Homocysteine, vitamin B12, and folic acid in age-related macular degeneration.

PURPOSE: Hyperhomocysteinemia is considered an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis and thrombosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate plasma homocysteine, red blood cell folate, plasma folate, and plasma vitamin B12 concentration in patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). METHODS: The participants of this study included 30 patients aged 60 to 71 years (mean age 66.2+/-3.6) with exudative ARMD. Plasma homocysteine levels were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Red blood cell folate, plasma folate, and plasma vitamin B12 concentration were determined using a standard kit (Dualcount Solid Phase No Boill radioassay kit for B12/folic acid, DPC Diagnostic, USA) by radioassay method. RESULTS: The plasma concentration of Hcy (14.88+/-6.23 micromol/L) in ARMD patients was significantly increased (p<0.0001) compared with the control group (8.72+/-3.34 micromol/L). We found not a significant decrease of the plasma vitamin B12 concentration in the ARMD group (476.88+/-220.91 pg/mL) compared with the control group (527.08+/-208.97 pg/mL). Red blood cell folate (158.44+/-56.30 ng/mL) and plasma folate (6.5+/-3.4 ng/mL) in ARMD patients were also not significantly decreased when compared with the control group (183.86+/-59.33 ng/mL and 7.93+/-5.05 ng/mL). CONCLUSIONS: Hyperhomocysteinemia might be one of the risk factors for the exudative form of ARMD.

Changes in lipid metabolism in women with age-related macular degeneration.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading causes of visual loss among people aged 65 and older. At present the origin of AMD still remains unknown. The objective was to evaluate the chosen lipid and lipoprotein concentrations in blood of patients with AMD. Sixty women aged 55-71 (mean age 65.1+/-5.7) were treated in the outpatient ophthalmological clinic for more than two years because of AMD. We evaluated total serum cholesterol (TCH), triglycerides (TG), HDL-cholesterol (HDL), LDL-cholesterol (LDL), lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)), apolipoprotein AI (Apo AI) and apolipoprotein B (Apo B) by direct spectrophotometry (Human and Randox standard kits, USA). We found a significant increase of TCH, LDL and TG (224.36+/-41.67 mg/dl, 159.02+/-39.66 mg/dl and 120.92+/-42.64 mg/dl), and a significant decrease of HDL (38.68+/-6.36 mg/dl) in the AMD patients when compared with the control group. We have not found a significant difference in the average TG level between the studied groups. The concentration of Apo B was markedly increased (164.66+/-46.46 mg/dl) and Apo AI concentration was markedly decreased (128.9+/-17.01 mg/dl) in the AMD patients when compared with the control group. There was no significant difference in the concentration of the Lp(a) between the two groups. The results of our present study could point to the fact that changes in the lipid metabolism could be one of the very important risk factors involved in the pathogenesis of AMD.

Homocysteine, vitamin B12, and folic acid in age-related macular degeneration.

PURPOSE: Hyperhomocysteinemia is considered an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis and thrombosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate plasma homocysteine, red blood cell folate, plasma folate, and plasma vitamin B12 concentration in patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). METHODS: The participants of this study included 30 patients aged 60 to 71years (mean age 66.23.6) with exudative ARMD. Plasma homocysteine levels were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Red blood cell folate, plasma folate, and plasma vitamin B12 concentration were determined using a standard kit (Dualcount Solid Phase No Boill radioassay kit for B12/folic acid, DPC Diagnostic, USA) by radioassay method. RESULTS: The plasma concentration of Hcy (14.886.23 micronmol/L) in ARMD patients was significantly increased (p<0.0001) compared with the control group (8,.723,.34 micronmol/L). We found not a significant decrease of the plasma vitamin B12 concentration in the ARMD group (476.88220.91 pg/mL) compared with the control group (527.08208.97 pg/mL). Red blood cell folate (158.4456.30 ng/mL) and plasma folate (6.53.4 ng/mL) in ARMD patients were also not significantly decreased when compared with the control group (183.8659.33 ng/mL and 7.935.05 ng/mL). CONCLUSIONS: Hyperhomocysteinemia might be one of the risk factors for the exudative form of ARMD.

Circadian rhythm of androstendione and free testosterone in asthmatic women with postmenopausal hormone therapy.

OBJECTIVE: of this study was to assess daily rhythm of androstendione (delta4alpha) and free testosterone (FT) levels in postmenopausal asthmatic women before and after hormonal replacement therapy and the influence of inhaled glucocorticosteroids (GC). METHODS: 54 asthmatic and 20 healthy postmenopausal women (aged 48-59) before and after 6 months of estrogen plus progestin therapy (EPT) were studied. Hormone concentrations in serum (delta4alpha and FT) were assessed with the use of RIA method. Statistical analysis of the circadian rhythm was performed with the use of cosinor test according to Halberg et al RESULTS: Cosinor analysis of delta4alpha and FT secretion during the day showed existence of daily rhythm in three studied groups before as well as after postmenopausal hormone therapy (HT). A statistically significant decrease of circadian concentrations of delta4alpha and FT in groups of patients treated with GC was observed. Changes in amplitude of delta4alpha and FT rhythm between studied groups were not observed. However, displacement of rhythm acrophase of studied hormones in asthmatic women in comparison to control group before and after HT was shown. No significant differences in circadian values of delta4alpha and FT concentrations before HT use compared to values after HT were shown. CONCLUSIONS: Postmenopausal asthmatic women show diminished circadian concentrations of androstendione and free testosterone in serum caused among other things by inhalative GC. Postmenopausal hormone therapy did not influence any changes in function of studied endocrine organs.

Serum adiponectin in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome and its relation to clinical, metabolic and endocrine parameters.

UNLABELLED: Several studies have demonstrated that low levels of serum adiponectin are present in obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension and hyperlipidemias. The aim of our study was to determine whether serum adiponectin level is different between patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and control subjects. We also investigated relationships between various cardiovascular risk factors, levels of serum adiponectin and other hormones, such as androstendione, testosterone, estradiol, DHEAS, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), and leptin. We also analysed the correlation between serum adiponectin and free androgen index. Ninety-one women with clinical diagnosed PCOS and 53 healthy control subjects, carefully matched by body mass index (BMI) and age, were enrolled in the study. The fasting blood samples were obtained and all participants underwent an oral 75 g glucose tolerance test. The prevalences of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), hypertension and hypertriglyceridemia were higher in the PCOS group. PCOS women had increased androgen concentrations and higher free androgen index and decreased level of serum SHBG. Lower serum adiponectin concentrations were observed among cases than in controls (median 13.7 microg/ml vs 17.8 microg/ml, p<0.001) despite being matched by BMI. In the PCOS group adiponectin levels correlated significantly with: BMI (r=-0.32, p=0.002), waist circumference (r=-0.32, p=0.003), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR, r=-0.38, p=0.001), triglycerides (r=-0.31, p=0.007), SHBG (r=0.30, p=0.003) and free androgen index (r=-0.29, p=0.02). In contrast, the adiponectin level does not appear to be related to total testosterone, DHEAS and leptin levels. The adiponectin and SHBG levels were found to be decreased in PCOS women with IGT compared to PCOS women with normal glucose tolerance, but after adjustment by BMI or WHR, the differences were no longer statistically significant. To exclude a possible confounding effect due to a higher prevalence of IGT in the PCOS group, this comparison was repeated for the subgroup of 58 PCOS women and 48 control women after excluding those with IGT. Neither adiponectin nor SHBG were significantly different between those subgroups. Multiple regression analysis revealed that serum adiponectin concentrations were best predicted by WHR, free androgen index and presence of IGT when all patients were considered. In PCOS subjects, the only independent predictor of adiponectin concentrations was glucose tolerance status. CONCLUSIONS: Lower adiponectin levels were observed in PCOS group than in control women, and these differences were probably due to higher prevalence of IGT in these cases.

Changes in blood antioxidants and several lipid peroxidation products in women with age-related macular degeneration.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), selected enzymatic and non-enzymatic components of the antioxidative system, and the intensity of peroxidative processes in the blood of patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: In the peripheral blood, we evaluated FRAP; concentrations of vitamins C, A, and E; and of thiols. We assayed the activity of enzymatic components of the antioxidative system-superoxide dismutase, catalase, ceruloplasmin and the concentration of reduced glutathione as an indicator of glutathione peroxidase activity. In order to determine the intensity of lipid peroxidation, we measured the concentrations of malondialdehyde and hydroxyalkenales (MDA-HNA) and conjugated diens (CD). RESULTS: We found a significant increase in FRAP in patients with AMD compared with the control group. The average concentrations of vitamins A and C were low and vitamins E and GSH were significantly higher in AMD than in the control group. The activity of almost all the antioxidative enzymes was high. We found a significant increase in MDA-HNA but no difference in CD. CONCLUSIONS: The significantly higher concentration of lipid peroxidation products in patients with AMD indicates an important pathogenic role of oxido-reduction disturbance. The high FRAP concentration may be one of the protective mechanisms in oxidation stress. The adaptive increase of the antioxidant barrier mostly involves the enzymatic components.

Plasma transforming growth factor beta1 in breast cancer patients treated with CMF chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: In early breast cancer patients the transformed epithelial cells are thought to be sensitive to transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1)-mediated growth arrest. TGFbeta1 may therefore act as an anti-tumour promoter. However, in advanced breast cancer resistance to such TGFbeta1 action develops. Neoplastic cells produce TGFbeta1, which may enhance tumour invasion and metastasis, mainly by intensifying angiogenesis, which is an immunosuppressive action. In the light of the potential role of TGFbeta1 in breast cancer pathogenesis, an understanding of the effect of applied therapeutic methods on plasma TGFbeta1 concentration is essential. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of adjuvant chemotherapy on plasma transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1) concentration in breast cancer patients with metastases to axillary lymph nodes. METHOD: Fifteen stage II breast cancer patients on adjuvant chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil (CMF) were studied along with 15 healthy premenopausal women. RESULTS: Plasma TGFbeta1 concentration (determined by the ELISA method) in the breast cancer patients did not differ significantly from that of the healthy women. Adjuvant CMF chemotherapy significantly decreased plasma TGFbeta1 concentration in those pre-menopausal breast cancer women with metastases to axillary lymph nodes. CONCLUSION: The possible pathogenic action of this growth factor in stage II breast cancer disease warrants further investigation to elucidate whether the induced decrease of blood TGFbeta1 concentration is essential to successful chemotherapy.

Estradiol and progesterone release form biodegradable d,l-lactide and epsilon-caprolactone copolymer.

A study on the release of 17 beta-estradiol and progesterone from d,l-lactide and epsilon-caprolactone copolymer was performed. The copolymer was used in the form of microsphere, d,l-lactide content in the copolymer was 83%. It was found that nearly constant rate of hormone release during 100 days of experiment can be achieved by using this biodegradable material as a drug carrier.

Activity of liver cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenase system in morphine-dependent rats.

Young female Wistar rats were injected intraperitoneally with increasing doses of morphine (9-45 mg/kg b.w. twice a day) for 14 days. The activities of the cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenase system and microsomal electron transport chain I were determined. Long-term morphine treatment decreased significantly cytochrome P-450 content, while it did not affect microsomal electron transport chain I. A decrease in cytochrome b5 content was accompanied by a compensatory increase in the activity of NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase. Both 4-aminopyrine N-demethylase activity and aniline hydroxylase activity decreased after morphine treatment (48% and 70%, respectively, when compared with controls).

Central adrenergic system does not contribute to morphine stimulated pineal secretion of melatonin.

The effect of long-term morphine treatment of rats subjected to central chemical sympathectomy (CCS) was studied. The experiment was performed on 7-week-old male Wistar rats. CCS was performed with 6-hydroxydopamine injected into the lateral ventricle of the brain. The serum concentration of melatonin was assayed by specific RIA. The study showed that morphine alone significantly increased melatonin concentrations in serum. CCS alone significantly decreased melatonin concentrations in serum at the time of highest secretory activity of the pineal gland. Long-term morphine treatment of rats subjected to CCS significantly increased the serum concentration of melatonin. Therefore, it may be concluded that the central adrenergic system does not take part in the morphine-stimulated secretion of melatonin.

[Evaluation of selected parameters of collagen metabolism in rats after implantation of copolymer d,l-lactide and E-caprolacton with cortisol and progesterone]. / Ocena wybranych parametrów metabolizmu kolagenu u szczurów po implantacji d,l-laktydu i E-kaprolaktonu z kortyzolem i progesteronem.

Tests were carried out on the possibility of biodegradable copolymer d, l-lactide and E-caprolacton as a carrier system for a long-term substitution of progesterone and cortisole. During 120 days of the experiment almost linear profile of freeing of progesterone with average rate 0.5% of the initial amount of hormone (24 hours, what indicates a practical possibility of its application in hormonal substitution) was obtained. Simultaneously the influence of copolymer implants on the metabolism of collagen was tested marking the concentrations P I CP and P III NP in particular periods of the experiment. We did not notice any permanent changes of metabolism of collagen under the influence of the tested carrier system of the hormonal medicaments and the obtained changes of concentrations P I CP and P III NP are probably caused by the hormones freeing from the subgrade.