabetic patients with normoalbuminuria was 7 of 20 [35%] as compared with diabetics with macroalbuminuria, 1 of 20 [5%] [p = 0.02] however, the frequency of Hp 2-2 was greater in diabetics with macroalbuminuria, 12 of 20 [60%] as compared with those with normoalbuminuria or controls, 5 of 20 [25%] [p= 0.03]. Patients with diabetic nephropathy [micro- or macroalbuminuria] had higher levels of serum CRP IL-6 and haptoglobin than those without nephropathy [normoalbuminuria]. Serum haptoglobin levels in type 2 diabetics were higher in Hp phenotype 2-2 as compared with Hp 1-1 however, serum CRP and IL - 6 levels did not differ significantly between haptoglobin phenotype groups. Moreover, there was significant positive correlations between urinary albumin excretion and serum levels of CRP, lL-6 and haptoglobin in diabetic patients. From this study, it could be concluded that haptoglobin phenotype 2-2 is considered as a major susceptibility gene for the development of nephropathy in type 2 diabetic patients. In addition, the significant association between inflammatory parameters and UAE indicates that inflammation may be a pathogenic mechanism of renal injury in type 2 diabetics. Moreover, serum interleukin - 6 and haptoglobin may be good prognostic factors for the development of nephropathy in the course of diabetes mellitus

Free radicals and hyaluronic acid relationship in rheumatoid arthritis and the effect of corticosteroid therapy

Oxygen-derived free radicals [ODFRs] are important inflammatory mediators. Evidence of ODFRs contribute to rheumatoid disease, include changes in the activities of antioxidant compounds. In the present study, acute phase proteins concentrations; C-reactive protein [CRP], haptoglobin alpha 1-antitrypsin and alpha 1-acid glycoprotein [AGP] were estimated as indicators for inflammation. Antioxidant activities, ferroxidase activity of caeruloplasmin and iron-binding of transferrin against organic oxygen radicals, iron-binding and iron-oxidizing proteins, chain-breaking substances and superoxide dismutase against inorganic oxygen radicals were measured as the protective response to tissue injury. Hyaluronic, uronic acids and mucin-clot test were also determined in the synovial fluid of rheumatoid arthritis [RA] and osteoarthritis [OA] patients. These parameters were measured in blood and synovial fluid of four groups: normal subjects, OA and RA patients treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs] or steroid drug in an attempt to explain the cause of inflammation which which might account for disease activity of RA. Serum increase of CRP, AGP and haptoglobin levels can serve as an indicator of increase RA disease activity. Corticosteroid treatment may suppress inflammation, where their effects include inhibition of lysosomal proteinase enzyme release, which indicated by lowering alpha1-antitrypsin level in the steroid treated RA patients than in NSAIDs treated ones. The serum antioxidant activity against organic oxygen radicals was significantly higher in the OA and RA patients than that in the normal subjects. This may be a part of the inflammatory response of the body and may also involve protection against lipid peroxidation. Red blood cells [RBCs] superoxide dismutase [SOD] activity was significantly lower in the RA patients than that in the normal subjects or OA patients. Therefore, it would seem that the red blood cells in patients with active RA were easily damaged by exposure to oxidative stress. The increase of iron-binding, iron-oxidizing proteins and chain-breaking substances as antioxidant activities against inorganic oxygen radicals in the RA synovial fluid than OA may be indicator of oxidative damage and reflect major differences in the synovial fluid of patients with RA and those with OA. However, it would appear, that these defense mechanisms are inadequate in fully protection of hyaluronic acid [HA] in the synovial fluid, which was manifested by HA in RA was fragmented and depolymerized than that in the OA synovial fluid. Absence of SOD activity in the synovial fluid RA and OA patients indicated that these patients have less protection against O[2]