Significant Increase In Serum Concentration Research Articles

Physiological dose of lycopene suppressed oxidative stress and enhanced serum levels of immunoglobulin M in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus: A possible role in the prevention of long-term complications

This study was undertaken to evaluate the antioxidant effects of lycopene in physiological doses and its possible effects on the immune response in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). A total of 35 patients with T2DM of both sexes aged 54+/-9 yr were enrolled in a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial conducted for 2 months. After a 2-week lycopene-free diet washout period, patients were allocated to either lycopene supplementation group (10 mg/day) (no.=16) or placebo group (no.=19), which were age- and sex matched. Patients were instructed to keep their diet and physical activity as unchanged as possible. While dietary intake of energy and body weight did not change, the ratio of serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) to malondialdehyde (MDA) increased significantly in the lycopene group compared to the placebo group (p=0.007). Though a statistically significant increase in serum concentrations of lycopene (p<0.001) was not accompanied by enhanced delayed-type hypersensitivity response, a significant negative correlation was found between serum levels of lycopene and immunoglobulin (Ig)G (r=-0.338, p=0.008). Interestingly, variations of serum levels of lycopene directly correlated with those of IgM (r=0.466, p=0.005). There was an insignificant decrement in serum anti-oxidized LDL IgG levels in the lycopene group. Lycopene, probably by increasing TAC and inhibiting MDA-LDL formation, may attenuate T cell-dependent adaptive (pro-atherogenic) immune response. Meanwhile, with enhancement of innate immunity and hence prevention of ox-LDL uptake by macrophage and foam cell formation, lycopene may be effective in prevention of long-term diabetic complications, notably cardiovascular disease.

Toxicological evaluation of ethyl acetate extract of Cylicodiscus gabunensis stem bark (Mimosaceae)

The toxicity profile of the ethyl acetate (EA) extract of the stem bark of Cylicodiscus gabunensis (CG) was studied in Wistar rats. The rats were administered graded doses (0.75, 1.5, 3 and 6 g/kg p.o.) of the extract daily for 6 weeks and the effects on clinical signs, body weight, food and water consumption, organ weight , haematology, histology as well as serum, hepatic and renal biochemical parameters were measured. Body weight of dosed and control rats increase throughout the duration of treatment but food and water consumption were not significantly affected. The relative weights of the liver, lungs, heart and kidneys remained normal whereas a significant change was observed in that of the spleen. The hematocrit level was increased in treated animal. Our data demonstrates a significant increase in serum concentrations of aspartate amino-transferase, alanine amino-transferase, total cholesterol and glucose with high-dose of CG treatment tested (3–6 g/kg). CG also caused a significant reduction in hepatic malondialdehyde concentration. Renal urea and creatinine levels were reduced significantly in test groups. Histological findings reveal a characteristic progression treatment-related effect on liver, kidneys and lungs. The acute toxicity LD 50 was estimated at 14.5 and 11 g/kg body weight (b.w.) for male and female respectively, but dose-related mortality of 30 and 50% were observed during the sub-acute toxicity. These findings have once more highlighted the limitations of the acute toxicity LD 50 testing and suggest that CG may exert varied toxicological effects when administered orally in rats.

Social stress increases biopyrrins, oxidative metabolites of bilirubin, in mouse urine

We investigated whether or not three kinds of social stress (isolation, crowding, and confrontation) increase urinary excretion of biopyrrins, oxidative metabolites of bilirubin, in mice. Male BALB/c mice (4 weeks old) were housed 5 per cage for 10 days. After acclimatization, mice were exposed to the above mentioned three kinds of psychosocial stress. Mouse blood and urine samples were collected after 2, 7, and 30 days of stress. Serum levels of corticosterone and urinary levels of biopyrrins were determined by EIA and ELISA, respectively. Adrenal hypertrophy, significant increases in serum concentration of corticosterone and in urinary excretion of biopyrrins were observed in mice exposed to these types of social stress for 7 days. These levels decreased after 30 days, though they were still rather high compared to the control group. These results suggested that social stress causes oxidative stress and that biopyrrins could be useful biomarkers of psychosocial stress.

Estrogenic Effect of Yam Ingestion in Healthy Postmenopausal Women

Objective: Yam (Dioscorea) has been used to treat menopausal symptom folklorically. This study was to investigate the effects of yam ingestion on lipids, antioxidant status, and sex hormones in postmenopausal women.Methods: Twenty-four apparently healthy postmenopausal women were recruited to replace their staple food (rice for the most part) with 390 g of yam (Dioscorea alata) in 2 of 3 meals per day for 30 days and 22 completed the study. Fasting blood and first morning urine samples were collected before and after yam intervention for the analyses of blood lipids, sex hormones, urinary estrogen metabolites and oxidant stress biomarker. The design was a one arm, pre-post study. A similar study of postmenopausal women (n = 19) fed 240 g of sweet potato for 41 days was included as a control study. Serum levels of estrone, estradiol and SHBG were analyzed for this control group.Results: After yam ingestion, there were significant increases in serum concentrations of estrone (26%), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) (9.5%), and near significant increase in estradiol (27%). No significant changes were observed in serum concentrations of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, androstenedione, testosterone, follicular stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone. Free androgen index estimated from the ratio of serum concentrations of total testosterone to SHBG decreased. Urinary concentrations of the genotoxic metabolite of estrogen, 16α-hydroxyestrone decreased significantly by 37%. Plasma cholesterol concentration decreased significantly by 5.9%. Lag time of low-density lipoprotein oxidation prolonged significantly by 5.8% and urinary isoprostane levels decreased significantly by 42%. For the control subjects fed with sweet potato, all three hormone parameters measured were not changed after intervention.Conclusion: Although the exact mechanism is not clear, replacing two thirds of staple food with yam for 30 days improves the status of sex hormones, lipids, and antioxidants. These effects might reduce the risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular diseases in postmenopausal women.

Gluten-free diet may alleviate depressive and behavioural symptoms in adolescents with coeliac disease: a prospective follow-up case-series study

BackgroundCoeliac disease in adolescents has been associated with an increased prevalence of depressive and disruptive behavioural disorders, particularly in the phase before diet treatment. We studied the possible effects of a gluten-free diet on psychiatric symptoms, on hormonal status (prolactin, thyroidal function) and on large neutral amino acid serum concentrations in adolescents with coeliac disease commencing a gluten-free diet.MethodsNine adolescents with celiac disease, aged 12 to 16 years, were assessed using the semi-structured K-SADS-Present and Lifetime Diagnostic interview and several symptom scales. Seven of them were followed at 1 to 2, 3, and 6 months on a gluten-free diet.ResultsAdolescent coeliac disease patients with depression had significantly lower pre-diet tryptophan/ competing amino-acid (CAA) ratios and free tryptophan concentrations, and significantly higher biopsy morning prolactin levels compared to those without depression. A significant decrease in psychiatric symptoms was found at 3 months on a gluten-free diet compared to patients' baseline condition, coinciding with significantly decreased coeliac disease activity and prolactin levels and with a significant increase in serum concentrations of CAAs.ConclusionAlthough our results of the amino acid analysis and prolactin levels in adolescents are only preliminary, they give support to previous findings on patients with coeliac disease, suggesting that serotonergic dysfunction due to impaired availability of tryptophan may play a role in vulnerability to depressive and behavioural disorders also among adolescents with untreated coeliac disease.

Correction of Hemodialysis Anemia is Associated with Significant Increase in Serum Concentration of IGF-I in Patients Treated with Erythropoietin: A Randomized Controlled Study

The effect of erythropoietin (EPO) therapy on the serum level of IGF-I among hemodialysis patients is debated. The aim of this study is to study the effect of EPO on the erythropoiesis and the change of serum level of IGF-I among adequately hemodialyzed patients. Forty patients (25 males and 15 females) who had an adequate level of both hemodialysis and nutrition were randomly allocated into two equal groups. Besides parenteral iron, the first group of patients received a conventional EPO dose regimen of 2000 U subcutaneously (SC) thrice weekly, the second group of patients remained on parenteral iron and ranked as a control group. The patients were subjected to thorough laboratory investigations. IGF-I concentration was measured before and at the end of the study. Both groups were comparable in their demographic, laboratory, dialysis level, and nutritional status. There was no statistical differences in hemoglobin, hematocrit %, iron store indices and serum level of IGF-I at the study entry. We found a significant rise of both hemoglobin and hematocrit as well as IGF-I serum level in the EPO group at the end of the study in comparison to their values at the starting points in comparison to the control group (P< 0.001). Erythropoietin therapy enhances erythropoiesis and modulates the serum concentration of IGF-I.

Incidence of Hypovitaminosis E in Calves and Therapeutic Remedy by Selenium-Vitamin Supplementation

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Prevention of cold-associated acute inflammation in familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome by interleukin-1 receptor antagonist

Familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome (FCAS) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterised by recurrent episodes of rash, arthralgia, and fever after cold exposure. The genetic basis of this disease has been elucidated. Cryopyrin, the protein that is altered in FCAS, is one of the adaptor proteins that activate caspase 1, resulting in release of interleukin 1. An experimental cold challenge protocol was developed to study the acute inflammatory mechanisms occurring after a general cold exposure in FCAS patients and to investigate the effects of pretreatment with an antagonist of interleukin 1 receptor (IL-1Ra). ELISA, real-time PCR, and immunohistochemistry were used to measure cytokine responses. After cold challenge, untreated patients with FCAS developed rash, fever, and arthralgias within 1-4 h. Significant increases in serum concentrations of interleukin 6 and white-blood-cell counts were seen 4-8 h after cold challenge. Serum concentrations of interleukin 1 and cytokine mRNA in peripheral-blood leucocytes were not raised, but amounts of interleukin 1 protein and mRNA were high in affected skin. IL-1Ra administered before cold challenge blocked symptoms and increases in white-blood-cell counts and serum interleukin 6. The ability of IL-1Ra to prevent the clinical features and haematological and biochemical changes in patients with FCAS indicates a central role for interleukin 1beta in this disorder. Involvement of cryopyrin in activation of caspase 1 and NF-kappaB signalling suggests that it might have a role in many chronic inflammatory diseases. These findings support a new therapy for a disorder with no previously known acceptable treatment. They also offer insights into the role of interleukin 1beta in more common inflammatory diseases.

Study on myeloperoxidase role in antituberculous defense in the context of cytokine activation.

Myeloperoxidase (MPO), next to the NO synthase2 (NOS2), and NADPH oxidase, is the key enzyme of the oxidative burst responsible for the antimicrobial immunity. Because MPO participates in the eradication of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the in vitro model and the extracellular enzyme may activate cells to cytokine synthesis, we investigated the changes in the enzyme concentration in serum of patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and correlations between MPO and TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, and IL-12. To our knowledge, our study is the first to indicate the involvement of MPO during active TB which manifested itself in the significant increase in serum concentration. The statistically significant elevation of TNF-alpha and IL-12 was also noticed in serum of the TB positive group. The statistical analysis revealed no correlation between the cytokine and MPO production in the studied cases. However, the increase in TNF-alpha and IL-12 serum concentration with simultaneous elevation of serum MPO in the group of the highest enzyme concentration may imply that correlation between the enzyme and the cytokines should not be excluded. Our study suggests possible involvement of MPO in the antituberculous, immunological response, and implies its connection with TNF-alpha and IL-12 activation.

Pretreatment with tumor necrosis factor-alpha attenuates arterial hypotension and mortality induced by endotoxin in pigs.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha administration in large amounts can induce a state of shock similar to that seen during severe sepsis. The objective of this study was to determine whether small doses of TNF-alpha might decrease the disposition for the development of shock induced by a subsequent infusion of endotoxin and to determine whether the mechanism of this protective effect of TNF-alpha pretreatment could be associated with up-regulation of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-10. Prospective, randomized, experimental study. Investigative intensive care unit at an academic medical center. A total of 14 female Yorkshire pigs, weighing 20-25 kg. We studied two groups of animals-pigs treated with 500 ng/kg recombinant porcine TNF-alpha (n = 7) and pigs given diluent alone (n = 7). At 24 hrs after treatment, both groups of pigs were subjected to a 24-hr continuous infusion of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at a rate of 80 ng/kg/min. The mortality rate was determined in both groups. Hemodynamic indices, oxygen transport variables, total and differential white cell counts, and serum concentrations of TNF and IL-10 were determined at frequent intervals before and after TNF-alpha administration and during the LPS infusion. Additionally, peripheral blood mononuclear cells were collected for determination of messenger ribonucleic acid expression of IL-10 by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The administration of TNF-alpha at the dose used in this study did not have any profound effect. No pig treated with TNF-alpha died in response to the LPS infusion. In contrast, three of seven control pigs died during the LPS infusion. Lipopolysaccharide-induced arterial hypotension and arterial hypoxemia were attenuated in the TNF-alpha-treated group. Both groups had significant increases in serum concentrations of TNF-alpha in response to LPS, with no significant difference in peak serum TNF-alpha between groups. Neither serum concentrations of IL-10 nor expression of IL-10 messenger ribonucleic acid in circulating mononuclear cells differed between groups. The administration of TNF-alpha attenuated the severity of hyperdynamic shock induced by a subsequent infusion of endotoxin. This effect could not be associated with increased expression or elaboration of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10.

Uncoupling between Bone Formation and Resorption in Ovariectomized Rats with Chronic Cadmium Exposure

Osteoporosis, osteomalacia, and pathological fractures are characteristic features of Itai–Itai disease. The mechanisms of bone damage caused by cadmium (Cd) exposure have not been fully clarified. We investigated skeletal changes in ovariectomized rats with chronic Cd exposure, using bone histomorphometry and mechanical tests. Female Sprague–Dawley rats at the age of 8 weeks were ovariectomized. Eight weeks after ovariectomy, the rats were divided into two groups: Cd–OVX group (n = 15), ovariectomized rats given cadmium chloride (CdCl2, 0.18 mg/rat) ip three times a week for 28 weeks; Cont–OVX group (n = 10), ovariectomized rats given distilled water alone for 28 weeks. Cd–OVX rats had a significant increase in serum concentration of intact osteocalcine and showed numerical but not significant increase in urinary excretion of deoxypyridinoline despite a significant decrease in glomerular filtration rate to 40% of the value in Cont–OVX rats. Bone mineral content (BMC) and density were significantly decreased in both the lumbar vertebral body and femur of Cd–OVX rats. Ultimate compressive load in the lumbar body and bending load in the midfemur were significantly lower in Cd–OVX rats than in Cont–OVX rats but the differences were not demonstrated when the values were corrected for BMC. Structural moduli in the lumbar vertebral body and the midfemur were not different between the two groups. Cd–OVX rats showed significant decreases in the trabecular bone volume and trabecular number with increased values in the indices of bone formation and resorption in the lumbar vertebral body cancellous bone in comparison with Cont–OVX rats. In the midfemur, Cd–OVX rats had significantly smaller cortical bone area than Cont–OVX rats but the moment of inertia was identical between the two groups. The indices of bone formation and resorption at endocortical surface of the midfemur were significantly increased in Cd–OVX rats over those in Cont–OVX rats, whereas the indices of bone formation at the periosteal surface were not different between the two groups. These data suggested that chronic Cd exposure exacerbated the uncoupling between bone formation and resorption in ovariectomized rats, which resulted in the osteopenia, structural changes of the bone, and decreased mechanical strength in ovariectomized rats with chronic Cd exposure.

Repeated Doses of UVR Cause Minor Alteration in CytokineSerum Levels in Humans

The aim of our study was to compare serum concentration of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-α in 105 healthy volunteers before and after exposure to UVR: 25 subjects (10 days of UVB), 55 (10 days of UVB or solar-simulated radiation, followed by acute UVB dose), and 25 (local high dose of UVB). In all the individuals blood samples were analyzed before and after final irradiation by chemiluminescence assay. After 10 days of UVB irradiation a statistically significant increase in serum concentration only in IL-8 (P < .05) and strong tendency in TNF-α (P = .05) were observed. The applied schedules of irradiation have minor impact on serum cytokine level and still a threshold dose of UVR causing systemic immune impairment is unknown.

Endocrine and metabolic effects of octreotide, a somatostatin analogue, in lean PCOS patients with either hyperinsulinaemia or lean normoinsulinaemia.

The effects on insulin secretion and on the glycaemic and androgen status before and after short-term treatment with octreotide were evaluated in 16 normal weight patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Hyperinsulinaemia was determined by measuring the insulin response after oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Seven patients (group A) were classified as normoinsulinaemic, while nine patients (group B) were considered hyperinsulinaemic according to insulin response after OGTT. Octreotide treatment did not modify either glycaemic or insulinaemic response after OGTT, or androgen profile, in normoinsulinaemic patients. On the contrary, a significant decrease in the basal concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone and androstenedione, and a significant increase in serum concentrations of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) were observed in the hyperinsulinaemic group of patients, in which we observed also a significant decrease of insulinaemic response and a decompensation of the glycaemic profile after OGTT. Our study is the first report showing that: (i) octreotide does not appear to significantly influence pituitary release of gonadotrophins in this group of PCOS patients; (ii) octreotide is able to reduce insulin release, LH and androgen concentrations in lean PCOS patients with hyperinsulinaemia. Due to the presence of a decompensation of glucose homeostasis during treatment, octreotide does not seem advisable for long-term therapy of hyperandrogenism in lean PCOS patients with hyperinsulinaemia.

Percutaneous absorption of progesterone in postmenopausal women treated with transdermal estrogen

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the serum levels of progesterone resulting from the application of a progesterone cream to the skin. Study Design: Six postmenopausal women were evaluated at a university clinic over a 4-week period. Results: Transdermal estradiol 0.05 mg was applied 2 days before the first application of progesterone (30 mg/d) and was continued throughout the study. Patches were changed twice a week. Progesterone cream was applied once a day for 2 weeks. On day 15 and for the next 2 weeks, the progesterone cream was applied twice daily (60 mg/d). Serum 17β-estradiol and progesterone were measured at 9 different times over a 24-hour period on day 1 and at weekly intervals for the 4-week duration of the study. Serum 17β-estradiol concentrations varied among women, with mean concentrations of 40 to 64 pg/mL observed. Consistency in 17β-estradiol concentrations was found within individual persons throughout the study. Serum progesterone concentrations also varied among women, with mean concentrations ranging from 1.6 to 3.3 ng/mL. After 2 weeks of percutaneous dosing, progesterone concentrations were sustained for at least 8 hours and were consistent within a given person. An appropriate increase in progesterone concentration occurred after 4 weeks compared with 2 weeks of application. Individually, a 0.53 correlation, significant at P < .0001, was seen between the absorption of 17β-estradiol and progesterone. Conclusion: Significant increases in serum concentrations of progesterone were observed in all of the women studied. The percutaneous absorption of progesterone correlates strongly with the absorption of transdermal 17β-estradiol. There is variance in absorption of progesterone just as with 17β-estradiol, and the 2 measures are closely correlated. The percutaneous application of progesterone cream appears to be a safe and effective route of administration. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1999;180:1504-11.)

Estudo da atividade hormonal de mulheres tratadas com tamoxifeno no menacme

Objetivos: Avaliar o efeito do tamoxifeno nos niveis sericos de progesterona, estradiol, prolactina, hormonio luteinizante (LH), hormonio foliculo-estimulante (FSH) e da globulina transportadora dos hormonios sexuais (SHBG), quando administrado a mulheres no menacme, nas doses de 10 e 20 mg/dia por 22 dias. Metodos: Estudo aleatorio e duplo-cego. Foram incluidas 43 mulheres pre-menopausadas e eumenorreicas. Foram distribuidas em 3 grupos: A (N = 15; placebo), B (N = 15; 10 mg/dia) e C (N = 13; 20 mg/dia). Foram realizadas duas dosagens hormonais, sendo a primeira no 22o dia do ciclo menstrual que precedeu o uso da droga e a segunda apos 22 dias de uso do medicamento. Utilizaram-se os testes de Levene e t-pareado para avaliar a homogeneidade da amostra e a variacao das dosagens hormonais, respectivamente. Resultados: As concentracoes sericas de estradiol, progesterona e SHBG aumentaram significantemente nos grupos B e C. No grupo C, observou-se ainda elevacao no nivel serico de FSH (p < 0,0045) e queda dos valores de prolactina (p < 0,0055). Conclusoes: O tamoxifeno promoveu aumento significante nas concentracoes sericas de estradiol, progesterona e SHBG, tanto na dose de 10 como de 20 mg/dia. Porem, o aumento significante de FSH e a diminuicao da prolactina foram obtidos apenas com a dose de 20 mg/dia.

Early Noninvasive Identification of Failed Reperfusion After Intravenous Thrombolytic Therapy in Acute Myocardial Infarction

Objectives. This study sought to evaluate a biochemical approach to the early noninvasive assessment of reperfusion.Background. In patients with an acute myocardial infarction, a rapid noninvasive method of detecting failure of intravenous thrombolytic therapy to restore early Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) grade 3 flow in the infarct-related artery (IRA) is needed.Methods. Serial blood samples were collected to assay creatine kinase-MB fraction (CKMB mass), cardiac troponin T and myoglobin concentrations in 105 patients with a myocardial infarction who underwent early angiography after intravenous streptokinase. The ratios of the 60- and 90-min concentrations to prethrombolytic values were used to determine an index that could identify failure to achieve TIMI grade 3 flow in the IRA at 90 min.Results. Significant increases in serum concentrations of markers at 60 min were more likely with TIMI grade 3 flow (59 patients) than with TIMI grade 0 to 2 flow (46 patients). Ratios ≤5 at 60 min after thrombolysis detected failure to achieve 90-min TIMI grade 3 flow with 92% to 97% sensitivity, 43% to 60% specificity and 63% to 76% positive and 86% to 94% negative predictive values. Ratios ≤10 at 90 min showed 88% to 95% sensitivity, 49% to 65% specificity and 61% to 69% positive and 86% to 94% negative predictive values for TIMI flow grade <3. The overall predictive values were thus similar for all three markers.Conclusions. In acute myocardial infarction treated with intravenous streptokinase, a simple measurement of increased serum concentrations of CKMB mass, cardiac troponin T or myoglobin at 60 and 90 min can accurately predict failure to achieve TIMI grade 3 flow in the IRA at 90 min.

EFFECTS OF THE PESTICIDES CARBOFURAN, CHLORPYRIFOS, DIMETHOATE, LINDANE, TRIALLATE, TRIFLURALIN, 2,4-D, AND PENTACHLOROPHENOL ON THE METABOLIC ENDOCRINE AND REPRODUCTIVE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM IN EWES

Many pesticides are used in the agricultural environment, and some may have the potential to disrupt reproductive or endocrine function. Ewes, in separate groups of 6, received orally into their rumen either empty gelatin capsules or capsules containing chlorpyrifos (12.5 mg/ kg), trifluralin (17.5 mg/ kg), lindane (2.5 mg/ kg), or pentachlorophenol (2 mg/kg) 2 times per week for 43 d. Dimethoate (0.2 mg/kg), carbofuran (0.30 mg/kg), 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (10 mg/kg), or triallate (5 mg/kg) was given 3 times per week. After 36 d of treatment, blood samples were taken every 12 min for 6 h for hormone analysis. Ewes were euthanized at the end of the study for necropsy and histopathology. No overt signs of toxicity were seen, and body weight was not affected by treatment. Carbofuran caused a significant increase in serum concentrations of thyroxine compared to control ewes, but all other pesticides, except trifluralin, resulted in a marked decrease in thyroxine concentrations. Serum concentrations of cortisol were significantly increased by trifluralin and chlorpyrifos. Concentrations of insulin in serum were markedly increased in ewes given dimethoate, lindane, trifluralin, triallate, and pentachlorophenol, and concentrations of estradiol were also significantly increased in ewes given lindane and trifluralin. Mean serum concentrations of LH were markedly decreased by trifluralin, and basal LH concentrations were significantly decreased by lindane, dimethoate, and trifluralin but increased by triallate. Both pentachlorophenol and triallate caused a significant increase in severity of oviductal intraepithelial cysts in ewes. Data suggest that several currently used pesticides could influence serum concentrations of reproductive and metabolic hormones, particularly thyroxine, the major secretory product of the thyroid and a principal regulator of metabolism.

Ingestion by Men of a Combined Dose of β-Carotene and Lycopene Does Not Affect the Absorption of β-Carotene but Improves That of Lycopene , ,

A double-blind study was conducted in 10 healthy men to investigate serum β-carotene and lycopene responses after ingestion of individual and combined doses of β-carotene (BC) and lycopene. On each dosing day, a baseline blood sample was drawn, followed by an oral dose of 0.11 mmol (60 mg) of either all-trans BC or all-trans lycopene or by a combined oral dose of 0.11 mmol each. Subjects were tested with each of the three doses. The dose type was randomized. Blood (10 mL) was drawn at 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12 and 24 h after dosing. At 2 and 4 wk after the first dose, the protocol was repeated with the other doses. After ingestion of the BC dose, serum BC concentrations significantly decreased from baseline at 1 and 3 h followed by a continuous increase from baseline that was significant at 12 and 24 h (P < 0.01). Serum lycopene concentrations significantly increased from baseline at 5 h after the lycopene dose (P < 0.008) and returned to baseline thereafter. Ingestion of a combined dose of BC and lycopene resulted in a significant increase in serum concentrations of both BC and lycopene at 24 h (P < 0.05). The 24-h area under the curve (AUC) for BC was not different when BC was ingested alone or with lycopene, whereas the 24-h AUC for lycopene was significantly greater when lycopene was ingested with BC than when ingested alone (P < 0.05). Our data suggest that ingestion of a combined dose of BC and lycopene has little effect on the absorption of BC but improves that of lycopene in men.

Changes in CA602 and CA546 concentrations in patients during in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer, and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.

Changes in CA602 and CA546, two carbohydrate-related antigens newly established in our institute, were evaluated during the course of in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. The concentration of CA602, an antigen with characteristics similar to those of CA125, did not change substantially until embryo transfer. In patients with clinical evidence of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), a significant increase in serum concentrations of CA602 was observed 10 days after embryo transfer (P < 0.01). There were no significant changes in the patients without OHSS. A significant elevation of oestradiol concentration in OHSS patients was also observed, with the variation before oocyte retrieval being greater than that seen with CA602. The concentration of CA546, which had lower false-positive rates in benign disease, did not differ significantly in the OHSS and non-OHSS patients. Our data demonstrate that serum concentrations of CA602 are increased even in early stages of OHSS, and suggest a possible role for this antigen as a marker for OHSS.

Effects of androgen therapy on prostatic markers in hemodialyzed patients.

We have prospectively studied the evolution of serum levels of the prostatic-specific antigen and prostatic acid phosphatase in 14 male hemodialyzed patients, receiving a cycle of nandrolone decanoate (200 mg intramuscularly, once a week, for six months) as treatment for anemia. Androgen administration did not produce significant increases in serum concentrations of both tumor markers (basal: 0.9 +/- 0.5 and 0.7 +/- 0.3 ng/ml; at six months: 1.3 +/- 1.1 and 0.8 +/- 0.7 ng/ml respectively). Only one patient had a value of prostatic-specific antigen over the normal range: 4.2 ng/mol at the sixth month period, with a rapid decrease after the withdrawal of androgens. All the remaining values of both markers were within the normal range. In another six patients undergoing a prolonged treatment with androgens (between 9 to 24 months), the serum levels of prostatic-specific antigen and prostatic acid phosphatase were within the normal range in all of them. Nandrolone decanoate administration does not induce increases in prostate tumor markers when it is used as treatment for anemia in hemodialyzed patients.