Biochemical and morphological differences between CA125 isolated from healthy women and patients with epithelial ovarian cancer from Tunisian population.

Analysis of the structure of CA125 is essential for determining the physiological role of this significant tumor antigen. The objectives of this study were: (1) to identify the characteristics of the CA125 isolated from healthy and patient women with epithelial ovarian cancer; and (2) to determine the ferning structure of this antigen. The cancer-derived CA125 antigen (cCA125) purified by gel filtration and affinity chromatography (Concanavalin A) was run on SDS-PAGE and examined using light microscopy and compared with healthy-derived CA125 antigen (hCA125). Both purified antigen cCA125 and hCA125 showed a high molecular mass (> 2,000 kDa) with high mannose glycans. The ferning patterns related to cCA125 and hCA125 revealed distinct differences in the patterns of arborescence. The ferning morphology of cCA125 antigen was denser than that of hCA125 antigen making an obvious difference between cCA125 and hCA125, with respect to length, branching and distribution of crystals. The current study provides the first evidence for a potential functional link between CA125 and its structure which, in the light of a comparison between cCA125 and hCA125, might proof to be of significant biomedical importance in the future.

[Oxidant stress and cardiovascular absolute risk in Tunisian type 2 diabetes]. / Stress oxydant et risque cardiovasculaire absolu chez des diabétiques de type 2 du centre tunisien.

INTRODUCTION: cardiovascular diseases constitute the most hefty complications in diabetes. Absolute cardiovascular risk (ACVR) can be estimated by many equations that are continuously criticised. The aim is, in one hand, to evaluate ACVR in type 2 diabetes and, in the other hand, is to establish correlations between ACVR and oxidant-antioxidant status. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 183 type 2 diabetes and 200 controls were admitted. ACVR assessment was calculated following Laurier equation. Oxidant status was evaluated by the measure of homocysteine, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and LDL thiobarbituric reactive oxygen substances (LDL-TBARS). Antioxidant status was evaluated by the measure of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), total antioxidant status (TAS) vitamins A, E and zinc. Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and microalbuminuria were assessed by turbidimetry. RESULTS: ninety percent of diabetes belonged to moderate and high ACVR groups. In diabetic men ACVR was doubled each elevation of 4 micromol/L homocysteine, of 50 micromol/L of H2O2 and of 20 mg/L of microalbuminuria. High risk ACVR group showed the lowest SOD activity, zincemia and the highest HbA1c. No significant difference was found in LDL-TBARS, TAS, GPx, vitamins A, E between the different ACVR groups. The strong relation between homocysteine and ACVR confirms homocysteine atherosclerotic role. Homocysteine auto-oxidation produces H2O2 leading to LDL-TBARS increase. Microalbuminuria-ACVR association verifies its vasculopathy predictor role. Urinary albumin leakage may be consequent to the hyperhomocysteinemia found in diabetes. CONCLUSION: homocysteine introduction in ACVR assessment equation may ameliorate this estimation.