Journal of Molecular Biomarkers & Diagnosis

Biomarkers of oxidative stress and ADHD in children and adolescents are critically reviewed. They are divided in two groups: biomarkers of oxidative stress (general, proteins, including enzymes and non-protein biomarkers) and biomarkers of specific oxidative damage. Observed associations between concentration levels and ADHD symptoms are nearly always contradictory, which is partly due to aetiological a phenotypic complexity of the disorder. Some trends could be observed: lower ferritin and zinc levels, lower total antioxidant status (TAS), higher total oxidant stress (TOS) and higher oxidative stress index (OSI) are associated with ADHD. Even when there is a correlation most authors claim that this relationship is not causative, as illustrated by placebo-controlled trials reporting conflicting evidence on efficacy of supplementation. Well-defined studies could shed more light on their significance in this disorder by observing changes in concentration levels of the various biomarkers and ADHD symptoms before and after treatment with therapeutics.

Background: Preeclampsia and eclampsia are life-threatening conditions with increasing incidence. Since, Neuron specific enolase (NSE) is a vital biomarker for neuronal damage, our study aimed to investigate its role in relation to macrophage activation, angiogenesis, heat shock protein 72 and antioxidant biomarkers in preeclampsia and eclampsia patients. Methods: This study included 45 pregnant women; divided into 3 groups. Group I included 15 healthy pregnant women (control group), Group II included 15 preeclampsia patients and Group III included 15 eclampsia patients. They were subjected to measurement of plasma of NSE, insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1), nitric oxide (NO), heat shock protein 72 (HSP72) levels and chitotriosidase activity in addition to serum paraoxonase activity. Results: The study showed significant increased levels of NSE, IGF-1, HSP72, and chitotriosidase activity in group II and III when compared to control group with the highest levels in group III. On the other hand, it showed significant decrease in NO level and paraoxonase activity in group II and III when compared to control group with lowest level in group III. Conclusion: Based on our findings, NSE can be used as a reliable biomarker to predict the outcome of preeclampsia and early prediction of eclapmsia to avoid serious complications.

Aim: To analyze the relationship between dietary fat and breast cancer mediated by the local functions of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), analyzed by its regulating peptidase. The presence of GnRH and its receptors has been demonstrated in tumor tissue of the breast, although the functions of this peptide remain unclear. Pyroglutamyl aminopeptidase (PAP) is the enzyme involved in the local regulation of GnRH, and changes in its soluble and membrane-bound activities have been described in both women with breast cancer and animals with mammary tumors induced by N-methyl nitrosourea (NMU). Methods: We analyze here the effects of different normolipidic (4%) dietary fats (soybean oil (commercial), extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), refined sunflower oil (SO) and refined sunflower oil enriched with 50% oleic acid (OAESO)) on soluble and membrane-bound PAP specific activities in breast tissue of rats with mammary tumors induced by N-methyl-nitrosourea (NMU) administration. Results: We found that animals with breast cancer showed higher levels of soluble PAP than control healthy animals, but in a different degree depending on the type of dietary fat. On the contrary, membrane-bound mammary PAP specific activity was modified only in animals fed on EVOO. Conclusion: Dietary fat is involved in the regulation of GnRH functions mediated by PAP at mammary tumor tissue in different degree depending on its localization and the type of fat administrated.

After the historic discovery of IPSCs by Shinya Yamanaka, Sox2 became a highly important factor for its crucial role in reprogramming of somatic cells. The transcriptional control of various phases of nerve cell development, which include stem-cell maintenance, glial specification and lineage-specific terminal differentiation, are not well understood. This is where Sox proteins come into play. Recently, SOX2 expression has been corroborated in several tumor types including ovarian carcinoma, which suggests an involvement of SOX2 in regulation of cancer stem cells (CSC). SOX antibodies have been categorized as specific serological markers for Small cell lung cancer. However Sox2 reduction leads to neurodegeneration. Thus understanding the expression of this protein is very important. Here is an overview of the present knowledge we possess about the functional mechanisms of SOX family, with an effort to understand the role in both development and disease.

Objective: Giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) is a benign locally aggressive primary bone tumor with a tendency for recurrence which is one of the major problems in this disease. Recent data demonstrated the important role of the receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB (RANK)/RANK-ligand (RANKL) pathway in the pathogenesis. However, the roles of RANK and RANKL in predicting recurrence have never been proposed. Therefore, we aim to investigate the prognostic value of RANK and RANKL expression in predicting recurrence of GCTB which may change the treatment paradigm of the disease. Method: 53 cases of GCTB were enrolled in the study. Data on patient demographics and clinical characteristics were reviewed. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of RANK and RANKL. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) analysis was performed by Kaplan–Meier method and the difference between survival curves were sought using the log-rank test. Cox’s proportional hazards model and binary logistic regression analyses were used to define the risk of recurrence. Result: Of 53 cases, there were 8 patients (15.1%) had recurrent disease. The univariate analysis revealed that age (log rank 10.749, p=0.005), RANKL overexpression (log rank 5.187, p=0.023), RANK overexpression (log rank 4.055, p=0.044 for RANK) and co-overexpression of RANK/RANKL (log rank 7.541, p<0.006) were associated with recurrence of GCTB. Cox’s proportional hazards model emerged that the only significant prognostic parameter capable of defining the risk for recurrence was co-overexpression of RANK and RANKL (Hazard ratio 2.910; 95%CI 1.099-7.708; p= 0.032). Binary logistic regression multivariate analysis followed by ROC analysis confirmed that cooverexpression of RANK/RANKL represented a significant biological model to predict local recurrence (area under the curve=0.731±0.098; 95% CI 0.539–0.922, p=0.039). Conclusion: RANK and RANKL co-overexpression increases the risk of recurrence of GCTB and could be a prognostic marker for recurrent disease.