Relationship between alpha-1 antitrypsin deficient genotypes S and Z and lung cancer in Jordanian lung cancer patients

Alpha-1 antitrypsin [alpha1-AT] is a secretory glycoprotein produced mainly in the liver and monocytes. It is the most abundant serine protease inhibitor in human plasma. It predominantly inhibits neutrophil elastase thus, it prevents the breakdown of lung tissue. The deficiency of alpha1-AT is an inherited disorder characterized by reduced serum level of alpha1-AT. Protease inhibitors Z [PiZ] and protease inhibitors S [PiS] are the most common deficient genotypes of alpha1-AT. The aim of this study is to test the relationship between alpha1-AT deficient genotypes S and Z and lung cancer in Jordanian lung cancer patients. We obtained the samples used in this study from 100 paraffin embedded tissue blocks of the lung cancer patients from Prince Iman Research Center and Laboratory Sciences at King Hussein Medical Center, Amman, Jordan. Analyses of the Z and S genotypes of alpha1-AT were performed by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism techniques at Jordan University of Science and Technology during 2003 and 2004. We demonstrated that all lung cancer patients were of M genotype, and no Z or S genotypes were detected. There is no relationship between alpha1-AT deficient genotypes S and Z and lung cancer in patients involved in this study

Alpha-1 antitrypsin phenotypes in patients with lung, prostate and breast cancer

Determination of Alpha1-antitrypsin [alpha1-AT] phenotypes in Jordanian patients with lung, prostate and breast cancer to find a prevalent phenotype that could be recommended for the early diagnosis of cancer. This study was conducted at Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan, during the period May 2001 to May 2002. Alpha1-AT phenotypes for 83 Jordanian cancer patients distributed as follows, 25 lung cancer, 25 prostate cancer and 33 with breast cancer, were tested using isoelectric focusing gel electrophoresis and immunofixation techniques. Isoelectric focusing results demonstrated that 96% of lung cancer patients were of PiMM phenotype and 4% of PiFM phenotype. All prostate cancer patients [100%] were found to be of PiMM phenotype. Phenotypes of breast cancer patients were 94% PiMM, 3% PiFM and 3% PiMS. These findings demonstrated that there were no significant differences in the distribution of alpha1-AT phenotypes among Jordanian patients with lung, prostate and breast cancer and they matched those reported for healthy individuals. Thus, we cannot recommend a given alpha1-AT phenotype for early diagnosis of the above mentioned types of cancer

Blood lead levels and gamma-glutamyl transferase activity in battery factory workers in Jordan

The aim of this study is to investigate blood lead levels in workers of lead acid battery factories and the relationship between those levels and the activity of y-glutamyl transferase [y-GT]. Samples of blood were collected during the period from July 2001 to August 2001 from 95 workers of the 2 lead-acid battery factories in Amman, Jordan. They were categorized into 2 groups based on the nature of their work: direct [high exposure] and indirect contact [low exposure] groups. Lead concentration in whole venous blood and y-GT activity was measured. Mean blood lead levels were 51.4 +/- 1.8 and 23.9 +/- 3.8 ug/dl for both direct and indirect groups. y-Glutamyl transferase mean activity was found to be 29.2 +/- 2.6 U/L for direct and 23 +/- 5.7 U/L for indirect contact groups. Fifty healthy individuals were selected as controls. Their mean blood lead levels and y-GT mean activity were 12.3 +/- 0.5 ug/dl and 25.6 +/- 1.2 U/L. As results indicated, no significant relation was found between lead blood levels and y-GT activity [p=0.303] or between lead blood levels and duration of exposure in both direct and indirect groups [p=0.61]. However, significant relation was found between lead blood levels and type of work [p value approached zero] and between lead blood levels and duration of exposure in those workers with lead blood levels exceeding 20 ug/dl and employed for more than one year [p value approached zero]. Lead blood levels among workers in lead acid battery factories in Jordan are high. In most cases, they are higher than the limit permitted by the World Health Organization. Therefore, good protection measures should be taken in such factories to avoid the negative impact of high lead blood levels on the health of workers