• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.71-78
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• 2008

This study examined the effects of mulberry-leaf powder Tofu(MPT) on the anthropometric measurements, bone mineral density(BMD), biochemical markers of bone turnover, serum lipid levels of and macrominerals status in 30 female university students living in Choongnam with low dietary Ca intake was low(mean daily $intake=524.66{\pm}21.47$ mg/day). The subjects received the MPT supplemented(100 g/day) for 4 weeks. The nutrient content per 100 g MPT was 84.10 kcal(energy), 8.98 g(protein), 0.53 mg(fiber), 211.33 mg(Ca) and 1.59 g(fat). Anthropometric measurements, 24-hour dietary recall, carpus BMD using DEXA, select BMD biomarckers(serum alkaline phophatase activity, osteocalcin, urinary deoxypyridinoline), serum protein levels, albumin, and glucose levels, lipid profiles(cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol) and serum macrominerals(Ca, Ca/P ratio, Mg) were analyzed before and after MPT supplementation. Following MPT supplementation, there was no significant differences in anthropometric measurements, nutrient intakes, carpus BMD, serum alkaline phosphatase activity, osteocalcin, and urinary deoxypyridinoline, serum levels of protein, albumin, and glucose or lipid profiles with AI, HTR, LHR and CRF. However, there were significant increases in dietary calcium as well as decreases in serum triglycerides with MPT supplementation. Although further research is needed, these results that regular intake MPT could prevent bone and cardiovascular diseases.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.2887-2889
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• 2012

Malignant tumors have a capacity to degrade the extracellular matrix by controlled proteolysis. One system involved in these processes is the urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) system. uPAR levels are elevated in tumors from several types of cancer. Our study was planned to investigate serum and urine levels of uPAR in breast cancer patients (n=180) and healthy controls (n=60) by ELISA. Serum (p<0.001) and urine (p<0.001) uPAR values in the patients were both significantly elevated. High serum and urine levels of uPAR can be used as diagnostic tools in lymph node positive patients.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.116-121
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• 2018

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare serum fetuin-A levels and oxidative stress markers, as indicators of insulin resistance, in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and in healthy controls. Methods: This prospective case-control study included 46 patients with PCOS and 48 age- and body mass index-matched control women. Levels of serum hormones, fetuin-A, and oxidative stress markers were measured in blood samples taken during the early follicular period from each participant. Results: Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinising hormone (LH), total testosterone levels, and the LH/FSH ratio were found to be significantly higher in women with PCOS than in controls. Serum total antioxidant status, total oxidant status, and oxidative stress index parameters all indicated significantly higher levels of oxidative stress in PCOS patients than in controls. Serum fetuin-A levels, which were analyzed as an indicator of insulin resistance, were higher in the PCOS group than in the control group ($210.26{\pm}65.06{\mu}g/mL$ and $182.68{\pm}51.20{\mu}g/mL$, respectively; p= 0.024). Conclusion: The data obtained from the present study suggest that higher levels of both serum fetuin-A and oxidative stress markers might be related with PCOS.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.7345-7349
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• 2013

Background: Because of the high prevalence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Egypt, new markers with better diagnostic performance than alpha-feto protein (AFP) are needed to help in early diagnosis. The aim of this work was to compare the clinical utility of both serum and mRNA glypican3 (GPC3) as probable diagnostic markers for HCC among Egyptian patients. Materials and Methods: A total of 60 subjects, including 40 with HCC, 10 with cirrhosis and 10 normal controls were analyzed for serum GPC3 (sGPC3) by ELISA. GPC-3 mRNA from circulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells was amplified by RT-PCR. Both markers were compared to some prognostic factors of HCC, and sensitivity of both techniques was compared. Results: Serum glypican-3 and AFP were significantly higher in the HCC group compared to cirrhotic and normal controls (p<0.001). Sensitivity and specificity were (95% each) for sGlypican-3, (82.5% and 85%) for AFP, and (100% and 90%) for Glypican3 mRNA, and (80% and 95%) for double combination between sGPC3 and AFP respectively. Conclusion: Both serum GPC-3 and GPC-3mRNA are promising diagnostic markers for early detection of HCC in Egyptian patients. RT- PCR proved to be more sensitive (100%) than ELISA (95%) in detecting glypican3.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.183-191
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum leptin, lipids, bone metabolism markers and nutrient intakes of obese middle-school girls compared to those of normal subjects. Each subject was assigned to either the normal(n=22) or obese groups(n=25) according to their BMI. The subjects were asked for their general characteristics and nutrient intakes using a questionnaire and 24-hr recall method. The serum leptin, lipids and osteocalcin(bone metabolism marker) were measured using blood analyses. The average ages of the subjects in the normal and obese groups were 13.9 and 14.0 years, respectively. The average weight(p<0.001) and BMI(p<0.001) of normal group were significantly lower than those of the obese group. The plant protein intake of the girls in the obese group was lower than that of the normal group(p<0.01). The levels of serum leptin in the obese and normal groups were 18.0 and 10.0 ng/mL, respectively(p<0.001). The serum LDL-cholesterol(p<0.01) and triacylgeride(p<0.05) of the obese girls were higher than those in the normal group. Also, the serum osteocalcin(bone formation marker) in the obese group was lower than that in the normal group(p<0.001). The BMI was negatively correlated to osteocalcin(p<0.001), but positively correlated to the serum leptin(p<0.001). The serum osteocalcin was also positively correlated to the plant protein intake(p<0.05). In conclusion, the excessive increase in weight and % body fat in middle-school students appeared to have a negative impact on bone health. Based on these results, further studies will be needed on the effects of bone metabolism markers, obesity and nutrient intakes for proper bone health.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2004

Objective:Nitric oxide(NO) has been known to be associated with tolerance and preference to alcohol. It has also been known to affect various alcohol drinking behavior, alcohol withdrawal symptoms and alcohol- induced brain damage. The purpose of this study was to determine the difference, among alcohol dependence group, alcohol drinking group and abstinence group, in serum concentration of nitrite, a stable metabolite of NO, and it's relationship to clinical and biochemical markers of alcoholism. Methods:Forty subjects diagnosed as alcohol dependence according to DSM-IV diagnostic criteria were evaluated for the clinical characteristics and biochemical markers of alcohol dependence including nitrite with their CIWA-Ar scores checked just after admission. Thirty-nine healthy controls were also evaluated, divided into twenty-three alcohol drinking group and sixteen abstinence group. Clinical characteristics were evaluated by CIWA-Ar, CAGE and AUDIT questionnaires. Aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma glutamyltransferase(GGT) and mean corpuscular volume(MCV) were used as the biochemical markers of alcohol dependence. Serum nitrite concentrations were measured by Griess reaction. Results:1) The concentrations of nitrite in alcohol dependence patients were not different from those in the control subjects. 2) There were no significant association between the nitrite concentrations and the CIWA-Ar scores in alcohol dependence patients. 3) Nitrites are significantly increased in alcohol dependence group and alcohol drinking group compared with abstinence group. Conclusions:These findings suggest that serum nitrite concentration has no relation with alcohol withdrawal symptoms, but alcohol drinking increases serum nitrite concentration influenced by general condition of the body.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.3867-3870
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• 2015

Background: To explore whether combined detection of serum tumor markers (CEA, CA72-4, CA19-9 and TSGF) improve the sensitivity and accuracy in the diagnosis of gastric cancer (GC). Materials and Methods: An automatic chemiluminescence immune analyzer with matched kits were used to determine the levels of serum CEA, CA72-4, CA19-9 and TSGF in 45 patients with gastric cancer (GC group), 40 patients with gastric benign diseases (GBD group) hospitalized in the same period and 30 healthy people undergoing a physical examination. The values of those 4 tumor markers in the diagnosis of gastric cancer was analyzed. Results: The levels of serum CEA, CA72-4, CA19-9 and TSGF of the GC group were higher than those of the GBD group and healthy examined people and the differences were significant (P<0.001). The area under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for single detection of CEA, CA72-4, CA19-9 and TSGF in the diagnosis of GC was 0.833, 0.805, 0.810 and 0.839, respectively. The optimal cutoff values for these 4 indices were 2.36 ng/mL, 3.06 U/mL, 5.72 U/mL and 60.7 U/mL, respectively. With combined detection of tumor markers, the diagnostic power of those 4 indices was best, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.913 (95%CI 0.866~0.985), a sensitivity of 88.9% and a diagnostic accuracy of 90.4%. Conclusions: Combined detection of serum CEA, CA72-4, CA19-9 and TSGF increases the sensitivity and accuracy in diagnosis of GC, so it can be regarded as the important means for early diagnosis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.4041-4044
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• 2015

Background: To verify whether serum tumor abnormal protein (TAP) would correlate with the responsiveness of palliative chemotherapy in patients with advanced gastric cancer, and the variation of conventional serum tumor markers e.g., carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), antigen 125 (CA125),carbohydrate antigen19-9 (CA19-9) of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with early gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: Patients with histologically confirmed gastric cancer and treated with chemotherapy were enrolled into this study. TAP values of these patients were determined by detecting abnormal sugar chain glycoprotein in serum, combined with the area of agglomerated particles. For patients with advanced gastric cancer, responsiveness of palliative chemotherapy was compared with variation of TAP and the relation between variation of TAP and tumor markers in patients with early gastric cancer was analyzed. Results: Totally 82 gastric cancer patients were enrolled into this study. The value of TAP is more closely related to responsiveness of palliative chemotherapy for patients with advanced gastric cancer. The correlation between TAP and responsiveness to palliative chemotherapy is stronger than the correlation between several conventional serum tumor markers (CEA, CA125 and CA199). The variation of TAP was also positively correlated with the trend of CA125 in adjuvant chemotherapy. Conclusions: TAP is sensitive in monitoring the responsiveness to palliative chemotherapy in patients with advanced gastric cancer. But this result should be confirmed by randomized clinical trials for patients with gastric cancer.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.282-291
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• 1995

We investigated HBV markers in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of 50 subjects with neurologic disorders or other disorders, who visited Dept. of neurology, college of medicine, Yeungnam University, from April-1 to August-31 1994 and were performed cerebrospinal fluid analysis to investigate the detection rate of HBV markers in cerebrospinal fluid and the possibility of neurologic disorders associated with HBV infection. The results were as follows. The positivity of HBsAg and HBV prevalence rate in serum were 6(12.0%) and 37(74.0%). The number of patient with HBsAg, only anti-HBV and no markers were 6(12.0%), 31(62.0%) and 13(26.0%), respectively. The positivity of HBsAg and HBV prevalence rate in cerebrospinal fluid were 3(6%) and 18(36.0%). The number of patient with HBsAg, only anti-HBV and no markers were 6(100.0%), 12(38.7%) and 0(0.0%) respectively. The number of patient with virus associated diseases(VAD) and non virus associated diseases(NVAD) were 26(52%) and 24(48%). The HBV prevalence rate in serum of VAD and NVAD groups were 88.5% and 58.3% (p<0.05). The HBV prevalence rate in CSF of VAD and NVAD groups were 53.8% and 16.7%(P<0.05). The HBV prevalence rate in serum and CSF of VAD and NVAD groups were 60.9% and 28.6%. Aa a conclusion, the HBV markers in the CSF were partially detected at the presence of the HBV markers in serum. The prevalance rate of HBV in the CSF was increased at the HBsAg positive in the serum and the serum and the CSF was significantly increased at the VAD group than the NVAD group.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.719-722
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• 2015

Objective: To evaluate the values of 4 tumor markers in serum and ascites and their ascites/serum ratios in the identification and diagnosis of benign and malignant ascites. Materials and Methods: A total of 76 patients were selected as subjects and divided into malignant ascites group (45 cases) and benign ascites group (31 cases). Samples of ascites and serum of all hospitalized patients were collected before treatment. The levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), alpha fetoprotein (AFP), cancer antigen 125 (CA125) and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) were detected by chemiluminescence (CLIA). Results: CEA, AFP and CA19-9 in both serum and ascites as well as CA125 in ascites were evidently higher in the malignant ascites group than in the benign ascites group (P<0.01). Malignant ascites was associated with elevated ascites/serum ratios for AFP and CA125 (P<0.01). The areas under receiver operating characteristic (AUROCs) of CEA and CA125 in ascites and the ratios of ascites/serum of AFP, CEA, CA125 and CA19-9 were all >0.7, suggesting certain values, while those of ascites CA19-9 and serum CEA were 0.697 and 0.629 respectively, indicating low accuracy in the identification and diagnosis of benign and malignant ascites. However, the AUROCs of the remaining indexes were <0.5, with no value for identification and diagnosis. Compared with single index, the sensitivity of combined detection increased significantly (P<0.05), in which the combined detection of CEA, CA19-9 and CA125 in ascites as well as the ratio of ascites/serum of CEA, CA19-9, CA125 and AFP had the highest sensitivity (98.4%) but with relevantly low specificity. Both sensitivity and specificity of combined detection should be comprehensively considered so as to choose the most appropriate index. Conclusions: Compared with single index, combined detection of tumor markers in serum and ascites can significantly improve the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity.