• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.7
• /
• pp.3167-3171
• /
• 2016

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common diseases in men. It is important to assess prognostic factors and whether high cortisol levels and complex hormonal interactions could be responsible for PCa development. We evaluated the relationship between cortisol, leptin and estrogens in 141 men, 71 with PCa and the remaining 70 constituting a low risk group (LRG). They were recruited for this study from a total of 2906 middle-aged men (ages 45-70 years) who completed an evaluation for prostatic diseases at the Urology Division, Hospital de Clínicas "$Jos{\acute{e}}$ de San $Mart{\acute{i}}n$", University of Buenos Aires, in May 2009. In this cross sectional study, cortisol, PSA, total-testosterone, free-testosterone, bioavailable testosterone, LH and estradiol were measured in serum. We observed increased cortisol levels in PCa patients as compared to LRG cases (p=0.004,). Leptin and estradiol levels were also higher in PCa patients (p=0.048; p<0.0001, respectively). Logistic regression analysis indicated that serum cortisol (OR: 1.110 (95% CI 1.016-1.213), p=0.022), estradiol (OR: 1.044 (95% CI 1.008-1.081), p=0.016) and leptin (OR: 1.248 (95% CI 1.048-1.487), p=0.013) explained 27% of the variance of dependent variables, even after adjusting for age, smoking, BMI and waist circumference. We found increased cortisol levels in PCa patients as compared to LRG, as well as an altered circulating hormonal profile.

• Nutritional Sciences
• /
• v.9 no.4
• /
• pp.295-300
• /
• 2006

Iron bound to heme appears to be more bioavailable than iron salts. A clinical study was performed to investigate the absorption efficiency of heme-iron and iron-salt products available. Heme-iron and nonheme-iron supplements have become available in Korea. We performed iron absorption studies to compare the absorption of heme-iron polypeptide (HIP) products made from digested hemoglobin, produced in Korea (HIPk) and imported from Japan (HIj), with that of iron salts. In the study, 80 subjects were divided into 5 groups (n=56): placebo group; 12 mg glucose, HIPk group; 12 mg iron as HIPk, HIj group; 12 mg iron as HIj, iron-salt group 1; 12 mg of iron as ferrous aminoacetate, and iron-salt group 2; 100 mg iron as ferrous aminoacetate. Changes in serum iron levels were measured at 3 and 5 hours post ingestion. Absorption of iron in HIPk was higher compared to HIj, iron-salt or placebo. There was a significant inverse correlation between low serum iron levels $(<80{\mu}g/dl)$ and iron absorption from HIPk. These results demonstrated that HIPk was more bioavailable, even taken with a meal, and would have potential advantages over iron salt or HIj as an iron supplement. Our results indicate that heme-iron absorption is regulated by iron status through a heme receptor, whereas iron-salt absorption is unregulated.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
• /
• 2002.04a
• /
• pp.165.2-166
• /
• 2002

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Life Science Conference
• /
• 2001.09a
• /
• pp.32-32
• /
• 2001

• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.35-42
• /
• 2004

Liver and serum $\beta$-D-mannosidase activities were determined in ethanol intoxicated rats with extrahepatic cholestasis induced by common bile duct ligation (CBD) to manifest the biochemical background of alcohol drinking hazard under the hepatobiliary disease. Liver $\beta$-D-mannosidase activity and its Vmax value in CBD ligated rats with chronic ethanol intoxication were found to be significantly decreased than that in CBD ligation alone. However, the difference of Km value on above hepatic enzyme was not found between the experimental groups. On the other hand, serum $\beta$-D-mannosidase activity in CBD ligated rats with chronic ethanol intoxication was increased more than that in CBD ligation alone. These results indicate that the biosynthesis of the hepatic $\beta$-D-mannosidase decreases and the serum $\beta$-D-mannosidase activity increases in cholestasis combined with chronic ehtanol intoxication, reflecting damage of aggravated hapatocytic membrane. Accordingly, the resulting data supported the fact that alcoholic drinks were enzymologically harmful to the hepatobiliary disease.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.12
• /
• pp.7331-7333
• /
• 2013

Aim: To investigate associations of fasting insulin and glucose levels in serum with hepatocellular carcinoma risk. Materials and Methods: This hospital based study was carried out using data retrieved from the register maintained in the Department of Biochemistry of the Nepalese Army Institute of Health Sciences, between 1st December, 2011 and 31st June, 2013. The variables collected were age, fasting plasma glucose, fasting plasma insulin and ALT. Quantitative determination of human insulin concentrations was accomplished by chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay. Results: Of the total 220 subjects enrolled in our present study, 20 cases were of HCC and 200 were healthy controls. The maximum number of cases of hepatocellular carcinoma in category cutpoints of fasting insulin levels fell in the range of >6.10 ${\mu}U/ml$. The highest insulin levels (>6.10 ${\mu}U/ml$) were seen to be associated with an 2.36 fold risk of HCC when compared with fasting insulin levels of (<2.75 ${\mu}U/ml$). Furthermore, the insulin levels (2.75-4.10 ${\mu}U/ml$) of category cutpoints also conferred a 1.57 fold risk for HCC when compared with lowest fasting insulin levels of (<2.75 ${\mu}U/ml$). Conclusions: The effect of an insulin level in increasing HCC risk appeared consistent, influencing incidence, risk of recurrence, overall survival, and treatment-related complications in HCC patients.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.28 no.5
• /
• pp.730-736
• /
• 2007

The interaction of a polyoxometal (POM), K6SiW11Co(H2O)O39.10H2O (K6) as a Keggin, with human serum albumin (HSA) was studied by different methods and techniques. Binding studies show two sets of binding sites for interaction of POM to HSA. Binding analysis and isothermal calorimetery revealed that, the first set of binding site has lower number of bound ligand per mole of protein (ν), lower Hill constant (n), higher binding constant (K), more negative entropy (ΔS) and more electrostatic interaction in comparison to the second set of binding site. In addition, differential scanning calorimetery (DSC) and spectrophotometery data showed that, there are two energetic domains. The first domain is less stable (lower Tm and Cp) which corresponds to the tail segment of HSA and another with more stability is related to the head segment of HSA. Polyoxometal also decreases the stability of protein as Tm, secondary and tertiary structure as well as quenching of the fluorescence decrease. On other hand, perturbations in tertiary structure are more than secondary structure.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.42-45
• /
• 1999

Our previous studies have demonstrated the biological effects of alginic acid as a brown algae (Undaria pinnatifida) component on inhibitory action of obesity using animal model. Sprague-Dawely (SD) male rats were fed experimental diets ($10\%,\;20\%$ and $40\%$ brown algae noodle: BA-noodles) for 4 weeks. Effects of BA-noodles on triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol. LDL and HDL-cholesterol, and atherogenic ($10\%\~15\%$ and $15\%\~18%$, respectively) by administration of $10\%,\;20\%$and $40\%$ BA-noodles compared with control group. HDL-cholesterol contents in serum of SD rats for 4 weeks significantly increased in ranges of 7 to $16\%$ by administration of $10\%,\;20\%$ and $40\%$ BA-noodles compared with control group. Atherogenic index (AI) in serum of SD rats as a initial attack markers of chronic degenerative disease for 4 weeks remarkably decreased in ranges of 14 to $28\%$ by the adminstration of $10\%,\;20\%$ and $40\%$ BA-noodles compared with control group. These results suggest that administration of BA-noodle can not only effectively inhibit chronic degenerative disease, but also may be intervent the aging process.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.192-196
• /
• 2005

A study was conducted to monitor the changes in serum protein profile, cholesterol and blood glucose during endotoxic shock in buffalo calves and also to assess the role of prophylactic supplementation of vitamin E and selenium in alleviating the endotoxic effects. Fifteen male buffalo calves (6-8 months of age) were divided into three groups: Group I (control)-infused with 0.9% saline solution; Group II-infused with E. coli endotoxin at 5${\mu}g/kg$ body weight in normal saline solution; Group III- supplemented prophylactically with 250 mg vitamin E and 7.5 mg selenium by i/m injections at weekly intervals for one month prior to the induction of endotoxic shock. The blood samples were collected at 0, 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h after the induction of shock. Endotoxin caused a significant (p<0.05) hypoproteinemia from 3-12 h post infusion in group II but this hypoproteinemia was less pronounced and only from 3-9 h post infusion in vitamin E and selenium supplemented calves. Hypoglycemia was observed in group II from 3-24 h and blood glucose level returned to normal at 72 h. However hypoglycemia was mild in group III and blood glucose returned to normal at 48h. Hypocholesterolaemia and hypoalbuminemia were found in both groups II and III but these changes were less pronounced in group III i.e. vitamin E and Se supplemented calves. Serum electrophoretic protein patterns of group III were quite similar to those of control group but animals of group II had different electrophoretic pattern. It was concluded that the antioxidant effects of vitamin E and Se prevent the liver against oxidative stress during endotoxic shock.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.6
• /
• pp.3819-3823
• /
• 2013

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major cause of cancer mortality worldwide. The outcome of HCC depends mainly on its early diagnosis. To date, the performance of traditional biomarkers is unsatisfactory. Talins were firstly identified as cytoplasmic protein partners of integrins but Talin-1 appears to play a crucial role in cancer formation and progression. Our study was conducted to assess the diagnostic value of serum Talin-1 (TLN1) compared to the most feasible traditional biomarker alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) for the diagnosis of HCC. Methods: TLN1 was detected using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in serum samples from 120 Egyptian subjects including 40 with HCC, 40 with liver cirrhosis (LC) and 40 healthy controls (HC). Results: ROC curve analysis was used to create a predictive model for TLN1 relative to AFP in HCC diagnosis. Serum levels of TLN1 in hepatocellular carcinoma patients were significantly higher compared to the other groups (p<0.0001). The diagnostic accuracy of TLN1 was higher than that of AFP regarding sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value in diagnosis of HCC. Conclusions: The present study showed for the first time that Talin-1 (TLN1) is a potential diagnostic marker for HCC, with a higher sensitivity and specificity compared to the traditional biomarker AFP.