The activation of the inflammatory cytokines in overweight patients with mild obstructive sleep apnoea

It is widely accepted that obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is linked with cardiovascular diseases. The relationship is complex and remains still poorly understood. The presence of chronic systemic inflammation has been connected with pathogenesis of both OSA and cardiovascular diseases. While atherogenesis is believed to be a process of many years, little is known about the potential impact of the largest OSA subgroup, mild OSA, on the development of cardiovascular diseases. The aim of the present study was to assess whether untreated mild OSA is associated with an activation of inflammatory cytokine system. The adult study population consisted of two groups: 84 patients with mild OSA [apnoea–hypopnoea index (AHI) 5–15 h^?1] and 40 controls (AHI <5 h^?1). Serum concentrations of pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory cytokines were measured before any interventions. After adjustments for age, sex, body mass index, fat percentage, most important cardiometabolic and inflammatory diseases, and non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory medication, the mean level of tumour necrosis factor‐α was significantly elevated (1.54 versus 1.17 pg mL^?1, P = 0.004), whereas the level of interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) was reduced (0.19 versus 0.23 pg mL^?1, P = 0.004) in patients with mild OSA compared with controls. The concentrations of the protective anti‐inflammatory cytokines, interleukin‐10 (1.28 versus 0.70 pg mL^?1, P < 0.001) and interleukin‐1 receptor antagonist (478 versus 330 pg mL^?1, P = 0.003) were elevated in the OSA group. The concentrations of C‐reactive protein increased, but IL‐1β decreased along with the increase of AHI. Mild OSA was found to be associated not only with the activation of the pro‐inflammatory, but also with the anti‐inflammatory systems.     

Heavy drinking in hospital patients

The study examines the prevalence of high consumption of alcohol among the patients of a large university hospital, and the ability of physicians to detect heavy drinking. According to self-report, the results of CAGE questionnaire or the physicians' opinion, 25% of the male and 11% of the female patients were heavy drinkers. The physicians identified 43% and 26% of the men and women who screened positively either according to CAGE or self-report. On the other hand, 17% of the men and 14% of the women who were identified by the physicians as heavy drinkers had a negative screening result. Heavy drinking was most often connected with psychiatric disorders, but it was present in all specialities. A wide range of diagnoses were found among abusers. It is concluded that all patients in all clinics should be asked about their drinking habits instead of relying solely on the physician's instinct or on the patient's self-report or CAGE. More individual interviews should be done to make possible early intervention in heavy drinking.     

Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels in Finnish Children Aged 2 to 17 Years

ABSTRACT. Serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) in summer and winter were studied in 564 children aged 2–17 years living in the northern, central or southern parts of Finland. The mean levels of 25-OHD were significantly lower in winter (13.3 ± 10.8 ng/ml) than in summer (27.2 ± 10.3 ng/ml) in all age groups ( p < 0.001). The mean 25-OHD levels in the northern part of the country did not differ significantly from the others. In both seasons the levels of 25-OHD were lower in the 11–17 year age group than in younger children. In that age group 22.4 % of the children had serum levels of 25-OHD below 5 ng/ml (the limit of risk for rickets), compared to 16.8 % of children 6–10 years old and 7.5 % of children 2–5 years old, but none of the children showed any laboratory evidence of rickets.     

Deposition of C3, C9 neoantigen and vitronectin (S-protein of complement) in lichen planus pemphigoides

We have compared the distribution of C3, C9 neoantigen (C9n) and vitronectin at the dermoepidermal junction in lichen planus pemphigoides with that in bullous pemphigoid. Eight out of 30 biopsies from patients with lichenoid lesions had linear C3 deposition at the basement membrane zone (BMZ); four of these patients had bullae and fulfilled the criteria for lichen planus pemphigoides. C9n immunoreactivity was detected as a linear or an intermittent linear/granular band at the BMZ only in these four patients, suggesting a role for the membrane attack complex of complement (MAC) in the pathogenesis of blister formation in lichen planus pemphigoides. Faint linear deposition of vitronectin, in addition to C9n, at the BMZ was seen in two of the four cases of lichen planus pemphigoides and three of six cases of bullous pemphigoid. This suggests that vitronectin may be deposited in association with C9n not only as part of the non-lytic SC5b-9 complex, but also as a regulatory step following the lytic action of MAC. A regulatory function for vitronectin in limiting tissue damage following activation of MAC is supported by our finding of a heavy deposition of vitronectin in association with C9n in a lichen planus pemphigoides patient in whom bulla formation had ceased.     

Peripheral venous concentrations of oestrogens in postmenopausal women with ovarian cancer

Summary. Serum concentrations of oestrone, oestradiol and oestriol were measured in 23 postmenopausal women, 12 with ovarian cancer and 11 with genital prolapse. Oestrone (387.6 pmol/1) and oestradiol (72.7 pmol/1) levels were higher in the cancer group than those in the control group (159.8 and 27.5 pmol/1 respectively), while oestriol levels did not differ (434.5–270.8 pmol/1). The results indicate abnormal ovarian function in postmenopausal patients with ovarian cancer.     

THE EFFECT OF ETHANOL OR HEPATOTOXIN EXPOSURE ON RAT TRANSFERRIN DESIALYLATION

Serum carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) is being increasinglyused as a biological indicator for excessive alcohol consumption.However, the mechanisms behind the changes in the carbohydratemoiety of transferrin are unclear, although they have been suggestedto be mediated by acetaldehyde or liver damage. To study this,an animal model involving alterations in serum isotransferrinconcentrations would be needed. The present work examined thechanges in the carbohydrate moiety of transferrin in rats afterdifferent degrees of ethanol exposure, the effects of chronicallyelevated acetaldehyde levels, and also the changes producedwith liver toxins (galactosamine and carbon tetrachloride).Ethanol was administered both in the drinking fluid and by intubation,reaching a dose of 11 g/kg/day over 7 weeks, or 16 g/kg/dayover 4 weeks. Serum samples from rats maintained on high ethanolfor 10 weeks by intragastric infusion were also analysed. Somerats simultaneously had cyanamide administered to elevate acetaldehydelevels. However, neither ethanol nor acetaldehyde had any effecton transferrin. Intraperitoneal galactosamine, but not carbontetrachloride, induced transferrin desialylation. Thus, in therat, neither chronic ethanol consumption nor elevated acetaldehydeinduces changes in transferrin microheterogeneity.