BACKGROUNDVaspin is a newly-identified adipocytokine related to obesity and insulin sensitivity. However, its pathophysiologic role in humans remains largely unknown. The aim of our study was to investigate the relationship between serum vaspin level and glucose metabolism or obesity in Chinese adults.

METHODSA total of 123 subjects, including 84 subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) and 39 subjects with diabetes, were enrolled in this study. Anthropometric parameters, abdominal fat areas, plasma glucose concentration, serum insulin, lipids, and vaspin level were measured in each participant.

RESULTSSerum vaspin concentration was significantly higher in diabetic patients than that in NGT subjects (592 (438 - 695) pg/ml vs 380 (294 - 517) pg/ml, P = 0.020) in women. In all participants, age, fasting plasma glucose concentration (FPG), 2-hour post-load plasma glucose (PG2h), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) significantly increased from the lower tertile to the higher tertile of vaspin. Univariate linear regression analyses revealed that vaspin level was only positively correlated with age (beta = 0.340, P = 0.002) in NGT subjects. And vaspin was positively associated with FPG (beta = 0.365, P = 0.023), PG2h (beta = 0.526, P = 0.001), HbA1c (beta = 0.388, P = 0.016), and HDL-c (beta = 0.353, P = 0.027), while negatively with homeostasis model assessment of beta cell function (HOMA-beta) (beta = -0.361, P = 0.024) in diabetic patients. In stepwise multivariate regression analyses, age was independently associated with circulating vaspin in NGT subjects, whereas PG2h was an independent predictor of vaspin in diabetic patients. In addition, there was no significant difference of serum vaspin level between men and women. And no significant correlations between vaspin and body fat indexes were detected.

CONCLUSIONSSerum vaspin level is higher in diabetic patients than that in NGT subjects in women. Age predicts serum vaspin level in NGT subjects, while PG2h is independently associated with vaspin in diabetic patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postprandial Period ; Serpins ; blood

OBJECTIVETo study the correlation between adipocytokines levels and metabolic syndrome (MS) in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODSSixty-eight patients with newly diagnosed T2DM, including 51 cases with MS and 17 without MS, were examined for blood pressure (BP), fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FINS), insulin resistance index (IRI), waist to hip ratio (W/H), body mass index (BMI), and serum adipocytokine levels (IL-6, vaspin, and adiponectin).

RESULTSThe diabetic patients with MS had higher BMI, HbA1c, FBG, FINS, IRI, TG, TC, and SBP than those without MS. Serum IL-6 level was higher but adiponectin level was lower in patients with MS than in those without MS. There was no significant difference in vaspin level between the two groups. Adiponectin level was positively correlated with TG (r=-0.30, P=0.02) and inversely with BMI (r=-0.47, P=0.39) and HOMA-IR (r=-0.30, P=0.03); vaspin level was positively correlated with HOMA-IR (r=0.347, P=0.02) and inversely with HDL-L (r=-0.45, P=0.01); IL-6 level was positively correlated with LDL-L (r=0.18, P=0.25) and inversely with HDL-L (r=-0.45, P=0.01).

CONCLUSIONAdiponectin and IL-6 levels are closely related to MS, but the relationship between vaspin and MS needs further investigation.

Adipokines ; blood ; Adiponectin ; blood ; Adipose Tissue ; metabolism ; Adult ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; blood ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome ; complications ; Middle Aged ; Serpins ; blood

OBJECTIVETo explore the level of serum high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and the feasibility of HMGB1 as a tumor marker.

METHODSSerum HMGB1, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cytokeratin 19 fragment antigen (Cyfra21-1) and squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) and microparticle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA) respectively in 78 patients with ESCC preoperatively as well as a month after esophagectomy. At the same time, serum HMGB1, CEA, Cyfra21-1 and SCC of 60 healthy adult volunteers were detected with the same method. The unilateral P95 value of serum HMGB1 (>96 μg/L) was defined as positive. According to the Roche kit diagnostic criteria, CEA>5.0 μg/L, Cyfra21-1>3.3 μg/L and SCC>1.5 μg/L were defined as positive.

RESULTSThe preoperative positive ratio of serum HMGB1 in 78 patients with ESCC was 84.6%, and the level of serum HMGB1 was associated with the tumor size, infiltration depth, lymph node metastasis and tumor stage (P<0.01 or P<0.05). One month after esophagectomy, the level of serum HMGB1 in ESCC declined significantly compared with the preoperative level (P<0.01), and the level of serum HMGB1 in T4, N1, stage III was higher compared to corresponding T, N and tumor stage (P<0.01 or P<0.05). The positive ratio of CEA, Cyfra21-1 and SCC was 10.3%, 25.6% and 42.3% respectively in 78 ESCC patients preoperatively, so the sensitivity of these tumor markers was lower. One month after esophagectomy, serum Cyfra21-1 and serum SCC were significantly decreased compared to the preoperative level (P<0.01). However, there was no significant difference of preoperative serum CEA compared to a month after esophagectomy in ESCC (P>0.05). The specificity of HMGB1, CEA, Cyfra21-1 and SCC were 93.3%, 88.3%, 90.0% and 93.3% respectively.

CONCLUSIONCompared to CEA, Cyfra21-1 and SCC, serum HMGB1 in ESCC patients is easier for detection and its sensitivity and specificity are higher, which may be used as a marker in diagnosis, prediction of prognosis and monitor of postoperative recurrence of ESCC.

Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; blood ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; blood ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; blood ; pathology ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology ; Female ; HMGB1 Protein ; blood ; Humans ; Keratin-19 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Serpins ; blood

Biomarkers ; DNA ; blood ; DNA Methylation ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Female ; Fetus ; metabolism ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pregnancy ; blood ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; methods ; Serpins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical significance of serum CEA, SCC and Cyfra21-1 test in the diagnosis, prediction of prognosis and postoperative monitor of recurrence in esophageal cancer.

METHODSThe concentration of serum CEA and Cyfra21-1 was measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) using Elecsys 2010, CEA kit and Cyfra21-1 kit. Serum SCC was measured by microparticle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA) using IMx System and SCC kit. Serum of 206 patients with esophageal cancer (203 squamous cell carcinoma, 2 small cell carcinoma and 1 adenosquamous carcinoma) was measured preoperatively, 71 of whom also measued 8 to 12 days after resection.

RESULTSThe cut-off value of CEA and Cyfra21-1 was < or = 3.25 ng/ml and < or = 2.61 ng/ml, which were determined by the data of 45 healthy Chinese measured during the same period. The positive ratios of serum CEA and Cyfra21-1 in 206 cases were 29.1% and 45.1%. The combined positive ratio of CEA and Cyfra21-1 was 57.3%. The CEA positive ratios, according to the pathological stage of 165 resectable patients, were 16.6% (stage I), 26.8% (II) and 30.8% (III). For Cyfra21-1, they were 27.8%, 37.5% and 50.5%. For CEA combined with Cyfra21-1, they were 38.9%, 50.0% and 63.7%. The mean value of CEA, SCC and Cyfra21-1 (especially SCC and Cyfra21-1) was found to be well correlated with the tumor volume, TNM stage and depth of tumor invasion. Patient with bulky tumor or advanced tumor (T4) usually had much higher mean value than those with early stage tumors. One week after radical resection, the level of the three tumor markers fell to normal level in 92.9% of 71 patients. The level of serum CEA and Cyfra21-1 varied greatly in a small part of the patients. Extremely elevated serum CEA and Cyfra21-1 usually indicated advanced lesion or tumor metastasis.

CONCLUSIONPreoperative and postoperative measurement of serum CEA, SCC and Cyfra21-1 (especially Cyfra21-1) is helpful in the diagnosis, prediction of prognosis and monitor of postoperative recurrence in patients with esophageal cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; blood ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; analysis ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Keratin-19 ; Keratins ; Male ; Menopause ; Middle Aged ; Serpins

BACKGROUNDEarly detection and diagnosis is urgent for the sake of effective treatment strategy for lung cancer. However, a convenient, economical and relatively precise method is not available. We here report a prospective study to find the possible value of the combined use of four popular tumor markers in the early diagnosis of lung cancer among patients with suspicious nodules in the lung.

METHODSSix hundred and sixty inpatients with suspicious nodules in the lung were divided into a lung cancer group and a benign pulmonary tumor group according to post-operative histological examinations. Serum levels of four tumor markers including squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), Cyfra 21-1 and neuron specific enolase (NSE) were assayed for each patient. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed for each tumor marker. The power of lung cancer diagnosis of each tumor marker, as well as a combination of them were analyzed and compared.

RESULTSThe serum levels (median, range) of SCC, CEA, Cyfra 21-1 and NSE were 0.44 (0.01 - 35.70) ng/ml, 2.49 (0.30 - 26.78) ng/ml, 2.30 (0.82 - 73.33) ng/ml and 10.54 (0.10 - 56.41) ng/ml respectively in lung cancer group, and were 0.32 (0.01 - 0.90) ng/ml, 1.60 (0.20 - 8.93) ng/ml, 1.41 (0.72 - 4.82) ng/ml and 9.36 (6.56 - 24.24) ng/ml respectively in the benign pulmonary tumor group. The difference in each tumor marker between the two groups was significant (P < 0.05). The ROCs of SCC, CEA, Cyfra 21-1 and NSE were 0.702 (95%CI, 0.654 - 0.751), 0.611 (95%CI, 0.563 - 0.659), 0.650 (95%CI, 0.601 - 0.700) and 0.598 (95%CI, 0.542 - 0.654) respectively, indicating very low power of these four tumor markers. When a combination of SCC, CEA, Cyfra 21-1 and NSE were employed, the diagnosis power was strengthened.

CONCLUSIONSCC, CEA, Cyfra 21-1 and NSE are valuable in the early diagnosis of lung cancer among suspicious nodules in the lung, especially when they were assayed together for one patient.

Aged ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; blood ; metabolism ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; metabolism ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; blood ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Keratin-19 ; blood ; metabolism ; Lung Neoplasms ; blood ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; blood ; metabolism ; Serpins ; blood ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDSerum tumor markers have always been of clinical importance in the diagnosis, monitoring disease progression and therapy efficacy for patients with malignant diseases. However, elevated serum tumor markers are found in some benign conditions, especially in chronic kidney disease (CKD). The elevation of them in CKD might cause confusion and misuse of these tumor markers. We conducted this retrospective study to investigate which of the five widely used tumor markers including carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), cytokeratin 19 fragment antigen 21-1 (Cyfra21-1), squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC) and neuron specific enolase (NSE) are affected markedly by CKD, in order to use them more effectively.

METHODSSerum tumor marker concentrations, biochemical, hematological parameters, and urinalysis were measured in CKD patients and healthy controls. The positive rate and median tumor markers' level in CKD patients and controls, and those in CKD patients stratified by CKD grade were compared using nonparametric rank tests. Correlation analysis of serum tumor markers and other parameters in CKD patients were performed using the Spearman correlation coefficient. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the important variables that caused elevated serum concentrations of these markers in CKD patients.

RESULTSThe overall positive rates and serum concentrations of Cyfra21-1, SCC, CEA in CKD group were significantly higher than those in control group. Positive rate and serum concentrations of those tumor markers increased as kidney function decreased. Both univariate analysis and multivariate regression analysis showed that the elevations of those tumor markers were not only associated with kidney function, but also with nutritional status.

CONCLUSIONSSerum concentrations of Cyfra21-1, SCC, CEA are significantly influenced by kidney function, as well as nutritional status. Therefore, in clinical work, the indices of kidney function and nutritional status could be simultaneously measured to improve interpretation of the results of those tumor marker concentrations.

Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; blood ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; blood ; Female ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Keratin-19 ; blood ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nutritional Status ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; blood ; Retrospective Studies ; Serpins ; blood ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between visceral adipose tissue-derived serine protease inhibitor (vaspin) concentration and insulin sensitivity in the visceral adipose tissue of young obese Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats.

METHODSTwenty-four SD rats which had been weaned 3 weeks before were randomly divided into two groups (n=12 each) to receive a high-fat and normal diet. The weight and abdominal circumference (AC) of each rat were measured, the fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and fasting insulin (FINS) in blood from the angular vein were measured after 12 hours of fasting and blood glucose (BG) and insulin (INS) levels in blood from the angular vein were measured at 60 and 120 minutes after intraperitoneal injection of 50% glucose (2 g/kg). The rats were sacrificed, and their liver and visceral adipose tissue were weighed. The vaspin concentration of the visceral adipose tissue in each rat was measured using ELISA. Correlation analysis was performed on the vaspin concentration and other indices.

RESULTSCompared with the normal diet group, the high-fat diet group showed significantly higher weight, AC, weight of visceral adipose tissue, FPG, FINS, 120 minute INS level, vaspin concentration, homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and homeostasis model assessment of β cell function (HOMA-β) (P<0.05) Insulin sensitivity index (ISI) was significantly lower (P<0.01). Vaspin concentration was positively correlated with visceral adipose tissue and liver weight, AC, 120 minute INS level, FPG, FINS, HOMA-IR and HOMA-β (P<0.05), and negatively correlated with ISI (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSHigh expression of vaspin is associated with insulin resistance in young obese SD rats. Vaspin is presumably an adipocytokine that can increase insulin sensitivity, promote insulin secretion by islet β-cells and improve glucose tolerance, and it may be involved in insulin resistance and the disturbance of carbohydrate metabolism.

Animals ; Female ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Insulin ; blood ; Insulin Resistance ; Intra-Abdominal Fat ; chemistry ; Male ; Obesity ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Serpins ; analysis ; physiology

The effects of the balance changes of pigment epithelium growth factor (PEDF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in whole-body and retinal tissue on rats with oxygen-induced retinopathy were investigated. Forty-eight neonatal SD rats at the age of 7 days were randomly divided into 4 groups. The neonatal rats in experimental groups were exposed to 75% to 80% oxygen for 5 days and then to normal air, and those in control groups were kept feeding in normal air. At the age of 17 and 22 days, all the neonatal rats received retina angiography with FITC-dextran and the pathological changes of retinal vessels and perfusion were observed. HE staining of the tissue section and the number counting of endothelial cells extending beyond the inner limiting membrane were performed to evaluate the endothelial proliferation. Immunohistochemistry was applied to detect the expression of PEDF and VEGF in retinal tissue, and ELISA to detect their expression in serum. A hypoxic-ischemic proliferation of retina and more endothelial cells extending beyond the inner limiting membrane were found in the neonatal rats in both experimental groups of 17-day old and 22-day old as compared with those in control group with the difference being statistically significant (P<0.01). VEGF staining of the rats in the 17-day old experimental group was significantly stronger, with an increasing positive rate, than that of the rats in the 17-day old control group (P<0.01). PEDF staining of the rats of 22 days old was weaker than that of the rats of 17 days old in the experimental groups (P<0.01). There was no significant difference in serum VEGF concentration among all groups (P>0.05). The serum PEDF concentration in the rats of 17 days old in experimental group was decreased significantly as compared with that in the rats of 17 days old in control group (P<0.01), and in experimental groups, the serum PEDF concentration of the rats of 22 days old was increased as compared with that of the rats of 17 days old (P<0.01). In conclusion, the obviously decreased serum PEDF concentration and the abnormal enhanced expression of VEGF density in local retinal tissue broke down the balance of PEDF/VEGF in whole-body or local tissues, which might play an important role in retinal vascular proliferation.
Animals ; Eye Proteins ; blood ; metabolism ; Nerve Growth Factors ; blood ; metabolism ; Oxygen ; adverse effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Retina ; metabolism ; Retinal Diseases ; etiology ; metabolism ; Serpins ; blood ; metabolism ; Time and Motion Studies ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; blood ; metabolism

Neurological injury is a frequent and important complication of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Several risk factors for this type of sequela have been identified, among them aortic arch atherosclerosis. Our previous study indicated that atherosclerotic burden in coronary arteries may likewise predict postoperative neurological complications (Pawliszak et al., 2016b). We assessed the severity of this condition by using the SYNTAX score calculator. However, diagnosing angiographic three-vessel coronary artery disease (3VD) could be an even simpler method of achieving this goal.
Aged ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Bypass, Off-Pump/adverse effects* ; Coronary Artery Disease/surgery* ; Female ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein/blood* ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neurofilament Proteins/blood* ; Neuropeptides/blood* ; Phosphorylation ; Prospective Studies ; Serpins/blood* ; Neuroserpin