L-carnitine level in seminal plasma of fertile and infertile men

To determine any correlation between infertility and semen quality with concentrations of L-carnitine in human seminal plasma. This case-control study performed in Fatemieh Hospital in Hamadan, Iran. Seminal plasma of 72 infertile men and 80 men with proved fertility as a control group was investigated and L-carnitine level was determined using UV enzymatic test at 340 nm. The concentration of L-carnitine was significantly lower in the infertile group compared with control group [80.59 +/- 56.43 mg/l versus 108.43 +/- 42.26 mg/l; P= 0.0009]. There was also a statistically significant positive correlation between seminal plasma L-carnitine concentration, total sperm count, and the percentage of motile sperm [P= 0.0009, and P= 0.0000, respectively]. These finding suggest that the determination of seminal plasma L-carnitine level may be a useful test in evaluation of male infertility

Some biomarkers in acute myocardial infarction

Several changes in serum biochemical factors occur in acute myocardial infarction [AMI]. Recently alterations in serum levels of homocysteine [Hcy], sialic acid [SA] and high sensitive C-reactive protein [HS-CRP] has been attended as risk factors and index for prediction. This study was aimed to show the alterations in these factors and their relationships in AMI. Thirty four patients with AMI were enrolled in this case-control study. Also 51 apparently healthy individuals were selected as control group. Serum was prepared from all subjects in fasting state. Hcy and HS-CRP were measured using ELISA and SA was determined by Erlich method. Serum levels of Hcy, SA and HS-CRP in AMI patients were 14.35 +/- 2.55mmol/l, 73.54 +/- 2.82 mg/dl, and 17.32 +/- 3.45 mg/l, respectively and in the control group they were 8.31 +/- 2.66 micro mol/l, 59.82 +/- 2.70 mg/dl and 2.77 +/- 1.98 mg/l, respectively. Statistical analysis of data showed that serum level of Hcy, SA, and HS-CRP in the patients with AMI was significantly higher than those of control [P < 0.001]. Also significant correlation was observed between Hcy-HS-CRP [r = 0.63], SA- Hcy [r = 0.73], and SA - CRP [r = 0.75] [P < 0.05 for all items]. Our findings showed increased level of HS-CRP, SA, and Hcy in AMI patients. Also ob_tained data indicated a direct and significant correlation between HS-CRP as an inflammation index and Hcy and SA. Hence these two factors can be used as biomarkers in this disease

Advanced glycation end products and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance in gingival tissues of diabetic and non-diabetic patients with chronic periodontitis

Production of advanced glycation end products [AGEs] is directly linked to the level and duration of hyperglycemia in diabetic patients. Oxidative stress plays a major role in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus. Free radicals are formed in diabetes by glucose oxidation, nonenzymaticglycation of proteins and subsequent oxidative degradation of glycated proteins. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance [TB ARs] is a factor evidence in the presence of oxidative stress as a potential mechanism under-lying periodontal disease associated with diabetes.11 subjects [mean age 38.9 years, 6M, 5F] with chronic periodontitis associated with diabetes [5 Type 1, 6 Type II] and 16 subjects [mean age 36.7 years, 7M, 6F] with chronic periodontitis as a matched control group participated in this study. Clinical attachment loss and bleeding on probing were determined in all subjects during clinical examination. FBS and HbAlc were measured in all subjects. Sections of gingival tissue of all patients were removed during periodontal surgery. AGEs and TEARS were measured in all removed gingival tissues. The statistical analysis was carried out using T-test, Mann-Whitney U-test and Spearman correlation coefficient.FBS in diabetic and non-diabetic patients was 155.0 +/- 82.0 and 87.4 +/- 10.6 mg/dL respectively and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant [p= 0.03]. There was also a significant difference in HbAlc between the two studied groups [5 +/- 0.04 and 9.1 +/- 1.03%] in diabetic and non-diabetic subjects respectively, [p= 0.000]. A higher level of TB ARs was observed in diabetic patients compared to non-diabetics [1.13 +/- 0.3 vs 0.05 +/- 0.01 mole/lit ;p= 0.001]. Clinical attachment loss also was higher in diabetic patients [p= 0.008].From the results of this study it can be concluded that oxidative stress plays a major role in the development of periodontitis in diabetic patients

Relationship between total and lipid-bound serum sialic acid and some tumor markers

Increased levels of total and lipid-associated sialic acid [TSA and LASA] have been reported in the sera of patients with benign or malignant tumors and also could be regarded as newly important clinical criteria for the diagnosis of cancer. This study has investigated the differences of TSA and LASA contents between cancer patients and healthy individuals and evaluated their correlations between TSA and LASA with some tumor markers in different types of cancer. 35 patients with histopathologically confirmed cancers and 32 healthy individuals participated in the study. Tumor markers in serum including CEA, CA15-3, CA19-9 and CA-125 were measured using ELISA. TSA and LASA were quantified using spectrophotometric methods of Erlich and Katopodis respectively and non-parametric tests were used for statistical analysis. The median [range] obtained for TSA in healthy and cancer patients were 83.6 [59.0-106.2] and 119.5 [84.7-205.8] mg/dl respectively and the difference was statistically significant [P<0.001]. The corresponding values for LASA content of serum in healthy and cancer patients were 16.9 [13.3-20.7], and 31.0 [15.0-50.3] mg/dl. Statistical analysis showed significant differences in LASA content between these two groups [P<0.001]. A positive correlation coefficient was obtained between TSA, LASA and different tumor markers. The significant correlation between TSA, LASA and different tumor markers in cancer patients indicated that they could be used as diagnostic criteria. However, due to their lack of specificity, they may support the presence of tumor markers in different malignancies and be helpful in relation to therapy and monitoring of patients