Plasma n-3 and n-6 fatty acids and inflammatory markers in Chinese vegetarians.

BACKGROUND: Polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) intake favorably affects chronic inflammatory-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease; however, the relationship between the PUFA and inflammatory factors in the healthy vegetarians were not clear. We aimed to investigate the plasma fatty acids status, and its association with plasma inflammatory factors in Chinese vegetarians and omnivores. METHODS: A total of 89 male vegetarians and 106 male omnivores were participated the study. Plasma concentrations of inflammatory factors were detected by ELISA, and as standard methods fatty acids were extracted and determined by chromatography. RESULTS: Compared with omnivores, vegetarians have significant higher interleukin-6 (IL-6), plasma n-6 PUFA, n-6/n-3, and 18:3n-3; while they have significant lower leukotriene B4 (LTB4), cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX2) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), 20:5n-3, 22:5n-3, 22:6n-3, and n-3 PUFA. In vegetarians, plasma 20:4n-6 was significant positively related to TNF-α. LTB4 was significantly positively related to plasma 22:6n-3, and negatively associated with n-6 PUFA. CONCLUSION: Vegetarians have higher plasma n-6 PUFA and IL-6, but lower LTB4, n-3 PUFA, 22:6n-3, COX2 and PGE2 levels. It would seem appropriate for vegetarians to increase their dietary n-3 PUFA, while reduce dietary n-6 PUFA and thus reduce the risk of chronic inflammatory-related diseases.

[Bone alkaline phosphatase and N-MID osteocalcin in monitoring of osteoporosis treatment with recombinant human parathyroid hormone 1-34].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the application of bone turnover markers bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP) and N-MID osteocalcin (N-MID) in monitoring of osteoporosis treatment with recombined parathyroid hormone 1-34 (rhPTH1-34). METHODS: The bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine L2-L4 and the proximal femur were examined by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) before and 6 and 12 months after rhPTH 1-34 treatment. Meanwhile, serum levels of BALP and N-MID were detected by electro-chemiluminescence assay. RESULTS: Six months after rhPTH 1-34 treatment, the BMD of proximal femur remained unchanged, and the BMD of the lumbar L2-L4 spine increased from 0.753 g/cm(2) to 0.781 g/cm(2) (P<0.05); while serum levels of N-MID increased from 15.46 ng/ml to 27.07 ng/ml(P<0.01), BALP from 14.05 µg/ml to 24.31 µg/ml(P<0.01). Twelve months after drug administration, no significant changes were observed in BMD of proximal femur, and the BMD of the lumbar spine L2-L4 increased from 0.753 g/cm(2) to 0.807 g/cm(2)(P<0.01) while serum levels of N-MID and BALP increased from 15.46 ng/ml and 14.05µg/ml to 49.38 ng/ml and 33.99 µg/ml, respectively (both P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Serum levels of BALP and N-MID are more sensitive than BMD. Combination of two methods may provide better indicators for monitoring of osteoporosis treatment.

[Expression and significance of trefoil factor 1 protein and serum pepsinogen in benign and malignant gastric ulcers].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical significance of trefoil factor 1 (TFF1) protein expression and serum pepsinogen (PG) concentration in benign and malignant gastric ulcers. METHODS: The TFF1 protein expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in biopsies of gastric mucosa from 18 normal controls, 25 patients with gastric ulcer and 13 patients with ulcerative gastric cancer at our hospital during January to June 2011. The serum concentrations of PGI and PGII were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and PG/PGII (PGR) was subsequently calculated. RESULTS: The expression of TFF1 protein increased significantly in ulcerative and peripheral gastric mucosa and peripheral mucosa of gastric cancers versus that in normal controls and the ulcerocancer group (3.04% ± 0.20%, 3.00% ± 0.20%, 3.23% ± 0.26% vs 1.67% ± 0.18%, 0.46% ± 0.18%, all P < 0.01). The elevated expression of TFF1 increased the risk of gastric ulcer (OR: 1.365, 95%CI: 1.065 - 1.749, P = 0.014) while the down-regulation of TFF1 significantly increased the risk of ulcerocancer (OR: 3.067, 95%CI: 1.391 - 6.757, P = 0.005). The serum levels of PGI and PGII in gastric ulcer group were significantly higher than that in normal control and ulcerocancer group ((150 ± 27), (28 ± 9) vs (121 ± 22), (17 ± 7), (79 ± 12), (20 ± 5) µg/L,all P < 0.01). The PGI level and PGR decreased significantly in the ulcerocancer group versus normal control (both P < 0.01). But there was no statistical difference in PGII (P > 0.05). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that PGI and PGR were valuable for the diagnosis of malignant gastric cancer with an area under curve of 0.975 and 0.914 respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The expression of TFF1 protein increases in gastric ulcer but decreases in gastric ulcerocancer. The elevated serum levels of PGI and PGII indicate benign ulcer while a marked decline of serum PG I and PGR serves as a risk signal of malignant gastric ulcer. The evaluation of expression profiles of TFF1 protein and PGs is helpful for the differentiation of benign gastric ulcer from malignant ulcerocancer.

[Detection of the serum level of interleukin-17 and interleukin-6 in the chronic hepatitis B patients].

OBJECTIVE: To research serum level of interleukin-17 (IL-17) associated with the progression of hepatic injury in the chronic patients with hepatitis B. METHODS: The serum level of IL-17 was measured by ELISA and the serum levels of IL-6, IL-8 were measured by RIA in patient groups and healthy group, the patient groups including 42 mild patients, 37 moderate patients and 38 severe patients. RESULTS: IL-17,IL-6 and IL-8 levels in patient patients were significantly higher than those in healthy people (P < 0.01). There is no significant difference among mild patients and moderate patients. Compared with mild patients and moderate patients,the cytokines lever were significantly higher in severe patients (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: IL-17 as a new cytokine probably play a multiple role as immune factor and inflammation element in the progression of the chronic hepatitis B disease. Maybe, it can provide a new approach to the therapy of the chronic hepatitis B.