DEVELOPMENT OF CERVICAL INTRAEPITHELIAL NEOPLASIA AND INVASIVE CERVICAL CANCER DUE TO OXIDATIVE STRESS

Background: Cervical cancer (CC) ranks third among all malignant diseases of the female reproductive system. CC arises through a series of pathological changes called cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Timely diagnosis and treatment of CIN are essential in the prevention of CC. Oxidative stress (OS) presents a major risk factor in the pathogenesis of both CC and CIN. This study aimed to determine the association between OS and the pathohistological severity of cervical lesions. Materials and Methods: The research was conducted at the Clinical Center of the University of Sarajevo on 240 female respondents divided into two groups. The experimental group consisted of 200 women with changes consistent with CIN, carcinoma in situ (CIS), and CC determined by biopsy, divided into 5 subgroups (CIN 1, CIN 2, CIN 3, CIS, and CC) with 40 respondents per group. The control group (N=40) had biopsy findings that were non-pathological. The concentration of acid thiobarbituric reactive substances (TBARS) was determined for all subjects from bioptic samples using the spectrophotometric method and according to standard laboratory practice. Results: Our results showed a significant difference in age between patients with CIN 1, CIN 2, and CIN 3 and the control group as well as when compared to patients with CC. The oldest group comprised patients with CC. Tissue TBARS levels in the CIS group were significantly higher than that of the control group (p<0.001), CIN 1 group (p<0.001), CIN 2 group (p<0.001), CIN 3 group (p=0.033), as well as CC group (p=0.002). Likewise, tissue TBARS levels in the CIN 3 group were significantly higher than those of the control group (p=0.023), and CIN 1 group (p=0.024). Conclusion: Compared to healthy controls, patients with CIN and CC have increased oxidative stress. Tissue TBARS levels represent a significant differentiation marker of the clinical stage of the disease and can be a useful diagnostic tool influencing the selection of therapeutic procedures

Correlation between serum concentrations of homocysteine, folate and vitamin B12 in patients with schizophrenia

Introduction: The role of hyperhomocysteinemia in psychotic disorder can be explained by partial antagonism of homocysteine on NMDA-glycine receptor. Plasma concentration of homocysteine is an indicatorof the status of the B-vitamins (folate, B12, B6). Folate deficiency may have different effects on the neurochemical processes of schizophrenia. This suggests that the association between elevated levels of homocysteine and schizophrenia is biologically very likely.Methods: The study was consisted of 20 patients with schizophrenia and 20 healthy controls. We investigated the levels of serum homocysteine concentration using AxSYM (Abbott), levels of folate assay istwo-step immunoassay to determine the presence folate in human serum using CMIA (chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay) technology and Axsym Holo Tc is microparticle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA)for the quantitative determination of human holo TC in serum and determination defi cit of vitamin B 12.Results: The patients group has higher levels of homocysteine in compare with controls group for 3.85 μmol/L while the concentration of folate in the group of patients was lower for 9.17 ng/mL. The mean level of vitamin B-12 in investigation groups were in reference range 19.1-119 pmol/L, but patient group have lower average concentration of vitamin B-12 lower for 24.81 pmol/L compared to the control group.Conclusion: Our results showed that homocysteine concentration is inversely proportionate to folate concentration,i.e. as homocysteine concentration in serum increases, folate concentration falls. Shizophrenicpatients with elevated tHcy level and low folate levels should have vitamin supplementation with folic acid

Comparison of the performance of three cancer antigen (CA) 15-3 immunoassays

Introduction: In the present study we investigated the performance, precision, and recovery of three different automated methods in determining cancer antigen (CA) 15-3 levels. Methods: Serum samples were obtained from 60 hospitalized female patients. As controls, commercially available samples were used. Cancer antigen (CA) 15-3 levels were measured using ARCHITECT CA 15-3, Elecsys® CA 15-3, and Vitros CA 15-3 immunoassays. A comparison of the results between the three methods was conducted, and the precision and recovery were analyzed. Results: Coefficient of variations (CVs), determined with low- and high-level-CA 15-3 control samples, and reproducibility values were: 2.56-2.80% and 3.10-4. 20% for ARCHITECT i2000SR immunoassay analyzer; 3.50-5.55% and 4.88-6.47% for Cobas E 601 analyzer; 3.30-4.0% and 4.30-4.80% for VITROS 5600 Integrated System, respectively. The percent recoveries were 95-98% for Elecsys® CA 15-3 assay, 93-105% for Vitros CA 15-3 assay, and 92-95% for ARCHITECT CA 15-3 assay. Method comparison results demonstrated correlation coefficient (r) in range from 0.994 to 1. The average CA 15-3 concentrations measured by Vitros, ARCHITECT, and Elecsys® were 157.24 +/- 329.75 U/mL, 100.91 +/-213.75 U/mL, and 80.93 +/- 173.29 U/mL, respectively. Conclusions: Tumor marker CA 15-3 in individual patients should be monitored using the same immunoassay method, reagents, and analyzer. Different immunoassays tested on different analyzers, often show large discrepancies in reported values for individual patients. Different immunoassay technologies quantify analytes of clinical interest using monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies. Thus, the usage of antibodies with different specificities could explain the differences in CA 15-3 serum values between different methods

Correlation between serum concentrations of homocysteine, folate and vitamin B12 in patients with schizophrenia

Introduction: The role of hyperhomocysteinemia in psychotic disorder can be explained by partial antagonism of homocysteine on NMDA-glycine receptor. Plasma concentration of homocysteine is an indicator of the status of the B-vitamins (folate, B12, B6). Folate deficiency may have different effects on the neurochemical processes of schizophrenia. This suggests that the association between elevated levels of homocysteine and schizophrenia is biologically very likely. Methods: The study was consisted of 20 patients with schizophrenia and 20 healthy controls. We investigated the levels of serum homocysteine concentration using AxSYM (Abbott), levels of folate assay is two-step immunoassay to determine the presence folate in human serum using CMIA (chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay) technology and Axsym Holo Tc is microparticle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA) for the quantitative determination of human holo TC in serum and determination defi cit of vitamin B 12. Results: The patients group has higher levels of homocysteine in compare with controls group for 3.85 μmol/L while the concentration of folate in the group of patients was lower for 9.17 ng/mL. The mean level of vitamin B-12 in investigation groups were in reference range 19.1-119 pmol/L, but patient group have lower average concentration of vitamin B-12 lower for 24.81 pmol/L compared to the control group. Conclusion: Our results showed that homocysteine concentration is inversely proportionate to folate concentration,i.e. as homocysteine concentration in serum increases, folate concentration falls. Shizophrenic patients with elevated tHcy level and low folate levels should have vitamin supplementation with folic acid

Perceived stress and hair cortisol: Differences in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia

Introduction: Bipolar disorder (BD) and schizophrenia (SCZ) are psychiatric disorders with shared and distinct clinical and genetic features. In both disorders, stress increases the risk for onset or relapse and dysregulation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis has been reported. The latter is frequently investigated by measuring changes in the hormonal end product of the HPA axis, i.e., the glucocorticoid cortisol, whose concentration exhibits diurnal variation. The analysis of hair cortisol concentration (HCC) is a new method, which allows assessment of cumulative cortisol secretion over the preceding three months. Aims: To explore whether perceived stress and HCC: (i) differ between BD patients, SCZ patients, and controls; (ii) change over disease course; and iii) are associated with an increased genetic risk for BD or SCZ. Methods: 159 SCZ patients, 61 BD patients and 82 controls were included. Assessment included psychopathology, perceived stress, and HCC. Inpatients with an acute episode (38 BD and 77 SCZ) were assessed shortly after admission to hospital and at 3 and 6 months follow-up. Outpatients in remission and controls were assessed at one time point only. Polygenic risk scores for BD and SCZ were calculated based on results of the Psychiatric Genomic Consortium. Results: (i) Perceived stress was higher in BD and SCZ patients compared to controls (p < 0.02), and was lower in outpatients in remission compared to inpatients on admission. HCC was higher in BD patients compared to SCZ patients and controls (p < 0.02), and higher in inpatients on admission than in outpatients in remission (p = 0.0012). In BD patients (r = 0.29; p = 0.033) and SCZ patients (r = 0.20; p = 0.024) manic symptoms were correlated with HCC. (ii) In both BD and SCZ inpatients, perceived stress decreased over the 6 month study period (p = 0.048), while HCC did not change significantly over the 6 month study period. (iii) In controls, but not in the patient groups, the genetic risk score for BD was associated with HCC (r = 0.28, p = 0.023). Conclusions: While our results are consistent with previous reports of increased perceived stress in BD and SCZ, they suggest differential involvement of the HPA axis in the two disorders. The genetic study supports this latter finding, and suggests that this effect is present below the threshold of manifest disorder. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved