1.
Effect of Glycemic Regulation on Endocan Levels in Patients With Diabetes: A Preliminary Study.
Arman, Y, Akpinar, TS, Kose, M, Emet, S, Yuruyen, G, Akarsu, M, Ozcan, M, Yegit, O, Cakmak, R, Altun, O, et al
Angiology. 2016;(3):239-44
Abstract
Endothelial-specific molecule 1 (endocan) is expressed by endothelial cells and may have a major role in the regulation of cell adhesion and in the pathogenesis of inflammatory disorders. We aimed to assess change in endocan levels after 3 months of lifestyle change recommendations and guideline-based treatment. Diabetic patients (n = 77) who had neither chronic kidney disease nor chronic inflammatory disease were included. After baseline evaluation, the patients were advised lifestyle changes, and their medical treatment was determined individually according to recommendations of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines. At the end of third month patients were reevaluated. Baseline endocan levels were significantly increased in the study group compared with the control group. The third-month laboratory workup showed significant reductions in hemoglobin A1c, urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR), and endocan levels. Only δ-UACR was independently correlated with δ-endocan in multivariate linear regression analysis. Our findings suggest that serum endocan concentrations are elevated in patients with type 2 diabetes and decrease following anti-hyperglycemic treatment. Furthermore, decrease in endocan concentrations might be associated with improved glycemic control and reductions in UACR.
2.
Ex vivo detectable activation of Melan-A-specific T cells correlating with inflammatory skin reactions in melanoma patients vaccinated with peptides in IFA.
Liénard, D, Rimoldi, D, Marchand, M, Dietrich, PY, van Baren, N, Geldhof, C, Batard, P, Guillaume, P, Ayyoub, M, Pittet, MJ, et al
Cancer immunity. 2004;:4
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to test melanoma vaccines consisting of peptides and immunological adjuvants for optimal immunogenicity and to evaluate laboratory immune monitoring for in vivo relevance. Forty-nine HLA-A2 positive patients with Melan-A positive melanoma were repeatedly vaccinated with Melan-A peptide, with or without immune adjuvant AS02B (QS21 and MPL) or IFA. Peptide-specific CD8 T cells in PBLs were analyzed ex vivo using fluorescent HLA-A2/Melan-A multimers and IFN-gamma ELISPOT assays. The vaccines were well tolerated. In vivo expansion of Melan-A-specific CD8 T cells was observed in 13 patients (1/12 after vaccination with peptide in AS02B and 12/17 after vaccination with peptide in IFA). The T cells produced IFN-gamma and downregulated CD45RA and CD28. T-cell responses correlated with inflammatory skin reactions at vaccine injection sites (P < 0.001) and with DTH reaction to Melan-A peptide (P < 0.01). Twenty-six of 32 evaluable patients showed progressive disease, whereas 4 patients had stable disease. The two patients with the strongest Melan-A-specific T-cell responses experienced regression of metastases in skin, lymph nodes, and lung. We conclude that repeated vaccination with Melan-A peptide in IFA frequently leads to sustained responses of specific CD8 T cells that are detectable ex vivo and correlate with inflammatory skin reactions.
3.
Effects of a genistein-rich extract on PSA levels in men with a history of prostate cancer.
deVere White, RW, Hackman, RM, Soares, SE, Beckett, LA, Li, Y, Sun, B
Urology. 2004;(2):259-63
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To determine whether supplemental amounts of soy isoflavone (genistein-rich extract) would lower prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels more than 50% in patients with prostate cancer (CaP). METHODS A total of 62 men (mean age 73.6 years, range 61.4 to 89.3) with histologically proven CaP who had two consecutive elevated PSA readings were accrued during a 13-month period. An open-label pilot study was conducted for 6 months in which the patients took capsules containing the genistein-rich extract three times daily by mouth. The subjects were in one of five groups: after radical retropubic prostatectomy (n = 9), after radiotherapy (n = 17), after both radical retropubic prostatectomy and radiotherapy (n = 6), off-cycle during hormonal therapy (intermittent hormones; n = 14), or active surveillance (n = 16). The primary endpoint for the trial was a 50% reduction in the PSA level at 6 months compared with before treatment. RESULTS Of the 62 men enrolled, 52 were available for evaluation at 6 months. Three patients discontinued because of adverse events (diarrhea) and seven because of personal choice. One of 52 patients had a more than 50% reduction in the PSA level (1.9% response, 95% confidence interval 0.1% to 10.3%). An additional 7 patients had PSA reductions that were less than 50%. All 8 patients with lower PSA levels at 6 months were in the active surveillance (watchful waiting) treatment subgroup. Repeated measure regression models allowing for correlation between initial levels and change also indicated a decline in PSA in this group compared with other groups: 0 of 52 had a complete response, 9 (17%) had a partial response, 8 (15%) had stable disease, and 35 (67%) had disease progression. In the 9 patients with a partial response, 6 had pathologic findings that were moderately differentiated, 2 had well-differentiated findings, and 1 had poorly differentiated findings. Therefore, the response in this group of patients did not appear to be driven by the Gleason score. The total testosterone level was lowered in one of the patients responding, but it was higher in five others. CONCLUSIONS A genistein-rich extract as the sole treatment for CaP did not reduce PSA levels by 50% or more in 51 of 52 subjects. Thus, it does not appear to be an effective treatment for CaP when given alone. However, 8 of 13 evaluated patients in the active surveillance group had either no rise or a decline in PSA levels of less than 50%. More study is warranted for those choosing active surveillance.