Serum selenium levels in diabetic children

The effect of increased selenium uptake on serum selenium in diabetic children was investigated during the first 9 yr of the Finnish nationwide selenium fertilization program, which started in 1984. Serum selenium concentrations were followed in 237 diabetic children (mean age 8.1 yr) and 214 controls from 1984 to 1992. The control group consisted of 107 siblings of the diabetics and of 107 other healthy children of corresponding age groups. Selenium was determined by direct electrothermal atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The effect of the increased uptake was seen in both diabetic and in control persons. Before the autumn of 1985, diabetic patients had significantly higher serum selenium levels than their siblings or the other healthy controls. Toward the end of year 1987, this difference had disappeared. After that, serum selenium levels continued to increase until the year 1990. In 1990 the mean selenium serum level of diabetic patients was 1.36 μmol/L and that of controls 1.33 μmol/L. The duration of diabetes did not have any effect on selenium serum levels. Slightly higher serum selenium in new diabetic patients before the start of therapy was explained by the dehydration state. The patients who were younger than 3 yr had slightly lower selenium serum levels when compared with older age groups. This difference was observed, however, only during the first 3 yr of the study. After that, when the selenium intake increased in general, no age-dependent differences were found anymore. There were no significant differences in serum selenium levels between males and females in either diabetic patients or in controls.     

microRNA-342, microRNA-191 and microRNA-510 are differentially expressed in T regulatory cells of type 1 diabetic patients

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are critical regulators of autoimmune diseases, including type 1 diabetes mellitus. It is hypothesised that Tregs’ function can be influenced by changes in the expression of specific microRNAs (miRNAs). Thus, we performed miRNAs profiling in a population of Tregs separated from peripheral blood of five type 1 diabetic patients and six healthy donors. For more detailed molecular characterisation of Tregs, we additionally compared miRNAs expression profiles of Tregs and conventional T cells. Tregs were isolated according to CD3+, CD4+, CD25^hi+ and CD127− by flow cytometry, and miRNA expression profiling was performed using TaqMan Array Human MicroRNA Panel-1 (384-well low density array). In Tregs of diabetic patients we found significantly increased expression of miRNA-510 (p = 0.05) and decreased expression of both miRNA-342 (p < 0.0001) and miRNA-191 (p = 0.0079). When comparing Tregs and T cells, we revealed that Tregs had significant higher expression of miRNA-146a and lower expression of eight specific miRNAs (20b, 31, 99a, 100, 125b, 151, 335, and 365). To our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating changes in miRNA expression profiles occurring in Tregs of T1D patients and a miRNAs signature of adult Tregs.     

Selenium and glycogen levels in diabetic patients

Selenium in serum and selenium and glycogen in erythrocytes were determined in diabetic patients divided into noninsulin-dependent (n=50) and insulin-dependent (n=31) groups according to the etiopathogenesis of their diabetes. Selenium was determined by the method of atomic absorption spectrometry. Serum level of selenium was statistically significantly different in patients with either noninsulin-dependent (59.23±12.2 μg/L) or insulin-dependent (58.23±16.7 μg/L) diabetes mellitus as compared with the control group of 62 subjects (64.2±11.5 μg/L; p<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the serum levels of selenium between the groups of patients with noninsulin-dependent and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The levels of erythrocyte glycogen were 2.0580±1.326, 2.0380±1.735, and 2.0036±1.3537 μg/g Hb in the control group, noninsulin-dependent group, and insulin-dependent group, respectively, with no statistically significant between-group difference. The decreased levels of selenium in serum and erythrocytes of diabetic patients suggest the possible role of glutathione peroxidase activity.     

Serum nickel levels of diabetic patients and healthy controls by AAS with a graphite furnace

In this study, serum nickel levels of diabetic patients and healthy controls were determined by AAS with a graphite furnace. The serum nickel concentrations were found to be 1.15 +/- 1.89 micrograms/L in healthy controls and 0.82 +/- 0.74 microgram/L in diabetics. There was, however, no statistically significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.13). The relationship of nickel levels to diabetes type and duration, diabetic complications and treatment, sex, age, and heredity was investigated. However, again no significant differences were found, nor was there any correlation between serum nickel levels and blood sugar, HBa1c, fructosamine, sialic acid levels, and age.     

Association of NT-proBNP and multiple biomarkers with severity of angiographic coronary artery disease in diabetic and pre-diabetic Chinese patients

Background

Little is known about the plasma levels of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and the relationship between the severity of coronary heart disease (CHD) with NT-proBNP and multiple biomarkers in diabetic and pre-diabetic patients, compared to individuals with normal glucose levels.

Methods

Four hundred and fifteen consecutive Chinese patients of both sexes were assigned to three groups on the basis of the new hemoglobin (Hb) A1c (HbA1c) cut-off points for diagnosis of diabetes and pre-diabetes. The three groups were divided into tertiles according to NT-proBNP, hs-CRP, cystatin C, and troponin T levels. Gensini scores were compared among the three groups and biomarker tertiles. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to obtain the angiographic CHD cut-off points for each biomarker. Stepwise multivariate linear correlation analysis was applied to examine the association between the severity of CHD and biomarker levels.

Results

Gensini scores increased with increasing biomarker tertile levels and HbA1c. Gensini scores were significantly different in the middle and upper NT-proBNP tertiles of the diabetic, pre-diabetic and control groups. NT-proBNP had the highest positive and negative predictive values and area under the curve for CHD. Only NT-proBNP was identified as an independent variable for Gensini score.

Conclusions

Plasma NT-proBNP may be an important biomarker to evaluate the severity of CHD and screen for CHD in diabetic or pre-diabetic patients.     

Serum zinc and magnesium levels in patients with blastocystosis

The aim of the study was to investigate the total content of the essential elements of zinc and magnesium levels in patients infected with Blastocystis hominis. Zinc and magnesium concentrations were measured in 52 patients who were positive for the intestinal parasite Blastocystis hominis. Scores were obtained for the positives and their age- and sex-matched 60 Blastocystis hominis-negative healthy controls. For comparison of two groups of continuous variables, the independent samples t-test was used. The mean concentration of magnesium in blood was significantly lower in Blastocystis hominis-positive patients than in their controls both in females (p<0.05) and males (p<0.05). The average zinc concentration in Blastocystis hominis-positive female patients was 0.61±0.2 mg/L and 0.60±0.2 mg/L in controls (p>0.05). The mean values of the zinc in blood were 0.62±0.2 mg/L in Blastocystis hominis-positive male patients and 0.82±0.1 in controls (p>0.05). No correlation could be demonstrated between age and mean values of zinc and magnesium in Blastocystis-positive females/males and controls (p>0.05). No significant correlation could be found between blood zinc and magnesium levels in Blastocystis-positive female/male patients and controls (p>0.05). Magnesium levels were found to be clearly decreased, whereas no change was observed in zinc levels in the patients with Blastocystis compared to controls.     

Serum A-FABP is increased and closely associated with elevated NT-proBNP levels in type 2 diabetic patients treated with rosiglitazone

Background

Adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (A-FABP) has been shown to play important roles in the development of metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. In this study we investigated the possible role of A-FABP in the development of cardiac dysfunction related to rosiglitazone treatment.

Methodology/Principal Findings

A total of 84 patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes were treated with rosiglitazone for 48 weeks. Circulating A-FABP and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels were determined at baseline and repeated at 24 and 48 weeks. After the 48-week rosiglitazone treatment period, serum levels of both A-FABP and NT-proBNP increased progressively and significantly (P<0.01). Serum levels of A-FABP were demonstrated to be positively correlated with gender and waist circumference both at baseline and the end of the study, and with age, body mass index (BMI), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and NT-proBNP at 48 weeks (all P<0.05). In addition, changes in A-FABP were significantly and positively correlated with changes in NT-proBNP (r = 0.239, P = 0.039). Furthermore, multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that the changes in A-FABP were independently and positively associated with changes in NT-proBNP after adjusting for confounding factors (β = 0.320, P = 0.007).

Conclusions/Significance

Rosiglitazone-mediated increase of A-FABP is closely associated with the elevation of NT-proBNP, a well-established marker of cardiac dysfunction. The findings of our study imply that A-FABP may mediate the cross-talk between heart and adipose tissue.     

Serum ribonuclease levels in patients with cystic fibrosis

The levels of serum pancreatic-type ribonuclease (RNase) activity in normal individuals and in individuals homozygous and heterozygous for the cystic fibrosis (CF) gene have been studied. In 21 CF patients, ages 3–24 years, RNase levels of 459 ± 95 units/ml did not differ significantly from the RNase levels of 467 ± 105 units/ml in 17 normal individuals of the same age group nor from those of 490 ± 52 units/ml in 5 individuals heterozygous for the CF gene.     

Serum lipid levels in patients with Alzheimer's disease

The role of lipids in the aetiology and progress of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is still unclear High lipid levels could be one of the risk factors for AD, but no association or even protective effects of high cholesterol levels in the development of the AD were also found. The aim of the study was to determine serum levels of total cholesterol, high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides (TG) in female patients with AD and in healthy elderly controls. The 50 patients met the diagnostic criteria of probable AD according to the NINDS-ADRDA and DSM-IV criteria. Cognitive impairment was evaluated using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). Patients were subdivided into two groups of 19 patients in the middle (MMSE 10-19) and 31 patients in the late (MMSE 0-9) phase ofAD. Psychotic and non-psychotic features, evaluated by means of Neuropsychiatric Inventory, were presented in 13 and 37patients with AD, respectively. Control group consisted of 58 subjects without cognitive impairment (MMSE >27) and with lipid levels within normal range. Serum lipid levels were determined by the enzymatic colour tests and by the enzymatic clearance assay. Significantly lower lipid levels were found in patients with AD, than in controls. Patients in the late phase of AD had significantly lower entire lipid profile than controls and significantly lower cholesterol and LDL-C levels than patients in the middle stage ofAD. There was no difference in lipid levels between patients with and without psychotic features. The significant positive correlations were found between MMSE scores and cholesterol, LDL-C levels and age in all AD patients. The results support the presumption that lipid profile might be connected with the aetiology and progress of AD and showed the association between low serum cholesterol and LDL-C levels and cognitive decline in patients with AD. Further studies are needed to confirm the relationship between lipid levels and cognition, and to validate the lipid profile as a biological marker for the progress of AD.     

Serum IGF-1 levels correlate negatively to liver damage in diabetic rats

Abstract

Diabetes and insulin resistance frequently cause liver damage. Diabetes also causes reduction in liver and blood IGF-1 levels. We investigated the relation between liver damage and IGF-1 levels in diabetic rats. Fourteen Wistar albino rats were divided into control and diabetic groups. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin. Rats were sacrificed for biochemical and histologic examinations 2 weeks after streptozotocin injection. Serum and liver IGF-1 levels were decreased, liver malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were increased, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) enzymes activities were decreased and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were increased in diabetic group. Microscopic examination of liver revealed that normal tissue organization was disrupted in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. There was a strongly positive correlation between blood glucose levels and liver injury, and blood and liver IGF-1 levels. There was a strongly negative correlation between blood IGF-1 levels and hepatic injury. Our results suggest that reduction of blood IGF-1 levels correlates with hepatic injury and circulating IGF-1 levels may have predictive value for determining hepatic damage that results from diabetes. In addition, circulating IGF-1 levels are correlated with glutathione levels and the oxidative stress status of diabetic rat liver.     

Serum melatonin levels and insomnia in patients with Machado-Joseph Disease

We previously reported a patient with Machado-Joseph Disease (MJD) who had severe insomnia and a low serum melatonin (MLT) level, and whose insomnia was alleviated by oral MLT replacement therapy. The aims of this study were to examine whether patients with MJD are likely to have insomnia, and whether there is a relationship between the degree of insomnia and the serum MLT level among patients with MJD. This study included 8 patients with MJD. A 58-year-old-patient with cervical spondylosis was also included in this study to check the condition of the test room for sleeping. All patients filled out the Japanese version of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI-J) questionnaire. We obtained blood samples at 12:00 and 24:00 hours to measure the MLT level. We checked the sleep condition of the patient once an hour and recorded the grade in sleep-logs: the grades of sleep condition were asleep, sleepy, or awake. Statistical analyses were performed to search for correlations between the PSQI score and the serum MLT level or actual sleep time using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. Seven of the 8 MJD patients had a total PSQI score of above 5.5 (cut-off level). The daytime MLT level (at 12:00 hours) was below 2.8 pg/mL in all 8 patients, whereas the mean night-time MLT level (at 24:00 hours) of the MJD patients (23.6 ± 17.5 pg/mL) was lower than that of the control patient (43.0 pg/mL) and also lower than the reported cut-off level among healthy people aged 30–50 years (55.5 pg/mL). There was a negative correlation between the total PSQI score and the serum MLT level among the MJD patients (P < 0.05). Our results show that a low serum MLT level may contribute to insomnia in patients with MJD.

     

Serum microRNA-21 as marker for necroinflammation in hepatitis C patients with and without hepatocellular carcinoma

Background

MicroRNA-21 (miR-21) is up-regulated in tumor tissue of patients with malignant diseases, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Elevated concentrations of miR-21 have also been found in sera or plasma from patients with malignancies, rendering it an interesting candidate as serum/plasma marker for malignancies. Here we correlated serum miR-21 levels with clinical parameters in patients with different stages of chronic hepatitis C virus infection (CHC) and CHC-associated HCC.

Methodology/Principal Findings

62 CHC patients, 29 patients with CHC and HCC and 19 healthy controls were prospectively enrolled. RNA was extracted from the sera and miR-21 as well as miR-16 levels were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR; miR-21 levels (normalized by miR-16) were correlated with standard liver parameters, histological grading and staging of CHC. The data show that serum levels of miR-21 were elevated in patients with CHC compared to healthy controls (P<0.001); there was no difference between serum miR-21 in patients with CHC and CHC-associated HCC. Serum miR-21 levels correlated with histological activity index (HAI) in the liver (r = −0.494, P = 0.00002), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (r = −0.309, P = 0.007), aspartate aminotransferase (r = −0.495, P = 0.000007), bilirubin (r = −0.362, P = 0.002), international normalized ratio (r = −0.338, P = 0.034) and γ-glutamyltransferase (r = −0.244, P = 0.034). Multivariate analysis revealed that ALT and miR-21 serum levels were independently associated with HAI. At a cut-off dC_T of 1.96, miR-21 discriminated between minimal and mild-severe necroinflammation (AUC = 0.758) with a sensitivity of 53.3% and a specificity of 95.2%.

Conclusions/Significance

The serum miR-21 level is a marker for necroinflammatory activity, but does not differ between patients with HCV and HCV-induced HCC.     

Serum protein and zinc levels in patients with thoracic empyema

The element Zn is the metal component or activator of many important enzymes. The tissue concentrations and activities of Zn metalloenzymes direct the rate of protein and nucleic acid syntheses, thereby influencing tissue growth and reperative processes. Most of the serum Zn is normally bound to circulating proteins. Low serum Zn concentrations might result from depletion of Zn-binding proteins. Serum protein and Zn concentrations have been reported to be depressed in patients with acute and chronic diseases. We compare the serum protein and Zn values of patients with thoracic empyema (n=20) with those of a control group (n=20). The values obtained in the empyema group were significantly lower than those in the control group before the study. Test group administered 220 mg zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄. 7H₂O) over 20 d and there was a significant increase in the values for serum protein and Zn after the oral administration of the zinc sulfate.     

Serum levels of TWEAK in patients with psoriasis vulgaris

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of a variety of inflammatory disorders and autoimmune diseases. However, studies conducted on the relationship of TWEAK and psoriasis patients are limited. In this study, we aimed to explore the serum levels of TWEAK and investigated whether TWEAK levels are associated with clinical variables and expression of other well-known psoriasis-related cytokines including IL-6, IL-23 and TNF-α. Forty-five patients with chronic plaque psoriasis and 43 controls were enrolled in this study. The severity of psoriasis was assessed by the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI). Serum levels of cytokines were measured using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. The mean TWEAK, IL-6, IL-23, and TN-α levels were significantly higher in psoriasis patients than in control subjects. However, there were no significant correlations between the psoriasis severity, the illness duration and serum cytokine levels. This study shows that TWEAK may be associated with the pathogenesis of psoriasis, like TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-23.