Salivary Content Might be Associated With Skeletal Status in Postmenopausal Women: SilesiaOsteoActive Study Results.

AIM: The aim of the study was to investigate whether salivary mineral content may be associated with bone status in women after menopause. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 125 postmenopausal women aged 64.3 ± 6.9 yr, derived from the epidemiological SilesiaOsteoActive Study. All participants underwent hip and spine bone densitometry using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, dental examination, and saliva content analysis. Data for salivary pH, copper, calcium, phosphorus, and zinc concentrations were evaluated. RESULTS: Mean femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD) was 0.739 ± 0.118 g/cm2, total hip BMD 0.891 ± 0.14 g/cm2, and spine BMD 0.868 ± 0.14 g/cm2. Salivary pH was significantly lower in women with spinal osteoporosis defined as T-score below -2.5, compared to individuals with normal BMD (pH: 6.65 ± 0.67 vs 6.96 ± 0.58, p < 0.05). There was a significant though weak inverse correlation between Ca concentration in saliva and femoral neck BMD (r = -0.23, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: High salivary calcium content and low salivary pH may be indicative of low hip and decreased spine BMD, respectively. These associations may reflect demineralization process (calcium redistribution) influencing bone, and a negative effect of acidity on mineral tissues, although causal pathway remains not clear.

The Activity of Class I-IV Alcohol Dehydrogenase Isoenzymes and Aldehyde Dehydrogenase in Bladder Cancer Cells.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the differences in the activity of Alcohol Dehydrogenase (ADH) isoenzymes and Aldehyde Dehydrogenase (ALDH) in normal and cancerous bladder cells. METHODS: Class III, IV of ADH and total ADH activity were measured by the photometric method and class I, II ADH and ALDH activity by the fluorometric method. RESULTS: Significantly higher total activity of ADH was found in both, low-grade and high-grade bladder cancer, in comparison to healthy tissues. CONCLUSION: The increased activity of total ADH in bladder cancer cells may be the cause of metabolic disorders in cancer cells, which may intensify carcinogenesis.

The Activity of Alcohol Dehydrogenase Isoenzymes and Aldehyde Dehydrogenase in the Sera of Patients with Autoimmune Hepatitis.

BACKGROUND: Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a progressive inflammatory hepatopathy and an important cause of end-stage liver. The liver cells' destruction is reflected by increased activity of different enzymes in the serum. These enzymes include alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), which play a significant role in the metabolism of many biological substances and exist mainly in the liver. In this study we investigated the activity of alcohol dehydrogenase and its isoenzymes and the total activity of ALDH in the sera of patients with autoimmune hepatitis. METHODS: Serum samples were taken for routine biochemical investigation from 32 patients with autoimmune hepatitis and from 40 healthy subjects. Class I and II of ADH and ALDH activity was measured by the spectrofluorometric method. For measurement of class III ADH and total ADH activity we employed the photometric methods. RESULTS: The activity of the class I ADH isoenzyme was significantly higher in the sera of patients with autoimmune hepatitis. The median activity of this isoenzyme in the patients group was approximately 63% (3.94 mU/L) higher than the control level (1.46 mU/L). For this reason, the total ADH activity was also significantly increased. The activities of other ADH isoenzymes and ALDH tested were unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: The activity of total ADH and class I isoenzymes in the sera of patients with autoimmune hepatitis is increased, and it seems to be caused by the release of alcohol dehydrogenase from damaged liver cells.

Evaluation of calcium and magnesium contents in tooth enamel without any pathological changes: in vitro preliminary study.

Enamel is the structure that covers the entire clinical crown of a tooth. It enables to chew and crush food, and gives a final shape to the crowns of teeth. To evaluate calcium and magnesium contents in tooth enamel and analyse relationships between the study minerals extracted human permanent teeth were cut at every 150 microns and subjected into acid biopsy. The amounts of calcium and magnesium were assessed in the laboratory using atomic absorption spectroscopy with an air/acetylene flame. The lowest calcium and magnesium contents were found on the enamel surface of the teeth. Statistically significant correlation between the calcium and magnesium concentrations was found at a depth between 150 and 900 µm. Calcium and magnesium contents increased with increasing enamel depth. Calcium and magnesium deposits appeared to be stable through all the enamel layers studied. It would be suggested that mineralization/demineralization affect only external layer of the enamel, whereas deeper layers are not affected by these processes.

The diagnostic significance of serum alcohol dehydrogenase isoenzymes and aldehyde dehydrogenase activity in renal cell cancer patients.

OBJECTIVES: In previous experiments, we have found an increased level of class I ADH and total ADH activity in RCC tissues. Changes in cancer cells may be reflected by ADH activity in the serum and could thus be helpful for diagnostics of renal cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate a potential role of ADH and ALDH as tumor markers for RCC. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Serum samples were taken from 59 patients with RCC and 52 healthy subjects. Class III and IV of ADH and total ADH activity was measured by the photometric method. For measurement of class I and II ADH and ALDH activity, we employed the fluorometric method. RESULTS: The total activity of ADH and ADH I was significantly higher in the serum of patients with every stage of RCC compared to healthy subjects. The diagnostics criteria was higher for ADH I than for total ADH activity. The diagnostic sensitivity for ADH I was 73.36%, specificity 85.61%, predictive values of positive and negative results were 79.12 and 75.03% respectively. Area under ROC curve for ADH I was 0.748 and for total ADH 0.689. CONCLUSION: The results suggest a potential role of ADH I as a marker for RCC.

Serum Alcohol Dehydrogenase and Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Activity in the Course of Hepatitis C.

BACKGROUND: Hepatistis C virus (HCV) affects approximately 170 million people, and it is the leading cause of the chronic liver disease. The destruction of liver cells is reflected by an increase of different enzyme activities in the serum. These enzymes include alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), which play a significant role in the metabolism of many biological substances and exist mainly in the liver. In this study we investigated the activity of alcohol dehydrogenase and its isoenzymes and the total activity of ALDH in the sera of patients with hepatitis C. METHODS: Serum samples were taken for routine biochemical investigations from 50 patients with hepatitis C and from 50 healthy subjects. The activity of class I and II ADH isoenzymes and ALDH activity were measured by spectrofluorometric methods. For the measurement of total ADH activity and activity of class III and IV isoenzymes, the photometric methods were used. RESULTS: The analysis of our results shows a statistically significant increase in the activity of ADH I and ADH II (2.5-fold and 2-fold, respectively). Activities of both classes of alcohol dehydrogenase isoenzymes have good correlation with alanine and aspartate aminotransferase. The observed increase in total alcohol dehydrogenase activity was not very high but confirmed the elevation of class I and II isoenzyme activity. CONCLUSIONS: We can state that the activity of class I and II alcohol dehydrogenase isoenzymes in the sera of patients with hepatitis C is increased and it seems to be caused by the release of these isoenzymes from damaged liver cells.

The activity of class I, II, III and IV alcohol dehydrogenase isoenzymes and aldehyde dehydrogenase in renal cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: Ethanol has been considered as a lifestyle risk factor for cancer in humans. While some studies have indicated that alcohol intake has a preventive effect for renal cell cancer, others have not. The metabolism of alcohol in cancer cells may be in many ways different than in healthy tissue and its disturbances could be associated with carcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to compare the metabolism of renal cell cancer cells and normal renal cells by measurement of ADH isoenzymes and ALDH activities in these tissues. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study material consisted of 43 cancerous renal tissues (14 patients in stage II, 19 in stage III and 10 in stage IV). Class III and IV ADH and total ADH activities were measured by the photometric method and class I and II ADH and ALDH activities by the fluorometric method with class-specific fluorogenic substrates. RESULTS: The activity of the class I ADH isoenzyme and the total ADH was significantly higher in every stage of renal cell cancer as compared to healthy tissues. Analysis of ALDH activity did not show statistically significant differences between cancer and healthy cells. CONCLUSION: The increased activity of total ADH in renal cell cancer, especially the class I isoenzyme and normal activity of ALDH, may be the factor intensifying carcinogenesis because of increasing the ability to highly carcinogenic acetaldehyde formation and causing disorders in metabolism of many biologically important substances.

The activity of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) isoenzymes and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) in the sera of patients with brain cancer.

Human brain tissue contains various alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) isoenzymes and possess also aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity. In our last experiments we have shown that ADH and ALDH are present also in the brain tumour cells. Moreover the activities of total ADH and class I isoenzymes were significantly higher in cancer tissue than healthy cells. It can suggests that these changes may be reflected by enzyme activity in the serum of patients with brain cancer. Serum samples were taken for routine biochemical investigation from 62 patients suffering from brain cancer (36 glioblastoma, 26 meningioma). For the measurement of the activity of class I and II ADH isoenzymes and ALDH activity, the fluorometric methods were used. The total ADH activity and activity of class III and IV isoenzymes were measured by the photometric method. A statistically significant increase of class I alcohol dehydrogenase isoenzymes was found in the sera of patients with brain cancer. The median activity of this class isoenzyme in the patients group increased about 24 % in the comparison to the control level. The total alcohol dehydrogenase activity was also significantly higher (26 %) among patients with brain tumour than healthy ones. The activities of other tested ADH isoenzymes and total ALDH were unchanged. The increase of the activity of total ADH and class I alcohol dehydrogenase isoenzyme in the sera of patients with brain cancer seems to be caused by the release of this isoenzyme from tumour's cells.

Evaluation of the Diagnostic Utility of Selected Serum Adipokines and Cytokines in Subjects with MASLD-A Pilot Study.

Excess adipose tissue, particularly of the visceral type, triggering chronic low-grade inflammation and altering its secretory profile, is a contributing factor to the initiation and progression of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). This study aimed to compare the levels of selected adipokines and cytokines in individuals with normal weight and obesity, assessing their potential for diagnosing MASLD and establishing a cutoff point for body fat content associated with hepatic steatosis development. The research involved 99 participants categorized by body mass index and MASLD presence, undergoing body composition analysis, liver elastography, biochemical tests, and evaluation of adipokines and cytokines in serum. The results indicated elevated IL-6 (interleukin 6) serum levels in individuals with obesity with MASLD compared to the normal-weight group without MASLD. The multivariate regression analysis demonstrated a connection between hepatic steatosis and total adipose tissue content, VAT (visceral adipose tissue), VAT/SAT (subcutaneous adipose tissue) ratio, HOMA-IR (homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance), IL-6, Il-1ß (interleukin 1ß), and MMP-2 (matrix metalloproteinase 2). Among the adipokines and cytokines examined in this study, interleukin 6 was the strongest predictor of MASLD regardless of gender. In addition, an association between the development of hepatic steatosis and higher serum IL-1ß levels and higher adipose tissue was observed in women. However, further studies on a larger group of patients are needed to consider the use of these cytokines as markers of MASLD. The HOMA-IR index demonstrated potential diagnostic utility in identifying hepatic steatosis.

Limited utility of salivary mineral content in prediction of fragility fractures among postmenopausal women.

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is a metabolic disease characterized by increased bone fragility. As it is characterized as a general skeletal disease, changes can also be seen in the stomatognathic system (edentulism, wrong fitting of dentures, etc.). The question is whether early changes in the salivary mineral content and acid-base balance may reflect skeletal status and risk of bone fracture. OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to evaluate whether minerals in the saliva were associated with skeletal fractures in a population of postmenopausal women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this observational study, dental examinations along with the collection of saliva were conducted in 117 randomly recruited women (mean age 64.6 ±5.9 years). The study group included 23 study participants with fractures, of which 10 had a history of osteoporotic fractures. Saliva samples for mineral content including copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), calcium (Ca), and phosphorus (P), as well as salivary pH were collected and analyzed to determine associations between salivary mineral content and fracture risk. RESULTS: As a result, the median pH value was 6.8, and the median levels for Cu (0.35 µmol/L), Zn (0.61 µmol/L), Ca (0.7 mmol/L), and P (6.64 mmol/L) were observed. No differences were noted in salivary mineral content and acid-basic balance between the fractured and non-fractured participants. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study suggest that salivary mineral content has limited usability in predicting skeletal fragility in postmenopausal women when used alone.

The activity of class I, II, III and IV of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) isoenzymes and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) in brain cancer.

The brain being highly sensitive to the action of alcohol is potentially susceptible to its carcinogenic effects. Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) are the main enzymes involved in ethanol metabolism, which leads to the generation of carcinogenic acetaldehyde. Human brain tissue contains various ADH isoenzymes and possess also ALDH activity. The purpose of this study was to compare the capacity for ethanol metabolism measured by ADH isoenzymes and ALDH activity in cancer tissues and healthy brain cells. The samples were taken from 62 brain cancer patients (36 glioblastoma, 26 meningioma). For the measurement of the activity of class I and II ADH isoenzymes and ALDH activity, the fluorometric methods were used. The total ADH activity and activity of class III and IV isoenzymes were measured by the photometric method. The total activity of ADH, and activity of class I ADH were significantly higher in cancer cells than in healthy tissues. The other tested classes of ADH and ALDH did not show statistically significant differences of activity in cancer and in normal cells. Analysis of the enzymes activity did not show significant differences depending on the location of the tumor. The differences in the activity of total alcohol dehydrogenase, and class I isoenzyme between cancer tissues and healthy brain cells might be a factor for metabolic changes and disturbances in low mature cancer cells and additionally might be a reason for higher level of acetaldehyde which can intensify the carcinogenesis.

The alcohol dehydrogenase isoenzyme (ADH I) as a marker of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is an important pregnancy liver disorder. The alterations of different enzymes activity in the hepatocytes in the course of liver diseases are reflected in an increase in the activity of the corresponding enzymes in the blood. In present study we assayed the activity of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and its isoenzyme in the serum of patients with ICP. Serum were collected from 100 pregnancies with ICP in the second or third trimester of pregnancy. Serum samples were also taken from 100 healthy pregnant women. The activity of ADH I was measured by spectrofluorometric method, ADH total was measured by photometric method. There was significant increase in the activity of ADH I (2.79 mU/l vs. 1.72 mU/l) and total ADH activity (1103 mU/l vs. 682 mU/l) in the sera of women with ICP compared to the healthy pregnant women. Importantly, the sensitivity and specificity of ADH I for diagnosis of ICP were 85% and 91%, respectively. Area under the Receiver Operating Curve for ADH I in ICP was 0.81. The activity of ADH I in the sera of women with ICP is statistically significantly increased, which may have a diagnostic significance for ICP patients.

Dried Wild-Grown Mushrooms Can Be Considered a Source of Selected Minerals.

Dried mushrooms might be a source of mineral components, which are indispensable for human health. The aim of this study was to determine the contents of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), and selenium (Se) in dried wild-grown mushrooms (Boletus edulis and Xerocomus badius) available for sale, and to evaluate these mushrooms' contribution to the daily reference intake of the studied bioelements. The concentrations of mineral components in the mushroom samples were determined by the flame method (Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn) and the electrothermal (Se) atomic absorption spectrometry method. The mean Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn (in mg/kg), and Se concentrations (in µg/kg) in B. edulis were 82.1, 964.1, 233.4, 97.9, 25.3, 22.1, and 6501.6, respectively, whereas in X. badius: 67.5, 1060.2, 87.8, 197.2, 33.9, 19.8, and 282.4, respectively. We have shown that dried B. edulis can be considered a source of Se. In the case of the other microelements, the tested mushrooms may serve only as additional supplements. Therefore, the studied species of mushrooms cannot be regarded as potential nutritional sources of the macroelements in question. Consumers should be properly informed about this, which should be guaranteed by appropriate legal regulations.

Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) isoenzymes and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity in the sera of patients with acute and chronic pancreatitis.

OBJECTIVE: Acute and chronic pancreatitis is a major complication of alcohol abuse. The pancreas can metabolize ethanol via oxidative pathway involving the enzymes - alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) as well as the nonoxidative pathway. Human pancreas tissue contains various ADH isoenzymes and possesses also ALDH activity. In this paper we have measured the activity of alcohol dehydrogenase isoenzymes, and aldehyde dehydrogenase in the sera of patients with acute and chronic pancreatitis. METHODS: Serum samples were taken for routine biochemical investigation from 46 patients suffering from acute pancreatitis and 32 patients with chronic pancreatitis. Total ADH activity was measured by photometric method with p-nitrosodimethylaniline (NDMA) as a substrate and ALDH activity by the fluorometric method with 6-methoxy-2-naphtaldehyde as a substrate. For the measurement of the activity of class I isoenzymes we employed the fluorometric methods, with class-specific fluorogenic substrates. The activity of class III alcohol dehydrogenase was measured by the photometric method with n-octanol and class IV with m-nitrobenzaldehyde as a substrate. RESULTS: A statistically significant increase of class III alcohol dehydrogenase isoenzymes was found in the sera of patients with acute and chronic pancreatitis. The median activity of this class isoenzyme in the patients group increased about 35% in the comparison to the control level. The total alcohol dehydrogenase activity was also significantly higher (23.5%) among patients with pancreatitis than healthy ones. The activities of other tested ADH isoenzymes and total ALDH were unchanged. The activity of the class I ADH isoenzyme was significantly higher in the sera of heavy drinkers with pancreatitis. CONCLUSION: We can state that the increase of the activity of class III alcohol dehydrogenase isoenzyme in the sera of pancreatitis patients seems to be caused by the release of this isoenzyme from damaged pancreatic cells.

The comparison of total bile acid concentration and alcohol dehydrogenase activity as markers of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.

INTRODUCTION: Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is the liver disorder in the second or early third trimester of pregnancy. It is characterized by pruritus with increased serum bile acids concentration and other liver function tests. ICP is connected with increased risk of fetal mortality but is unfortunately detected quite late. Therefore, it is important to recognize the disease in its early stages. We aimed to investigate the serum alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity and compare it with the concentration of total bile acid (TBA) in women with ICP. METHODS: Serum samples were taken for routine investigation from 80 pregnancies with ICP in the second or third trimester of pregnancy and from 80 healthy pregnant women at the same time of pregnancy. For measurement of class I activity, we used the spectrofluorometric methods. The total ADH activity was measured by the photometric method. RESULTS: The analysis of results shows a statistically significant increase in the activity of ADH I and ADH total (about 60% and 41.3%, respectively). Activity of ADH I correlated well with aminotransferases (alanine ALT and aspartate AST) and total bile acids (TBA) concentration. The total ADH activity was also positively correlated with ALT, AST and total bile acids. CONCLUSION: We can state that the activity of class I alcohol dehydrogenase isoenzyme in the sera of patients with ICP is increased and seems to be a good indicator of liver cells destruction during this disease and is comparable with the value of other markers.

Health risk assessment of exposure to toxic elements resulting from consumption of dried wild-grown mushrooms available for sale.

Mushrooms exhibit a high ability to accumulate potentially toxic elements. The legal regulations in force in the European Union countries do not define the maximum content of elements in dried wild-grown mushrooms. This study presents the content of mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) determined in dried wild-grown mushrooms (Boletus edulis and Xerocomus badius) available for sale. Moreover, the health risk associated with their consumption is assessed. The inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (Cd, Pb, As) and atomic absorption spectrometry (Hg) were used. The mean Hg, Cd, Pb and As concentration in Boletus edulis was 3.039±1.092, 1.983±1.145, 1.156±1.049 and 0.897±0.469 mg/kg and in Xerocomus badius 0.102±0.020, 1.154±0.596, 0.928±1.810 and 0.278±0.108 mg/kg, respectively. The maximum value of the hazard index (HI) showed that the consumption of a standard portion of dried Boletus edulis may have negative consequences for health and corresponded to 76.2%, 34.1%, 33% and 4.3% of the maximum daily doses of Hg, Cd, Pb and As, respectively. The results indicate that the content of toxic elements in dried wild-grown mushrooms should be monitored. The issue constitutes a legal niche where unfavourable EU regulations may pose a threat to food safety and consumer health.

The Beneficial Impact of the Black Chokeberry Extract against the Oxidative Stress in the Sublingual Salivary Gland of Rats Intoxicated with Cadmium.

Cadmium (Cd) is one of the most harmful xenobiotics to which humans are exposed, mainly by the oral route, throughout life. Preventive strategies are searched as low intoxication with this element, among others due to its prooxidative properties, can be deleterious to health and the exposure to it is continuously increasing. Recently, interest has been paid to plant raw materials with a high antioxidative potential to oppose the prooxidative properties of cadmium, such as black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa L. fruit), which is rich in polyphenolic compounds. The study was aimed at assessing whether the chokeberry extract may counteract the prooxidative impact of low-level and moderate repeated intoxication with cadmium on the sublingual salivary gland. The investigation was performed on 96 Wistar rats (females), which were treated with a 0.1% aqueous extract from chokeberries or/and a diet containing 1 or 5 mg Cd/kg for 3 and 10 months, and control animals. The intoxication with cadmium, in a dose- and time-dependent manner, attenuated the enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidative potential and increased the concentration of hydrogen peroxide and total oxidative status of the sublingual salivary gland resulting in an occurrence of oxidative stress, enhancement of lipid peroxidation, and oxidative injuries of proteins in this salivary gland. The treatment with the black chokeberry extract during the intoxication with cadmium prevented this xenobiotic-caused oxidative/reductive imbalance and oxidative modifications of proteins and lipids in the salivary gland. The above results allow the conclusion that the consumption of black chokeberry products during intoxication with cadmium can prevent oxidative stress and its consequences in the sublingual salivary gland and thus counteract the unfavourable impact of this xenobiotic on the oral cavity.

The activity of class I, II, III, and IV alcohol dehydrogenase isoenzymes and aldehyde dehydrogenase in endometrial cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The metabolism of cancerous cells is in many ways different than in healthy cells. In endometrial cancer, cells exhibit activity of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), which participate in the metabolism of many biological substances. The aim of this study was to compare the metabolism of endometrial cancer cells and normal endometrial cells by measurement of ADH isoenzymes and ALDH activities in these tissues. METHODS: The study material consists of cancerous endometrial tissues obtained from 34 patients. Total ADH activity was measured using the photometric method and ALDH activity using the fluorometric method. For the measurement of class I and II ADH isoenzyme activity, we employed the fluorometric method, with class-specific fluorogenic substrates. The activity of class III and IV ADH was measured using the photometric method. RESULTS: The activity of the class I ADH isoenzyme was significantly higher in the endometrial cancer tissues when compared with normal endometrial tissues. The other classes of ADH tested did not show significant differences between activity of cancerous cells and healthy endometrium. The activity of total ADH was also significantly higher in endometrial cancer. CONCLUSION: The increased activity of total ADH in endometrial cancer, especially the class I isoenzyme and normal activity of ALDH, may be the cause of disorders in metabolic pathways that use these isoenzymes and could increase the concentration of acetaldehyde, which is cancerogenic substance.

The Alterations in Alcohol Dehydrogenase Activity in the Sera of Women With Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The liver of pregnant women undergoes physiological and pathological changes and the changes in liver enzyme activity and release reflect changes in serum enzymatic activity. We aimed to assess the activity of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) isoenzymes, and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) in the sera of women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP), the most common pregnancy-related liver disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Serum samples were taken from 40 women with ICP in the second or third trimester of pregnancy. Serum samples were also obtained from 40 healthy pregnant women at the same time of pregnancy and 40 healthy non-pregnant women. Class I and II of ADH and ALDH activity was measured by a spectrofluorometric method. Class III, IV ADH and total ADH activity was measured by photometric methods. RESULTS: The total ADH activity was significantly higher in women with ICP than in healthy pregnant and non-pregnant women (about 42%). The median total activity of ADH was 1067 mU/l in women with ICP, 628 mU/l in healthy pregnant and 605 mU/l in non-pregnant women. A statistically significant increase in class I ADH isoenzymes was found in the sera of pregnant women with ICP. The median activity of this class in the ICP group increased about 62% and 80% in comparison to the healthy pregnant women and non-pregnant women, respectively. CONCLUSION: The activity of class I ADH isoenzymes in the sera of women with ICP is statistically significantly increased and may have a diagnostic significance.

Activity of Alcohol Dehydrogenase and Aldehyde Dehydrogenase in Lung Cancer Cells.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to define the alterations in the activity of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) isoenzymes and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) in normal and cancerous lung cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Lung tissues were taken from 36 patients during surgical resection of cancer. The activities of tested enzymes were measured by spectrofluorometric method (ADH I, ADH II, total ALDH) and photometric method (ADH III, ADH IV, total ADH). RESULTS: The activities of class II and III ADH were significantly lower in lung cancer cells compared to histologically normal lung tissue. CONCLUSION: Reduced activity of isoenzyme class II ADH may affect disorders in retinoic acid biosynthesis, leading to its deficit. Lower ADH III activity may result in depletion of glutathione, and in initiation of oxidative stress, leading to cancer progression. These data suggest that alterations in ADH isoenzyme activities can contribute to carcinogenesis in human lungs.