Oxidative stress in schizophrenia

Increasing evidence indicates that oxidative damage exists in schizophrenia. Available literature about possible mechanisms of oxidative stress induction was reviewed. Furthermore, possibilities of measuring biomarkers of schizophrenia outside the central nervous system compartment, their specificity for different types of schizophrenia and potential therapeutic strategies to prevent oxidative injuries in schizophrenia were discussed. Data were extracted from published literature found in Medline, Embase, Biosis, Cochrane and Web of Science, together with hand search of references. Search terms were: schizophrenia, oxidative stress, antipsychotics, antioxidants and fatty acids. Finding a sensitive, specific and non invasive biomarker of schizophrenia, which could be measured in peripheral tissue, still stays an important task. Antioxidant enzymes, markers of lipid peroxidation, oxidatively modified proteins and DNA are most commonly used. As it considers the supplemental therapy, according to our meta-analysis vitamin E could potentially improve tardive dyskinesia, while for the effect of therapy with polyunsaturated fatty acids there is no clear evidence. Oxidative stress is a part of the pathology in schizophrenia and appears as a promising field to develop new therapeutic strategies. There is a need for well designed, placebo controlled trials with supplementation therapy in schizophrenia.

Serum N-Terminal Propeptide of Collagen Type I is Associated with the Number of Bone Metastases in Breast and Prostate Cancer and Correlates to Other Bone Related Markers

Background

A number of biomarkers have been proven potentially useful for their ability to indicate bone metastases (BM) in cancer patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the relative utility of a newly developed N-terminal propeptide of collagen type I (PINP) human serum assay for the detection of BM in cancer patients. This assay has a corresponding rat PINP assay which in the future might help in translational science between rodent and human trials.

Methods

Participants were 161 prostate, lung and breast cancer patients stratified by number of BM (Soloway score). PINP was assessed and correlated to number of BM. Additionally, the PINP marker was correlated to bone resorption of young (ALPHA CTX-I)- and aged bone (BETA CTX-I); number of osteoclasts (Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b, TRACP5B) and osteoclast activity (CTX-I/ TRACP5B).

Results

PINP was significantly elevated in breast- and prostate cancer patients +BM, compared to −BM (P < 0.001), however not in lung cancer patients. A strong linear association was seen between PINP and the number of BMs. Significant elevation of PINP was observed at Soloway scores 1–4 (<0 BM) compared with score 0 (0 BM) (P < 0.001). The correlation between bone resorption of young bone or aged bone and bone formation was highly significant in patients +BM and −BM (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Data suggest that the present PINP potentially could determine skeletal involvement in patients with breast or prostate cancer. Correlations suggested that coupling between bone resorption and bone formation was maintained in breast- and prostate cancer patients.

A comparison of strontium ranelate and PTH(1-84)

Evaluation of: Quesada-Gómez JM, Muschitz C, Gómez-Reino J, Greisen H, Andersen HS, Dimai HP. The effect of PTH(1-84) or strontium ranelate on bone formation markers in postmenopausal women with primary osteoporosis: result of a randomized, open-label trial. Osteoporosis Int. DOI: 10.1007/s00198-010-1460-6 (2010) (Epub ahead of print). A recent article compared parathyroid hormone (PTH[1-84]) and strontium ranelate with respect to their effects on bone formation and bone resorption markers, a study performed with the aim of shedding light on the potential differences in the mode of action of these two compounds. This study found that PTH(1-84) induces robust inductions of both the bone formation markers N-terminal propeptide of type I collagen and alkaline phosphatase, and the resorption marker c-terminal crosslinked telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I), data that correlate well with previous publications. However, for strontium ranelate, no induction of markers was observed. Furthermore, although the data were not significant, serum calcium levels in the two treatment groups exhibited opposing trends, with PTH(1-84) increasing these as expected and with strontium ranelate decreasing them. These data indicate that strontium ranelate utilizes another mode of action to the induction of turnover seen with PTH(1-84). Finally, a trend towards improved quality of life was seen with PTH(1-84), while strontium ranelate did not change these parameters. This article is a useful addition to the ongoing debate on how best to possibly treat osteoporosis.

Predictive value of high sensitivity C-reactive protein in the diagnosis and outcomes of acute aortic syndromes

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to determine whether high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels differ among patients with acute aortic syndromes (AAS) and if hsCRP could predict their long-term outcomes.

DESIGN

Retrospective observational study.

SETTING

Cleveland Clinic Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio.

PATIENTS

115 consecutive patients with AAS admitted to the cardiac intensive care unit.

INTERVENTIONS

HsCRP and other laboratory data were measured within 24 h of admission. Demographic, imaging and laboratory data were obtained at the time of presentation. For the long-term survival analysis, the social security death index was used to determine all-cause mortality.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

HsCRP levels among AAS patients.

RESULTS

Hospital mortality was 4.3% for AAS patients. HsCRP levels differed significantly among AAS; the median hsCRP was higher in the aortic dissection group (49 mg/l) than in those with penetrating aortic ulcer (28 mg/l), symptomatic aortic aneurysm (14 mg/l), and intramural haematoma (10 mg/l); (p=0.02). In multivariable analysis, aortic dissection patients had higher hsCRP levels than intramural haematoma (p=0.03) and symptomatic aortic aneurysm (p=0.04) patients, after adjusting for age and gender. Multivariable Cox regression analyses showed that elevated hsCRP levels at presentation were associated with a higher long-term mortality (p=0.007).

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients with AAS, those with aortic dissection have the highest hsCRP levels at presentation. Elevated hsCRP independently predicted a higher long-term mortality in AAS patients.

The science and practice of bone health in oncology: managing bone loss and metastasis in patients with solid tumors

Cancer and its treatment can compromise bone health, leading to fracture, pain, loss of mobility, and hypercalcemia of malignancy. Bone metastasis occurs frequently in advanced prostate and breast cancers, and bony manifestations are commonplace in multiple myeloma. Osteoporosis and osteopenia may be consequences of androgen-deprivation therapy for prostate cancer, aromatase inhibition for breast cancer, or chemotherapy-induced ovarian failure. Osteoporotic bone loss and bone metastasis ultimately share a pathophysiologic pathway that stimulates bone resorption by increasing the formation and activity of osteoclasts. Important mediators of pathologic bone metabolism include substances produced by osteoblasts, such as RANKL, the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand, which spurs osteoclast differentiation from myeloid cells. Available therapies are targeted to various steps in cascade of bone metastasis.

Effects of PTH and alendronate on type I collagen isomerization in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis: the PaTH study

Fracture efficacy of PTH and alendronate (ALN) is only partly explained by changes in BMD, and bone collagen properties have been suggested to play a role. We analyzed the effects of PTH(1-84) and ALN on urinary alphaalpha/betabeta CTX ratio, a marker of type I collagen isomerization and maturation in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. In the first year of the previously published PaTH study, postmenopausal women with osteoporosis were assigned to PTH(1-84) (100 microg/d; n = 119), ALN (10 mg/d; n = 60), or PTH and ALN together (n = 59). We analyzed patients on ALN alone (n = 60) and a similar number of patients assigned to PTH alone (n = 63). During the second year, women on PTH in the first year were reallocated to placebo (n = 31) or ALN (n = 32) and women with ALN continued on ALN. During the first year, there was no significant change in alphaalpha/betabeta CTX ratio with PTH or ALN. At 24 mo, there was a marked increase of the alphaalpha/betabeta CTX ratio in women who had received PTH during the first year, followed by a second year of placebo (median: +45.5, p < 0.001) or ALN (+55.2%, p < 0.001). Conversely, the alphaalpha/betabeta CTX ratio only slightly increased (+16%, p < 0.05) after 2 yr of continued ALN. In conclusion, treatment with PTH(1-84) for 1 yr followed by 1 yr of placebo or ALN may be associated with decreased type I collagen isomerization. The influence of these biochemical changes of type I collagen on bone fracture resistance remains to be studied.

Adverse effects of pesticides residues on biochemical markers in pakistani tobacco farmers

Tobacco is an important cash crop of Pakistan and tremendous amount of irrational pesticides are being used to control insect growth. The frequency of plasma pesticide residues above acceptable daily intake (ADI) and its correlation with biochemical markers for assessment of adverse health effects in the tobacco farmers at district Sawabi, Pakistan was determined. Total 109 adult males consisting of 55 tobacco farmers exposed to pesticides and 54 controls were included. Pesticides residues in blood were analyzed on HPLC and GC-NPD. Plasma butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) was analyzed by Ellman's method. Biochemical markers including serum calcium, phosphorus, urea, creatinine, bilirubin and liver enzymes were measured on Selectra-E auto analyzer. The tobacco farmers had multiple pesticides residues above ADI in their blood consisting of 35 (63%) methomyl; 31 (56%) thiodicarb; 34(62%) cypermethrin; 27 (49%) Imidacloprid; 18 (32%) Methamidophos and 15 (27%) endosulfan. BChE activity was significantly decreased in the pesticides exposed farmers as compared to controls (P<0.001). Plasma biochemical markers including ALT, AST, CK, LDH and phosphate were significantly raised in the pesticides exposed farmers as compared to control group (P<0.001). Total pesticides residues revealed a significant positive correlation with AST (r=0.42), LDH(r= 0.47), ALT (r=0.20) and phosphorus (r=0.51). Excessive exposure to pesticide caused cytotoxic changes in the hepatic and renal biochemical markers which were positively correlated with pesticide residue. Hence these biomarkers might be used in addition to BChE activity for monitoring of adverse effects of pesticides on the health of farm workers.

Biochemical markers of acute pancreatitis

Serum amylase remains the most commonly used biochemical marker for the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis, but its sensitivity can be reduced by late presentation, hypertriglyceridaemia, and chronic alcoholism. Urinary trypsinogen-2 is convenient, of comparable diagnostic accuracy, and provides greater (99%) negative predictive value. Early prediction of the severity of acute pancreatitis can be made by well validated scoring systems at 48 hours, but the novel serum markers procalcitonin and interleukin 6 allow earlier prediction (12 to 24 hours after admission). Serum alanine transaminase >150 IU/l and jaundice suggest a gallstone aetiology, requiring endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. For obscure aetiologies, serum calcium and triglycerides should be measured. Genetic polymorphisms may play an important role in "idiopathic" acute recurrent pancreatitis.

Serum concentrations of two biochemical markers of brain tissue damage S-100B and neurone specific enolase are increased in elite female soccer players after a competitive game

BACKGROUND

It is a matter of debate whether or not ordinary heading of the ball in soccer causes injury to brain tissue.

OBJECTIVE

To analyse concentrations of the biochemical markers of brain tissue damage S-100B and neurone specific enolase (NSE) in serum of female elite soccer players in association with a competitive game.

METHODS

Venous blood samples were obtained from 44 female soccer players before and after a competitive game for analysis. The number of headers and trauma events (falls, collisions, etc) was assessed from videotape recordings for each player.

RESULTS

Concentrations of both brain damage markers were increased after the game (S-100B, 0.18 (0.11) v 0.11 (0.05) microg/l (p = 0.000); NSE, 10.14 (1.74) v 9.05 (1.59) microg/l (p = 0.001)). There was a significant correlation between changes in S-100B concentrations and both the number of headers (r = 0.430, p = 0.004) and the number of other trauma events (r = 0.517, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The concentrations of both S-100B and NSE were increased by game associated activities and events. The increases in S-100B concentration were significantly related to the number of headers and other trauma events, which indicates that both these factors may have contributed to these increases.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers for Alzheimer's Disease: Their Role in Clinical Chemistry

In view of current (AChE inhibitors) and future (e.g. anti-Aβ aggregators), development and evaluation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease (AD) has become a rapidly growing research field. Diagnostic biomarkers for AD would be especially valuable as aids in the diagnosis early in the course of the disease, when correct diagnosis is difficult, and when therapeutic compounds have the greatest potential of being effective. This paper reviews CSF biomarkers for AD, with emphasis on their role in the clinical diagnosis, and methodological aspects of importance for developing such analyses. Today, two biochemical markers, CSF-tau and CSF-Aβ42, perform satisfactory enough to have a role in the clinical workup of patients dementia, if used together with the cumulative information from clinical information and brain-imaging techniques. These markers are especially useful to discriminate early or incipient AD from age-associated memory impairment, depression, and some secondary dementias.

Objective Diagnosis of Chronic Alcohol Abuse - Determination of Carbohydrate-Deficient Transferrin (CDT) with Capillary Electrophoresis

To assist the diagnosis of high risk alcohol consumption or alcohol dependence, particularly in the absence of evidences of recent alcohol intake (relapse), objective biochemical markers are today available, which, if used correctly, may reduce the degree of subjectivity that the adoption of merely clinical and psychological diagnostic criteria shows inevitably. The present paper reviews briefly in terms of diagnostic sensitivity and specificity the most important conventional markers of chronic alcohol abuse - e.g., γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT), erythrocyte mean corpuscular volume (MCV), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) - as well as those more recently proposed, namely aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), high density lipoprotein cholesterol, serum triglycerides, urate, fatty acid ethyl and methyl esters, phosphatidylethanol, dolichols, β-hexosaminidase and protein acetaldehyde adducts. However, the specific focus of this review is on carbohydratedeficient transferrin (CDT), the collective name of a group of transferrin isoforms lacking totally or partly the oligosaccharide chains usually linked at two glycosylation sites in the C domain of the protein. CDT, at present, is considered the most reliable marker of excessive alcohol intake for at least a week, and has a chronological diagnostic window of about two weeks before sample collection. CDT is reviewed in terms of diagnostic value, applications and, particularly, in the different analytical approaches, with special emphasis on capillary electrophoresis, the latest method proposed for its quantitative determination.

Sperm creatine kinase activity in normospermic and oligozospermic Hungarian men

PURPOSE

Our purpose was to measure sperm creatine phosphokinase (CK) activity, which reflects cytoplasmic retention in immature spermatozoa, in normospermic and oligozospermic Hungarian men.

METHODS

A study of 109 randomly selected men in a university-based andrology laboratory was done.

RESULTS

CK activity differed between normospermic and oligozospermic men (0.21 +/- 0.02 vs. 1.19 +/- 0.15 CK IU/10(8) sperm; n = 56 and n = 53; mean +/- standard error of the mean, respectively). There was an inverse correlation between sperm concentration and CK activity (r = -0.70; n = 109). However, 28% of men in the range with less than 10 million sperm/ml had normal sperm CK activity (below the mean + 2 standard deviations of the group with greater than 30 x 10(6) sperm/ml), whereas 36% of men in the group with 20-30 million sperm/ml and 5% in the group with greater than 30 million sperm/ml had elevated CK activities, indicating that the incidence of mature and immature spermatozoa in specimens is independent from the sperm concentrations.

CONCLUSIONS

The improved facility of sperm CK activity measurements, compared with sperm concentrations, in the assessment of sperm maturity was confirmed in a Hungarian population. The CK measurements aid the selection of the most efficient treatment for couples with male-factor or unexplained infertility, particularly when considering the options of intrauterine insemination, varicocelectomy followed by a waiting period, or ovulation workup/induction in wives of men who are oligozospermic but may have fertile sperm.

Genetic characterization of parental cell lines and biochemical analysis of somatic cell hybrids between mouse (RAG) cells and fibroblasts of Ateles paniscus chamek (primates, platyrrhini)

Mouse (RAG) cells, (deficient in hypoxanthine-phosphoribosyl-transferase), and Ateles paniscus chamek primary fibroblasts were used in fusion experiments to generate somatic cell hybrids. Both parental cell lines were genetically characterized by karyological and biochemical analyses with 27 isozyme systems. These procedures were useful for monitoring primate chromosome segregation in somatic cell hybrids, for detecting chromosome rearrangements of primate chromosomes, and for identifying individual primate chromosomes. These characterizations are necessary to distinguish between different hybrid cell lines and to generate a panel for gene mapping studies. This is achieved by selecting cell lines that segregate different sets of relatively few primate isozymes and chromosomes. Conversely, we eliminated hybrid cell lines either showing: (1) rearrangements between primate and mouse chromosomes, (2) extensive rearrangements of primate chromosomes, or (3) a large number of primate biochemical markers. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.