Diagnostic utility of cyfra 21-1 for differentiating malignant versus benign cavitary and noncavitary Lung Lesions

This study was planned to assess the possible role a new tumor marker, cytokeratin fragment, Cyfra 21-1 in differentiating malignant and benign lung lesions in presence or absence of cavitation. This study included 30 patients with proved lung cancer [15 squamous cell carcinoma, 6 adenocarcinoma, 5 large cell carcinoma, and 4 small cell carcinoma] and 30 patients with proved benign lung disease [12 T.B., 10 pneumonia, and 8 lung abscess]. All patients were diagnosed as having cavitary or noncavitary lung lesions by chest X-ray and CT-scan. Lung cancer patients included [13 cavitary and 17 noncavitary disease], while benign lung disease included [14 cavitary and 16 noncavitary lesion]. Serum samples were obtained from a total of 60 patients and examined for Cyfra 21-1 by electro-chemiluminescence immunoassay. The results showed that serum cyfra 21-1 level was significantly higher in lung cancer patients [16.22 +/- 2.1 ng/ml] than in patients with benign lung disease [3.85 +/- 0.46 ng/ml]. Moreover, significant differences in the serum Cyfra 21-1 levels were observed between cavitary lung cancer [25.15 +/- 3.27 ng/ml] and benign cavitary lung disease [6.17 +/- 0.48ng/ml], and between noncavitary lung cancer [9.38 +/- 1.06 ng/ml] and benign noncavitary lung disease [1.83 +/- 0.12 ng/ml]. The results also showed a significant difference in the serum Cyfra 21-1 levels between noncavitary lung cancer [9.38 +/- 1.06 ng/ml] and benign cavitary lung disease [6.17 +/- 0.48 ng/ml]. Among lung cancer patients, the serum Cyfra 21-1 level was significantly higher in squamous cell carcinoma [24.13 +/- 2.89 ng/ml] than adenocarcinoma [10.70 +/- 1.43 ng/ml], large cell carcinoma [9.88 +/- 1.09 ng/ml] or small cell carcinoma [5.42 +/- 1.00 ng/ml]. The study showed that a cutoff value of serum Cyfra2l-l level>8 gives a sensitivity of 76% and a specificity of 93%. At a cutoff value of serum Cyfra21-1 of> 3 ng/ml, all patients with noncavitary cancerous lesions were differentiated from patients with noncavitary benign lesions. Also, at a cutoff value of serum Cyfra21-1 of>10 ng/ml, all patients with cavitary cancerous lesions were separated from patients with cavitary benign lesions. This study concluded that serum cyfra 21-1 is a useful marker for differentiating malignant versus benign cavitary and noncavitary lung lesions with greater sensitivity and specificity when different cutoff values are applied

Apoptotic DNA fragmentation and oxidative stress induced by the antioxidant food additive butylated hydroxytoluene in liver cells of sprague Dawley rats: the protective effect of vitamine E acetate

The present study examined and characterized the apoptosis induced by the phenolic lipophilic antioxidant food additive butylated hydroxytoluene [BHT] in liver cells of Sprague-Dawley rats. The role which might be played by lipid peroxides and reactive oxygen species [ROS] in controlling this hepatocyte apoptosis was assessed. Apoptosis was evaluated by DNA fragmentation detected by ELISA programmed cell death technique, which was confirmed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Feeding the animals 0.2% BHT supplemented food for four months resulted in characteristic DNA laddering pattern, thus providing an evidence that apoptosis is the major mechanism of cell death in liver tissues. Furthermore, lipid peroxides levels measured as malondialdehyde [MDA] in liver tissue homogenates and intracellular ROS levels were significantly increased in the 0.2% BHT fed animal group. Feeding the animals 0.4% vitamin E acetate added to the 0.2% BHT supplemented food for four months resulted in improvement of the DNA fragmentation and reduction in the oxidative stress induced by BHT. These findings may further suggest that BHT-induced apoptosis in liver cells is mediated by oxidative stress mechanism