Serum copper,zinc levels,and copper

Serum copper and zinc levels were determined in 20 healthy women and in 100 women with gynecological tumors. Malignant and benign tumor cases were separated according to their postoperative, histopathological examinations. The stages of malignant and benign tumors were also established histologically. Seventy benign and 30 malignant genital tumors (carcinoma of cervix in situ, cervix, ovary endometrium, and vulva) of the patients were differentiated histopathologically. The serum Cu/Zn ratios of patients were increased significantly from the control group (0.32±0.35) to the benign group (1.22±0.63) and from the benign group to the malignant group (2.24±1.03). Nine of 30 malignant cases were determined as false negative (30%) and 15 of 70 benign cases were determined as false positive (14.2%) according to the serum Cu/Zn ratios of patients. Serum copper levels of 30 malignant and 10 benign tumor cases showed linear correlation with serum ceruloplasmin values.     

Serum levels of selenium, manganese, copper, and iron in colorectal cancer patients

This article describes a study in which four trace elements (Se, Mn, Cu, and Fe) were analyzed in the blood serum of the patients with colorectal cancer from the Moravian region of the Czech Republic. Atomic absorption spectrometry with graphite furnace atomization was used for analysis of selenium and manganese and with flame atomization for analysis of copper and iron. The observed serum concentrations in adenocarcinoma colorectal patients of selenium were significantly lower (41.8 ± 11.6 μg/L) and those of manganese (16.3 ± 4.5 μg/L) and iron (2.89 ± 1.23 mg/L) were significantly higher as compared to the age-matched control group. Copper serum content (0.95 ± 0.28 mg/L) did not significantly differ as compared to healthy population.     

Serum copper and zinc levels and copper/zinc ratio in patients with breast cancer

Serum copper, zinc levels, and the Cu/Zn ratio were evaluated in 31 patients with breast cancer and 35 healthy controls. Copper and zinc were determined by atomic absorbtion spectrophotometry. The mean serum copper level and the mean Cu/Zn ratio in patients with breast cancer were significantly higher than the control group (p<0.001 andp<0.001). In addition, the mean serum zinc level in patients with breast cancer was significantly lower than the control group (p<0.001). Neither serum copper and zinc levels nor the Cu/Zn ratio were of value in discriminating of the disease activity and severity. Interestingly, the Cu/Zn ratio in premenopausal patients was higher than postmenopausal patients (p<0.05) and this was not related to age. The further combined biological and epidemiological studies are necessary to investigate the roles of copper and zinc in breast cancer.     

Serum and urine levels of interleukin-8 in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Angiogenesis plays an important role in many types of cancer. Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is known to be a pro-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic cytokine, and IL-8 has been reported to be associated with tumor progression, prognosis and survival in several types of cancers. However, the role of IL-8 in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) has not been fully determined. Here, we evaluated the usefulness of measuring serum and urine IL-8 levels in patients with NHL. We developed reference intervals for serum and urine IL-8 level in 131 control individuals. We measured serum IL-8 and urine IL-8 levels in patients with NHL, and we compared the concentrations with those of control individuals. The reference intervals for serum IL-8 and urine IL-8 corrected by creatinine (Cr) were 15.9-430.3 pg/mL and 0.0-28.4 pg/mg Cr, respectively. The concentrations of urine IL-8/Cr were significantly higher in patients than in controls (48.9+/-194.4 vs. 5.2+/-13.8 pg/mg Cr, P<0.001). However, there were no significant differences in serum IL-8 concentrations between NHL patients and controls (159.2+/-40.4 vs. 99.6+/-107.1 pg/mL; P=0.099). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis gave 0.83 and 0.43 ROC area values for urine IL-8/Cr and serum IL-8, respectively. There was no correlation between the serum and urine concentrations of IL-8 and clinical variables, the only exception being the international prognostic index (IPI), which showed a marginal correlation with urine IL-8/Cr levels (P=0.07). This study indicated that urine IL-8/Cr levels might be useful as a diagnostic marker of NHL.     

Population genetic data on properdin factor B (Bf) in northern Germany.

Properdin factor B phenotypes were determined in 1,112 unrelated individuals and in 151 mother/child combinations from Northern Germany. Gene frequencies were : F = 0.1960, S= 0.7905, F1 = 0.0072, S1 = 0.0063. The data of the mother/child combinations are in full accordance with the postulated gene model.     

Serum copper, zinc and selenium levels with regard to psychological stress in men.

Serum concentrations of copper (S-Cu), zinc (S-Zn) and selenium (S-Se) were measured in 34 apparently healthy male prisoners of war immediately on release from a detention camp, and 85 healthy male subjects of comparable age and body mass index who had not been in a war combat zone. The results expressed as median and range were: 1138 (877-1337) micrograms/L of S-Cu, 1087 (514-1260) micrograms/L of S-Zn and 53 (30-100) micrograms/L of S-Se in the former prisoners, and 1149 (869-1487) micrograms/L of S-Cu, 1131 (874-1351) micrograms/L of S-Zn and 65 (45-109) micrograms/L of S-Se in the reference subjects. Significantly lower S-Zn (p < 0.02) and S-Se (p < 10(-5)) were found in the former prisoners compared to the reference subjects, whereas no significant difference between the groups was found for S-Cu (p > 0.80). In the group of former prisoners, a significant positive correlation was found between the S-Zn and S-Se levels (r = 0.40, p < 0.05) and an inverse correlation between S-Zn and body mass index (r = -0.34, p < 0.05), whereas no significant correlation was found of S-Cu, S-Zn or S-Se with age (38 (19-54) years) or duration of imprisonment (130 (126-270) days). As the body mass index of 23.4 (19.7-28.1) kg/m2 and the body mass relative deviation from nomogram of 105 (89-125)% in the group of former prisoners showed no indication of malnutrition, lowered S-Zn and S-Se levels may be ascribed to increased psychological stress induced by conditions during imprisonment.     

Oxidase activity of ceruloplasmin and concentrations of copper and zinc in serum of cancer patients.

A balance between oxidant carcinogens and endogenous antioxidant defence is of particular relevance to the carcinogenesis. Ceruloplasmin (Cp) carries up to 90% of Cu in plasma and performs ferroxidase, antioxidant and amine oxidase activity. Cu and Zn, as trace elements, have been recognized to play an important role as cofactors of SOD. The study presents the relationship of the Cp oxidase activity and concentrations of Cu and Zn in serum of 62 patients with breast (BCA), lung (LCA), gastrointestinal (GICA) and gynecological (GYNCA) cancer. The Cp oxidase activity was determined in serum with o-dianisidine as a substrate. Cu and Zn concentrations in serum were measured by using atomic absorption spectrometry. The results of the study have shown significant increase in the mean serum Cp oxidase activity and total Cu concentrations in all patient groups compared with the control one. The total mean serum Zn concentration was found to be decreased only in LCA group as compared with the control. The effect of the cancer progress on the Cp oxidase activity and concentrations of Cu and Zn was observed within the group of all cancer patients (ALLCA) and within the GICA group. The only significant difference in Cu concentrations among various stages of the disease was observed in GICA between local and distant one. Significant positive correlation coefficients were caLculated for the Cp activity and Cu concentrations in the control group and all patients groups, also according to the cancer progress. Future research is needed to evaLuate the consequences of the elevation of the serum Cp oxidase activity and concentration of Cp, Cu and Zn for the host antioxidant-oxidant balance.     

Genetic polymorphism of properdin factor B (BF) in domestic rabbit

Genetic polymorphism of plasma properdin factor B (BF) was detected in domestic rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus , by means of isoelectric focusing and immunoblotting. The analysis of 298 individuals, corresponding to one French and two Portuguese populations, revealed the existence of six alleles, of which BF*A, B and C were common alleles, and D, F and G were rare ones.     

Serum levels of macrophage colony-stimulating factor in singleton and twin pregnancy.

Macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) is present in the placenta and has been implicated in placental growth and development. M-CSF levels in peripheral blood increase significantly with progression of pregnancy in uncomplicated singleton pregnancy. This study investigated whether serum M-CSF levels in singleton pregnancy differed from those in twin pregnancy. A hundred and four pregnant women, of whom fifty-nine were women carrying single fetuses and forty-five were women with twin fetuses, participated in the study. Their average gestational age at entry was 10, 20, 30, and 38 weeks of gestation in singleton pregnancy and 10, 20, 30, and 35 weeks in twin pregnancy. Peripheral blood was collected and serum was separated after centrifugation and stored at - 20 degrees C. M-CSF levels were determined by ELISA. In both groups, the serum levels of M-CSF increased significantly as pregnancy progressed. M-CSF levels were relatively higher in twin pregnancy than in singleton pregnancy at 10, 20, and 30 weeks. At 35 and 38 weeks, the M-CSF levels were significantly higher in twin pregnancy than in singleton pregnancy. Elevation of serum M-CSF supports M-CSF production in the placenta. This elevation in twin pregnancy may be related to increased demand of M-CSF in twin pregnancy.     

Fragments Ba and Bb derived from guinea pig factor B of the properdin system: purification, characterization, and biologic activities.

Functionally active guinea pig factor B was purified by a combination of chromatographic steps including Sephadex G-25, QAE A25, QAE A50, CM C50, and Sepharose 4B coupled with purified cobra venom factor. Purified factor B had a m.w. of 106,000 daltons and a single subunit structure. It was heat labile. After cleavage of native B with cobra venom factor coupled to Sepharose 4B in the presence of D, the resulting two fragments, the larger one (Bb) and the smaller one (Ba), were further purified. The m.w. of Bb and Ba was determined as 64,000 and 53,000 daltons, respectively, by SDS-PAGE. Neither of the fragments evoked a contraction of guinea pig ileum or histamine release from rat mast cells. Only the smaller fragment Ba (at a concentration of 120 nM) stimulated guinea pig peritoneal polymorphonuclear leukocytes to respond with increased movement. This activity as well as the antigenicity of Ba were heat stable, but were sensitive to trypsin digestion, whereas the antigenicity of Bb was heat labile.