Applicability of 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) method of protein oxidative damage measurement in the seminal plasma of canine ( Canis lupus familiaris) and stallion ( Equus caballus)

Seminal plasma (SP) proteins are responsible for sperm functional quality. Developing a reliable method to determine the degree of oxidative damage of these proteins is important for establishing semen fertilizing ability. The main aim of the study was to verify the applicability of protein carbonyl derivatives measurement in the SP of canine and stallion, using a method with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH). The research material consisted of ejaculates obtained from eight English Springer Spaniels, and from seven half-blood stallions during the breeding and non-breeding season. The content of carbonyl groups in the SP was measured on the basis of the reactions with DNPH. The following reagent variants were used to dissolve protein precipitates: Variant 1 (V1) - 6M Guanidine solution and Variant 2 (V2) - 0.1M NaOH solution. It has been shown that to obtain reliable results for the measurement of protein carbonylated groups in the dog and horse SP, both 6M Guanidine and 0.1M NaOH may be used. A correlation was also found between the number of carbonyl groups and the total protein content in the canine (V1: r = -0.724; V2: r = -0.847) and stallion (V1: r = -0.336; V2: r = -0.334) SP. Additionally, the study showed a higher content (p≤0.05) of protein carbonyl groups in the stallion SP in the non-breeding season compared to the breeding season. The method based on the reaction with DNPH, due to its simplicity and cost effectiveness, appears to be suitable for large-scale application in the determination of the SP proteins oxidative damage in dog and horse semen.

Serum YKL-40 levels in patients with ovarian cancer and women with BRCA1 gene mutation--comparison to CA 125 antigen

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION

Our work was undertaken to determine the usefulness ofYKL-40 as a tumor marker in patients with ovarian cancer and women with BRCA 1 gene mutations.

METHODS

Our study population consisted of 111 patients. They were divided into five study groups: I--newly diagnosed ovarian caner, II--recurrence of ovarian cancer, III--complete remission, IV--benign epithelial tumors and V--patients with BRCA 1 gene mutations. YKL-40 and CA 125 were determined in patient sera.

RESULTS

YKL-40 in newly diagnosed ovarian cancer patients was significantly higher (181.17 n/ml) than in patients with BRCA 1 gene mutation (97.74 ng/ml, p < 0.01), women with benign epithelial cancer (57.19 ng/ml, p < 0.005) and patients with ovarian cancer at the time of complete remission (58.12 ng/ml, p < 0.005). Taking 124 ng/ml as a cut-off value for YKL-40 (95th percentile for healthly women) we observed higher levels in 50% of patients from group I and in 38% from group II.

CONCLUSIONS

YKL-40 appears to demonstrate no advantage over CA 125 as a biomarker of ovarian cancer, particularly in women with early-stage tumors. More research is needed on carriers of the BRCA 1 gene muation in view of the elevated YKL-40 concentrations in this group.

[Hearing loss, disorders of sound localization with the preservation ofsmell and taste in diabetics]

Diabetes is often complicated by serious medical conditions which could be related to the development of auditory system and cranial nerves lesions, disorder of sound localisation and decreased olfactory and taste ability. Cranial nerve palsies in diabetes are considered as an integral part of the main disease. Twenty nine children with diabetes and non-diabetics control group, without a history of exposure to noise, ototoxic drugs, or ear disease aged 4-19 years old were examined. Hearing impairment may be present in children with disease duration above 3-5 years and in children with other complications. Sound localisation tests were performed by the method of Zakrzewski from a free auditory field, measuring the angle of directional hearing acuity in 35 diabetics age from 16 to 78 years. Longer duration of diabetes was associated with higher directional hearing acuity. Higher hearing loss was observed with higher directional values in diabetics. The authors investigated smell and taste in 35 diabetics. All patients were treated with insulin. Impairment value of smell identification thresholds was much more frequent than impairment of smell perception. In no case raised threshold of taste perception.

[HPV virus infections and other promotion factors of the carcinogenic process in girls]

HPV virus infections and other promotion factors in the development of carcinogenic process at 101 girls from different social groups were evaluated. Chronic infection of the cervix was found at the group of 56 smoking girls, aged 15-18, having sexual contacts with many partners. 10 of them were infected by HPV virus. These data indicate that particular health care and widely understood cervical carcinoma prophylaxis in such groups are necessary.

[Lichen sclerosus in girls--risk group for development of vulvar neoplasms in women]

Lichen sclerosus is one of the vulvar dystrophy, which is rare at children and young women. 20 girls, aged 3 to 14 years, with clinical and histopathological diagnosis--lichen sclerosus without dysplastic lesions--were under the control of The Gynecological Outpatient Clinic of Children and Girls in Szczecin. They were treated with estrogens (estriol with vitamin A--ointment) and vitamin A rich diet. Anti-inflammatory treatment was employed if necessary. After long-term treatment at 8 girls the total recovery was obtained, at 2, clinical symptoms decreased. Other girls are under clinical observation as before. The girls with lichen sclerosus are a risk group of vulvar carcinoma development in mature age.