Zinc decreases C-reactive protein, lipid peroxidation, and inflammatory cytokines in elderly subjects: a potential implication of zinc as an atheroprotective agent.

Background: Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress are common risk factors for atherosclerosis. Zinc is an essential micronutrient that can function as an antiinflammatory and antioxidative agent, and as such, it may have atheroprotective properties.

Objective: We hypothesized that zinc down-regulates the production of atherosclerosis-related cytokines/molecules in humans.

Zinc in cancer prevention.

Essentiality of zinc for humans was discovered 45 yr ago. Deficiency of zinc is prevalent world wide in developing countries and may affect nearly 2 billion subjects. The major manifestations of zinc deficiency include growth retardation, hypogonadism in males, cell-mediated immune dysfunctions, and cognitive impairment.

Zinc supplementation decreases oxidative stress, incidence of infection, and generation of inflammatory cytokines in sickle cell disease patients.

Zinc deficiency is common in adult sickle-cell disease (SCD) patients. We previously demonstrated that zinc supplementation to adult SCD patients decreased the incidences of infections and hospital admissions. We hypothesize that zinc supplementation improves T-helper cell function and decreases vascular endothelial cell activation, oxidative stress, and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB)-DNA binding in mononuclear cells (MNCs) in SCD patients.

Duration and severity of symptoms and levels of plasma interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor, and adhesion molecules in patients with common cold treated with zinc acetate.

Background: Zinc lozenges have been used for treatment of the common cold; however, the results remain controversial.

Methods: Fifty ambulatory volunteers were recruited within 24 h of developing symptoms of the common cold for a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of zinc. Participants took 1 lozenge containing 13.

Zinc supplementation decreases incidence of infections in the elderly: effect of zinc on generation of cytokines and oxidative stress.

Background: Zinc deficiency, cell-mediated immune dysfunction, susceptibility to infections, and increased oxidative stress have been observed in elderly subjects (ie, those >55 y old). Zinc is an effective antiinflammatory and antioxidant agent.

Objectives: The primary objective was to determine the effect of zinc on the incidence of total infections in healthy elderly subjects.

Factors affecting bryostatin 1-enhanced 2-CdA cytotoxicity in resistant B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Pre-treatment with bryostatin 1 (bryo) has been shown to potentiate the efficacy of (2-chloro-2-deoxyadenosine, cladribine, 2-CdA) in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) by increasing the ratio of deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) to 5'-nucleotidase (5'-NT) activity. The bryo-induced increase in dCK/5'-NT activity alone has not been a conclusive indication of final clinical outcome. Therefore, we used an ex vivo assay to investigate factors which may affect the bryo-induced enhancement of 2-CdA efficacy in B-CLL patient-derived samples.