Effect of the treatment stage on the serum levels of selected cytokines and antioxidant enzymes in patients with tumors of the reproductive organs

OBJECTIVE: Chronic inflammation along with concomitant oxidative stress contributes to an increased risk of cancer development. The aim of this study was to analyze selected cytokines and antioxidant enzymes in patients with ovarian and endometrial cancers, taking into account the stage of oncological treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study sample included 52 female patients with advanced endometrial cancer (n = 26.50%) and ovarian cancer (n = 26.50%), undergoing chemotherapy. Long-term observation at four time points was used in the subjects. Each of the women was blood sampled several times (before surgery, and then before the first, third, and sixth cycle of chemotherapy) in order to determine serum levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and antioxidant enzymes. RESULTS: The levels of catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), interleukin (IL)-10, IL-1α, IL-4 differed significantly depending on the stage of therapy and the type of cancer. The serum levels of IL-4 and IL-10 in patients with ovarian cancer were statistically significantly higher than those observed in patients with endometrial cancer. The activity of the tested antioxidant enzymes varied depending on the chemotherapy cycle. Their highest activity in most cases was observed before the third cycle of chemotherapy, and it decreased before the sixth cycle, irrespective of the type of cancer. CONCLUSIONS: In the studied group of patients with ovarian and endometrial cancer, the applied chemotherapy significantly changed the concentration and activity of some interleukins and antioxidant enzymes. The type of tumor determined the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 before the treatment. Evaluation of inflammatory parameters and oxidative stress in women with cancer of the reproductive organ may help to understand physiological changes resulting from the applied therapy

Diagnostic markers of insulin resistance to discriminate between prediabetes and diabetes in menopausal women

OBJECTIVE: Menopause is an important transition period in a woman’s reproductive life during which hormonal changes occur, resulting in an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. In this study, we assessed the possibility of using surrogate measures of insulin resistance (IR) to predict the risk of insulin resistance in perimenopausal women. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study involved 252 perimenopausal women living in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship. The methods employed in this study were diagnostic survey based on the original questionnaire, anthropometric measurement, and laboratory tests performed to determine the levels of selected biochemical parameters. RESULTS: In the entire study population, the highest area under the curve was found for the homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI). Triglyceride-glucose index (TyG index) showed a higher diagnostic value as a distinction tool between prediabetes and diabetes in perimenopausal women than the other markers. HOMA-IR significantly positively correlated with fasting blood glucose (r = 0.72; p = 0.001), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C, r = 0.74; p = 0.001), triglycerides (TG, r = 0.18; p < 0.005), and systolic blood pressure (SBP, r = 0.15; p= 0.021), and negatively with high-density lipoprotein (HDL, r = -0.28; p = 0.001). QUICKI negatively correlated with fasting blood (r = -0.051; p = 0.001), HbA1C (r = -0.51; p = 0.001), TG (r = -0.25; p = 0.001), low-density lipoprotein (LDL, r = -0.13; p= 0.045), and SBP (r = -0.16; p = 0.011), and positively with HDL (r = 0.39; p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Anthropometric and cardiometabolic parameters were found to significantly correlate with IR markers. HOMA-beta, the McAuley index (McA), visceral adiposity index (VAI), and lipid accumulation product (LAP) may be useful as predictors of pre-diabetes and diabetes in postmenopausal women

The severity of depressive and anxiety symptoms in postmenopausal women depending on their Magnesium, Zinc, Selenium and Copper levels

Women, especially in the peri- and postmenopausal periods, undergo many organic and functional changes. Fluctuation and ultimately a decline in the levels of female reproductive hormones is a long-lasting process, potentially leading to regulatory disorders of the autonomic nervous system. In consequence, postmenopausal women experience depressive mood disorders and more severe anxiety symptoms. The aim of this study was to assess the severity of anxiety and depressive symptoms in postmenopausal women in connection with the serum levels of zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg), selenium (Se), and copper (Cu). The study involved 102 healthy postmenopausal women. It was divided into two parts: the first part was based on a survey performed using standardized research instruments and a questionnaire developed by the authors. The second part involved a biochemical serum analysis, whose aim was to determine the levels of selected elements. The mean level of anxiety as a state was 4.53±1.79, and the mean level of anxiety as a trait was 3.86±2.03. The mean level of depression according to the Beck Depression Inventory was 6.77±6.82. As many as 77.5% of the women had no depressive symptoms. The mean serum levels of the studied elements were as follows: magnesium (19.41±02.81 mg dm-3), zinc (0.94±0.22 mg dm-3), selenium (0.06±0.03 mg dm-3), and copper (0.40±0.57 mg dm-3). No relationship was demonstrated between the levels of selected elements and the development of depressive and anxiety disorders in the studied postmenopausal women

Searching for the relationship between the parameters of metabolic syndrome and the rs17782313 (T&gt;C) polymorphism of the MC4R gene in postmenopausal women

Jacek Brodowski,1 Małgorzata Szkup,2 Anna Jurczak,2 Sylwia Wieder-Huszla,2 Agnieszka Brodowska,3 Maria Laszczyńska,4 Beata Karakiewicz,5 Katarzyna Kęcka,1 Elżbieta Grochans2 1Primary Care Department, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 2Department of Nursing, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 3Clinic of Gynecology, Endocrinology, and Gynecologic Oncology, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 4Department of Histology and Developmental Biology, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 5Public Health Department, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Żołnierska, Szczecin, Poland Abstract: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is widespread in the human population, and its incidence is continuously increasing, generating serious health problems. The purpose of this study was to find the relationship between the parameters of MS and the melanocortin type 4 receptor (MC4R) gene polymorphism in postmenopausal women. The study involved 344 healthy Polish women, who had their last menstrual cycle 1 year ago or earlier. The study included blood analysis, survey, and body measurements. The mean age was 58.5&plusmn;6.6 years. An increased body mass index was observed in 65.7% and abdominal obesity in 80.3% of the study population. MS was diagnosed in 40.7% of all participants, including 39.3% of women with the T/T genotype and 44.7% of those with the C/X genotype (&chi;2 test; P&gt;0.05). A logistic regression model showed that the probability of MS was higher in patients with the C/X genotype (odds ratio =1.25) (&chi;2 test; P&gt;0.05). The study concluded that MS is a very common condition among postmenopausal women. The C/X genotype of the MC4R gene seems to predispose postmenopausal women to developing some MS symptoms. Keywords: melanocortin type 4 receptor (MC4R), postmenopausal women, metabolic syndrom

Effect of menopausal hormone therapy on the levels of magnesium, zinc, lead and cadmium in post-menopausal women

Introduction and objective: The level of trace elements is extremely important for the maintenance of normal functioning of the human body. The risk of disturbance of their balance increases especially dynamically during the period of menopause. The objective of the study was the effect of MHT on the levels of bioelements (Mg and Zn) in blood plasma, and toxic metals (Pb and Cd) in the whole blood in postmenopausal women. Materials and methods: The study covered 323 women at postmenopausal age from the population of the West Pomeranian Region, in whom the levels of Mg, Zn, Pb and Cd were determined. The women were divided into two groups: study and control. The study group were 152 women who used menopausal hormone therapy (MHT). The control group were 171 women who did not use MHT, and had had their final menstrual period at least one year prior to inclusion in the study. The mean age of the women examined was 56±5. Results: Significantly higher levels of the bioelements Mg, Zn were observed in women who used MHT, compared to the control group (p<0.05). The concentration of Pb in whole blood was significantly lower in the study than the control group: 16.09±7.33 μg/l and 20.18±9.01 μg/l, respectively. An elevated level of Cd in whole blood was found in both groups of women: 0.9±1.03 μg/l and 0.8±1.1 μg/l, respectively. It was noted that women who used MHT more frequently declared the presence of climacteric symptoms (p<0.05). Conclusions: 1) Higher levels of Mg and Zn were found in blood plasma of women who used MHT. 2) The mean concentration of Cd in the blood of women in both groups was similar. 3) In women who use MHT the level of Pb in whole blood was lower, compared to the rest of the women