The relationship between insulin-like growth factor-1 and metabolic syndrome, independent of adiponectin

BackgroundInsulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is associated with obesity and aging, and was recently linked to metabolic syndrome (MetS) and insulin resistance. However, little is known about the relationship between IGF-1 and adiponectin (adiponectin), another marker of MetS.MethodsWe measured the plasma IGF-1 and adiponectin levels of 3099 subjects (1869 males, 55.9 ± 10.8 y). We applied the Korean-modified International Diabetes Foundation (k-IDF) criteria for determination of, and risk assessment for, MetS.ResultsK-IDF criteria-based MetS occurred in 37.0% (n = 1146) of patients. IGF-1 (91.5 vs. 97.3 ng/ml, p < 0.001) and adiponectin (3.95 vs. 4.23 μg/ml, p < 0.001) were significantly lower in MetS patients than without MetS. Lower IGF-1 was associated with increasing numbers of MetS abnormalities, independent of adiponectin (p for trend < 0.001, F = 12.615, p < 0.001 in ANCOVA). MetS prevalence in individuals with both high IGF-1 and adiponectin levels (6.7%, n = 206) was significantly lower than in other groups. Both high IGF-1 and adiponectin group was associated with reduced MetS risk after adjusting for other confounding factors (OR 0.694, 95% CI 0.493–0.977, p = 0.036).ConclusionsIGF-1 was associated with MetS independent of adiponectin in our study. The independent relationship between IGF-1 and MetS provides insight into the pathophysiologic mechanisms of MetS.     

Reference values for serum levels of insulin-like growth factor-I and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 in Korean children and adolescents

ObjectiveMeasurements of serum insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) are utilized in the diagnostic work-up and clinical management of children with growth disorders. We designed this study to establish the reference values of serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels according to age, sex and pubertal stage in Korean children and adolescents.MethodsFor the study, 1378 healthy Korean children and adolescents aged 0 to 17 years (722 boys, 656 girls) were randomly selected. Blood samples were collected, and the stored sera were assayed for IGF-I and IGFBP-3 using immunoradiometric assay (IRMA, Immunotech). The R 2.8.1 program (Bell Laboratories) was used to generate reference percentile curves for IGF-I and IGFBP-3 according to age, sex, and pubertal stageResultsSerum IGFBP-3 level was higher in girls compared to that in boys of the same ages throughout the pubertal period, whereas IGF-I was only higher for girls younger than 13 years of age. Serum levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 increased steadily with age in the prepubertal stage, followed by a progressive decline thereafter. Peak levels of serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 were observed two years earlier in girls compared to those in boys (13 vs. 15 years of age, respectively). Serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 concentrations were highest at Tanner stage IV in boys and girls, with a subsequent decline.ConclusionsOur reference value model based on age, sex, and pubertal stage can improve the diagnostic utility of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels in the evaluation and management of Korean children and adolescents with growth disorders.     

Plasma ascorbic acid preparation and storage for epidemiological studies using TCA precipitation

Objectives:To introduce a procedure to validate an ascorbic acid method using trichloroacetic acid (TCA) for plasma stabilization at different storage temperatures.Methods:EDTA and heparin plasma were precipitated with TCA (1:5) containing 0.54 mol/L EDTA, or without. Samples were stored at ? 20 °C and ? 70 °C and their stability was tested at room temperature for 24 h.Results:A significant 40% loss (p < 0.001) of plasma ascorbic acid was found when EDTA samples with added EDTA were stored at ? 20 °C for 2–4 weeks compared with storage at ? 70 °C. Ascorbic acid in heparin plasma without added EDTA was most unstable and samples left at room temperature for 24 h lead to almost a total loss of ascorbic acid. Addition of EDTA to the TCA solution improved stability of samples of both plasma types at room temperature.Conclusion:The recommended procedure for ascorbic acid determination in plasma stabilized with TCA is immediate storage at ? 70 °C and inclusion of EDTA into the TCA solution.     

Evaluation of circulating vascular endothelial growth factor and soluble adhesion molecules as reliable predictors of native arteriovenous fistula thrombosis in chronic hemodialysis patients

ObjectivesWe evaluated the possibility of using circulating vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and soluble adhesion molecules as reliable predictors of native arteriovenous (AV) fistula thrombosis in chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients.Design and methodsThis study included 62 HD patients (34 with thrombosed and 28 with non-thrombosed AV fistulas) and 21 healthy volunteers. Serum VEGF, soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), and soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin) were measured using ELISA technique.ResultsVEGF, sVCAM-1, sICAM-1 and sE-selectin median levels were higher in HD patients compared to controls (p = 0.000 for all parameters). Increased median levels of VEGF and sVCAM-1 were demonstrated in HD patients with thrombosed AV fistulas compared to HD patients with non-thrombosed AV fistulas (p = 0.003 and 0.000, respectively). A significant positive correlation has been found between VEGF and sVCAM-1 in HD patients with thombosed AV fistulas (r = 0.525, p = 0.001).ConclusionsThe assessment of serum VEGF and sVCAM-1 might be useful for the identification of the chronic HD patients at an increased risk for native AV fistulas thrombosis. The clinical relevance of these observations warrants further investigations.     

Increased urinary level of oxidized nucleosides in patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease

Objective:Oxidative stress may play an important role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD).Design and methods:To investigate the possible role of oxidative DNA damage in the pathogenesis of AD, we measured the metabolite concentrations of oxidized nucleosides (pseudouridine, 1-methyladenosine, 5-methylcytidine, 5-methyl-2′-deoxycytidine, 3-methyluridine, N², N²-dimethylguanosine, 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine, 5-deoxyadenosine and 2-deoxyguanosine) in urine between AD (n = 36) and control subjects (n = 34) using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) without urine preparation.Results:In AD, the 3-methyluridine, 1-methyladenosine, 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (p < 0.05, respectively), 2-deoxyguanosine (p < 0.01) and pseudouridine, N², N²-dimethylguanosine (p < 0.001, respectively) were significantly increased when compared with the control subjects.Conclusion:The results indicate that oxidized urinary nucleosides may be useful as biomarkers for AD in early stages.     

Serum soluble Fas levels in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases

Objective:The role of the serum soluble Fas (sFAS) system is unclear in diagnosis of several autoimmune rheumatic diseases although there are present contradictory reports on the levels of serum sFas. We therefore assessed levels of sFAS in serum of patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases.Patients and methods:We analyzed sFas levels and their relationship to clinical and laboratory data in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, n = 32), rheumatoid arthritis (RA, n = 28), Sjögren's syndrome (SS, n = 20) systemic sclerosis (SSc, n = 21), polymyositis/dermatomyositis (PM/DM, n = 15). Patients with osteoarthritis (OA, n = 20) and healthy volunteers (n = 20) were used as controls. Serum levels of sFAS were determined by ELISA. sFas levels greater than mean (normals) + 2 SD were considered as elevated.Results:The mean sFas values were found higher in RA, PM/DM and OA than in control although no differences were found in SSc and SS patients. The mean sFas levels in SLE patients were lower than healthy controls. Elevated sFas rates in RA, PM/DM and SS were found to be 21.4%, 60%, 10% higher than in healthy controls, respectively. sFas levels in SLE and SSc did not differ from control values. Mean sFas levels did not show significant difference between active and inactive patients in all disease groups except PM/DM, RA and OA. No correlations of sFas with relevant disease subsets, laboratory findings and treatment modalities were found.Conclusions:The findings indicate that the serum sFas molecule may provide a useful additional marker for presence and assessment of disease in patients with RA and PM/DM.     

Cytokine elevations in acute coronary syndrome and ovarian cancer: a mechanism for the up-regulation of the acute phase proteins in these different disease etiologies

Objectives:To identify if a common set of cytokines is elevated in both ovarian cancer and acute coronary syndrome (ACS).Design and methods:A cytokine array (Randox Ltd) was measured in healthy women (n = 33), women with ACS (n = 21) and ovarian cancer (n = 45).Results:Women with ACS or ovarian cancer had higher concentrations of IL-6, IL-8, VEGF, MCP-1, and EGF as compared to healthy volunteers.Discussion:Common cytokine elevations are present in both ACS and ovarian cancer.     

A multiplex immunoassay gives different results than singleplex immunoassays which may bias epidemiologic associations

ObjectivesMultiplex immunoassays are increasingly used in epidemiologic studies to measure inflammatory factors, however there are few published evaluations of this technology. Our objective was to compare a common multiplex immunoassay to singleplex immunoassays for measuring inflammatory factors, and to examine how combining data from each affects an epidemiologic association.Design and methodsPlasma IL-1 beta, IFN-gamma, IL-6, and TNF-alpha were measured in 100 samples using a multiplex kit from Mesoscale Discovery (MSD) and singleplex ELISAs from R&;D Systems. Separate samples (n = 80) were collected to compare multiplex and singleplex assays from MSD. We simulated the effect of combining MSD multiplex and R&;D singleplex data on the association between sugar sweetened beverage (SSB) intake and IL-6 in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (HPFS; n = 1314).ResultsCompared to R&;D ELISAs, the MSD multiplex proportionally and significantly overestimated IL-1 beta (slope = 1.2), and IFN-gamma (slope = 2.9) but underestimated IL-6 (slope = 0.5). Correlations were ≥ 0.81 except for TNF-alpha (r = 0.31). Compared to MSD singleplex, the MSD multiplex proportionally underestimated IFN-gamma (slope = 0.7) and TNF-alpha (slope = 0.5). Correlations were ≥ 0.96. The association between sugar sweetened beverage intake and IL-6 in the HPFS (+ 0.16 pg/mL per serving/day, p = 0.02, all singleplex) was gradually attenuated as multiplex data made an increasing contribution to the data-set. (+ 0.09 pg/mL [? 45%], p = 0.02, all multiplex)ConclusionsA multiplex immunoassay for inflammatory factors yielded significantly different results than singleplex immunoassays—including those from the same company. Correlations were not consistently high, except among assays from the same company. Such differences may distort epidemiologic relationships if data from both methods are merged.     

Plasma ceruloplasmin as a biomarker for obesity: a proteomic approach

ObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate new biomarkers of obesity particularly in relation with inflammation-associated proteins using protein differential display techniques.Design and methodsComparison of protein expression in plasma between non-obese (n = 109, body mass index, BMI < 25 kg/m²) and obese (n = 32, BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²) groups was carried out using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) analysis. ELISA was also performed for validation.ResultsAmong six differentially expressed protein spots, ceruloplasmin (Cp) and fibrinogen were over-expressed in obese group. Plasma Cp levels were significantly higher in obese group than non-obese group (34.0 ± 8.6 vs. 41.3 ± 12.7 mg/dL, p < 0.001) and positively correlated with age (r = 0.253, p < 0.005), BMI (r = 0.265, p < 0.001) and hsCRP (r = 0.385, p < 0.001). In stepwise multiple linear regression analysis, plasma Cp along with hsCRP were found predictors for obesity (adjusted β-coefficient = 0.266, p < 0.01).ConclusionElevated plasma Cp levels were significantly associated with obesity, which may be suggested to be a marker of obesity.     

Butyrylcholinesterase activity is reduced in haemodialysis patients: Is there association with hyperhomocysteinemia and/or oxidative stress?

Objectives:To quantify serum butyrylcholinesterase activity in haemodialysis patients and to evaluate if the homocysteine levels and/or oxidative stress biomarkers have an effect on butyrylcholinesterase.Materials and methods:Blood samples were collected from patients and healthy subjects (control). The plasma homocysteine and TBARS levels; serum butyrylcholinesterase activity; blood δ aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALA-D) activity and methahaemoglobin were analyzed. The mortality of the patients was also evaluated after 3 years.Results:The homocysteine was increased and butyrylcholinesterase decreased compared to control (p < 0.05). TBARS and methahaemoglobin were increased and ALA-D decreased (p < 0.05). The following correlations were found: homocysteine with butyrylcholinesterase (? 0.44); methahaemoglobin (0.41); ALA-D (? 0.68); and TBARS (0.66). The partial correlation between homocysteine with butyrylcholinesterase, withdrawn the effect of TBARS, was ? 0.30; all p < 0.05. Moreover, it was observed that 22% of the patients died due to cardiovascular problems.Conclusion:Thus, our findings support a direct association between the reduction of butyrylcholinesterase by the increase of homocysteine and an indirect effect by increase in oxidative stress.     

Normal range of serum Amphiregulin in healthy adult human females

ObjectivesPrior to large studies in breast cancer patients, we have sought to establish the normal range of a potential serum biomarker, Amphiregulin, in healthy women and to determine whether sampling during the menstrual cycle influences the detected Amphiregulin levels.Design and methodsSerum Amphiregulin levels were quantified using a commercially available ELISA in 85 normal female donors.ResultsThe range of circulating Amphiregulin was 0–4467 pg/mL. The majority of women had no detectable circulating Amphiregulin (n = 54), and only five women had levels exceeding 500 pg/mL. Serum Amphiregulin levels did not vary significantly during the menstrual cycle (n = 7 women).ConclusionsDetection of circulating Amphiregulin in a significant minority of healthy women suggests that it may not have the specificity necessary for a population screening tool; however its potential utility for monitoring response to treatment or disease progression should be examined in breast cancer cases.     

Carotid intima media thickness is related positively to plasma pre ß-high density lipoproteins in non-diabetic subjects

BackgroundLipid-poor or lipid-free high density lipoprotein (HDL) particles, designated pre ß-HDL, stimulate removal of cell-derived cholesterol to the extracellular compartment, which is an initial step in the reverse cholesterol transport pathway. Pre ß-HDL levels may be elevated in subjects with established cardiovascular disease. We determined the relationship of carotid intima media thickness (IMT), a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis, with pre ß-HDL in subjects without clinically manifest cardiovascular disease.MethodsIMT and plasma pre ß-HDL, assayed by crossed immuno-electrophoresis, were determined in 70 non-diabetic subjects (aged 56 ± 9 years; non-smokers only; 27 women).ResultsIMT was correlated positively with pre ß-HDL, both expressed as plasma apolipoprotein (apo) A-I concentration (r = 0.271, p = 0.023) and as% of apo A-I (r = 0.341, p = 0.004). In contrast, IMT was correlated inversely with HDL cholesterol (r = ? 0.253, p = 0.035). IMT was also related positively to pre ß-HDL after adjustment for age, sex, systolic blood pressure (in apoA-I concentration, ß = 0.203, p = 0.043; in% of plasma apoA-I, ß = 0.235, p = 0.023). IMT remained associated with pre ß-HDL after additional adjustment for either body mass index, plasma glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, apoA-I and apoB.ConclusionSubclinical atherosclerosis may relate to higher plasma pre ß-HDL independently of apoA-I and HDL cholesterol levels.     

Lipid, protein, DNA oxidation and antioxidant status in rheumatoid arthritis

ObjectivesTo investigate lipid, protein, DNA oxidation and antioxidant status in blood and synovial fluid of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and to determine the importance of oxidative stress parameters in reflecting disease activity.Design and methods20 RA patients and 15 healthy controls were included. Lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), lipid hydroperoxide, and conjugated diene), protein oxidation (carbonyl and thiol), DNA oxidation (8-OHdG) and antioxidant status markers (glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GSH Px), superoxide dismutase (CuZn SOD), and catalase) were determined in blood and synovial fluid.ResultsTBARS (p < 0.001), lipid hydroperoxide (p < 0.001), conjugated diene (p < 0.001), carbonyl (p < 0.001) and 8-OHdG (p < 0.01) levels were significantly higher; thiol (p < 0.01) and GSH levels (p < 0.01) and GSH Px (p < 0.001) and CuZn SOD (p < 0.01) activities were significantly lower in blood of RA patients. TBARS (p < 0.001), lipid hydroperoxide (p < 0.001), conjugated diene (p < 0.01), carbonyl (p < 0.001) and 8-OHdG (p < 0.05) levels were significantly higher, catalase activity (p < 0.001) significantly lower in synovial fluid of RA patients.ConclusionsIncreased lipid, protein and DNA oxidation markers and impaired antioxidant status confirm the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of RA. Lipid peroxidation markers can serve as surrogate markers for disease activity.     

Serum vascular adhesion protein-1 is higher in subjects with early stages of chronic kidney disease

ObjectivesAn increased level of serum vascular adhesion protein-1 (VAP-1) has been found in patients with diabetes mellitus and vascular disorders. This study examined whether serum VAP-1 levels are associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD).Design and methodsWe included 262 subjects aged 30 and above with fasting plasma glucose level < 7 mmol/L checked within 1 year. First morning urine specimens were collected. Microalbuminuria was defined if urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio ≥ 30 μg/mg creatinine. The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was estimated. CKD stages were defined according to the suggestions of the National Kidney Foundation. Serum VAP-1 levels were analyzed by immunofluorometric assay.ResultsSerum VAP-1 levels were positively associated with the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio ( r = 0.29, p < 0.0001) and negatively associated with estimated GFR (r = ?0.24, p =  0.0001). Subjects with CKD stage 2 (N =  51) and stage 3 (N =  91) had significantly higher levels of serum VAP-1 than those without CKD (p =  0.0003 and p =  0.035, adjusted for age and gender, respectively). A high serum VAP-1 level was associated with the presence of CKD (OR 1.63 for 1 SD increase of VAP-1, p =  0.018), adjusting for age, sex, and smoking. Ordered logit models revealed that high serum VAP-1 levels correlated with advanced stages of CKD.ConclusionsSerum levels of VAP-1 are associated with the severity of kidney damage or stages of kidney disease. The true mechanism which links the serum VAP-1 and CKD remains to be elucidated in further studies.     

Serum levels of basic fibroblastic growth factor (bFGF) in children with vascular anomalies: Another insight into endothelial growth

ObjectivesDysregulation of angiogenesis has been proposed to play a central role in hemangioma pathogenesis. The aim of the study was to determine the peripheral and local serum levels of bFGF in patients with hemangiomas and vascular malformations (VM).Design and methodsThe study group consisted of 52 children with infantile hemangioma, 14 with VM and 36 healthy patients. bFGF serum levels were analyzed by an ELISA assay. Urinary bFGF was determined in 11 individuals with hemangioma.ResultsThe serum peripheral bFGF concentrations in children with proliferating hemangiomas were lower than in healthy controls (p = 0,03). There was no correlation between the measured cytokine level and hemangioma size, as well as patients’ age. The serum local bFGF levels in 29 children with hemangiomas were higher than in the peripheral blood (p = 0.022). Urinary bFGF in hemangioma patients did not differ statistically from healthy controls.Conclusions(1) Determination of bFGF serum levels is not helpful in differentiating the phases of hemangioma growth and distinguishing hemangiomas from VM; (2) serum levels of bFGF cannot distinguish between extrinsic and intrinsic theories of endothelial cell proliferation in hemangiomas.     

Lymphocytic enzymes and lipid peroxidation in patients with metabolic syndrome

ObjectivesMetabolic syndrome (MetS) is considered a state of chronic inflammation. This study aimed to ascertain selected parameters of purinergic and cholinergic systems related to glucose metabolism and inflammation, as well as _γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and N-acetyl-b-glucosaminidase (NAG) activities and lipoperoxidation in lymphocytes of patients with MetS.Design and methodsThe adenosine deaminase (ADA), dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), GGT and NAG activities, as well as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels were investigated in lymphocytes of patients with MetS (n = 38) and healthy volunteers (n = 41). We also evaluated the insulin levels, anthropometric measurements and routine biochemical analyses.ResultsADA (p < 0.05), DPP-IV and AChE (p < 0.0001) activities were higher in patients with MetS when compared to the control group. Furthermore, we observed correlations between ADA and DPP-IV activities (p = 0.0002; r = 0.5945), TBARS levels and ADA (p = 0.0021; r = 0.5172) and DPP-IV activities (p = 0.0022; r = 0.5010).ConclusionsOur findings showed that MetS might cause tissue distress that disturbed lymphocytic ADA, DPP-IV and AChE activities in response to inflammatory stimuli. These alterations evidence clinical abnormalities, since these enzymatic systems are able to regulate several aspects of adipose tissue function and inflammatory state of MetS and could be used successfully both for preventing and for halting the progression of MetS.     

Effects of anticoagulants on human plasma soluble corin levels measured by ELISA

BackgroundRecently, soluble corin was detected in human plasma. In patients with heart failure, plasma corin levels were lower than that of normal controls. In this study, we analyzed experimental conditions for measuring plasma or serum corin by an immunoassay.MethodsSerum and plasma corin levels were measured by ELISA. Effects of different anticoagulants (EDTA, heparin and sodium citrate) on plasma corin levels were examined.ResultsCorin levels in serum were similar to that in plasma with heparin (950 ± 305 vs. 929 ± 301 pg/ml, n = 40, p = 0.73), but were significantly higher than those in plasma with sodium citrate (735 ± 237 pg/ml, p < 0.01) or EDTA (716 ± 261 pg/ml, p < 0.001). Native and recombinant human corin proteins were stable in human plasma with EDTA at 4 °C or underwent freezing-and-thawing. In 348 healthy Chinese individuals, plasma corin levels ranged from 216 to 1663 pg/ml. The levels were higher in males than that in females (842 ± 283 vs. 569 ± 192 pg/ml, p < 0.001).ConclusionSoluble corin was stable in plasma samples. Plasma soluble corin levels vary depending on anticoagulants used. Samples containing heparin had significantly higher levels of corin than that in samples with EDTA or sodium citrate.     

Bystander CPR in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: the role of limited English proficiency

BackgroundThe proportion of non-native English speakers is increasing in the United States. We sought to determine if limited English proficiency in callers to 9-1-1 for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is associated with provision of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and delays in telephone-assisted CPR.Materials and methodsWe completed a secondary analysis of cohort data collected as part of a randomized trial of emergency dispatcher bystander CPR instructions. Included patients suffered confirmed cardiac arrest treated by emergency medical services. Callers were identified as limited English proficient through review of the dispatcher report.ResultsOf 971 eligible cardiac arrest cases, 5.9% (n = 57) of 9-1-1 callers were limited English proficient. Comparing arrest events of limited English proficient 9-1-1 callers with English-fluent callers, a lower proportion of limited English proficient arrest cases received bystander CPR (64.3% [36/56] vs. 77.5% [702/906]; p = 0.02) or survived to hospital discharge (8.8% [5/57] vs. 16.5% [151/914]; p = 0.12). Dispatchers took longer to recognize cardiac arrest with limited English proficient callers compared with English-fluent callers (median 84 vs. 50 s; p < 0.001). Among callers attempting bystander CPR, the interval from call receipt to initiation of CPR was longer for limited English proficient compared with English-fluent callers (median 237 vs. 163 s; p < 0.001).ConclusionIn this observational study of dispatcher-identified cardiac arrest, limited English proficiency in 9-1-1 callers was associated with less frequent provision of bystander CPR and delays in arrest recognition and implementation of telephone CPR, underscoring the health challenges and potential disparities of pre-hospital care related to limited English proficiency.     

Assessment of paraoxonase activity and lipid peroxidation levels in diabetic and senile subjects suffering from cataract

Objectives:The purpose of this study was to evaluate antioxidant effect of paraoxonase 1 activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels as a marker of oxidative stress in patients suffering from cataract due to diabetes and aging.Design and methods:One hundred cataract patients (senile and diabetic) and age- and sex-matched controls were studied. Paraoxonase 1 and arylesterase activities in plasma samples were measured using paraoxon and phenylacetate as substrates, respectively. The magnitude of lipid peroxidation was established by measuring plasma MDA and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox LDL) levels. One-way ANOVA was employed for analysis of results.Results:We observed significantly lower plasma paraoxonase and arylesterase activities in senile and diabetic cataractous patients as compared to respective controls (p < 0.001). Plasma MDA and ox LDL levels were found to be higher in patients suffering from cataract (p < 0.001).Conclusions:The results of present study suggest that the observed decrease in PON1 activity may be due to increase in oxidative stress. It can be concluded that lower paraoxonase activity could contribute to the higher risk of cataract formation.     

High density lipoprotein-anionic peptide factor effect on reverse cholesterol transport in type 2 diabetic patients with and without coronary artery disease

ObjectivesTo verify if HDL3 Anionic Peptide Factor (HDL3-APF) is as an apolipoprotein that promotes the reverse cholesterol transport.Design and methodsWe investigated a possible association between plasma HDL3-APF concentration, cholesterol efflux from Fu5AH cells and cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) activity in type 2 diabetic patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) (n = 36), those without CAD (n = 20), and 37 healthy subjects.ResultsPlasma APF concentrations were decreased in diabetics with CAD compared to controls (p < 0.01). Cellular cholesterol efflux was decreased in diabetics without and with CAD, (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001 respectively). CETP activity was significantly elevated in all patient groups. Multiple linear regression analysis shows that cholesterol efflux was independently and positively related only to APF concentrations in controls.ConclusionsAPF is likely to be a key independent factor for promoting cellular cholesterol efflux in healthy subjects. However this association is altered in type 2 diabetes.