Glutathion Peroxidase and Nitric Oxide Activities in the Lymphocytes of Patients with Hepatitis C Virus Infection

We searched glutathion peroxidase (GSH-Px), and nitric oxide levels in the lymphocytes of patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. For this purpose we measured intralymphocyte glutathion peroxidase (GSH-Px) and total nitrite levels (nitric oxide metabolites= NO) in 40 patients [10 healthy individuals selected as a control group (group I), 10 patients with acute HCV infection (group II), 10 patients with chronic HCV infection (group III) and 10 patients with chronic HCV infection who were treated with interferon alpha (3 million Ux 3/week) for 6 months (group IV)] in Turgut Özal Medical Center. We found GSH-Px activity to be 548.5 ± 46.96 U/mg, 382.65 ± 42.2 U/mg, 736.01 ± 57.47 U/mg, and 592.03 ± 56.74 U/mg in study groups, respectively. The difference between the groups was statistically significant (p< 0.0001). Total nitrite level in lymphocytes was 25 µmol/dL, 23 µmol/dL, 13µmol/dL, and 23 µmol/dL in study groups, respectively. Nitric oxid levels were similar in groups I, II, and IV; but it was low in untreated patients with chronic HCV infection (group III) (p< 0.0001). In conclusion; intralymphocyte GSH-Px was lower in the patients with acute HCV infection, whereas nitric oxide metabolites were lower in the untreated patients with chronic HCV infection. Both GSH-Px and NO levels were found to be nearly normal, in the patients who received interferon therapy (group IV)

Can serial monitoring of serum Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), Nitric Oxide (NO), and Angiotensin II (ANGII) levels have predictive role during Bevacizumab treatment?

Background: Standard treatment of colorectal cancer includes both cytostatic chemotherapy and targeted therapies. Bevacizumab, targeting the VEGF receptor, is one of the primary targeted therapies that achieve better response rate and survival rate as compared to combination chemotherapy. To the best of our knowledge, there is no established single marker that can be used as a predictive marker in bevacizumab therapy. Material/Methods: We enrolled 24 patients with the diagnosis of metastatic colorectal cancer in our study. During the study, 2 blood samples were drawn from patients before the first cycle and after the sixth cycle of bevacizumab therapy. Serum levels of VEGF, ANG II, and NO were recorded. Results: While the change across VEGF levels was found to be a statistically significant decreasing trend (p=0.009), this decrease was not found to be correlated with treatment response and hypertension development. Additionally, no statistically significant difference was found in terms of NO and ANG II levels. Conclusions: This study showed a significant decrease in serum VEGF, but failed to show a significant change in NO and ANG II levels during bevacizumab treatment. Although no significant correlation was found between the presence of hypertension and markers, most patients (83%) had an increase in their blood pressure. Our results suggest that dynamic monitoring of NO and ANG II, along with VEGF, may not be useful as predictive markers for bevacizumab treatment in colorectal cancer

Plasma fetuin-A levels are reduced in patients with hypothyroidism

Objective: To determine plasma fetuin-A levels in hypothyroid patients before and after treatment with L-thyroxine (T-4) and to determine the relation between plasma fetuin-A levels with cardiovascular risk factors. Design: A prospective, controlled, single-blind study. Methods: Forty-four treatment-naive female patients diagnosed with hypothyroidism and 39 age-and sex-matched control subjects were enrolled. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, plasma TSH, fetuin-A, free T-4, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, C-reactive protein, fibrinogen levels, and brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation were measured. All measurements were repeated after 3 months in the control group and 3 months after the attainment of euthyroidism with (L)-T4 replacement in the hypothyroid group. Baseline data were compared between the two groups. Posttreatment plasma fetuin-A levels of hypothyroid patients were compared with baseline levels of both groups. The relationship between plasma fetuin-A, TSH levels, and other cardiovascular risk factors was evaluated. Results: Plasma fetuin-A levels were similar to 20% lower in hypothyroid female patients compared with the controls (P=0.0001). Fetuin-A levels increased by similar to 20% in hypothyroid patients after achievement of euthyroidism (P=0.0001) and were no longer different compared with controls (P=0.38). There was a negative correlation between plasma TSH and fetuin-A levels (r=-0.79; P=0.001). There was no significant correlation between plasma fetuin-A levels and cardiovascular risk factors within or between groups. The fetuin-A levels were normalized with thyroid hormone treatment. Conclusion: Plasma fetuin-A levels are reduced in female patients with hypothyroidism, which are restored to normal during restoration of euthyroidism. There was no relation with cardiovascular risk factors