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High Serum Levels (high + serum_level)

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Medical Sciences	90%

Selected Abstracts

High serum levels of YKL-40 in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck are associated with short survival

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 4 2008
Anne Roslind
Abstract YKL-40 is a glycoprotein secreted by macrophages, neutrophils and malignant tumor cells. Elevated serum levels of YKL-40 are associated with poor prognosis in several malignancies. In this study, we examined the prognostic value of serum YKL-40 before treatment and during follow-up in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC). YKL-40 was determined by ELISA retrospectively in serum from 173 patients with primary HNSCC before treatment and up to 2 years after treatment. Median follow-up time was 7.9 years. YKL-40 protein expression in tumor biopsies was assessed by immunohistochemistry in 50 patients. Pretreatment serum YKL-40 was elevated in 53%. Patients with high serum YKL-40 had shorter survival than patients with normal serum YKL-40 (33 vs. 84 months; p = 0.008). Multivariate Cox analysis including pretreatment serum YKL-40, age, sex, primary tumor site, TNM classification and treatment demonstrated that TNM classification (HR = 2.61, p = 0.02) and serum YKL-40 (log-transformed continuous variable: HR = 1.55, p < 0.0001) were independent prognostic variables of overall survival (OS). Multivariate Cox analysis demonstrated that TNM classification (HR = 5.77, p = 0.001) and serum YKL-40 (dichotomous variable: HR = 2.75, p = 0.01) were independent predictors of recurrence-free survival. During follow-up after radiotherapy, a high serum YKL-40 (log-transformed continuous variable) in patients with TNM Stage III and IV disease predicted poorer OS within 6 months (HR = 1.95, p < 0.0001). Immunohistochemical analysis showed YKL-40 expression in the malignant tumor cells. In conclusion, serum YKL-40 was demonstrated to be an independent prognostic biomarker of recurrence-free and overall survival in patients with HNSCC. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

High serum levels of B-lymphocyte stimulator are associated with clinical,pathological features and outcome in classical Hodgkin lymphoma

BRITISH JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 6 2007
C. Tecchio
Summary B-lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) acts as survival factor for B lymphocytes. As Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells express receptors through which BLyS promotes their growth and chemotherapy resistance, we investgated whether this molecule was increased in sera from patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) and whether it correlates with clinical-pathological features and outcomes. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure soluble BLyS (sBLyS) in sera from 87 patients and 33 donors; higher levels were detected in patients (mean ± standard error 4493·9 ± 264·9 pg/ml vs. 2687·0 ± 200·9 pg/ml; P < 0·0001). Levels above the median value (4242·0 pg/ml) were associated with age ,45 years (P = 0·042), advanced stages of disease (P = 0·005), systemic symptoms (P = 0·014) and extranodal involvement (P = 0·009). Five-year failure-free survival (FFS) of patients with sBLyS below or equal to median levels was 88·6% as compared to 65·1% of those with levels above the median (P = 0·009). Statistical analyses confirmed the prognostic significance of sBLyS (P = 0·046). When patients were analysed according to variables associated with high levels, sBLyS showed an independent predictive power in terms of FFS. Our findings support the involvement of BLyS in cHL pathogenesis. The association between high serum levels and an inferior FFS indicates that sBLyS is a possible prognostic predictor with a potential significance as a therapeutic target. [source]

Prognostic significance of serum vascular endothelial growth factor and endostatin in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

BRITISH JOURNAL OF SURGERY (NOW INCLUDES EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SURGERY), Issue 10 2004
R. T. P. Poon
Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and endostatin stimulate and inhibit tumour angiogenesis respectively. Recent studies have demonstrated the prognostic value of serum levels of both VEGF and endostatin in patients with various types of cancer. Their significance in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. Methods: Serum VEGF and endostatin levels were measured by enzyme immunoassay in 108 patients with HCC before surgical resection and in 20 healthy controls. Preoperative serum VEGF and endostatin levels were correlated with clinicopathological features and long-term survival. Results: Serum VEGF levels in patients with HCC were significantly higher than those in controls, but serum levels of endostatin were similar in the two groups. High serum levels of VEGF, but not endostatin, were significantly associated with venous invasion and advanced tumour stage. Patients with a serum VEGF level higher than median (over 245·0 pg/ml) had significantly worse overall and disease-free survival than those with a lower level (P = 0·012 and P = 0·022 respectively). On multivariate analysis, serum VEGF level was an independent prognostic factor (hazard ratio 1·86 (95 per cent confidence interval 1·10 to 3·92); P = 0·032). Serum endostatin levels did not have significant prognostic influence on overall or disease-free survival. Conclusion: A high serum level of VEGF is a predictor of poor outcome after resection of HCC. Serum VEGF, but not endostatin, may be a useful prognostic marker in patients with HCC. Copyright © 2004 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Low prevalence of the intrinsic form of atopic dermatitis among adult patients

ALLERGY, Issue 5 2006
R. Fölster-Holst
Background:, Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease commonly associated with respiratory allergies such as rhinitis and asthma, and a high serum level of IgE. In contrast to the ,classic' IgE-mediated allergic (extrinsic) form of AD, approximately 20% of the patients are reported to show normal IgE levels, lack of sensitizations towards environmental allergens, and absence of associated respiratory allergies. Accordingly, these patients are assigned to a nonallergic (intrinsic) form of the disease. Objectives:, In order to define these two forms of AD more closely, 259 adult patients with AD were investigated. Results:, After a thorough diagnostic workup there were 18 patients (6.9%), who fulfilled the criteria of intrinsic AD. After follow-up, four additional patients had developed respiratory allergies or IgE-mediated sensitizations resulting in an overall proportion for intrinsic AD of 5.4%. Conclusions:, Based on these figures the nature and relevance of the intrinsic form of AD deserves further evaluation. [source]

Prognostic significance of serum vascular endothelial growth factor and endostatin in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

A case of gastric cancer with high pepsinogen II levels in both serum and ascites

DIGESTIVE ENDOSCOPY, Issue 1 2000
Manabu Muto
The first case of gastric cancer in which pepsinogen (PG) II levels were found to be extremely high not only in the serum but also in the ascites, with values of 603 ng/mL and 1910 ng/mL, respectively, is reported. Pepsinogen I and PG II are normally secreted into the gastric lumen and only 1% of the amount secreted enters the circulation. Although gastric cancer cells are found to produce PG II more often than PG I, elevated PG values in serum are extremely rare, and only one case has ever been reported. That patient had extremely high serum levels of PG I and PG II at the time of gastric cancer relapse. Pepsinogen has never been reported in the ascites, and thus nothing is known about the mechanism of entry into the ascites. In this case report, we postulate two mechanisms to explain the increased PG II in the ascites: (i) a high level of serum PG II infiltrated the ascites and caused elevation of PG II in the ascites; or (ii) disseminated cancer cells directly produced PG II and it elevated PG II levels in the ascites. [source]

Vitamin D and multiple sclerosis

JOURNAL OF CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY, Issue 2 2008
Anita Raghuwanshi
Abstract Vitamin D is a principal regulator of calcium homeostasis. However, recent evidence has indicated that vitamin D can have numerous other physiological functions including inhibition of proliferation of a number of malignant cells including breast and prostate cancer cells and protection against certain immune mediated disorders including multiple sclerosis (MS). The geographic incidence of MS indicates an increase in MS with a decrease in sunlight exposure. Since vitamin D is produced in the skin by solar or UV irradiation and high serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) have been reported to correlate with a reduced risk of MS, a protective role of vitamin D is suggested. Mechanisms whereby the active form of vitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) may act to mediate this protective effect are reviewed. Due to its immunosuppressive actions, it has been suggested that 1,25(OH)2D3 may prevent the induction of MS. J. Cell. Biochem. 105: 338,343, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Identification and characterization of IgG4-associated autoimmune hepatitis

LIVER INTERNATIONAL, Issue 2 2010
Hobyung Chung
Abstract Background: Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) share clinical and pathological features such as high serum levels of immunoglobulin (Ig) G and autoantibodies, and lymphoplasmacytic infiltration, suggesting the presence of common immunological abnormalities. However, little is known about the possible involvement of IgG4, a hallmark of AIP, in AIH. Aims: In this study, we examined whether the IgG4 response contributes to the histopathological and clinical findings in AIH. Methods: Liver sections from 26 patients with AIH, 10 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), three patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and 20 chronic hepatitis patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection were immunostained for IgG4. We investigated the relationship among the histopathology, the responses to steroid therapy and the IgG4 staining. Results: Nine of the 26 liver specimens from patients with AIH showed positive staining for IgG4 whereas none of the 10 samples from patients with PBC, the three samples from patients with PSC or the 20 samples from patients with HCV hepatitis were positive. Patients with IgG4-positive AIH also showed increased serum levels of IgG. The numbers of T cells, B cells and plasma cells were significantly increased in the livers of patients with IgG4-positive AIH as compared with those patients with IgG4-negative AIH. Patients with IgG4-positive AIH also showed a marked response to prednisolone therapy. Conclusions: AIH may be classified into either an IgG4-associated type or an IgG4 non-associated type with the former showing a marked response to prednisolone treatment. [source]

Transrectal power Doppler imaging in the detection of prostate cancer

BJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 9 2000
K. Okihara
Objectives To evaluate the clinical utility of transrectal power Doppler imaging (PDI) of the prostate for detecting prostate cancer in patients with abnormally high serum levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA). Patients and methods Patients (107) with abnormally high serum PSA levels were assessed using a digital rectal examination (DRE), transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) and PDI. Any hypervascular lesion on PDI was graded on a scale of 0,3, where grade 1,3 was considered positive and grade 0 negative. Patients were then diagnosed by prostatic needle biopsy and the results compared with the other detection methods. Results Needle biopsy confirmed prostate cancer in 41 (24%) of the 170 patients. PDI was positive in 68, of whom 40 (59%) had prostate cancer; all those but one having prostate cancer were positive on PDI. Thus, PDI had a high sensitivity of 98% (40/41) and a negative predictive value of 99% (101/102). PDI could have saved a significant number of patients from undergoing unnecessary biopsies, compared with DRE and TRUS (P < 0.001). Conclusion The use of PDI in detecting prostate cancer might reduce the number of unnecessary needle biopsies of the prostate in patients with abnormally high serum PSA levels. [source]