Insulin-like growth-factor-binding protein 3 is decreased in early-stage operable pre-menopausal breast cancer

Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) is a potent mitogen for human breast-cancer cells in vitro. In circulation, most of IGF-1 is bound to IGF-binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3). This high-affinity binding is thought to have an important limiting effect on the availability of IGF-1 for biological activity. To assess the availability of IGF-1 for receptor binding, we determined serum levels of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 and IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratios. In a case-control study, 150 women aged 38 to 75 years presenting with stage-l or-II breast cancer were investigated just prior to surgery (n = 76), or to irradiation one month after surgery (n = 74). The population-based control group consisted of 441 women of the same age having no breast cancer. Women reporting diabetes mellitus or other hormonal abnormalities were excluded. Premenopausal cases showed elevated IGF-1 serum concentrations, decreased IGFBP-3 levels and increased IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratios. The IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio was a significant breast-cancer risk factor, also after adjustment for age, family history, height, body-mass index, body-fat distribution, and serum levels of C-peptide. The relative risk was 7.34 for the highest compared with the lowest quintile of IGF-1/IGFBP-3. The presence or absence of tumor had no influence on these results. Increased levels of available IGF-1 in the circulation of pre-menopausal women may contribute to the development of breast cancer. © 1995 Wiley-Liss Inc.     

Effect of haemodialysis on serum levels of tumour markers in patients with end-stage renal failure

SUMMARY: We studied the effect of haemodialysis on the serum levels of tumour markers in 78 patients, 49 men and 29 women with a mean age of 61 ± 2 years, who had been undergoing haemodialysis for 39 ± 10 months. No patient had any clinical evidence of malignancy. Serum values of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), squamous-cell-carcinoma-related antigen (SCC), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA), CA 15-3, CA 19–9, and among males prostate-specific antigen (PSA) were determined before and after dialysis. Postdialysis values, after being corrected for haemoconcentration, were compared with predialysis values. A significant increase of 32% was observed in NSE levels ( P <0.001) and of 21% in CA 15-3 ( P <0.001) after haemodialysis. A lesser, but still statistically significant, increase (8-12%) was observed in SCC, AFP and CEA levels ( P <0.05), while the values of the remaining three markers remained unchanged. In conclusion, an increase in some tumour markers was found in our patients after dialysis, a finding which requires further investigation.     

Investigation of the morphology of cell clones, derived from the mammalian EBTr cell line and their susceptibility to vaccine avian poxvirus strains FK and Dessau

The ability for replication of vaccine avian pox viral strains FK and Dessau in cell clones, derived from the EBTr cell line, derived from embryonic bovine trachea, was studied. The derived seven cell clones showed different morphological characteristics and diverse sensitivity to both vaccine avian pox viral strains. Hence, the EBTr-derived cell clones could be used for cultivation, as well as for differentiation of vaccine avian pox viral strains. In addition, studies have been undertaken to elucidate the possible use of cultivated strains in these heterologous cell culture system's vaccine avian pox viral strains for biotechnology, as well as for solving problems, related to infection of people with avian viruses.     

Integrin expression in correlation to clinicopathological features and prognosis of prostate cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: The prompt identification of patients with poor prognosis is essential in order to improve the treatment outcomes in prostate cancer (CaP); as a novel approach, several molecular markers, including integrins, have been discussed as prognostic biomarkers. Our aim was to comprehensively examine aberrant expression of integrins in correlation with clinicopathological features and prognosis in CaP by synthesizing all available evidence, in a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Scientific literature databases (Pubmed, Embase, and Scopus) were systematically searched until May 10, 2020. Random-effects (DerSimonian-Laird) models were used to estimate pooled odds ratios (ORs) for cross-sectional correlations with clinicopathological characteristics and relative risks for longitudinal associations with prognosis. Results: Fourteen studies were included with a total number of 3,194 CaP cases examined (13 cross-sectional and four longitudinal cohort study arms). Correlation of low expression of α₆ (pooled OR = 0.10, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.04–0.28, P < 0.001) and β₁ (pooled OR = 0.45; 95% CI: 0.21–1.00, P = 0.049) integrin with high Gleason score was noted. A borderline trend between reduced expression of α₆ integrin and an advanced clinical stage of CaP (pooled OR = 0.48; 95% CI: 0.22-1.03, P = 0.06) was observed. No associations with biochemical recurrence and survival were documented. Conclusions: Evidence on the association of low expression of integrins α₆ and β₁ and more advanced CaP exist, whereas significant results on survival were not documented; further studies are warranted.     

The use of third-party packed red blood cells during ex situ normothermic machine perfusion of organs for transplantation: Underappreciated complexities?

Ex situ normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) is being used increasingly in the assessment of higher risk deceased donor organs and to facilitate prolonged organ storage. Third-party packed red blood cells (pRBCs) are often used as an oxygen carrier in the perfusate of ex situ NMP. Despite the increasing interest in NMP, comparatively little attention has been paid to the appropriate selection of pRBCs. This includes the choice of ABO blood group and Rhesus D status, the need for special requirements for selected recipients, and the necessity for traceability of blood components. Flushing organs with cold preservation solution after NMP removes the overwhelming majority of third-party allogeneic pRBCs, but residual pRBCs within the organ may have biologically relevant effects following implantation as they enter the recipient's circulation. This review considers these issues, and suggests that national transplant and blood transfusion agencies work together to develop a co-ordinated approach within each country. This is especially important given the possibility of organ re-allocation between centers after ex situ NMP, and the ongoing development of organ perfusion hubs.     

Alterations in epidermal function in type 2 diabetes: Implications for the management of this disease

Epidermal function is regulated by numerous exogenous and endogenous factors, including age, psychological stress, certain skin disorders, ultraviolet irradiation and pollution, and epidermal function itself can regulate cutaneous and extracutaneous functions. The biophysical properties of the stratum corneum reflect the status of both epidermal function and systemic conditions. Type 2 diabetes in both murine models and humans displays alterations in epidermal functions, including reduced levels of stratum corneum hydration and increased epidermal permeability as well as delayed permeability barrier recovery, which can all provoke and exacerbate cutaneous inflammation. Because inflammation plays a pathogenic role in type 2 diabetes, a therapy that improves epidermal functions could be an alternative approach to mitigating type 2 diabetes and its associated cutaneous disorders.     

Metabolism and Bioavailability of Olive Bioactive Constituents Based on In Vitro,In Vivo and Human Studies

Consumption of olive products has been established as a health-promoting dietary pattern due to their high content in compounds with eminent pharmacological properties and well-described bioactivities. However, their metabolism has not yet been fully described. The present critical review aimed to gather all scientific data of the past two decades regarding the absorption and metabolism of the foremost olive compounds, specifically of the phenylalcohols hydroxytyrosol (HTyr) and tyrosol (Tyr) and the secoiridoids oleacein (Olea), oleocanthal (Oleo) and oleuropein (Oleu). A meticulous record of the in vitro assays and in vivo (animals and humans) studies of the characteristic olive compounds was cited, and a critical discussion on their bioavailability and metabolism was performed taking into account data from their gut microbial metabolism. The existing critical review summarizes the existing knowledge regarding the bioavailability and metabolism of olive-characteristic phenylalchohols and secoiridoids and spotlights the lack of data for specific chemical groups and compounds. Critical observations and conclusions were derived from correlating structure with bioavailability data, while results from in vitro, animal and human studies were compared and discussed, giving significant insight to the future design of research approaches for the total bioavailability and metabolism exploration thereof.