Postsurgical inflammatory response is not associated with increased serum cystatin C values.

OBJECTIVES: Cystatin C is used both as a glomerular filtration (GFR) marker and a cardiovascular risk marker. There are several studies showing an association between cystatin C and inflammatory markers and it has been suggested that the inflammatory response in itself could result in elevated cystatin C levels. The aim of this study was to evaluate if an induced inflammatory response has an effect on cystatin C levels in humans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CRP and cystatin C were analyzed in serum samples from orthopedic surgery patients (n=29). The patients were sampled prior to surgery and four and thirty days after surgery. RESULTS: The surgery induced a pronounced CRP elevation on day four, median 137.3 (interquartile range 104.1-178.2) mg/L compared to 1.94 (1.20-8.70) mg/L before surgery, P<0.001, but no significant difference in cystatin C levels before and four and thirty days after surgery could be seen. CONCLUSIONS: The orthopedic surgery-induced inflammatory response does not cause changes in cystatin C levels.

Systemic inflammation and the risk of Alzheimer's disease and dementia: a prospective population-based study.

Inflammation is suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and high sensitivity serum reactive protein C (hsCRP) as markers of systemic inflammation were analyzed at two examinations of the ULSAM-study, a longitudinal, community-based study of elderly men (age 70, n = 1062 and age 77, n = 749). In addition, serum amyloid protein A (SAA) and urinary prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha) metabolite levels were analyzed at age 77 in this cohort. Two serial samples (at ages 70 and 77) were available from 704 individuals. Using Cox regression analyses, associations between serum IL-6, hsCRP, SAA and PGF2alpha metabolite levels and risk of AD, any type of dementia (all-cause dementia) and non-AD dementia were analyzed. On follow-up (median, 11.3 years) in the age 70 cohort, 81 subjects developed AD and 165 subjects developed all-cause dementia. Serum IL-6, hsCRP, SAA, or PGF2alpha levels were not associated with risk of AD. At age 70, high IL-6 levels were associated with an increased risk of non-AD dementia (Hazard ratio 2.21 for above vs. below/at median, 95%confidence interval 1.23-3.95, p-value = 0.008). A longitudinal change in CRP or IL-6 levels was not associated with AD ordementia. In conclusion, Serum IL-6, hsCRP, SAA, and PGF2alpha levels are not associated with the risk of AD. High serum IL-6 levels may be associated with increased risk of non-AD dementia.

Low dietary intake of beta-carotene, alpha-tocopherol and ascorbic acid is associated with increased inflammatory and oxidative stress status in a Swedish cohort.

Fruit and vegetable consumption has been associated with a reduced risk of several diseases including CVD. A part of these effects seen could be linked to anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects, although this has not been thoroughly investigated. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of the dietary intake of beta-carotene, alpha-tocopherol and ascorbic acid on in vivo biomarkers of inflammation (PGF2alpha, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and IL-6 formation) and oxidative stress (F2-isoprostane formation), the two important factors associated with accelerated atherosclerosis. The dietary intake of 704 participants in the Uppsala Longitudinal Study of Adult Men (ULSAM) at age 70 years was registered and inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers were quantified 7 years later. The registered dietary intakes of ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol were negatively associated linearly and in quartiles with both PGF2alpha, hsCRP, IL-6 and F2-isoprostanes, where ascorbic acid intake generally was more strongly associated. Dietary intake of beta-carotene was only significantly negatively associated with F2-isoprostanes. In conclusion, the present study is the first to suggest that the intake of food rich in antioxidants is associated with reduced cyclo-oxygenase- and cytokine-mediated inflammation and oxidative stress at 7 years of follow-up. These associations could be linked to the beneficial effects of fruit and vegetables observed on CVD.

Regulatory factors of basal F(2)-isoprostane formation: population, age, gender and smoking habits in humans.

Oxidative stress is assumed to be the key underlying factor in the pathogenesis of many common diseases. This study describes the basal levels of 8-iso-PGF(2alpha ), a major F(2)-isoprostane and an in vivo oxidative stress biomarker in healthy subjects from three countries, namely Italy, Poland and Sweden, in relation to their smoking habits, age and gender. It studied urinary 8-iso-PGF(2alpha ) in 588 subjects from Sweden (n=220), Italy (n=203) and Poland (n=165). Polish subjects had the highest levels of F(2)-isoprostanes followed by the Swedish and Italians when adjusted for smoking, age, sex and creatinine and the inter-country differences were statistically significant. Smokers had significantly higher levels of 8-iso-PGF(2alpha ) compared to non-smokers in all countries and there was a moderate decrease with age. Women had only slightly lower 8-iso-PGF(2alpha ) than men. There is a difference in F(2)-isoprostane levels in vivo between countries. Smoking, age and gender affect isoprostane formation and should be taken into consideration in clinical studies of oxidative stress.

Serum cystatin C is associated with other cardiovascular risk markers and cardiovascular disease in elderly men.

Renal dysfunction is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the relationship between the glomerular filtration marker cystatin C and other cardiovascular risk markers and morbidity in elderly males. Cystatin C was measured in a group of 77-year-old males (n=792) and compared cystatin C with other known risk markers for cardiovascular disease. Cystatin C values were significantly increased in individuals with diabetes (p=0.05) and cardiovascular diseases (p<0.0001). There were significant correlations between cystatin C values and body mass index, HbA1c, insulin, triglycerides and hsCRP.

Serum selenium predicts levels of F2-isoprostanes and prostaglandin F2alpha in a 27 year follow-up study of Swedish men.

Low concentrations of selenium (Se) predict mortality and cardiovascular diseases in some populations. The effect of Se on in vivo indicators of oxidative stress and inflammation, two important features of atherosclerosis, in human populations is largely unexplored. This study investigated the longitudinal association between serum selenium (s-Se) and a golden standard indicator of oxidative stress in vivo (8-iso-prostaglandin F2alpha, a major F2-isoprostane), an indicator of cyclooxygenase (COX)-mediated inflammation (prostaglandin F2alpha), high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and serum amyloid A protein (SAA) in a follow-up study of 27 years. The s-Se was measured in 615 Swedish men at 50 years of age in a health investigation. The status of oxidative stress and inflammation was evaluated in a re-investigation 27 years later by quantification of urinary 8-iso-PGF2alpha and 15-keto-dihydro-PGF2alpha (a major metabolite of PGF2alpha) and serum hsCRP, SAA and IL-6. Men in the highest quartile of s-Se at age 50 had decreased levels of 8-iso-PGF2alpha compared to all lower quartiles and decreased levels of PGF2alpha compared to all lower quartiles at follow-up. These associations were independent of BMI, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, smoking, alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene at baseline. The s-Se was not associated with hsCRP, SAA or IL-6 at follow-up. In conclusion, high concentrations of s-Se predict reduced levels of oxidative stress and subclinical COX-mediated (but not cytokine-mediated) inflammation in a male population. The associations between Se, oxidative stress and inflammation, respectively, might be related to the proposed cardiovascular protective property of Se.