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ABSTRACT: The antibody microarrays have become widespread, but their use for quantitative analyses in clinical samples has not yet been established. We investigated an immunoassay based on nanoporous silicon antibody microarrays for quantification of total prostate-specific-antigen (PSA) in 80 clinical plasma samples, and provide quantitative data from a duplex microarray assay that simultaneously quantifies free and total PSA in plasma. To further develop the assay the porous silicon chips was placed into a standard 96-well microtiter plate for higher throughput analysis. The samples analyzed by this quantitative microarray were 80 plasma samples obtained from men undergoing clinical PSA testing (dynamic range: 0.14-44ng/ml, LOD: 0.14ng/ml). The second dataset, measuring free PSA (dynamic range: 0.40-74.9ng/ml, LOD: 0.47ng/ml) and total PSA (dynamic range: 0.87-295ng/ml, LOD: 0.76ng/ml), was also obtained from the clinical routine. The reference for the quantification was a commercially available assay, the ProStatus PSA Free/Total DELFIA. In an analysis of 80 plasma samples the microarray platform performs well across the range of total PSA levels. This assay might have the potential to substitute for the large-scale microtiter plate format in diagnostic applications. The duplex assay paves the way for a future quantitative multiplex assay, which analyzes several prostate cancer biomarkers simultaneously.
Clinica chimica acta; international journal of clinical chemistry 08/2012; 414C:76-84. · 2.54 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To examine the risk of prostate cancer in relation to pre-diagnostic serum levels of vitamin D (25OHD(2) and 25OHD(3)), PTH, and calcium.
Nine hundred forty-three incident prostate cancer cases were identified in the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study cohort, and each was matched with one control using incidence density matching with age as the underlying timescale. We also matched for calendar time and age at inclusion. Logistic regression analysis yielded odds ratios with 95 % confidence intervals for different quartiles and deciles. All analyses were repeated stratified for age and body mass index (BMI).
We found a weak trend toward increasing prostate cancer risk with rising vitamin D levels (p-trend across quartiles, 0.048). Dividing the cohort into deciles showed a nonlinear association. Compared to decile one, the prostate cancer risk was highest in deciles seven and eight, which corresponded to vitamin D levels of 91-97 nmol/L (1.68; 1.06-2.68), and 98-106 nmol/L (1.80; 1.13-2.85). In the other deciles, there was no association between prostate cancer risk and vitamin D levels. Albumin-adjusted calcium was positively associated with an increased risk for prostate cancer among men aged 55-65 with a BMI <25 (2.07; 1.08-3.97). No association was observed between pre-diagnostic PTH and subsequent prostate cancer incidence, and the stratified analyses revealed no other convincing relationships.
This study suggests a possible weak positive nonlinear association between vitamin D and the risk of prostate cancer.
Cancer Causes and Control 06/2012; 23(8):1377-85. · 2.88 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is a novel automated sample-processing concept for future proteomics and clinical research, performing patient studies from resulting blood fractions in various disease areas. Another aim is biobank storage of small sample volumes, where each sample aliquot can be used for a dedicated clinical analysis and end-point measurement in order to preserve sample integrity and value over time. METHODS: 96 and 384 format sample storage tube systems were utilized for preservation and archiving of clinical patient samples. Automated sample processing and aliquoting were achieved using robotic liquid handling instrumentation, followed by biomarker assay quantitations. Sample workflow was documented and tracked by Nautilus LIMS. RESULTS: Validation by repetitive processing and analysis confirmed the reliability of automated high density 384 format aliquoting. This high density scaling allows for reproducible aliquoting of 70-μL volumes of blood. Plasma with EDTA, Li-heparin, and citrate, as anti-coagulants, fractioned along with the buffy coat (leukocytes) and the erythrocyte fraction. Large scale processing of 11,000 sample aliquots resulted in a 99.8% process fulfillment. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that robust results can be generated from an automated sample processing strategy, isolating plasma, buffy coat, erythrocytes, serum and whole blood, proven by quantitation of 23 common markers used in everyday healthcare around the world. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Integrated omics.
Journal of proteomics 05/2012; · 5.07 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Objectives: Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is a widely used and clinically valuable marker for prostate disease. In order to enable the development of new PSA assays and progress the understanding of the biology of PSA we have analyzed PSA in seminal plasma.
Design and Methods: PSA in seminal plasma from men attending a fertility clinic and healthy controls was analyzed using SDS-PAGE, Western blotting and mass spectrometry.
Results: Using mass spectrometry, different forms of PSA could be identified in 1-9 bands seen on SDS-PAGE analysis of the respective sample. However, a majority of these molecular forms of PSA were not observed on Western blots. Enzymatic activity of PSA isoforms was demonstrated by sequencing data in zymogram gels. Multivariate analysis of clinical data revealed well-separated patient groups.
Conclusions: We demonstrated that PSA in seminal plasma occurs in several isoforms, yet not all were detectable using an antibody based clinical routine method. The heterogeneity of PSA expression might be of clinical significance, by an improved patient phenotyping.
Clinical Biochemistry 02/2012; · 2.08 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is a widely used and clinically valuable marker for prostate disease. In order to enable the development of new PSA assays and progress the understanding of the biology of PSA we have analyzed PSA in seminal plasma.
PSA in seminal plasma from men attending a fertility clinic and healthy controls was analyzed using SDS-PAGE, Western blotting and mass spectrometry.
Using mass spectrometry, different forms of PSA could be identified in 1-9 bands seen on SDS-PAGE analysis of the respective sample. However, a majority of these molecular forms of PSA were not observed on Western blots. Enzymatic activity of PSA isoforms was demonstrated by sequencing data in zymogram gels. Multivariate analysis of clinical data revealed well-separated patient groups.
We demonstrated that PSA in seminal plasma occurs in several isoforms, yet not all were detectable using an antibody based clinical routine method. The heterogeneity of PSA expression might be of clinical significance, by an improved patient phenotyping.
Clinical biochemistry 12/2011; 45(4-5):331-8. · 2.02 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Serum amyloid P component (SAP) belongs to the pentraxin family of proteins. SAP is evolutionary conserved, and involved in amyloidosis, innate immunity, inflammation, and apoptosis. We have previously described SAP in the male reproductive tract, where it occurs in seminal fluid, on spermatozoa, and in epididymal, seminal vesicle, and prostate tissue. In the present investigation, our aim was to characterize SAP in male reproduction. In short, we developed and evaluated an immunoassay, analysed the concentration of SAP in seminal plasma and serum in samples from healthy men (N = 203), and studied hormonal regulation. SAP in seminal plasma showed a positively skewed distribution and a median concentration of 1.01 mg/L (inter quartile range [IQR] 0.56-1.65 mg/L). SAP in serum had a Gaussian distribution and a median concentration of 40.5 mg/L (IQR 34.2-49.2 mg/L). Furthermore, SAP concentrations in seminal plasma were not correlated with serum concentrations of SAP, testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), the testosterone/SHBG ratio, inhibin B, or estradiol. Only a weak negative correlation was found between seminal plasma SAP and serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) (Spearman's rho -0.159; p = 0.023) and luteinizing hormone (LH) (Spearman's rho -0.162; p = 0.021). In conclusion, all men investigated had measurable SAP levels in seminal plasma and in serum. SAP concentrations were 40 times lower in seminal fluid than in serum, and there was no correlation between those two variables. It seems that hormonal regulation is not the major pathway regulating seminal plasma SAP, and seminal plasma SAP and serum SAP are not co-regulated.
Scandinavian journal of clinical and laboratory investigation 11/2011; 71(7):569-75. · 1.38 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Prostate specific antigen (PSA), as a widely used clinical biomarker in prostate cancer diagnostics, exists in multiple molecular forms. However, all of these forms might not be recognized in a given sample by the standard immunoassays. Therefore, we have investigated PSA isoforms, separated by size, using mass spectrometric analyses. The objective of these developments was to identify and specify the various forms of PSA. To optimize successful identification of different PSA forms, we have developed a bioinformatic strategy, consisting of high resolution MALDI-MS PMF and sequencing MS/MS data searches. To improve sequence-based identification, the recently introduced Proteios software environment was employed, allowing the combination of multiple database search engines in an automated manner. We could unambiguously identify PSA in clinical samples by all detectable tryptic peptides, which were found to be common in several isoforms.
Journal of proteomics 06/2011; 75(1):202-10. · 5.07 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Previous studies indicate that calcium and its regulating hormones, i.e., parathyroid hormone (PTH) and vitamin D, might affect breast cancer risk. Evidence also suggests that this relationship could be influenced by menopausal status and BMI. We examined breast cancer risk related to prediagnostic serum levels of vitamin D (25OHD(2) and 25OHD(3)), PTH and calcium using a nested case-control design within the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study. There were 764 incident breast cancer cases, and 764 controls were selected by incidence density matching, using age as the underlying time scale, matching on calendar time at inclusion, menopausal status and age at inclusion. Using logistic regression analysis, odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals were calculated for breast cancer risk in different quartiles of the analyzed factors. All analyses were adjusted for risk factors for breast cancer, and for levels of albumin, creatinine and phosphate. Analyses were repeated stratified for BMI and menopausal status, and for low vs. high levels of 25OHD(3), PTH and calcium. There was a weak, nonsignificant inverse association between breast cancer risk and 25OHD(3), and the OR for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th quartiles, as compared to the first, were 0.84 (0.60-1.15), 0.84 (0.60-1.17) and 0.93 (0.66-1.33). Serum calcium was positively associated with breast cancer in premenopausal women (OR for the 4th quartile = 3.10:1.33-7.22 and p for quartile trend = 0.04), and in women with BMI > 25 (OR for the 4th quartile = 1.94:1.12-3.37 and p for trend < 0.01). There was no association between baseline serum PTH and breast cancer risk.
International Journal of Cancer 11/2010; 127(9):2159-68. · 5.44 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Measurements of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in blood are widely used as diagnostic, predictive and prognostic marker of prostate disease. The selective detection of molecular forms of PSA can contribute clinically to meaningful enhancements of the conventional PSA-test. As it is plausible that an in-depth search for structural variants of PSA gene products may increase our ability to discriminate distinct patho-biological basis and stages of prostate diseases, we have developed a multi-step protocol comprising gel-based methods followed by mass spectrometric identification. Our current aim was to provide a comprehensive identification of PSA variants occurring in seminal fluid. We provide a proof-of-principle for this multiple step analytical approach to identify multiple PSA variants from complex biological samples that revealed distinct molecular characteristics. In addition, sequence-annotated protein bands in SDS-PAGE gels were compared to those detected by Western blots, and by monitoring the enzymatic activity in zymogram gels, using gelatin as a substrate. The high accuracy annotations were obtained by fast turnaround MALDI-Orbitrap analysis from excised and digested gel bands. Multiple PSA forms were identified utilizing a combination of MASCOT and SEQUEST search engines.
Journal of proteomics 04/2010; 73(6):1137-47. · 5.07 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Approximately 1 in 10 couples is infertile. No definite cause can be found in about 25% of those cases. Studies have indicated that seminal vesicle secretion functions as an optimizer of fertilization. The Zn(2+) binding protein semenogelin I (SgI) represents a major fraction of the proteins present in seminal vesicle fluid, and it serves as a structural component of the coagulum that is formed after ejaculation. Cleavage of SgI by prostate-specific antigen results in liquefaction of the coagulum. Fragmented SgI has antibacterial effects and inhibits spermatozoa mobility. SgI has also been found complexed to eppin on spermatozoa, and this complex has been suggested to be of importance for fertility. Here, we used flow cytometry and surface plasmon resonance to study SgI regarding its association with spermatozoa and the interaction dependency on Zn(2+). The concentration of Zn(2+) in seminal plasma is approximately 100 times higher than in blood plasma, and the metal ion is known to change the structure of SgI. We found that SgI binds to spermatozoa in a concentration-dependent and saturable manner. In solution, SgI bound to spermatozoa in a non-Zn(2+)-dependent way, whereas immobilized SgI interacts with spermatozoa only in the presence of Zn(2+). It indicates that SgI must exhibit a specific structure or free flexibility to be able to interact with that ligand. Our results indicate that the association of SgI to spermatozoa is conformation dependent and specific. These findings could constitute a basis for the development of a male contraceptive.
Journal of Andrology 04/2010; 31(6):560-5. · 2.97 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The potential association between hypo- and hyperthyroid disorders and breast cancer has been investigated in a large number of studies during the last decades without conclusive results. This prospective cohort study investigated prediagnostic levels of thyrotropin (TSH) and triiodothyronine (T3) in relation to breast cancer incidence in pre- and postmenopausal women.
In the Malmö Preventive Project, 2,696 women had T3 and/or TSH levels measured at baseline. During a mean follow-up of 19.3 years, 173 incident breast cancer cases were retrieved using record linkage with The Swedish Cancer Registry. Quartile cut-points for T3 and TSH were based on the distribution among all women in the study cohort. A Cox's proportional hazards analysis was used to estimate relative risks (RR), with a confidence interval (CI) of 95%. Trends over quartiles of T3 and TSH were calculated considering a P-value < 0.05 as statistically significant. All analyses were repeated for pre- and peri/postmenopausal women separately.
Overall there was a statistically significant association between T3 and breast cancer risk, the adjusted RR in the fourth quartile, as compared to the first, was 1.87 (1.12 to 3.14). In postmenopausal women the RRs for the second, third and fourth quartiles, as compared to the first, were 3.26 (0.96 to 11.1), 5.53 (1.65 to 18.6) and 6.87 (2.09 to 22.6), (P-trend: < 0.001). There were no such associations in pre-menopausal women, and no statistically significant interaction between T3 and menopausal status. Also, no statistically significant association was seen between serum TSH and breast cancer.
This is the first prospective study on T3 levels in relation to breast cancer risk. T3 levels in postmenopausal women were positively associated with the risk of breast cancer in a dose-response manner.
Breast cancer research: BCR 01/2010; 12(3):R33. · 5.24 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: It is generally thought that a single ejaculate is a bad predictor of semen quality of a subject, because of significant intra-individual variation. Therefore, we investigated the degree to which the results of a first semen analysis differ from that of a second analysis among men from a general population in Norway. In addition, we analysed how the two different semen results mirrored the overall semen quality assessment. A total of 199 volunteers participated in the study and delivered two semen samples with an interval of 6 months. The semen parameters were determined according to the World Health Organization (WHO) 1999 guidelines, which were also used to determine whether semen quality was normal or abnormal. In addition, the DNA fragmentation index (DFI) was determined using the Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay. The two samples from each individual were very similar with regard to standard semen parameters and DFI (rs: 0.67–0.72), and there were no significant systematic differences between the two samples. The result of the first sample (normal/abnormal) was highly predictive of the overall conclusion based on the two samples (sperm concentration: in 93% of the cases (95% confidence interval [CI]: 89%–96%); sperm motility: in 85% of the cases (95% CI: 79%–89%); overall semen quality: in 85% of the cases (95% CI: 80%–90%). In epidemiological studies, one ejaculate is a sufficient indicator of semen quality in a group of subjects. In a clinical situation, when the question is whether the semen quality is normal or not, the first ejaculate will, in at least 85% of cases, give a correct overall conclusion.Keywords: DNA fragmentation, intra-individual, semen quality, semen volume, sperm concentration, sperm motility
Asian Journal of Andrology 10/2009; 11(6):723-730. · 1.52 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: It is generally thought that a single ejaculate is a bad predictor of semen quality of a subject, because of significant intra-individual variation. Therefore, we investigated the degree to which the results of a first semen analysis differ from that of a second analysis among men from a general population in Norway. In addition, we analysed how the two different semen results mirrored the overall semen quality assessment. A total of 199 volunteers participated in the study and delivered two semen samples with an interval of 6 months. The semen parameters were determined according to the World Health Organization (WHO) 1999 guidelines, which were also used to determine whether semen quality was normal or abnormal. In addition, the DNA fragmentation index (DFI) was determined using the Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay. The two samples from each individual were very similar with regard to standard semen parameters and DFI (r(s:) 0.67-0.72), and there were no significant systematic differences between the two samples. The result of the first sample (normal/abnormal) was highly predictive of the overall conclusion based on the two samples (sperm concentration: in 93% of the cases (95% confidence interval [CI]: 89%-96%); sperm motility: in 85% of the cases (95% CI: 79%-89%); overall semen quality: in 85% of the cases (95% CI: 80%-90%). In epidemiological studies, one ejaculate is a sufficient indicator of semen quality in a group of subjects. In a clinical situation, when the question is whether the semen quality is normal or not, the first ejaculate will, in at least 85% of cases, give a correct overall conclusion.
Asian Journal of Andrology 10/2009; 11(6):723-30. · 1.52 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Experimental, epidemiological and clinical studies suggest that calcium and/or its regulating hormones affect breast cancer risk. There has been no prospective cohort study investigating serum calcium levels and breast cancer aggressiveness, as determined by tumour histology and stage. Dichotomized prediagnostic serum calcium levels were investigated in relation to breast cancer aggressiveness as determined by grade (mitotic frequency, tubule formation, nuclear atypia) and stage (tumour size and axillary lymph node status). Cox's proportional hazards analysis and heterogeneity analysis were used to investigate the associations between low/high calcium and grade/stage in a prospective cohort study of 7847 women, out of whom 462 women were diagnosed with incident breast cancer during a mean follow-up of 17.2 years. All analyses were stratified for body mass index and menopausal status. Prediagnostic serum calcium levels in premenopausal women were positively associated with increased tumour aggressiveness as determined by a higher risk of nodal metastasis; relative risk (RR) for calcium above median as compared with calcium below median was 1.88 with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.04-3.38. In overweight women, prediagnostic serum calcium levels were also associated with tumour aggressiveness, as determined by both a higher risk of nodal metastasis [RR (95% CI) 1.69 (0.95-3.02)] and severe nuclear atypia [RR (95% CI) 2.06 (1.10-3.86)]. Results also indicate that, in overweight women, calcium is positively associated with worse grade as determined by tubule formation and mitotic frequency. In conclusion, prediagnostic serum calcium levels are positively associated with increased tumour aggressiveness in premenopausal and/or overweight women.
European journal of cancer prevention: the official journal of the European Cancer Prevention Organisation (ECP) 10/2009; 18(5):354-60. · 2.21 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The generation of high quality plasma from whole blood is of major interest for many biomedical analyses and clinical diagnostic methods. However, it has proven to be a major challenge to make use of microfluidic separation devices to process fluids with high cell content, such as whole blood. Here, we report on an acoustophoresis based separation chip that prepares diagnostic plasma from whole blood linked to a clinical application. This acoustic separator has the capacity to sequentially remove enriched blood cells in multiple steps to yield high quality plasma of low cellular content. The generated plasma fulfills the standard requirements (<6.0 x 10(9) erythrocytes/L) recommended by the Council of Europe. Further, we successfully linked the plasmapheresis microchip to our previously developed porous silicon sandwich antibody microarray chip for prostate specific antigen (PSA) detection. PSA was detected by good linearity (R(2) > 0.99) in the generated plasma via fluorescence readout without any signal amplification at clinically relevant levels (0.19-21.8 ng/mL).
Analytical Chemistry 07/2009; 81(15):6030-7. · 5.86 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The reproductive tract is continuously challenged by potential pathogens present in the environment. Therefore, robust host defense mechanisms are essential both for the health of the individual and for fertilization. Antibiotic innate immunity peptides possess broad antimicrobial activity. Recently, we found that the CXC chemokine, granulocyte chemotactic protein (GCP)-2/CXCL6, possesses antibacterial activity. In the present study, we investigated, therefore, the presence of GCP-2/CXCL6 in the human male reproductive system. GCP-2/CXCL6 was detected at 19nM (mean; range: 5-47nM; n=14) in seminal plasma of fertile donors, i.e. at levels more than 100 times higher than those previously reported for the related chemokine IL-8/CXCL8. No GCP-2/CXCL6 could be detected in blood plasma of healthy donors, indicating local production in the male reproductive tract. In vasectomized donors, significantly lower levels of GCP-2/CXCL6 were found (mean: 3nM; range 2-7nM; n=7), demonstrating that the testis and epididymis contribute significantly to the GCP-2/CXCL6 content of seminal plasma. Strong expression of GCP-2/CXCL6 was found in the epithelium of the testis, epididymis and seminal vesicles, while the prostate epithelium showed weak expression, as determined by immunohistochemistry. A biological function is suggested, viz. at concentrations of the order of those found in seminal plasma, GCP-2/CXCL6 has antibacterial activity against the urogenital pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae. GCP-2/CXCL6 in seminal plasma may play roles in both host defense of the male urogenital tract and during fertilization.
Journal of Reproductive Immunology 10/2008; 79(1):37-43. · 2.97 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: One of the major roles of seminal plasma is to provide antimicrobial protection for the spermatozoa in the female reproductive tract. We found that the bactericidal activity of seminal plasma was highest after resolution of the seminal clot and that this antibacterial activity subsequently became greatly diminished. The antibacterial activity was derived from peptides generated by fragmentation of the semenogelins while the semenogelin holoproteins displayed no antibacterial activity. After ejaculation the semenogelin-derived peptides were fragmented to smaller and smaller fragments over time and thereby lost antibacterial activity. This paralleled the loss of antibacterial activity of whole seminal plasma both in vitro and after sexual intercourse. Moreover, the antibacterial activity of the semenogelin-derived peptides generated in seminal plasma was strictly zinc-dependent both at neutral and low pH. These data provide novel roles for the resolution of seminal clots and for the high zinc concentration in human seminal plasma.
The Journal of Immunology 10/2008; 181(5):3413-21. · 5.79 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Liquefaction of human semen involves proteolytic degradation of the seminal coagulum and release of motile spermatozoa. Several members of human kallikrein-related peptidases (KLKs) have been implicated in semen liquefaction, functioning through highly regulated proteolytic cascades. Among these, KLK3 (also known as prostate-specific antigen) is the main executor enzyme responsible for processing of the primary components of semen coagulum, semenogelins I and II. We have recently identified KLK14 as a potential activator of KLK3 and other KLKs. This study aims to elucidate the cascade-mediated role of KLK14 ex vivo. KLK14 expression was significantly lower (p = 0.0252) in individuals with clinically delayed liquefaction. Concordantly, KLK14 expression was significantly (p = 0.0478) lower in asthenospermic cases. Specific inhibition of KLK14 activity by the synthetic inhibitor ACT(G9) resulted in a significant delay in semen liquefaction, a drop in the "early" (30 min postejaculation) "chymotrypsin-like" and KLK1 activity, and an increase in the "late" (90 min postejaculation) chymotrypsin-like activity. Conversely, the addition of recombinant active KLK14 facilitated the liquefaction process, augmented the early chymotrypsin-like activity, and lowered late chymotrypsin-like activity. Given that the observed chymotrypsin-like activity was almost completely attributed to KLK3 activity, KLK3 seems to be regulated bidirectionally. Accordingly, a higher level of KLK3 fragmentation was observed in KLK14-induced coagula, suggesting an inactivation mechanism via internal cleavage. Finally, semenogelins I and II were directly cleaved by KLK14. Semenogelins were also able to reverse KLK14 inhibition by Zn2+, providing a novel regulatory mechanism for KLK14 activity. Our results show that KLK14 exerts a significant and dose-dependent effect in the process of semen liquefaction.
Journal of Biological Chemistry 08/2008; 283(28):19561-9. · 4.77 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Serum calcium concentrations have been associated with the risk of malignant disease, especially breast cancer. Thus, determinants of serum calcium concentrations, with special regard to risk factors of breast cancer, are of great interest.
Previous studies have either been small or they have not focused on reproductive factors. The present study examined serum calcium concentrations in relation to reproductive history, selected lifestyle factors and screening season in a large population-based cohort study comprising 8,114 women. ANOVA followed by the Bonferroni t-test were used for comparison of means, and logistic regression and multiple regression analysis were used to test associations.
Serum calcium concentrations were lower in hormone replacement therapy users versus non-users (2.321 mmol/L versus 2.364; p<0.001) and in users of oral contraceptives versus non-users (2.304 versus 2.348; p<0.001). They were higher in peri-/postmenopausal versus premenopausal women (2.357 versus 2.319; p<0.001). Overweight and obese women had higher mean calcium concentrations (2.350 and 2.355) than women with body mass index between 20 and 25 (2.342; p<0.001). Serum calcium concentrations were higher in spring and autumn than in winter (2.352 and 2.353 versus 2.343; p = 0.002). Both younger (40-45 years) (2.334; p = 0.001) and older age groups (>55 years) (2.363; p<0.001) had higher mean calcium concentrations compared to those of women aged 45-50 years (2.320), even when adjusting for menopausal status, suggesting that age has an independent influence on calcium concentrations.
It is concluded that reproductive factors such as menopausal status, use of oral contraceptives or hormone-replacement therapy, and age, BMI and season are associated with serum calcium concentrations.
Scandinavian journal of clinical and laboratory investigation 07/2008; 68(8):777-85. · 1.38 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To investigate differences in semen quality between samples collected by masturbation at a clinic and at home.
Cross-sectional study.
Fertility center.
Three hundred seventy-nine men assessed for infertility.
None.
Semen was analyzed according to World Health Organization guidelines. Seminal markers of epididymal (neutral alpha-glucosidase), prostatic (prostate-specific antigen and zinc), and seminal vesicle (fructose) function were measured. Two patient groups were defined according to sample collection location: at a clinic (n = 273) or at home (n = 106).
Compared with clinic-collected semen, home-collected samples had statistically significantly higher values for sperm concentration, total sperm count, rapid progressive motility, and total count of progressive motility. Semen volume, proportion of normal sperm morphology, neutral alpha-glucosidase, prostate-specific antigen, zinc, and fructose did not differ significantly between groups. An abnormal sperm concentration (<20 x 10(6)/mL) was seen in statistically significantly fewer of the samples obtained at home (19/106, 18%) than at the clinic (81/273, 30%), and the same applied to proportions of samples with abnormal (< 25%) rapid progressive motility (68/106 [64%] and 205/273 [75%], respectively).
The present results demonstrate superior semen quality in samples collected by masturbation at home compared with at a clinic. This should be taken into consideration in infertility investigations.
Fertility and sterility 06/2008; 89(6):1718-22. · 3.97 Impact Factor
