RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: We aimed to determine how does butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activity change in the serum of NAFLD patients, whether there was a relationship between BChE and the severity of NAFLD and whether BChE could be used to distinguish the patients with simple hepatic steatosis from the patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. METHODS: The study group consisted of 64 patients with NAFLD. Patients were examined for fatty liver index and in the serum, we investigated BChE activities and the concentrations of prealbumin, cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triacylglycerols and hyaluronic acid (HA). We also used FIB-4 index to evaluate liver fibrosis. RESULTS: BChE activity was significantly increased in NAFLD patients compared to the controls (4711 U/l vs 4028 U/l). Patients with higher concentrations of serum triacylglycerols and non-HDL cholesterol had also significantly higher activities of BChE. The comparison of BChE activity and parameters of liver fibrosis (HA and FIB-4) showed a significant negative correlation between these parameters. Patients with an increased concentration of HA had significantly lower BChE than the controls (3111 U/l vs 4028 U/l). CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed increased BChE values in NAFLD patients. The comparison of changes in BChE activity with the changes in prealbumin levels and changes of both fibro markers showed that the examination of BChE activity could help to differentiate NAFLD patients with a simple hepatic steatosis from those with an advanced disease (Tab. 1, Fig. 7, Ref. 28). Text in PDF www.elis.sk Keywords: butyrylcholinesterase, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, hyaluronic acid, FIB-4, fatty liver index.
Asunto(s)
Butirilcolinesterasa , Enfermedad del Hígado Graso no Alcohólico , HDL-Colesterol , Humanos , Hígado/patología , Cirrosis Hepática/patología , Enfermedad del Hígado Graso no Alcohólico/patologíaRESUMEN
Alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) is a glycoprotein found in the alpha-1 globulin fraction of human plasma proteins. AGP is an important representative of acute-phase proteins. Although numerous articles have been devoted to AGP, its exact biological function remains obscure. AGP levels increase with a number of diseases. One of them is a tumor disease. In our paper, we discuss the role of increased AGP levels in cancer patients. We deal with the role of AGP as a drug-binding protein and its effect on the efficacy of chemotherapy in oncological patients. Other problems that are discussed in our paper include the role of AGP as an immunomodulatory protein and its relationship to angiogenesis because angiogenesis plays an important role in the progression of cancer (Ref. 57). Keywords: alpha-1-acid glycoprotein, orosomucoid, cancer, disease marker, immunomodulatory protein,drug-binding protein.
Asunto(s)
Neoplasias , Orosomucoide , Humanos , Neoplasias/terapia , Orosomucoide/fisiología , Unión Proteica , Resultado del TratamientoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease characterised by demyelination. There are many environmental factors that can affect the progression of this disease. It is necessary to better understand the impact of these factors in MS pathogenesis and progression. OBJECTIVE: Present study investigates the relationship of total cholesterol serum levels and other parameters contributing to cardiovascular risk - homocysteine and serum lipid parameters (triglycerides, HDL, LDL) - with the progression of MS (EDSS score). METHODS: The study involved 169 patients diagnosed with MS. Total homocysteine levels were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. Serum lipid parameters were measured with enzymatic kits. RESULTS: There was no difference observed between homocysteine levels in MS patients and controls. Dyslipidaemia seems to be associated with MS progression, particularly in women with relapsing-remitting form of MS. CONCLUSION: Positive correlation of total and LDL cholesterol with disability score in patients with relapsing-remitting form of MS suggests that lipid parameters could have a negative effect on the disease progression.
Asunto(s)
Colesterol/metabolismo , Evaluación de la Discapacidad , Lípidos , Esclerosis Múltiple Recurrente-Remitente/sangre , Adulto , Progresión de la Enfermedad , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , RecurrenciaRESUMEN
Recently, a growing interest has been recorded in mineral content of mammalian diet, which might impair their development. Focused on the topic, we studied the effect of Al3+, Si4+, Sr2+ and Na2S on the intensity of malondialdehyde (MDA) production in vitro. MDA, as one of oxidative stress markers, was determined in rat brain homogenates in the conditions of lipid peroxidation (LP) activated by iron ions and ascorbate. Our results showed a significant increase in lipid peroxidation after addition of aluminium ions. We assume a probable impact of Al3+ on active or regulatory centres of antioxidant enzymes, resulting in the reduction of their antioxidant functions. The addition to Si4+ or Na2S to samples with Al3+ significantly decreased Fe2+-activated LP. We can explain the influence of Na2S by the formation of insoluble complexes with iron. Similarly, the effect of Si4+ can be related to the production of aluminium-silicon complexes. In our view, an optimal ratio of aluminium and silicon ions (or aluminium ions and Na2S) in the diet might have beneficial effects on brain functions.
Asunto(s)
Aluminio/farmacología , Encéfalo/metabolismo , Malondialdehído/farmacología , Silicio/farmacología , Sulfuros/farmacología , Animales , Hierro/farmacología , Peroxidación de Lípido/efectos de los fármacos , Malondialdehído/metabolismo , Ratas , Ratas WistarRESUMEN
Influence of mineral water from Trencianske Teplice (drinkable source) on lipid peroxidation processes was determined in model situations under in vitro conditions using the brain tissue. The central nervous system was selected because it is especially sensitive to the radical-induced damage. In addition, there is a high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the brain which has a low antioxidant capacity and is relatively rich in iron ions--enhancers of lipid peroxidation processes. We present the inhibitory effect of the mineral water on the intensity of lipid peroxidation in the presence of iron ions. We assume that some component or combination of more components of the mineral water may act as chelators of iron ions.
Asunto(s)
Encéfalo/metabolismo , Peroxidación de Lípido , Aguas Minerales , Animales , Técnicas In Vitro , Hierro/farmacología , Peroxidación de Lípido/efectos de los fármacos , Masculino , Ratas , Ratas Wistar , Sustancias Reactivas al Ácido Tiobarbitúrico/metabolismoRESUMEN
K(+)-p-nitrophenylphosphatase (K(+)pNPPase) is the enzyme, which is considered to be involved in K(+)-dependent hydrolysis of the phosphoenzyme in the reaction cycle of Na(+), K(+)ATPase. The aim of our present study was to characterize some features of K(+)pNPPase in homogenates of the rat brain and liver. We determined p-nitrophenylphosphatase (pNPPase) activity in the presence of various ion combinations (Mg(2+)+ K(+), Mg(2+), K(+)). We found a higher total pNPPase activity in the brain (0.8+/-0.079 nkat/mg protein) than in the liver (0.08+/-0.01 nkat/mg protein). Contrary to the liver, the main part of the total brain activity was K(+)-dependent. The activity of K(+)pNPPase was significantly higher in cerebral cortex homogenates (0.86+/-0.073 nkat/mg protein) in comparison to those of the whole brain (0.57+/-0.075 nkat/mg protein). The specific K(+)pNPPase activity was two times higher in the isolated pellet fraction (0.911+/-0.07 nkat/mg protein), rich in synaptosomes, compared to the whole brain homogenate (0.57+/-0.075 nkat/mg protein). Our results demonstrate the high activity of K(+)pNPPase in the brain tissue and its distribution mainly into the pellet fraction, what might indicate a possible role of K(+)pNPPase in specific structures of the brain, e.g. in synaptosomes.