Serum levels of antibodies against Candida albicans in healthy women during pregnancy

1997 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-60
Author(s):  
Thomas H. Eberhard
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 2127
Author(s):  
Jakub Suchodolski ◽  
Anna Krasowska

Candida albicans is a pathogenic fungus that is increasingly developing multidrug resistance (MDR), including resistance to azole drugs such as fluconazole (FLC). This is partially a result of the increased synthesis of membrane efflux transporters Cdr1p, Cdr2p, and Mdr1p. Although all these proteins can export FLC, only Cdr1p is expressed constitutively. In this study, the effect of elevated fructose, as a carbon source, on the MDR was evaluated. It was shown that fructose, elevated in the serum of diabetics, promotes FLC resistance. Using C. albicans strains with green fluorescent protein (GFP) tagged MDR transporters, it was determined that the FLC-resistance phenotype occurs as a result of Mdr1p activation and via the increased induction of higher Cdr1p levels. It was observed that fructose-grown C. albicans cells displayed a high efflux activity of both transporters as opposed to glucose-grown cells, which synthesize Cdr1p but not Mdr1p. Additionally, it was concluded that elevated fructose serum levels induce the de novo production of Mdr1p after 60 min. In combination with glucose, however, fructose induces Mdr1p production as soon as after 30 min. It is proposed that fructose may be one of the biochemical factors responsible for Mdr1p production in C. albicans cells.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Parvaneh Yazdanpanah ◽  
Ali Alavianmehr ◽  
Abbas Ghaderi ◽  
Ahmad Monabati ◽  
Mehdi Montazer ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND: Block of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) interaction with its ligand, PD-L1, enhances anti-tumor activity. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess the association between PD-L1 expression in tumor cells and CD8+ tumor infiltrating T cells (TILs) as well as soluble (s)PD-L1 serum levels in patients with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) compared to triple positive (TPBC). METHODS: A total of 113 tumor sections and 133 serum samples were available from 144 patients with breast cancer (72 TNBC and 72 TPBC). Dual immunohistochemistry staining was applied to determine differential PD-L1 expression in tumor cells and CD8+ TILs. Soluble PD-L1 serum levels were also evaluated in patients compared to 40 healthy women by ELISA method. RESULTS: Despite TPBC patients which were mostly grades 1/2, TNBC patients were grade 3 (72% versus 66.7%, P < 0.001). Most of the TNBC patients were stages I/II, whereas most of the TPBC patients were stages III/IV (57.3% versus 68.3%,P = 0.005). There was no difference in tumor size and metastasis between TNBC and TPBC patients, although the number of involved lymph nodes was significantly more in TPBC patients (P = 0.0012). PD-L1 expression was detected in 11.5% of samples mostly in TNBC subtype and was associated with advanced grades (P = 0.039). There was no relationship between PD-L1 expression and tumor stage. PD-L1 expression in CD8+ TILs was nonsignificantly higher than tumor cells. Serum levels of sPD-L1 showed no difference between patients and healthy women. We found no correlation between PD-L1 expression in tumor lesions and serum levels of sPD-L1 in patients. CONCLUSION: PD-L1 expression was more detected in our patients with TNBC. It seems that, these patients who are resistant to standard chemotherapy regimens may get benefit from PD-L1 inhibition therapy and because of its low serum levels, sPD-L1 cannot interfere with this therapy.


2004 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 236-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Lebrecht ◽  
C. Grimm ◽  
G. Euller ◽  
E. Ludwig ◽  
E. Ulbrich ◽  
...  

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β)1 is thought to be involved in breast carcinogenesis. TGF-β1 acts in an antiproliferative manner in the early stages of breast carcinogenesis, but promotes tumor progression and metastases in the advanced stages of the disease. No data have been published on serum TGF-β1 in breast cancer. We investigated TGF-β1 serum levels in patients with breast cancer (n=135), ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) I to III (n=67) or fibroadenoma (n=35), and in healthy women (n=40) to determine its value as a differentiation marker between malignant, pre-invasive and benign diseases and as a predictive marker for metastatic spread. Median (range) TGF-β1 serum levels in patients with breast cancer, DCIS I-III or benign breast lesions and in healthy women were 48.8 (18–82.4) pg/mL, 45.3 (26.9–58.3) pg/mL, 47.2 (17.2–80.5) pg/mL and 51.6 (30.9–65.1) pg/mL, respectively (p=0.2). In breast cancer patients TGF-β1 serum levels showed no statistically significant correlation with tumor stage, lymph node involvement, histological grade, estrogen receptor status and progesterone receptor status. Our data fail to indicate any correlation between serum TGF-β1 levels and clinicopathological parameters of breast diseases. Serum TGF-β1 levels do not provide clinical information in addition to established tumor markers.


Inflammation ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 604-610 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Jafarzadeh ◽  
H. A. Ebrahimi ◽  
S. Bagherzadeh ◽  
F. Zarkesh ◽  
F. Iranmanesh ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 869-876
Author(s):  
A. N. Glushkov ◽  
E. G. Polenok ◽  
S. A. Mun ◽  
L. A. Gordeeva ◽  
V. A. Lutsenko ◽  
...  

Specific antibodies against estradiol (Es) and progesterone (Pg) are known to modulate blood serum concentrations of these hormones and their biological effects after immunization of animals. It was suggested that specific IgA-Es and IgA-Pg could influence on Es and Pg levels in human blood serum. The purpose of this study was to identify the suggested correlations between serum Es and Pg and specific IgA-Es and IgA-Pg in postmenopausal healthy women (HW) and breast cancer patients (BCP). The serum levels of Es, Pg, IgA-Es and IgA-Pg were studied in 226 HW and 633 BCP by means of solid-phase immunoassay. The following results were obtained. The levels of Es in BCP (0.25 nmol/l) were higher than in HW (0.16; р < 0.0001). The levels of Pg were lower (0.79 vs 0.87; р < 0.0001), and individual Pg/Es ratios were lower (3.19 vs 6.64; р < 0.0001). Individual IgA-Pg/IgA-Es ratios correlated with decrease of Es (rs = -0.15; p = 0.029), with increase in Pg (rs = 0.38; р < 0.0001), and with increased Pg/Es ratio (rs = 0.29; р < 0.0001) in healthy women. Similar correlations were determined in BCP (correspondingly: rs = -0.14, р < 0.001; rs = 0.1, р = 0.009; rs = 0.15, р < 0.0001). The decrease of Es and increase of Pg and Pg/Es in BCP were less significant than in HW: the a quotients in regression у = ах+b (y = hormones levels and x = antibodies levels) in BCP were 3 to 4-fold lower than in HW. These peciliarities of interrelations between hormones and specific antibody levels were revealed only in ER+/PR+ BCP but not in ER+/PR- and ER-/PR- BCP. In conclusion, we have confirmed a suggestion about participation of specific antibodies in regulation of steroids levels in human blood serum. The immune regulation of hormonal status was weakened in BCP.


Folia Medica ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 10-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dora D. Terzieva ◽  
Maria M. Orbetzova ◽  
Mitko D. Mitkov ◽  
Nonka G. Mateva

ABSTRACT There has been a surge of interest in recent years in studying the changes of serum melatonin concentrations in disorders that are associated with insulin resistance such as diabetes mellitus type 2 and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). AIM: The present study was designed to investigate the day-time and night-time levels of serum melatonin and the cortisol rhythm in women with PCOS and compare them with those of healthy women. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a case-control study which included 30 women with PCOS and 25 healthy women. All hormonal measurements in both the study group and controls were carried out between days 3 and 5 counted from the beginning of the last regular menstrual cycle; they included serum levels of melatonin and cortisol at 03:00 a.m and 08:00 a.m, total testosterone (T), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and immunoreactive insulin at 08:00 a.m. RESULTS: Women with PCOS were found to have a significantly higher melatonin level at 08:00 a.m. and smaller mean night-day difference in the concentrations of melatonin in comparison with those of healthy women (natural log (Ln) night-day difference 0.60 ± 0.10 pg/ml versus 1.15 ± 0.14, p < 0.002). Melatonin to cortisol ratios at 03:00 a.m. and 08:00 a.m. showed no statistically significant differences between the two groups (Ln melatonin/ cortisol 03:00 a.m., 1.01 ± 0.06 versus 1.05 ± 0.05; Ln melatonin/cortisol at 08:00 a.m., 0.62 ± 0.01 versus 0.56 ± 0.03, p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results we obtained about the changes of melatonin in women with PCOS could help in elucidating the complex pathophysiological pattern of this disease.


2012 ◽  
Vol 167 (4) ◽  
pp. 553-560 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise Lind Schierbeck ◽  
Lars Rejnmark ◽  
Charlotte Landbo Tofteng ◽  
Lis Stilgren ◽  
Pia Eiken ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between vitamin D status in healthy women and cardiovascular outcome.Design and methodsBetween 1990 and 1993, 2016 healthy, recently postmenopausal women were enrolled in the Danish Osteoporosis Prevention Study. Serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D, nmol/l) were measured at baseline. Participants were followed for 16 years. The primary end point was a combination of death, heart failure, myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as serum 25(OH)D<50 nmol/l. The primary end point was adjusted for other risk factors of adverse cardiovascular events (age, smoking, blood pressure, hip–waist ratio, education and family history of MI).ResultsAt baseline, mean age was 50 years and BMI 25. Women with vitamin D deficiency (n=788) had more cardiovascular risk factors than vitamin D-replete women (n=1225). Compared with vitamin D-replete women, women with low 25(OH)D levels had significantly higher BMI and triglycerides, lower HDL and hip–waist ratio and less education. More were smokers among the vitamin D deficient (47 vs 38%). A primary end point was experienced by 118 (15%) with vitamin D deficiency and by 125 (10%) of the vitamin D replete. Hazard ratio (HR) was 1.49 (95% confidence interval: 1.16–1.92;P=0.002) in the vitamin D deficient. Adjusted HR was 1.32 (1.02–1.71;P=0.03). In total, 135 women died; of these, 65 (8%) were of the vitamin D deficient and 70 (6%) in the vitamin D-replete group; unadjusted HR was 1.44 (1.02–2.01;P=0.04) for vitamin D deficiency.ConclusionHealthy women with vitamin D deficiency have increased risk of adverse cardiovascular outcome.


2006 ◽  
Vol 91 (8) ◽  
pp. 3123-3130 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. C. Lewandowski ◽  
J. Komorowski ◽  
D. P. Mikhalidis ◽  
M. Bienkiewicz ◽  
B. K. Tan ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are implicated in numerous disease states including cardiovascular disease and cancer. Because recent studies have shown a detrimental effect of hormone replacement therapy on cardiovascular disease and breast cancer, we investigated whether there are any differences in the concentrations of MMPs and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) in women receiving various forms of postmenopausal therapy. Material and Methods: A total of 195 healthy postmenopausal women were assessed: 46 were taking tibolone, 47 were taking transdermal estradiol, 46 were taking conjugated equine estrogens (CEE), and 56 were not taking any menopausal therapy (CTR). Plasma levels of MMP-2 and -9 and TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 were measured by ELISA methods. Results: MMP-9 levels were significantly higher in the CEE group in comparison with healthy women not receiving menopausal therapy (P &lt; 0.05). In contrast, MMP-9 levels in the tibolone group were significantly lower than in any other group (P &lt; 0.01, compared with transdermal estradiol and CTR, and P &lt; 0.001, compared with CEE). MMP-9 to TIMP-1 ratio was also significantly higher in the CEE, compared with CTR (P &lt; 0.05), and lower in the tibolone group (P &lt; 0.01, compared with all groups). MMP-2 levels were higher in the CEE group, compared with healthy women not receiving any menopausal therapy, and women taking tibolone (P &lt; 0.05). Conclusions: Our study demonstrates differential effects of various forms of postmenopausal therapy on serum levels of MMP-9 and MMP-2. It remains to be established whether these differences might be associated with differences in risks of cardiovascular disease and cancer in these women.


2007 ◽  
Vol 116 (08) ◽  
pp. 491-495 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Kerschan-Schindl ◽  
J. Wendlova ◽  
S. Kudlacek ◽  
A. Gleiss ◽  
W. Woloszczuk ◽  
...  

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dilek Benk Silfeler ◽  
Cumali Gokce ◽  
Raziye Keskin Kurt ◽  
Nigar Yilmaz Atilgan ◽  
Oktay Hasan Ozturk ◽  
...  

Objective. The present study was designed to compare serum levels of apelin between lean PCOS women and healthy women with regular menses.Study Design. A total of 30 lean patients with PCOS and 30 healthy subjects were included in this study. Serum apelin levels were compared between groups.Results. Serum apelin levels in lean PCOS patients were not significantly different from the control subjects.Conclusion. Our findings indicate that PCOS itself does not seem to change apelin levels. Further investigation on a large number of subjects will need to be conducted to prove the consistent or variable association in PCOS.


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