Serum Homocysteine, Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulphate and Lipoprotein (a) in Alzheimer's Disease and Vascular Dementia.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VAD) are the major forms of dementia affecting elderly people, in which the levels of many metabolites are altered in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum. These metabolites could be risk factors or potential biomarkers, but the significance of some of these are not clearly understood in the context of the disease pathogenesis. In the present study serum levels of homocysteine, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S) and lipoprotein (a) or Lp(a) have been measured by ELISA using commercial kits in AD (n = 40), VAD (n = 40) and age matched control subjects (n = 40). The data are compared by ANOVA and post-hoc analysis. The serum homocysteine is markedly elevated compared to control both in AD and VAD subjects, but to a significantly higher extent in the latter. Lp(a) is increased in the serum of VAD subjects only compared to control. Likewise, serum DHEA-S level is lowered in AD but not in VAD compared to control. The analysis of the present data and those published by others suggest that alterations in homocysteine and Lp(a) in serum are indicators of vascular pathology in AD or VAD, while the lowering of serum DHEA-S is a consequence of AD pathology.

Urinary level of CA19-9 as a tumor marker in urothelial carcinoma of the bladder.

PURPOSE: To diagnose the urothelial carcinoma of the bladder by measuring CA19-9 level in the urine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted on 47 patients with histopathologically confirmed urothelial cancer and 50 control subjects. The urinary level of CA19-9 was measured in both groups by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay after concentration of urine with Bio-Gel dry beads. Urine cytology was also done in both controls and patients. RESULTS: The mean urinary level of CA19-9 was 194.59 ± 110.56 u/mL in patients and 11.67 ± 8.42 u/mL in controls (P = .0001). The mean urinary level of CA19-9 in patients with low-grade and high-grade bladder cancer was 206.56 ± 114.56 u/mL and 174.80 ± 94.06 u/mL, respectively (P = .56). Urine cytology by Papanicolaou stain was mostly negative. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that CA19-9 may be a useful non-invasive test to diagnose the urothelial carcinoma of the bladder.

Aging and antioxidants modulate rat brain levels of homocysteine and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S): implications in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.

The study has shown that in aged (22-24 months) rat brains an elevation of homocysteine level (42%) and a decrease in dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S) content (32%) occur compared to those in the brains of young rats (4-6 months). Such changes in the brain levels of homocysteine and DHEA-S in aged rats are prevented, when the diet daily of the rats is supplemented with a combination of antioxidants (N-acetyl cysteine 50 mg, alpha-lipoic acid 3 mg and alpha-tocopherol 1.5 mg - each per 100 g of body weight) starting from 18 months until these are sacrificed between 22 and 24 months. The brain content of reduced glutathione is also decreased in aged rats as compared to that in young ones and the phenomenon can again be prevented completely by the same regimen of antioxidant supplementation. The changes in the levels of homocysteine and DHEA-S in aged rat brain have been related to associated glutathione depletion and oxidative stress and the implications of the results highlighted in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.