Vitamin E status and its determinants in patients with cystic fibrosis

Purpose

The risk of vitamin E deficiency is of primary concern in cystic fibrosis patients. However, early diagnosis and routine vitamin E supplementation can lead to its normal or even high levels. In the present study, we assessed vitamin E status in a large group of cystic fibrosis patients. Moreover, we also aimed to establish determinants of its body resources in cystic fibrosis patients.

Vitamin D status in patients with Behcet's Disease

OBJECTIVES:

This study investigated the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels of patients with Behcet''s Disease.

DESIGN AND METHODS:

Thirty-two patients with Behcet''s Disease and 31 matched healthy controls were enrolled in this study. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, calcium (Ca), phosphate (P), and total alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were measured in both groups.

RESULTS:

There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding demographic data. The serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels of patients and controls were 13.76 (range: 4.00-35.79) and 18.97 (range: 12.05-36.94) ng/ml, respectively. In patients with Behcet''s Disease, 25-hydroxyvitamin D values were significantly lower than those of the healthy controls (p<0.001). Serum Ca, P, and ALP levels were similar in both groups. Serum ESR and CRP levels were significantly higher in patients than controls (p<0.05). There was no correlation between 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and age, body mass index (BMI), disease duration, ESR, or CRP levels. Multivariate regression analysis parameters showed that smoking, alcohol intake, and use of colchicine were the main predictors of 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels. Of the parameters studied, the largest impact was due to colchicine therapy (p<0.001). We did not find a significant relationship between the use of corticosteroids and 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels.

CONCLUSION:

Our results suggest that serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels are decreased in patients with Behcet''s Disease. Smoking, alcohol intake, and use of colchicine appear to affect vitamin D levels.     

Vitamin E inhibits activated chaperone-mediated autophagy in rats with status epilepticus

Seizures and status epilepticus induce an excessive production of reactive oxygen species leading to oxidative stress. Vitamin E, a classic antioxidant, has a neuroprotective effect on rats with seizures by regulating reactive oxygen species production. The activity of chaperone-mediated autophagy, a selective pathway for the degradation of cytosolic proteins in lysosomes, is enhanced during oxidative stress. Whether chaperone-mediated autophagy is induced during status epilepticus is not established. To address this problem, we used pilocarpine to elicit status epilepticus in rats. Lysosome-associated membrane protein 2a was used to estimate chaperone-mediated autophagy. We showed that compared to control animals, lysosome-associated membrane protein 2a at lysosomal membranes increased significantly in rats at 8 h, 16 h, and 24 h after induction of status epilepticus, which directly correlated with chaperone-mediated autophagy activity. Since reactive oxygen species are believed to be important in the pathogenesis of status epilepticus and are essential for the process of chaperone-mediated autophagy, we also sought to determine if pretreatment with vitamin E reduced chaperone-mediated autophagy. Pretreatment with vitamin E reduced oxidative stress and partially inhibited chaperone-mediated autophagy in brain at 24 h after status epilepticus versus vehicle. Taken together, these data show that chaperone-mediated autophagy is increased in rats with pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus through upregulation of de novo synthesis of lysosome-associated membrane protein 2a. Antioxidants such as vitamin E may partially inhibit activated chaperone-mediated autophagy.     

Vitamin E prevents extensive lipid peroxidation in patients with hypertension

Oxidative modification of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) increases atherogenic potential to induce the accumulation of lipids and cells in the vascular wall. Previous studies reveal that hypertensive patients have a higher susceptibility to LDL oxidation. As animal models indicate that vitamin E protects LDL from oxidation, here we study the influence of vitamin E on the resistance of LDL to oxidation (lag time) in 47 subjects (31 normotensive, 16 hypertensive) before and after oral administration of vitamin E (400 IE) daily for two months. LDL was isolated and oxidised by incubation with copper ions. The time course of oxidation was measured by continuous photometric monitoring of diene formation at 234 nm. At the beginning of this study, normotensive subjects showed a lag time of 108 +/- 26 minutes and hypertensive patients a lag time of 85 +/- 24 minutes (P<0.05). Vitamin E caused a significant increase in the lag time in both groups: normotensive subjects 128 +/- 33, hypertensives patients 114 +/- 27 minutes (P<0.01). At completion of the study, lag times in both groups were similar (P=not significant). The data presented here suggests that vitamin E protects against the increased risk of vascular disease in patients with hypertension by reducing the susceptibility to oxidative modification of LDL. Vitamin E may therefore act as an inhibitor of atherogenesis.     

Mutation status of somatic EGFR and KRAS genes in Chinese patients with prostate cancer (PCa)

Activating mutations of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) confers sensitivity to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). In colorectal cancer and in lung adenocarcinomas, clinical trials have shown a lack of response to anti-EGFR therapy when KRAS gene mutations are present. In this study, the mutation status of specified exons of the EGFR and KRAS genes was profiled in patients with prostate cancer (PCa). Direct Sanger sequencing was used to screen for mutations in exons 19–21 of EGFR and in exon 2 of KRAS in 88 Chinese patients diagnosed with prostate adenocarcinomas. Mutations were detected in 11 patients. In nine cases (10 %), activating mutations in the region of EGFR encoding the tyrosine kinase (TK) domain were present. Deletions in exon 19 and the L858R substitution in exon 21 were “hotspot” mutations, together accounting for five (55 %) of nine cases. Many synonymous substitutions were also detected. KRAS mutations were found in two cases (2.3 % of 88). There were no cases with mutations in both EGFR and KRAS, suggesting that mutations in the two genes might be mutually exclusive. Although prognostic relevance of EGFR expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) was observed in PCa patients in previous studies, we found no statistically significant association between EGFR or KRAS mutations and clinicopathological features (including age, smoking status, preoperative prostate-specific antigen, Gleason scores, and tumor stage). We contend that accurate profiling of the mutation status of EGFR and KRAS could improve prognostic stratification, and we suggest a potential anti-EGFR therapy for patients with PCa with EGFR mutations.     

Vitamin E status in men and women aged 60-90 years

The vitamin E status in men and women aged 60-90 years (62 men and 124 women) was examined. Plasma free vitamin E was analysed according to a modified version of the Hansen and Warwich method--a fluorometric micromethod for serum tocopherol. Serum cholesterol, triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol were quantified by the enzymatic methods on a Computer Directed Analyzer. Anthropometric data included the measurement of 13 skinfold thickness dimensions and Quetelet's index of obesity computed from weight (in g) and height (in cm2). The distribution of plasma free tocopherol level ranged from 10 mumol/1 to 69.9 mumol/1 for men and from 20 mumol/1 to 64.9 mumol/1 for women (median: 40-44.9 mumol/1 for both groups). Using the range of 12-46 mumol/1 free tocopherol of the plasma as the criterion, 78.5% of the subjects were classified as having the optimal vitamin E status. With the total free tocopherol levels above 49.9 mumol/1 of plasma, 21.5% of the subjects had an over average vitamin E status. It has also been found that there were correlations between the total free plasma tocopherol and plasma lipids (plasma triglycerides, plasma cholesterol, in men and women) and HDL-cholesterol in the male population.     

Trace elements, heavy metals and vitamin levels in patients with coronary artery disease

Aim: In the present study, we aimed to assess serum concentrations of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), vitamins A (retinol), D (cholecalciferol) and E (α-tocopherol) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and to compare with healthy controls.Methods: A total of 30 CAD patients and 20 healthy subjects were included in this study. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry (UNICAM-929) was used to measure heavy metal and trace element concentrations. Serum α-tocopherol, retinol and cholecalciferol were measured simultaneously by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).Results: Demographic and baseline clinical characteristics were not statistically different between the groups. Serum concentrations of retinol (0.3521±0.1319 vs. 0.4313±0.0465 mmol/I, p=0.013), tocopherol (3.8630±1.3117 vs. 6.9124±1.0577 mmol/I, p<0.001), cholecalciferol (0.0209±0.0089 vs. 0.0304±0.0059 mmol/I, p<0.001) and Fe (0.5664±0.2360 vs. 1.0689±0,4452 µg/dI, p<0.001) were significantly lower in CAD patients. In addition, while not statistically significant serum Cu (1.0164±0.2672 vs. 1.1934±0.4164 µg/dI, p=0.073) concentrations were tended to be lower in patients with CAD, whereas serum lead (0.1449±0.0886 vs. 0.1019±0.0644 µg/dI, p=0.069) concentrations tended to be higher.Conclusions: Serum level of trace elements and vitamins may be changed in patients with CAD. In this relatively small study we found that serum levels of retinol, tocopherol, cholecalciferol, iron and copper may be lower whereas serum lead concentrations may be increased in patients with CAD.     

Trace elements and plasmapheresis

The relationship between serum aluminum (Al), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and iron (Fe) and plasmapheresis (PP) treatment was examined. Three patients with rheumatoid arthritis, six with myasthenia gravis, and 6 with multiple sclerosis were studied. Serum Al, Zn, Cu, and Fe were measured before and after PP. Plasma was separated by first filtration; a second filtration separated the plasma components. Three liters of plasma were treated in each PP session. With each PP treatment, total protein (TP) removed was 20 +/- 5% and serum albumin removed was +/- 6%. Serum Al rose significantly (p less than 0.01 from 1.1 +/- 0.2 micrograms/dl pre-PP to 2.8 +/- 0.4 micrograms/dl post-PP. Serum Zn, Cu, and Fe decreased significantly (p less than 0.01) from 86.2 +/- 7.4 micrograms/dl, 126 +/- 18 micrograms/dl, and 108 +/- 14 micrograms/dl pre-PP to 58.4 +/- 10.2 micrograms/dl, 104 +/- 6 micrograms/dl, and 82 +/- 16 micrograms/dl post-PP, respectively. Two days after the end of the six-month PP treatment, serum Al levels rose significantly (p less than 0.01), from 1.1 +/- 0.2 micrograms/dl to 3.6 +/- 0.8 micrograms/dl. However, serum TP, serum albumin, and serum Zn, Cu, and Fe did not change significantly. It thus appears essential in PP treated patients, to remove Al from the blood to protect against aluminum intoxication.     

Trace elements in hemodialysis patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background  

Hemodialysis patients are at risk for deficiency of essential trace elements and excess of toxic trace elements, both of which can affect health. We conducted a systematic review to summarize existing literature on trace element status in hemodialysis patients.     

Vitamin E as an antioxidant agent in CAPD patients

Oxidative stress, increased lipid peroxidation and decreased activity of antioxidant systems may contribute to the accelerated development of atherosclerosis in chronic renal failure patients during renal replacement therapy. The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of vitamin E (400 mg/day) on some antioxidant defense parameters in CAPD patients. In fourteen CAPD patients, erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and catalase (CAT), the concentration of plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E were investigated. The study was divided into two periods. Each period lasted six weeks. In the first period patients received orally vitamin E 400 mg/day, in the second period they did not receive vitamin E or other antioxidant drugs. Each parameter was determined at the beginning of the study and at the end of each period. Six CAPD patients were treated by erythropoietin (EPO) and received orally pyridoxine 20 mg/day and the others without EPO treatment received pyridoxine 5 mg/day. Six-week treatment by vitamin E (400 mg/day) led to the significant increase of serum vitamin E (from 33.6+/-9.0 to 49.3+/-15.5 micromol/L) and to the significant decrease of MDA (from 2.62+/-0.5 to 2.36+/-0.4 micromol/L). The mean values of erythrocyte enzymes were in or under the lower margin of normal range and were not influenced by vitamin E in CAPD patients. The results of our study showed that orally administered vitamin E is a very important antioxidant agent for CAPD patients.     

Trace elements in drug addicts

Summary We studied trace elements (zinc, copper, magnesium, iron, and lithium) by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in the plasma and erythrocytes of 120 subjects: 20 healthy controls and 100 parenteral drug addicts (69 heroin and 31 heroin + other drugs). Plasma Zn and intraerythrocytic Zn and Fe were decreased, whereas plasma and intraerythrocytic Cu were significantly increased in the group of drug addicts with respect to the healthy controls. Moreover, a period of abstinence longer than 10 days was associated with lower plasma levels of Zn and Li in subjects who had taken drugs shortly before they were examined. The presence of serological markers against HBV and HIV did not seem to influence the behavior of the trace elements in blood.Abbreviations HBV hepatitis B virus - HAV hepatitis A virus - HIV human immunodeficiency virus - AIDS acquired immunodeficiency syndrome - HBsAg hepatitis B surface antigen - HBsAb hepatitis B surface antibody - HBcAb hepatitis B core antibody - HBeAb hepatitis B antibody - RPR rapid plasma reagent - FT A-Abs fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption     

Trace elements in Isoparorchis hypselobagri

Summary The trace elements contents of the tissue of Isoparorchis hypselobagri were ascertained by quantitative analyses. The iron content was found to be particularly high in comparison of copper and zinc.