Heme oxygenase-1 in osteosarcoma

Aim of Study: The present study was planned to analyze serum heme oxygenase-1 levels in osteosarcoma patients. Materials and Methods: Twenty five histopathologically confirmed cases of osteosarcoma localized without metastasis of all the ages attending the Orthopedic Clinics were included in the study group and twenty five patients having musculoskeletal pain (age and sex matched) served as control. Five ml of venous blood was collected aseptically from antecubital vein and serum was be separated by centrifugation and analyzed the same day. Routine biochemistry investigations were performed as per standard enzymatic methods by autoanalyzer. Serum Heme oxygenase-1 was analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: In osteosarcoma patients, serum HO-1 levels were increased as compared to patients having musculoskeletal pain (P < 0.05). Workers have found that HO-1 induction in prostate cancer cell lines (PC3) cells restored the proliferation of osteoblasts, which was inhibited during co-culture with parental prostate cancer cell line PC3 cells. However, no concrete data are available on blood levels of HO in osteosarcoma. Major role of HO-1 is the protection against oxidative injury, additionally, it regulates cell proliferation, modulates inflammatory response and facilitates angiogenesis. Conclusion: Findings of the present study suggests that pharmacological agents that regulate HO activity or HO-1 gene silencing may become powerful tools for preventing the onset or progression of various cancers and sensitize them to anticancer therapies

Lactate dehydrogenase levels in preeclampsia and its correlation with maternal and perinatal outcome

Background: Hypertensive disorder of pregnancy occurs in approximately 6-8% of all pregnancies. The most serious consequences for the mother and the baby are the result of preeclampsia and eclampsia. Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) is an intracellular enzyme. Recently LDH has been suggested as potential marker to predict severity of pre-eclampsia. The objective of the present study was to compare the serum lactate dehydrogenase levels in women with preeclampsia and normal pregnant women and to correlate lactate dehydrogenase levels with maternal and perinatal outcome in preeclampsia.Methods: An observational prospective study was conducted on 200 antenatal women attending the labour room emergency. Women with singleton pregnancy and cephalic presentation, from 28 weeks onwards were enrolled in the study. Out of 200, 100 were normal pregnant women and 100 were preeclamptic women. Serum LDH levels were measured in all women and maternal and perinatal outcome was assessed in terms of LDH levels.Results: Higher levels of LDH was observed in pregnant women with preeclampsia (627.38±230.04 IU/l) as compared to normal pregnant women (224.43±116.61 IU/l). The maternal complications were found to be maximum in women with LDH > 800 IU/l.  Abruption was the most common complication. The perinatal mortality and neonatal deaths were found to have significant correlation with high LDH levels.Conclusions: Maternal and perinatal complications were associated with higher LDH levels in preeclampsia patients. Serum LDH levels can be offered to all patients of preeclampsia and can be used to predict the prognosis of preeclampsia.

Niveles de homocisteína, vitamina B12 y ácido fólico en sangre materna y de cordón umbilical en la hipertensión inducida por el embarazo / Study of maternal and cord blood levels of homocysteine, vitamin B12 and folic acid in pregnancy induced hypertension

Los datos relativos a los factores de riesgo cardiovascular en la sangre del cordón umbilical de los recién nacidos hijos de madres con preeclampsia son muy limitados. El presente estudio fue diseñado para investigar la relación entre la concentración de homocisteína, vitamina B12 y ácido fólico en el suero materno y en el suero venoso del cordón umbilical de los respectivos neonatos. Para este estudio se seleccionaron cincuenta mujeres con hipertensión inducida por el embarazo (grupo II) para comparar sus niveles de homocisteína, vitamina B12 y ácido fólico con los de cincuenta embarazadas normotensas (grupo I). Los valores medios de homocisteína y ácido fólico fueron mayores en la sangre materna de las embarazadas hipertensas que en la sangre de las normotensas (p < 0.001 y p > 0.05, respectivamente). El valor medio de vitamina B12 fue menor en la sangre materna de las embarazadas hipertensas, en comparación con la sangre de las normotensas (p > 0.05). Los valores promedio de homocisteína y ácido fólico fueron mayores en la sangre del cordón umbilical de las embarazadas hipertensas que en la sangre del cordón de las normotensas (p < 0.001 y p < 0.01, respectivamente). El valor promedio de la vitamina B12 fue menor en la sangre del cordón umbilical de las embarazadas hipertensas en comparación con la sangre del cordón de las normotensas (p < 0.01). Se encontró una asociación positiva entre la homocisteína fetal y la edad gestacional del feto en el momento del parto en el grupo II. Se observó una asociación negativa entre los niveles de homocisteína y ácido fólico de las madres en el grupo II, que fue estadísticamente significativa

Association Between Rheology and Lipoproteins in Menopausal Women.

Lipid profile, haematocrit, fibrinogen, and blood viscosity were studied in 26 healthy volunteers (15 premenopausal, 11 post menopausal). Menopausal women had significantly higher total cholesterol, fibrinogen, hematocrit and blood viscosity levels as compared to premenopausal women. Also, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol levels were higher in menopausal women, but the difference was statistically insignificant. Since these parameters are considered to be risk factor for the development of coronary artery disease (CAD), menopausal women are at an increased risk of developing CAD.

Plasma tocopherol levels: a preliminary reference range.

Alpha-tocopherol level was measured spectrofluorometrically in 279 healthy volunteers to establish reliable reference values and to compare possible sex and age-related differences. In the present study, men had higher tocopherol levels than women (p<0.05) and older subjects had lower values. This study provides reference values for alpha-tocopherol that may assist it evaluating the anti-oxidant defense.

Low blood glutathione levels in acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Although experimental studies have demonstrated that reduced glutathione (GSH) is involved in cellular protection from deleterious effects of oxygen free radicals in ischaemia and reperfusion, there are controversial data on the correlation between levels of GSH and the ischaemic process. AIM: The present study was planned to evaluate erythrocyte GSH levels in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). SETTING & DESIGN: Erythrocyte GSH levels were determined in 22 patients with AMI and 15 age matched healthy volunteers served as control. MATERIAL & METHODS: Erythrocyte GSH levels were measured by using Bentler in AMI and control patients. Also lipid profile was analyzed enzymatically in these subject. STATISTICS: The values were expressed as means +/- standard deviation (SD) and data from patients and controls was compared using student's 't'-test. Results and CONCLUSION: GSH levels were significantly decreased in AMI as compared to control (p<0.001). Also, total cholesterol and triglycerides were higher is AMI subjects (p<0.05). These finding suggest that depressed GSH levels may be associated with enhanced protective mechanism to oxidative stress in AMI.

Serum biochemical markers in carcinoma breast.

BACKGROUND: Despite the extensive research for many years throughout the world, the etiopathogenesis of cancer still remains obscure. For the early detection of carcinoma of various origins, a number of biochemical markers have been studied to evaluate the malignancy. AIM: To analyse serum gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGTP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in carcinoma breast patients. SETTINGS & DESIGN: The serum biochemical markers were estimated in twenty five histopathologically confirmed patients with carcinoma breast and equal number of healthy age- matched individuals served as control. MATERIAL & METHODS: Serum gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGTP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were estimated and their sensitivity determined. Statistics: Data was analysed with student's 't'-test and sensitivity score of these markers was determined. RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS: The mean serum GGTP, LDH and SOD activities in patients with carcinoma breast were tremendously increased as compared to controls, and a steady increase was observed in their activities from stage I through stage IV as well as following distant metastasis. Serum GGTP, LDH and SOD might prove to be most sensitive biomarkers in carcinoma breast in early detection of the disease.

Plasma lipoperoxides: a preliminary reference range.

We measured lipoperoxides, as malonaldehyde (MDA) by thiobarbituric acid reaction in serum from 80 male and 120 female volunteers to establish reliable reference values and to compare possible sex- and age- related differences. In the present study women had higher MDA concentration in serum than do men (p<0.05) and older subjects had higher values (p<0.05). These age related results support the suggestions that lipid peroxidation increases with increasing age.