The clinical significance of serum oxidative stress biomarkers in breast cancer females

Background: This study was conducted to evaluate the role of some serum oxidative stress biomarkers for breast cancer diagnosis, incidence and monitoring the effects of surgery and chemotherapy. Methods: A total of 35 breast cancer patients (before surgery, after two weeks of surgery and after 6 cy­cles of chemotherapy) and 35 normal healthy controls were analyzed for serum oxidative stress markers including total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), total, reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) glutathione and glutathione redox status (GSH/GSSG). Results: The serum levels of MDA and GSSG were significantly higher in breast cancer patients than controls. The serum levels of GSH, TAC and GSH/GSSG ratio were significantly lower in breast cancer patients than controls. After surgery, the serum levels of MDA and GSSG were significantly decreased, while the serum levels of GSH were significantly increased, compared with their levels before surgery. Six cycles of chemotherapy showed the non-significant effect on the serum levels of the assayed biomarkers. ROC curve analysis demonstrated that MDA and GSH were superior to the GSH/GSSG ratio, TAC and GSSG. Increased levels of MDA and GSSG and reduced levels of GSH, TAC and GSH/GSSG ratio were found to significantly increase the risk of breast cancer. Conclusions: All of the assayed biomarkers can be used for prediction of breast cancer with MDA and GSH being superior to the others. MDA, GSH and GSSG were able to monitor the effect of surgery. All of the assayed biomarkers were found to be associated with breast cancer risk. None of the assayed biomarkers was able to predict the effect of chemotherapy

THE ROLE OF SOME OBESITY-RELATED BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS IN THE INCIDENCE, DIAGNOSIS, AND PROGNOSIS OF POSTMENOPAUSAL BREAST CANCER

Aim: To figure out the association of insulin resistance, serum resistin, insulin, SHBG, and free estradiol with the etiology, diagnosis, and the prognosis of postmenopausal breast cancer. Subjects and Methods: Serum levels of resistin, insulin, SHBG, free E2, glucose, and albumin were assayed in a case-control study of 40 obese postmenopausal breast cancer females and 40 apparently healthy obese postmenopausal controls. Results: Serum levels of resistin, insulin, and free E2 were significantly elevated in breast cancer patients (9.89±0.49, 23.68±2.95 and 9.34±3.02, respectively) compared with controls (8.24±0.63, 13.55±1.31 and 1.01±0.23, respectively). Insulin resistance (IR) was significantly greater in breast cancer patients (7.33±0.95) than controls (3.46±0.37). However, serum SHBG levels were significantly declined in breast cancer patients (42.93± 2.52) compared with controls (64.2±4.89). Serum free E2 had the greatest significant area under the ROC curve, followed by insulin resistance, insulin, SHBG, and resistin. The odds ratio of serum resistin was 4.33 (95% CI=1.69 – 11.06, P=0.002), insulin was 3.66 (95% CI=1.41 – 9.46, P=0.006), insulin resistance was 3.56 (95% CI=1.39 – 9.08, P=0.007), SHBG was 0.25 (95% CI=0.092-0.67, P=0.005), and free E2 was 5.21(95% CI=1.86 –14.52, P=0.002) in breast cancer patients. CONCLUSIONS: From this study, it could be concluded that although insulin resistance, serum resistin, insulin, SHBG, and free E2 may have a role in the incidence and diagnosis of obese postmenopausal breast cancer females, these biochemical parameters cannot be used for the prognosis of these patients. Serum free E2 was the most superior diagnostic marker followed by insulin resistance, insulin, SHBG, and resistin

Regional and experiential differences in surgeon preference for the treatment of cervical facet injuries: a case study survey with the AO Spine Cervical Classification Validation Group

Purpose: The management of cervical facet dislocation injuries remains controversial. The main purpose of this investigation was to identify whether a surgeon’s geographic location or years in practice influences their preferred management of traumatic cervical facet dislocation injuries. Methods: A survey was sent to 272 AO Spine members across all geographic regions and with a variety of practice experience. The survey included clinical case scenarios of cervical facet dislocation injuries and asked responders to select preferences among various diagnostic and management options. Results: A total of 189 complete responses were received. Over 50% of responding surgeons in each region elected to initiate management of cervical facet dislocation injuries with an MRI, with 6 case exceptions. Overall, there was considerable agreement between American and European responders regarding management of these injuries, with only 3 cases exhibiting a significant difference. Additionally, results also exhibited considerable management agreement between those with ≤ 10 and > 10 years of practice experience, with only 2 case exceptions noted. Conclusion: More than half of responders, regardless of geographical location or practice experience, identified MRI as a screening imaging modality when managing cervical facet dislocation injuries, regardless of the status of the spinal cord and prior to any additional intervention. Additionally, a majority of surgeons would elect an anterior approach for the surgical management of these injuries. The study found overall agreement in management preferences of cervical facet dislocation injuries around the globe

Stability-indicating HPLCâDAD methods for determination of two binary mixtures: Rabeprazole sodiumâmosapride citrate and rabeprazole sodiumâitopride hydrochloride

Two selective stability-indicating HPLC methods are described for determination of rabeprazole sodium (RZ)âmosapride citrate (MR) and RZâitopride hydrochloride (IO) mixtures in the presence of their ICH-stress formed degradation products. Separations were achieved on X-Bridge C18 column using two mobile phases: the first for RZâMR mixture consisted of acetonitrile: 0.025 M KH2PO4 solution: TEA (30:69:1 v/v; pH 7.0); the second for RZâIO mixture was at ratio of 25:74:1 (v/v; pH 9.25). The detection wavelength was 283 nm. The two methods were validated and validation acceptance criteria were met in all cases. Peak purity testing using contrast angle theory, relative absorbance and log A versus the wavelengths plots were presented. The % recoveries of the intact drugs were between 99.1% and 102.2% with RSD% values less than 1.6%. Application of the proposed HPLC methods indicated that the methods could be adopted to follow the stability of their formulations. Keywords: Rabeprazole sodium, Mosapride citrate, Itopride hydrochloride, Stability-indicating HPLCâDAD, Peak purit

Study of plasma levels of soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 in rheumatoid arthritis and its correlation with disease activity and tumor necrosis factor-α

Aim of the work The triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (TREM-1) is a cell surface receptor expressed mainly on monocytes and neutrophils. It acts as an amplifier of inflammatory response in acute and chronic inflammatory states. The aim of this work was to study the plasma-soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and its correlation with disease activity and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Patients and methods This study included 80 patients with RA and 20 age-matched and sex-matched controls. All were subjected to demographic, clinical, laboratory, and radiological studies using the 28-joint Disease Activity Score, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, complete blood count, and radiograph of both hands. Plasma levels of sTREM-1 and TNF-α were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results RA patients had significantly higher sTREM-1 and TNF-a levels compared with controls (206.32±125.75 and 17.83±11.88; P<0.001) and (190.82±69.46 and 54.75±9.46; P<0.001). In RA patients, sTREM-1 levels were found to be positively correlated with 28-joint Disease Activity Score, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and TNF-a level (r=0.408, P=0.001; r=0.287, P=0.010; r=0.749, P=0.001). sTREM-1 level was significantly increasing as patients had increasing disease activity (F-test=20.62; P=0.001). Conclusion RA patients had higher sTREM-1 and TNF-a level compared with controls, and sTREM-1 level was correlated with disease activity, suggesting that sTREM-1 plays a role in the inflammatory process associated with TNF-a, and it may be a useful disease activity marker in RA. TREM-1 may be a safe therapeutic strategy for RA, as blocking TREM-1 signaling was found to suppress inflammatory responses without affecting the immune system to fight bacterial infection

The Diagnostic, Prognostic and Follow-up Value of Serum Bcl-2, Bax and p53 Proteins in Breast Cancer Patients: A Comparison with Serum CA 15-3

Background: Biomarkers accepted for clinical use in breast cancer have low sensitivity and specificity. Thus, there is a need for new markers to assist in the diagnosis, prognosis and follow-up of breast cancer patients. This study aims to investigate the diagnostic, prognostic and follow-up role of serum Bcl-2, Bax and p53 proteins in breast cancer patients in comparison with those of serum CA 15-3 as the most commonly used breast cancer marker.Methods: We analyzed 50 breast cancer patients (before surgery, after one month of surgery and after six cycles of chemotherapy) and 50 normal healthy controls for serum Bcl-2, Bax, p53 and CA 15-3 levels.Results: Mean serum Bcl-2 and CA 15-3 levels significantly increased, whereas the mean serum p53 level significantly declined in breast cancer patients compared to normal healthy controls. Using the ROC curve analysis, serum p53 had the greatest area under the curve (85.6%). Serum Bcl-2 levels significantly decreased after six cyclesof chemotherapy compared with its level one month after surgery. Preoperative serum levels of Bcl-2, Bax, p53 and CA 15-3 were non-significantly correlated with patient's disease-free survival.Conclusion: Serum p53 was superior to Bcl-2 and CA 15-3 in the diagnosis of breast cancer patients. Only Bcl-2 could be used for monitoring the effect of chemotherapy on breast cancer patients. None of the assayed biomarkers had a role in monitoring the effect of surgery on breast cancer patients. None of the assayed biomarkers had a prognostic role for breast cancer patients