Cancer antigens 19.9 and 125 as tumor markers in patients with mucinous ovarian tumors.

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: To determine the accuracy of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cancer antigen (CA) 15.3, CA 19.9, and CA 125 for diagnosis of mucinous ovarian cancer (MOC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Samples were collected preoperatively from patients with mucinous ovarian tumor. The following variables were analysed: CEA, CA 15.3, CA 19.9, and CA 125. After surgery, histology and stage were determined according to FIGO-classification. Patients were classified into two groups according to the diagnosis of ovarian biopsy: NOT MOC and MOC. RESULTS: The authors studied 94 patients with ages between 15 and 80 years (median = 43). Eighty-two patients were NOT MOC (68 mucinous ovarian cystadenomas and 14 mucinous borderline ovarian tumors) and 12 were MOC. All MOC patients were in FIGO Stages I or II. No statistically significant differences were found between MOC and NOT MOC patients according to CEA and CA 15.3 (p > 0.05). All MOC patients had abnormal serum CA 19.9 and/or CA 125 levels. Using CA 19.9 and CA 125, we performed a linear regression formula CA 19.9+125 = 0.00102 x CA 19.9 + 0.00057 x CA 125. AUCs values were 0.862 (p = 0.0002), 0.829 (p = 0.0021), and 0.911 (p = 0.0001) for CA 19.9, CA 125, and CA 19.9 + 125, respectively. CA 19.9 + 125 exhibited 95.1% specificity and 66.7% sensitivity, increased by 16.7% sensitivity compared with using only CA 19.9 or CA 125. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative CA 19.9 and CA 125 levels showed high diagnosis efficacy to predict whether a mucinous ovarian tumour is benign or malignant. Using both markers simultaneously increases the sensitivity for diagnosis of MOC.

Comparative study of the neuroprotective effect of dehydroepiandrosterone and 17beta-estradiol against 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridium toxicity on rat striatum.

The effects of dehydroepiandrosterone, estradiol and testosterone on 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridium (MPP+)-induced neurotoxicity of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system were examined in rat. They were subjected to a unilateral intrastriatal infusion of the following treatment conditions: MPP+ alone or co-injection of MPP+ plus each hormone. Four days after injection, concentrations of dopamine and their metabolites were determined from the corpus striatum. To corroborate the neurochemical data an immunohistochemical analysis of tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive fibers and acetylcholinesterase histochemistry in the striatum was performed. Moreover, we performed a dose-response study of the three hormones on the high-affinity dopamine transport system in rat striatal synaptosomes. Rats co-injected within the striatum with MPP+ and either dehydroepiandrosterone or estradiol had significantly greater concentrations of dopamine and less tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive fibers and acetylcholinesterase fiber density loss compared with their respective controls. In addition, 4 days after injection, the brain was fixed and cut into coronal sections, and was immunostained with major histocompatibility complex class II antigens for activated microglia, and glial fibrillary acidic protein for activated astrocytes. Dehydroepiandrosterone also attenuated microglial cell activation. In contrast, testosterone showed reductions in dopamine concentrations similar to those obtained by MPP+. The protective effect of dehydroepiandrosterone against the MPP+ neurotoxic dopaminergic system may be produced by its partial prevention of MPP+ inhibition of NADH oxidase activity, whereas the estradiol may function as a neuroprotectant by reducing the uptake of MPP+ into dopaminergic neurons. Our findings we suggest indicate that dehydroepiandrosterone and estradiol by a non-genomic effect may have an important modulatory action, capable of attenuating degeneration within the striatum, and in this way serve as neuroprotectants of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system.

Skeletal muscle and aging.

Age-related changes in muscle mass (sarcopenia) and functional properties are the result of a very complex hierarchical system of basic cell aging processes and cell adaptive responses. A basic aging mechanism pertains to mitochondrial production of free radicals and their associated secondary effects. From this basic aging mechanism many other cellular changes can be explained as direct effects or compensatory changes. Altered skeletal muscle cell biochemical and functional properties during aging resulting from intrinsic mechanisms and from changes in hormonal or local signals that influence phenotype maintenance, are reviewed. The effect of skeletal muscle cell senescence on the cellular response to exercise, and the effect of dietary restriction on muscle cell senescence can also be explored from this perspective.

Estrés oxidativo, radicales libres, peroxidación lipídica y aterosclerosis / Oxidative stress, free radicals, lipid peroxidation and atherosclerosis

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Influencia del tabaquismo en el perfil lipoproteico y grado de peroxidación lipídica en sangre de cordón / Influence of cigaette smoking in the lipid profile and degree of lipid peroxidation in cord blood

Introducción. El tabaco es un factor aterogénico, ya que favorece desde el inicio de su consumo un perfil lipoproteico caracterizado por un aumento de triglicéridos, VLDL y cLDL, y descenso de cHDL y apoproteína A1, e incremento de los índices de peroxidación lipídica. ¿En qué medida las alteraciones que produce el tabaco sobre el perfil lipídico en los adultos se repite en el recién nacido? Objetivo. Determinar si el hábito tabáquico de la madre durante el embarazo puede modificar el perfil lipoproteico y los niveles de peroxidación lipídica del recién nacido. Pacientes y método. Se estudian las modificaciones en el perfil lipídico (colesterol total, triglicéridos, colesterolHDL, colesterol-LDL, VLDL, apoproteínas A1 y B) y grado de peroxidación (TBARS) en sangre de cordón de 188 recién nacidos de etnia hispana con antecedentes de tabaquismo materno durante todo el embarazo, y se comparan con 466 neonatos de madres no fumadoras (grupo control). Resultados. Los recién nacidos de madres fumadoras presentan cambios importantes en el perfil lipídico, con niveles de triglicéridos, VLDL y ratio apo B/apo A1, superiores a los nacidos de madres no fumadoras (p<0,01), mientras que los valores de colesterol total, colesterol-HDL y apoproteína A1 fueron inferiores en niños nacidos de madres fumadoras (p<0,05). Sin embargo, el tabaquismo materno no produjo cambios en los niveles de TBARS. Se puede apreciar como el valor de la trigliceridemia en sangre de cordón aumenta con el consumo de cigarrillos, estableciéndose una relación dosis-dependencia (p<0,05). El hábito tabáquico presentó una asociación creciente entre la hipertrigliceridemia neonatal y el consumo de cigarrillos (x2 tendencia=5,68; p=0,017). Conclusiones. El tabaquismo materno puede afectar el metabolismo lipídico del feto, produciendo notables cambios en el patrón lipoproteico del recién nacido, con aumentos importantes de los niveles de triglicéridos y VLDL, y ligera disminución de los niveles de colesterol total, colesterolHDL, y apoproteína A,. El consumo de tabaco materno se asocia a una mayor frecuencia de hipertrigliceridemia riconatal. Sin embargo, el tabaco no modifica los niveles de peroxidación de los lípidos fetales, y por tanto no parece afectar el equilibrio prooxidantes-antioxidantes (AU)

Myocardial and skeletal muscle aging and changes in oxidative stress in relationship to rigorous exercise training.

Cardiac and skeletal muscle are very different functional tissues, and we would expect a variation in the ROS generation, in ageing and rigorous exercise-related in both tissues. We determined TBARS, total SOD, Cu, ZnSOD and MnSOD activities, and the patterns of SOD isoenzymes in skeletal muscle and heart of male Wistar rats, young and old, in rest and after rigorous exercise. There were no differences in the levels of lipoperoxidation in aged rest animals in both tissues, but the level was increased after exhaustion. The level of SOD activities was bigger in the heart than in skeletal muscle. Total SOD and Cu, ZnSOD activities were higher in old rest animals in the skeletal muscle than in young rest rats. This change did not occur in the heart. After rigorous exercise, the level of SOD activities was increased in young rats in both tissues. However, in old exhausted rats, the activities were only elevated in the heart. Different Cu, ZnSOD isoenzyme patterns showed in relation to tissues. In the skeletal muscle in old animals, the Cu, ZnSOD isoenzyme pattern was modified. The rigorous exercise did not change this pattern. The pattern of MnSOD isoenzyme was not varied in either tissue, age nor and exercise.

Age and exercise-related changes in lipid peroxidation and superoxide dismutase activity in liver and soleus muscle tissues of rats.

Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) level, as marker of lipid peroxidation, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, as endogenous antioxidant enzyme, were examined in liver and soleus muscle tissue of young and old male Wistar rats. We established different types of exercise running on a treadmill both for young and old rats, investigated the effect of aging, exhaustion and training on these groups. The hepatic TBARS levels were raised in the short-training young group and in the long-training old group. On the other hand, the TBARS content decreased in soleus muscle in the short-training young group, and long-training exercise enhanced lipid peroxidation in old rats. SOD activity increased in liver in short-training group. while this activity showed the lowest values in long-training old rats. With respect to soleus muscle tissue, SOD activity was elevated after exhaustive exercise in young rats and old rats had the highest activity in the long-training old group. These findings suggest that free radicals play a role in aging and that the different type, intensity and duration of exercise modify the lipid peroxidation level and antioxidant enzyme activity.

[Abscess of the prostate: intracavitary echography and echo-guided drainage]. / Absceso de próstata: ecografía endocavitaria y drenaje ecodirigído.

We submit the present paper three cases of prostate abscess. The various aspects related to ethiopathogeny, clinic, and current diagnostic procedures are analyzed emphasixing the use of endocavitary echography, as well as the different therapeutic approaches that can be used, with particular attention to ecomonitored aspirative drainage.

[Epithelial polyp of the posterior urethra]. / Pólipo epitelial de uretra posterior.

A case of posterior urethra polyp located at the veru montanum is reported in an adult with azoospermia. Deferentvesiculography, testes biopsy, transrectal echography and urethroscopy were carried out. Following diagnosis, a tumour endoscopic resection was performed. After reviewing the literature, no other cases of posterior urethra polyp presenting the reported clinical picture was found. Also, aspects related to clinic, diagnostic procedures and therapeutical approach are reported.

[Extraperitoneal bladder rupture caused by diverticular pathology]. / Rotura vesical extraperitoneal espontánea por patología diverticular.

In this study we offer a case of spontaneous extraperitoneal vesical rupture and we analyse the etiopathogenic factors that are going to determine the genesis of the process, the diagnostic means used as well as the therapeutic attitude to be followed on the basis of the patient's clinical picture and the bladder level where the rupture has occurred.