Serum epidermal growth factor receptor and p53 as predictors of lung cancer risk in the ATBC study

Serum samples from the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention Study were used in a nested case control study to identify the possible association between the serum level of epidermal growth factor receptor and p53 in respect to lung cancer. The proteins were assayed for by commercial immunoassays that showed uneven, often unacceptable, quality. For EGFR there was no relationship to lung cancer. Two physiological variables appeared to modify the serum level of EGFR, age by decreasing it annually by about 4 fmolml-1, and stroke by increasing it by 150 fmolml-1. For p53, myocardial infarction appeared to cause an increase in serum levels of this protein. While the serum levels of p53 were only moderately increased in lung cancer patients, particularly those with squamous cell carcinoma, the intriguing findings related to the high frequency of p53-positive patients among those belonging to the group of patients being treated by surgery and those belonging to clinical stages 1 and 2 as compared with higher clinical stages. An untested rationalization of these results was that patients with advanced lung cancer, stages 3 and higher, develop autoantibodies against the mutant p53 and thus mask the serum levels of the mutant p53 protein.     

宝鸡地区80 例结肠癌患者发病危险因素研究

目的:探讨宝鸡地区结肠癌患者的发病的高风险因素,为减少宝鸡地区结肠癌的发病率和死亡率采取有效措施提供理论依据。方法:对我院收治的80例结肠癌患者的病史资料进行统计分析,通过收集同期入院的非癌结肠疾病患者作为对照资料,对危险因素进行详细对比,通过单因素分析和Logistics回归分析,得出高风险影响因素。结果:流行病学研究表明,结肠癌发病率随着年龄的增加显著上升,且在发病患者中,男性患者显著多于女性患者(P0.05)。而结肠癌的病灶分布部位表明,乙状结肠癌发病率最高;单一风险因素的研究表明,低膳食纤维饮食、糖尿病史、高血压史、结肠癌家族史、以及结肠炎史都显著影响结肠癌的发病率(P0.05);Logistics多因素分析表明低膳食纤维饮食、糖尿病史、高血压史和结肠癌家族史是结肠癌的主要危险因素(P.0.05)。结论:高血压、糖尿病、结肠癌家族病史以及低膳食纤维饮食是宝鸡地区结肠癌患病的主要风险因素。为控制宝鸡地区结肠癌的发病率,需要针对性的对结肠癌高危人群进行理论指导和及时的筛查与对应干预措施。     

结肠癌患者血清及癌组织中VEGF的表达水平及临床意义

目的探讨结肠癌患者血清及癌组织中血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）的表达水平及临床意义。方法选择不同TNM分期的结肠癌患者88例,同时收集因外伤而切除部分结肠组织的患者43例作为对照组,采用酶联免疫吸附法（ELISA）检测不同患者在结肠癌手术前后血清中VEGF水平,利用实时定量PCR,免疫印迹及免疫组织化学染色法测定癌组织及正常对照组中VEGF表达水平,分析VEGF在血清及癌组织中表达水平与临床病理因素相关性。结果 TNM各期结肠癌患者手术前后血清VEGF水平均高于对照组,且差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。各期结肠癌患者术前血清VEGF表达高于术后表达水平,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。与对照组相比,结肠癌组织中VEGF表达水平明显高于对照组,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.01）。结论血清及癌组织中VEGF表达水平与结肠癌的临床病理分级及血管浸润呈正相关,有望作为结肠癌病理分级和手术疗效及预后的评价指标。     

OVX1 and CEA in patients with colon carcinoma, colon polyps and benign colon disorders

The OVX1 tumor marker promises to complement CA125 for detection of early stage ovarian carcinoma. OVX1 has also been shown to be elevated in colon cancer patients. This study is designed to assess serum OVX1 levels in patients with specific stages of colon cancer, colon polyps or other GI disorders. Serum OVX1 and CEA were measured by radioimmunoassay or enzyme immunoassay for 206 patients at the time of colonoscopy or staging for colon carcinoma. In patients with stage I, II, III, or IV colon carcinoma, serum OVX1 was positive in 37%, 48%, 74% and 63%, respectively. Fifty-three percent of patients with colon polyps had elevated OVX1 levels, while OVX1 levels were positive in only 7% of healthy controls. If both OVX1 and CEA were considered, at least one of these markers was elevated in 36%, 60%, 79% or 89% of patients with stage I, II, III or IV colon carcinoma, respectively. The majority of patients with inflammatory bowel disease or diverticulosis also had elevated OVX1 levels. Both markers were positive in 27% of patients with colon carcinoma, and not in any patients with a normal colonoscopy or with a diagnosis of diverticulosis or hemorrhoids. In conclusion, serum OVX1 improves the sensitivity of CEA for detecting colon polyps and colon cancer; however, the use of OVX1 in this setting is hindered by its elevation in non-malignant colonic processes.     

Sialic acid and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) as markers of colon cancer: Preliminary report]

Tumor markers known to date are not sensitive and specific enough to detect malignant tumors. Therefore, attempts to find new markers have led to sialic acid assays in cancer patients. Serum sialic acid, CEA and ESR have been determined in 33 patients with the cancer of the colon. All patients have been divided into four groups, according to TNM cancer staging. Serum sialic acid levels have been increased by 100% of patients in groups I and IV. The most significant correlation was noted between sialic acid levels and ESR. No significant relationship between serum sialic acid and CEA have been noted. No correlation of the colon cancer stage, according to TNM staging, and sialic acid and CEA levels in the peripheral blood has been observed. It seems, however, that serum sialic acid assay may be useful auxiliary technique in the detection and monitoring of patients with colon cancer.     

结肠癌患者血清C反应蛋白检测的临床意义

目的:探讨结肠癌患者血清C反应蛋白检测的临床意义。方法:分别在术前1天及术后第15天测定77例结肠癌患者血清C反应蛋白的浓度,并与正常对照组进行比较。结果:结肠癌患者术前术后血清C反应蛋白显著高于正常对照组(P<0.01),术后尽管有显著下降,但仍高于正常对照组(P<0.05)。结论:血清C反应蛋白检测对评估结肠癌患者病情及预后有重要意义。     

Serum and hair selenium levels in hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer

Since low selenium (Se) levels have been identified in some individuals with colon cancer, we evaluated Se levels as a potential marker for this malignancy in a kindred subject to hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer, an autosomal dominant disease. Unaffected family members and spouses were selected randomly for testing. Serum Se levels were performed on dialyzed sera using the neutron activation technique. Hair Se assays were determined by a spectrofluorometric method. Family members were classified as having low, intermediate, or high risk for colon cancer based on family history. There was no correlation between serum and hair Se measurements. There was also no significant difference in hair or serum Se levels between any of the groups, suggesting that serum Se levels do not correlate with hereditary risk for colon cancer. Prospective studies are in progress to evaluate tissue Se levels and serial Se measurements in high risk patients to establish whether Se levels change with the development of colon cancer.     

Expression of serum amyloid A, in normal, dysplastic, and neoplastic human colonic mucosa: implication for a role in colonic tumorigenesis.

Serum amyloid A (SAA) is an acute phase reactant, whose level in the blood is elevated in response to trauma, infection, inflammation, and neoplasia. Elevated levels of SAA in the serum of cancer patients were suggested to be of liver origin rather than a tumor cell product. The role of SAA in human malignancies has not been elucidated. We investigated the expression of SAA at various stages of human colon carcinoma progression. Nonradioactive in situ hybridization applied on paraffin tissue sections from 26 colon cancer patients revealed barely detected SAA mRNA expression in normal looking colonic epithelium. Expression was increased gradually as epithelial cells progressed through dysplasia to neoplasia. Deeply invading colon carcinoma cells showed the highest levels of SAA. Expression was also found in colon carcinoma metastases. Cells of lymphoid follicles of the intestinal wall, inflammatory cells, ganglion cells, and endothelial cells, also expressed SAA mRNA. Immunohistochemical staining revealed SAA protein expression that colocalized with SAA mRNA expression. RT-PCR analysis confirmed the expression of the SAA1 and SAA4 genes in colon carcinomas, expression that was barely detectable in normal colon tissues. These findings indicate local and differential expression of SAA in human colon cancer tissues and suggest its role in colonic tumorigenesis.     

血清PIVKA-Ⅱ、Calretinin及DJ-1蛋白在卵巢癌中的表达及与病情严重程度的相关性

目的:探讨血清异常凝血酶原(PIVKA-Ⅱ)、钙网膜蛋白(Calretinin)及DJ-1蛋白在卵巢癌中的表达及与病情严重程度的相关性。方法:选择2019年3月至2020年3月我院接诊的100例卵巢癌患者为本研究对象,设为病例组,并选择我院同期体检的健康对照组90例,分析两组血清PIVKA-Ⅱ、Calretinin及DJ-1蛋白水平的表达,及其与卵巢癌患者病情严重程度的相关性。结果:病例组血清PIVKA-Ⅱ、Calretinin及DJ-1蛋白水平显著高于对照组,差异显著(P<0.05);Ⅰ~Ⅱ期组患者血清PIVKA-Ⅱ、Calretinin及DJ-1蛋白水平显著低于Ⅲ期、Ⅳ期患者,Ⅲ期患者血清PIVKA-Ⅱ、Calretinin及DJ-1蛋白水平显著高于Ⅳ期患者,差异显著(P<0.05);相关性分析结果中显示,血清PIVKA-Ⅱ、Calretinin及DJ-1蛋白和病理分期之间呈正相关(P<0.05)。结论:在卵巢癌患者中血清PIVKA-Ⅱ、Calretinin及DJ-1蛋白与病情严重程度之间存在着密切关系,可作为卵巢癌的潜在标记物。     

Relationship between indices of iron status and coronary risk factors including diabetes and the metabolic syndrome in Saudi subjects without overt coronary disease

There have been inconsistent reports on the relationship between iron status and coronary artery diseases (CAD), and little data on this relationship in non-Caucasian populations.

We assessed dietary iron by questionnaire and measured serum iron and ferritin levels in 270 Saudi male subjects without established CAD, 130 of whom were angiogram negative. Serum lipid profile, glucose, high sensitivity-C reactive protein (hs-CRP), serum soluble intercellular adhesion molecules-1 (sICAM-1), and caeruloplasmin were measured in all subjects.

The angiogram negative patients, had lower serum ferritin (p<0.05) and iron (p<0.0001) levels than the 140 subjects without reported cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Serum iron correlated with serum triglycerides (p<0.0001) and total cholesterol (p<0.05) levels for this latter group and the groups combined. Serum ferritin correlated with serum total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol in the combined group (p<0.05), and was correlated with blood glucose and serum LDL-cholesterol (p<0.05) in the subjects without reported CVD. After adjustment for confounding variables, serum iron levels remained a significant correlate with total calorie intake and serum triglycerides. Serum ferritin also correlated significantly with cholesterol intake and fasting serum total cholesterol. Dietary iron was significantly related to dietary cholesterol and fiber, age, smoking habits, and serum total cholesterol level.

Hence, indices of iron status were related to several coronary risk factors in the Saudi population.     

血清NSE、SCCA及CEA在肺癌早期诊断和预后预测中的应用价值研究

目的:研究血清神经元特异性烯醇化酶(NSE)、鳞状细胞癌抗原(SCCA)及癌胚抗原(CEA)在肺癌早期诊断和预后预测中的应用价值。方法:选择我院2013年1月~2017年1月收治的110例肺癌患者(肺癌组)及同期96例肺部良性疾病患者(肺良性病组)和85例门诊健康体检者(对照组)。比较各组血清NSE、SCCA及CEA水平,采用受试者工作特征(ROC)曲线分析以上指标对肺癌的诊断价值。结果:肺癌组血清NSE、SCCA、CEA水平高于肺良性病组及对照组,肺良性病组血清NSE、SCCA、CEA水平高于对照组(P<0.05)。肺癌Ⅲ+Ⅳ组血清NSE、SCCA及CEA水平高于Ⅰ+Ⅱ组(P<0.05)。小细胞肺癌组血清NSE水平高于鳞癌组、腺癌组,鳞癌组血清SCCA水平高于腺癌组及小细胞肺癌组,腺癌组血清CEA水平高于鳞癌组及小细胞肺癌组(P<0.05)。NSE<16.0μg/L者平均无疾病进展生存期(PFS)长于NSE≥16.0μg/L,SCCA<1.5μg/L者平均PFS长于SCCA≥1.5μg/L,CEA<5.0μg/L平均PFS长于CEA≥5.0μg/L(P<0.05)。NSE、SCCA和CEA及三者联合诊断肺癌的ROC曲线下面积分别为0.880、0.651、0.830及0.937,NSE+SCCA+CEA联合诊断的曲线下面积高于单个指标单独诊断(P<0.05)。结论:血清NSE、SCCA及CEA对肺癌的诊断有重要的参考价值,且有利于肺癌的分期、分型及预后评价。     

Serum retinol and the inverse relationship between serum cholesterol and cancer.

Several human studies have shown an inverse relation between vitamin A intake (and serum concentrations of retinol and carotene) and cancer. Serum cholesterol concentrations have also been reported in inverse relation to cancer. In a study of 3102 people in Evans County, Georgia, who were followed for over 12-14 years to assess the incidence of cancer there was an inverse association between the risk of cancer and both serum retinol and serum cholesterol concentrations. The data also showed an unexpectedly strong correlation between serum retinol and total cholesterol concentrations. The inverse relationship with cancer was stronger with serum retinol than with cholesterol, which suggested that the association with cholesterol might be secondary. This suggestion may also explain the cholesterol-cancer association reported in several other cohort studies. Further studies of the relation between serum concentrations of cholesterol, retinol, and carotene and the incidence of cancer are needed.     

Role of chromium supplementation in Indians with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a complex metabolic disorder with adverse cardiovascular risk. The role of micronutrients has not yet been well clarified in this condition, especially in India.THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS STUDY WERE TO: (1) evaluate chromium status in Indian subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus, (2) assess the effect of chromium picolinate (200 &mgr;g trivalent chromium twice daily) administration on glycaemic control and lipid profile in these subjects and (3) comment on the possible mechanism of any beneficial effect noted above.Fifty subjects were studied in a double blind, placebo-controlled, crossover fashion, with each treatment arm (chromium/placebo) lasting 12 weeks and 4 weeks' wash-off period in between. 50 healthy age- and sex-matched volunteers served as controls. Serum chromium level appeared to be higher in the general population in our country compared to western countries (36.5-59.5 nmol/L as compared to 2.3-40.3 nmol/L) However, the local diabetics were found to have a lower serum chromium level than the healthy controls (32.3 nmol/L against 44.7 nmol/L; p < 0.0001) and a mean increase of 3.5 nmol/L was noted after 12 weeks of chromium supplementation that was, expectedly, not seen in the placebo phase (p < 0.0001).Significant improvement in glycaemic control was noted in the chromium-treated group (DeltaFasting serum glucose = 0.44 mmol/L, p < 0.001; DeltaPost-prandial serum glucose = 1.97 mmol/L, p < 0.001; Deltaglycated hemoglobin = 0.01; p = 0.04, in comparison to placebo) This was accompanied by a significant greater fall in fasting serum insulin in the chromium-treated group, p < 0.05.The change in lipid parameters (total serum cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides) did not show significant difference between the chromium and placebo groups.Clinically significant hematological, renal or hepatic toxicity were excluded by routine hemogram, serum urea, creatinine, alanine amino transferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase estimations.In conclusion, chromium supplementation seems to improve glycaemic control in type 2 diabetic patients, which appears to be due to an increase in insulin action rather than stimulation of insulin secretion.     

Associations of cholesterol and vitamin D metabolites with the risk for development of high grade colorectal cancer

BackgroundVitamin D deficiency is repeatedly reported in colorectal cancer (CRC). Since cholesterol and vitamin D share common precursor 7-dehydrocholesterol (7-DHC), it would be important to explore the associations of key vitamin D metabolites and serum lipid parameters in patients with high and low grade CRC. The aim of this study was to analyze relationships between serum 25(OH)D3, 24,25(OH)2D3 and 7-DHC levels and serum lipids in patients with CRC, and to evaluate their potential for prediction of risk for development of high grade CRC.MethodsWe recruited 82 patients CRC and 77 controls. 7-DHC, 25(OH)D3 and 24,25(OH)2D3 were quantified by LC-MS/MS methods.Results7-DHC, 25(OH)D3 and vitamin D metabolic ratio (VDMR) were significantly lower in CRC patients than in control group (P<0.001, P<0.010, P<0.050 and P<0.050, respectively). 25(OH)D3 levels were higher in patients with grade I CRC when compared to grade II (P<0.050). All vitamin D metabolites positively correlated with total cholesterol (TC) concentration in CRC patients. 25(OH)D3 was significant predictor of increased CRC risk (P<0.010). After adjustment for TC concentration, 25(OH)D3 lost its predictive abilities. However, 25(OH)D3 remained significant predictor of poorly differentiated type of cancer (P<0.050).ConclusionsWe found significant positive association between vitamin D status and serum total cholesterol. Although low 25(OH)D3 was found to be a significant risk factor for CRC development, the obtained results primarily suggest profound impact of cholesterol level on vitamin D status in CRC. However, our results suggest that low 25(OH)D3 might independently contribute to development of poorly differentiated tumor.     

Variation and significance of serum leptin,blood lipid level,adiponectin, NO and TNF-α for patients with non-traumatic ischemic necrosis of the femoral head

ObjectiveTo investigate the changes of serum leptin, lipid levels, adiponectin, NO and TNF-α in patients withnon-traumatic ischemic necrosis of the femoral head of the femoral head and its meanings.MethodsA total of 80 patients with ischemic necrosis of the femoral head were selected from January 2015 to January 2016. And 30 healthy volunteers who took the same time were selected as the control group. Both subjects were given venous blood in the morning fasting. Serum leptin levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. Serum lipids, high and low density lipoprotein, cholesterol, triglyceride and apolipoprotein A1 were detected by automatic biochemical analyzer. Apolipoprotein B was measured by radioimmunoassay. The levels of serum adiponectin were measured by radioimmunoassay. The levels of NO and TNF-α in serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).ResultsCompared with the control group, the levels of cholesterol, triglyceride level, middle and low density lipoprotein and apolipoprotein B were significantly increased in INFH serum; the levels of high density lipoprotein and apolipoprotein A1 were significantly decreased The contents of NO and TNF-α were significantly increased, the content of adiponectin was significantly decreased. There was significant difference between the two groups (P < .05).ConclusionThe levels of serum cholesterol, triglyceride level, low density lipoprotein level, apolipoprotein B level, leptin, NO and TNF-α levels in serum of INHF patients were positively correlated with the condition of INHF patients, and high density lipoprotein levels, Apolipoprotein A1 levels and adiponectin levels were negatively correlated with INHF patients.     

血清cfDNA、VEGFA与晚期胃癌患者化疗疗效和预后的关系研究

摘要 目的：研究血清循环游离脱氧核糖核酸（cfDNA）、血管内皮生长因子A（VEGFA）与晚期胃癌患者化疗疗效和预后的关系。方法：选取2018年6月~2020年6月在空军第九八六医院接受含奥沙利铂方案化疗的晚期胃癌患者108例,所有患者均接受含奥沙利铂方案化疗,化疗2个周期后,根据实体瘤疗效评价标准（RECIST）1.1版评估疗效分为敏感组和不敏感组,比较两组血清cfDNA、VEGFA水平;随访24个月,Kaplan-Meier生存曲线分析血清cfDNA、VEGFA高表达和低表达组的总生存期（OS）,采用Cox风险比例模型进行预后多因素分析。结果：不敏感组血清cfDNA、VEGFA水平显著高于敏感组（P＜0.05）。cfDNA、VEGFA高表达组患者中位OS均明显短于cfDNA、VEGFA低表达组（P＜0.05）。Cox回归模型单因素分析显示,性别、年龄、部位与晚期胃癌预后无关（P＞0.05）,而TNM分期Ⅳ期、分化程度低分化、有淋巴结转移、化疗疗效不敏感、cfDNA高水平、VEGFA高水平与晚期胃癌预后差显著相关（P＜0.05）。Cox回归模型多因素分析显示,淋巴结转移、化疗疗效不敏感及cfDNA、VEGFA水平高是晚期胃癌患者预后的危险因素（P＜0.05）。结论：血清cfDNA、VEGFA水平检测有助于晚期胃癌患者化疗疗效监测和预后评估。     

Serum interleukin-18 and nitric oxide activity in bladder carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Both interleukin-18 and nitric oxide are multifunctional molecules that are involved in the different steps of carcinogenesis. METHODS: In the present study, we measured serum interleukin-18 and nitric oxide activity in 51 bladder cancer patients with different tumor stage and grade, and in 8 healthy controls. Serum nitrite-nitrate levels were measured as an index of nitric oxide generation. RESULTS: Serum interleukin-18 levels were significantly higher in bladder cancer patients when compared to the control subjects (p > 0.05). Serum interleukin-18 levels were found to be higher in patients with Ta stage than patients with T1 and T2, T3, T4 stages and in patients with grade 1 tumors than patients with grade 2 and grade 3 tumors, but this was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). There was no significant difference in serum nitrite + nitrate levels between bladder cancer patients and control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated serum interleukin-18 levels in bladder carcinoma patients may be a result of host defence mechanism against the growth and progression of bladder cancer cells.     

乳腺癌术后医院感染患者病原菌分布和危险因素及血清炎症因子水平分析

目的分析乳腺癌术后医院感染患者病原菌分布、危险因素及血清炎症因子水平,并探讨其临床意义。方法收集2016年3月至2018年3月我院诊治的80例乳腺癌术后医院感染患者为观察组。同期选取80例乳腺癌术后未发生感染者为对照组。利用全自动微生物分析仪对感染患者进行病原菌分布检测。对乳腺癌术后医院感染的危险因素进行单因素回归分析,同时检测并比较两组患者血清中白细胞介素-10(IL-10)、干扰素-γ(IFN-γ)及肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)的水平。结果80例乳腺癌术后医院感染患者共检出病原微生物97株。其中革兰阴性菌55株,以大肠埃希菌及铜绿假单胞菌为主;革兰阳性菌39株,以金黄色葡萄球菌为主(16株);真菌3株。观察组患者血清中IL-10、INF-γ及TNF-α水平均显著高于对照组(均P<0.05)。患者合并疾病情况、引流天数、住院天数及辅助化疗均与乳腺癌术后发生医院感染有密切联系(均P<0.05)。结论乳腺癌术后医院感染病原菌分布较广,以革兰阴性菌为主。患者合并疾病情况、引流天数、住院天数及辅助化疗均为医院感染的危险因素。血清中炎症因子水平可作为乳腺癌术后医院感染的诊断标志物。     

Evaluation of the use of serum lathosterol concentration to assess whole-body cholesterol synthesis in rabbits.

Serum lathosterol concentration in rabbits was assessed as a possible indicator of whole-body cholesterol synthesis. In random-bred New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits fed a control diet or a diet containing either cholesterol, simvastatin, or cholestyramine, neither serum lathosterol concentration nor the serum lathosterol:total cholesterol ratio systematically corresponded with the anticipated rate of cholesterol synthesis. In control rabbits and those fed simvastatin or cholestyramine, whole-body cholesterol synthesis, which was calculated from the sterol balance, was correlated with serum lathosterol concentration when expressed relative to cholesterol in very low, intermediate, and low density lipoproteins (VLDL + IDL + LDL) (r = 0.61; n = 23; P = 0.002). The low correlation coefficient indicates that the predictive value of the lathosterol: (VLDL + IDL + LDL) cholesterol ratio is limited when applied to individual rabbits. Cholesterol and simvastatin feeding reduced the group mean serum lathosterol:(VLDL + IDL + LDL) cholesterol ratio, whereas cholestyramine in the diet raised the group mean ratio in the NZW rabbits. We conclude that the serum lathosterol:(VLDL + IDL + LDL) cholesterol ratio may be an indicator of group mean rates of whole-body cholesterol synthesis in rabbits but may not yield reliable information on individual rabbits. The lathosterol:(VLDL + IDL + LDL) cholesterol ratio predicted that in hyperresponsive inbred rabbits, showing an excessive hypercholesterolemia after cholesterol feeding, baseline whole-body cholesterol synthesis is lower than in hyporesponsive rabbits. Addition of cholesterol to the diet caused a reduction of predicted cholesterol synthesis in hypo- but not in hyper-responsive rabbits.     

Influence of gender on tamoxifen-induced biochemical changes in serum of rats

Tamoxifen, the widely prescribed drug in the prevention and therapy of breast cancer, may cause side effects which may be influenced by gender. The present study was undertaken to investigate the impact of gender on tamoxifen-induced toxic and biochemical changes following oral administration of tamoxifen at high dose level of 20 mg/kg once daily for a 2-week period in both male and female rats. The results showed marked increases in serum activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in female rats. In contrast, treatment with tamoxifen in male animals significantly decreased the activity of ALT, with a tendency for a decrease in serum AST levels. In female rats, a significant reduction in the serum activity of acid phosphatase (ACP) was noted, compared with a non-significant decrease in males. Non-significant changes in serum levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were seen in both sexes. Tamoxifen lowered serum contents of total lipid and total cholesterol in both male and female rats. Serum levels of triglycerides were reduced in female rats as compared to a non-significant decrease in male animals. The serum albumin concentration was decreased in both male and female rats, while total protein was decreased only in female animals. Tamoxifen markedly increased serum levels of creatinine in female rats, compared with a non-significant rise in males. Total serum contents of calcium were similarly reduced in both males and females. This is the first study which points to gender-related differences in tamoxifen-induced toxic and metabolic changes in rats. The results indicated that females are more susceptible than males to tamoxifen toxicity, probably due to the ability of tamoxifen to antagonize the action of estrogen in females.