Serum paraoxonase and arylesterase can be useful markers to predict neoadjuvant chemotherapy requirement in patients with breast cancer.

AIM: The aims of this study are to evaluate the serum levels of paraoxonase (PON) and arylesterase (ARE) in breast cancer (BC) patients; to determine their relationship with chemotherapy requirements in BC; and to find a cut-off value to assess subjects with a higher risk of BC. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 40 BC patients and 33 age-matched healthy women were included in this study. Beside other biochemical parameters, participants' serum PON and ARE levels were determined and analyzed. RESULTS: Serum PON and ARE levels were found decreased in sera of the patients (96.44 ± 21 and 159.75 ± 15.75 U/L, respectively)compared to controls (158.39 ± 23.04 and 239.33 ± 32.98 U/L, respectively) (P = 0.001 for both). Subgroup analysis of the BC patients revealed that both serum PON and ARE levels were lower in patients who needed neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), compared to those who did not (P = 0.024 and 0.02, respectively). We determined a cut-off value of PON according to the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis as 131.2 U/L (sensitivity 97.5% and specificity 93.9%). CONCLUSION: BC patients have lower serum PON and ARE levels than healthy controls. Also, serum ARE levels (but not PON) were negatively correlated with body mass index in BC patients. Both serum PON and ARE levels were lower in patients who needed NAC than in patients who did not need such therapy.

Serum paraoxonase 1 activity in patients with iron deficiency anemia.

INTRODUCTION: In this study we aimed to detect paraoxonase 1 (PON-1) activity in iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and to compare it with healthy controls by observing the change after iron therapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study, 50 adult patients with IDA and 40 healthy subjects were enrolled. All patients were analyzed at the beginning and after treatment according to laboratory assessments. RESULTS: Mean paraoxonase and arylesterase activities in the iron deficiency anemia group were significantly lower than mean activities of the control group (102.4 ±19.2 U/l and 163.3 ±13.68 U/l, respectively and 157.3 ±26.4 U/l and 256.1 ±24.6 U/l, respectively; p = 0.0001 for both). Paraoxonase and arylesterase activities significantly increased after treatment for IDA (143.2 ±13.9 and 197.6 ±27.9 U/l, respectively, p = 0.0001). Mean activities after treatment with iron were significantly lower than mean activities in the control group (p = 0.002; p = 0.0001 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Paraoxonase and arylesterase activities in patients with IDA significantly increased after treatment with iron therapy. In adults IDA may also be one of the factors associated with increased risk of atherosclerosis.

Comparison of Survival Rates, Tumor Stages, and Localization in between Obese and Nonobese Patients with Gastric Cancer.

Purpose. In this study we tried to determine the association between body-mass index (BMI), survival rate, and the stage of tumor at the time of diagnosis in patients with gastric cancer. Methods. A total of 270 gastric cancer patients' hospital records were retrospectively evaluated. Patients were grouped according to their BMI at the time of tumor diagnosis. Tumor stages at admission were compared according to their BMI values. Results. There were no differences in OS among BMI subgroups (p = 0.230). The percent of patients with stage III tumor was significantly higher in nonobese while the percent of stage IV tumor was surprisingly higher in obese patients (p was 0.011 and 0.004, resp.). Percent of patients who did not have any surgical intervention was significantly lower in overweight and obese patients than normal and/or underweight patients. Conclusions. At the time of diagnosis, obese patients had significantly higher percent of stage IV tumor than nonobese patients. Despite of that, there were no differences in survival rates among BMI subgroups. Our study results are consistent with "obesity paradox" in gastric cancer patients. We also did not find any relationship between BMI and localization of gastric tumor.

Comparison of serum paraoxonase and arylesterase activities between iron deficiency anemia patients and chronic kidney disease patients with anemia.

OBJECTIVE: Altered paraoxonase (PON) and arylesterase (ARE) activities have been shown in anemic chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients and in iron deficiency anemia (IDA) patients. Whether accompanying anemia alone is responsible for this diminished PON and ARE activities in CKD patients or an additive factor for this is not well studied. Therefore, we tried to clarify this issue here. METHODS: A total of 82 subjects that consisted of 19 patients with IDA (group 1), 23 anemic CKD patients (group 2), and 40 age and sex matched healthy subjects (group 3) were enrolled. Carotid intima media thickness (CIMT), serum total thiol (-SH), PON, and ARE activities of the participants were analyzed. RESULTS: Group 2 patients had significantly lowest serum levels of Total -SH, PON and ARE. Further comparison showed that total -SH, PON and ARE levels were lower in group 1 than group 3 (p = 0.0001 in both). Regarding comparison of group 1 and 2, only serum ARE levels were significantly lower in group 2 (p = 0.001). PON activity was not different between group 1 and group 2 whereas ARE activity was lower in group 2 than groups 1 and 3. In addition, correlation analysis showed that CIMT was negatively correlated with PON and ARE. CONCLUSIONS: This markedly decreased ARE activity in CKD patients, which could not be explained by the anemia alone, may have a role in the pathogenesis of increased atherosclerosis in such patients. Still further studies are needed to certain this.

Utility of peripheral blood parameters in predicting breast cancer risk.

PURPOSE: We aimed to study the inflammatory parameters of complete blood count in breast cancer cases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study covered 178 breast cancer patients and 107 age and body mass index matched healthy women. Complete blood count parameters, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet/ lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and MPV/platelet were analyzed. RESULTS: The leukocyte, neutrophil and neutrophil/ lymphocyte ratio were higher in the patient group (p values 0.001, 0.0001 and 0.0001, respectively) while haemoglobin and hematocrit were higher in the control group (p=0.0001 for both). Logistic regression analysis showed that elevated neutrophils and platelet distribution width (PDW) (OR: 0.627, 95%CI: 0.508-0.774, p=0.001 and OR: 1.191 95%CI: 1.057-1.342 p=0.003) were independent variables for predicting breast cancer. The cut- off value for the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio was 2.56. CONCLUSIONS: According to our study results, neutrophil levels as part of complete blood count may be used as an independent predictor of breast cancer risk.

The effect of different doses and types of intravenous iron on oxidative stress and inflammation in hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Although intravenous iron (IVI) is thought to have potential inflammatory and atherogenic effects, there are not enough studies comparing these effects in chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients. In this study, different doses and types of IVI were examined for effects on inflammation and oxidative stress. METHODS: Chronic HD patients (n=101) were grouped into those not receiving IVI (group 1, n=29), those getting intermittent iron sucrose (group 2, n=25), those receiving intermittent iron dextran (group 3, n=24) and those getting a once monthly total dose of iron dextran (group 4, n=23). Malondialdehyde (MDA), advanced oxidation protein product (AOPP), C-reactive protein (CRP) and TNF-α levels were measured on days 0, 2, 7 and 28. RESULTS: Groups were similar regarding age, sex, hemoglobin, iron indices and total amount of IVI given monthly. Although MDA levels at days 7 and 28, AOPP levels at days 0 and 28, CRP levels at day 28 and TNF-α level at day 7 were higher than at other days, there were no significant differences between the IVI groups on statistical analysis. CONCLUSION: The different types and doses (intermittent or once monthly total dose) of IVI treatments are well tolerated without negative effects on the markers of lipid and protein oxidation and inflammatory indices in chronic HD patients.