Disease Markers - Volume 26, issue 2

Authors: Behuliak, Michal | Pálffy, Roland | Gardlík, Roman | Hodosy, Július | Halčák, Lukáč | Celec, Peter

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Introduction: Salivary TBARS are a potential marker of oxidative stress in the oral cavity. Previous studies have found increased levels of salivary TBARS in various diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the variability of salivary TBARS in both genders. Subjects & Methods: Saliva samples from thirty-eight healthy volunteers (18F & 20M) were collected every day during 30 day period. TBARS levels were measured spectrophotometrically using a high-throughput 96-well plate method. Time …series analysis was performed using standard statistical methods. Results: Repeated measures ANOVA showed a significant variation of salivary TBARS within day and subjects (p < 0.001). The dynamics did not differ between genders. Intraindividual variability was very high in both genders with coefficients of variation of more than 60%. Interindividual variability was higher in men than in women (73% vs. 46%; p < 0.01). Discussion: The relatively high intraindividual variability indicates that the use of salivary TBARS will be limited to research on a population level, although some informative value might be gained by repeated samplings. Factors influencing the biological variability of salivary TBARS should be identified in further studies. Show more

Keywords: Thiobarbituric acid reacting substances, malondialdehyde, saliva, interindividual and intraindividual variability

DOI: 10.3233/DMA-2009-0606

Citation: Disease Markers, vol. 26, no. 2, pp. 49-53, 2009

Authors: Tarantino, Giovanni | Mazzarella, Claudia | Tarantino, Marianna | Di Minno, Matteo Nicola Dario | Conca, Paolo

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Background: Tissue Polypeptide Specific antigen has recently been proposed as diagnostic marker of apoptosis in NonAlcoholic SteatoHepatitis. The aim of this study was to validate in patients suffering from NonAlcoholic SteatoHepatitis the clinical utility of this marker after different programs of weight reduction. Methods: Overweight/obese patients with visceral adiposity and liver histology compatible were assigned to a Calorically-Restricted diet (n = 22), a Calorically-Restricted diet plus EXercise (n = 19) or No …Healthy Life Style (control group, n = 21) for six months. The presence of Body-Weight loss was assessed by a Body Mass Index decrease of at least three points. Serum ALanine aminoTransferase, HOmeostasis Model Assessment method value and Tissue Polypeptide Specific antigen concentrations were determined at time 0, after 3 and 6 months in both the Intervention groups and in the controls' one. Results: In NonAlcoholic SteatoHepatitis patients who obtained Body-Weight reduction, a significant decrease of the serum Tissue Polypeptide Specific antigen values was showed with a clear linear trend across time, P = 0.0001. Decrement of Tissue Polypeptide Specific antigen concentrations best differentiated the Body-Weight loss from the body-weight maintenance in respect to Tissue Polypeptide Specific antigen and HOmeostasis Model Assessment method values. Conclusion: This study support the clinical utility of serum Tissue Polypeptide Specific antigen antigen levels in the follow-up of overweight/obese patients with NonAlcoholic SteatoHepatitis on weight reduction programs. Show more

Keywords: TPS, NASH, Body-Weight loss

DOI: 10.3233/DMA-2009-0607

Citation: Disease Markers, vol. 26, no. 2, pp. 55-63, 2009

Authors: Selakovic, Vesna | Raicevic, Ranko | Radenovic, Lidija

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The aim of this study was to define concentration changes of soluble adhesion molecules (sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 and sE-Selectin) in cerebrospinal fluid and plasma, as well as, number of peripheral blood leukocytes and the albumin coefficient in the patients with the acute brain infarction. We also, analyzed the correlation between the measured levels, the infarct volume and the degree of neurological and the functional deficit. The study included 50 patients with the acute cerebral infarction and the …control group consisted of 16 patients, age and sex matched. Obtained results showed significant increase in number of leukocytes, the albumin coefficient and the level of soluble adhesion molecules within the first seven days in patients. The highest values of measured parameters were noted within the third and the fourth day after the insult, which is the suggested period of maximal intensity of inflammatory reactions. Significant correlation was found between measured parameters and the infarct volume, the degree of neurological and the functional deficit. The results suggest that investigated parameters in CSF and blood represent a dynamic index of inflammatory events as one of the fundametal mechanisms responsible for neuron damage during acute phase of brain infarction. Show more

Keywords: Brain infarction, inflammation, soluble adhesion molecules, leukocytes number, albumin coefficient, cerebrospinal fluid

DOI: 10.3233/DMA-2009-0608

Citation: Disease Markers, vol. 26, no. 2, pp. 65-74, 2009

Authors: Pons, Douwe | Monraats, Pascalle S. | Zwinderman, Aeilko H. | de Maat, Moniek P.M. | Doevendans, Pieter A.F.M. | de Winter, Robbert J. | Tio, René A. | Waltenberger, Johannes | Jukema, J. Wouter

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Variation in the NOS3 gene has been related to the development of restenosis. The Glu298Asp polymorphism has previously been investigated for its effect on NO levels and the development of restenosis. However, the variability of findings gave rise to the hypothesis that the functional significance of this polymorphism may only become manifest under conditions of endothelial dysfunction. Since patients with the metabolic syndrome are known to have endothelial dysfunction, we aimed to investigate if the significance …of NOS3 polymorphisms may depend on the presence of the metabolic syndrome. We examined the impact of the -949 A/G, the -716 C/T and the Glu298Asp polymorphisms in the NOS3 gene on the risk of clinical restenosis in a previously described subpopulation of the GENDER-study, a multicenter prospective study design that enrolled consecutive patients after successful PCI. This subpopulation consisted of 901 patients of whom sufficient data were available to establish absence or presence of the metabolic syndrome. Of these patients, 448 had the metabolic syndrome. Clinical restenosis, defined as target vessel revascularization (TVR), was the primary endpoint. We demonstrated that the minor -949G, -716T and 298Asp alleles were associated with a significantly increased risk of TVR in patients with the metabolic syndrome (HR: 1.58 [95%CI: 1.04–2.40], HR: 1.95 [95%CI: 1.02–3.70] and HR: 1.67 [95%CI: 1.09–2.54], respectively). In the group without the metabolic syndrome we observed no association between the three polymorphisms and TVR. Show more

DOI: 10.3233/DMA-2009-0609

Citation: Disease Markers, vol. 26, no. 2, pp. 75-83, 2009

Authors: Mittal, Rama Devi | Kesarwani, Pravin | Singh, Ranjana | Ahirwar, Dinesh | Mandhani, Anil

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) play an important role in detoxification of various toxic compounds like carcinogens in cigarette smoke and tobacco by conjugating to toxic compounds and inactivating their hazardous effect. Variation in Glutathione S-Transferases (GSTs) genes may alter the catalytic efficiency of GST isoenzymes leading to potential increase in cancer susceptibility due to various carcinogens. We therefore, investigated association of GSTM1, GSTM3 and GSTT1 variants with susceptibility to benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) …and cigarette, tobacco chewing and alcohol consumption as confounding factors in 141 BPH and 184 healthy controls. Results showed increased risk for BPH susceptibility in patients with GSTM1 null genotype (OR-2.03, p = 0.013) and smoking (OR-3.12, p = 0.028), tobacco chewing (OR-2.54, p = 0.039) and alcohol habits (OR-3.39, p = 0.010). Null genotype of GSTM1 with cigarette, tobacco and alcohol habits predisposed increased risk for BPH. Show more

Keywords: Glutathione S-transferases, benign prostate hyperplasia, genotype, polymorphism, smoking, multiplex PCR

DOI: 10.3233/DMA-2009-0611

Citation: Disease Markers, vol. 26, no. 2, pp. 85-91, 2009

Authors: Lu, Ming-Chi | Yang, Kuo-Liang | Huang, Kuang-Yung | Tung, Chien-Hsueh | Liu, Su-Qin | Lai, Ning-Sheng

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Objective: To evaluate the possible relationship between HLA alleles and bony ankylosis of the spine (bamboo spine) in Taiwanese patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods: A small cohort of HLA-B27 positive AS patients was conducted to analyze the effects of alleles {and haplotypes} on the development of bamboo spine. DNA typing of HLA class I and class II genes were performed by SSP method on primary ankylosing spondylitis patients with bamboo spine (n = …84) and spinal enthesopathy controls (n = 228). Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals and P value were estimated. Determination of the most probable HLA haplotypes on all patients were constructed by comparison of the alleles carried by each patient with the HLA haplotype database established in Taiwanese population studies using homozygosity approach [1] and by expectation-maximum algorithm [2]. Results: Allele frequencies of HLA A33, B58, Cw10, DR4, DR17 and DQ2 were significantly lower in bamboo patients as compared to non-bamboo controls. In contrast, allele frequencies of A24, B54, Cw15, DR11 and DR14 were significantly higher in bamboo patients. Less remarkably, high frequencies of B39, B51, Cw1 and Cw2 alleles were also noted in bamboo patients. Considering linkage disequilibria of alleles in haplotypes, HLA-A11-B27-Cw12 was the most common haplotype in both bamboo and non-bamboo groups (95.23% vs. 91.22%, respectively, P = 0.238). {Haplotypes A33-B58-Cw10, A33-B58-Cw10-DR13 and A33-B58-Cw10-DR17} were significantly lower in bamboo patients as compared to those in controls (P < 0.001, P = 0.001, P = 0.002, respectively). Conclusion: Haplotypes A33-B58-Cw10, A33-B58-Cw10-DR13 and A33-B58-Cw10-DR17 showed a strong association with bamboo spine in Taiwanese AS patients. Detection of such haplotypes might be a great aid in the management of patients with the disease. Show more

Keywords: HLA, alleles, haplotypes, ankylosing spondylitis, bamboo spine

DOI: 10.3233/DMA-2009-0619

Citation: Disease Markers, vol. 26, no. 2, pp. 93-96, 2009