Early tumor shrinkage is independently associated with improved overall survival among patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma: a validation study using the COMPARZ cohort.

Purpose: Early tumor shrinkage (eTS) has prognostic value in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). We aimed to validate the role of eTS in first line treatment from the COMPARZ study (NCT00720941).

Methods: 1100 patients treated with sunitinib or pazopanib were analyzed for tumor response according to RECIST 1.

Segment-specific association between plasma homocysteine level and carotid artery intima-media thickness in the Framingham Offspring Study.

Elevated plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) level is an established risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The relationship between tHcy and carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) at the internal carotid artery (ICA)/bulb-IMT and common carotid artery (CCA)-IMT had not been systematically studied, however. Because the ICA/bulb segment is more prone to plaque formation than the CCA segment, differential associations with tHcy at these sites might suggest mechanisms of tHcy action.

Does gamma-tocopherol play a role in the primary prevention of heart disease and cancer? A review.

Vitamin E consists of a group of eight isomers, four tocopherols (alpha-, beta-, gamma-, delta-tocopherol) and four tocotrienols (alpha-, beta-, gamma-, delta-tocotrienol). While extensive literature has been published on the potential health benefits of alpha-tocopherol, little is known about gamma-tocopherol, the major form of vitamin E in food in the U.S.

Relations of glycemic index and glycemic load with plasma oxidative stress markers.

Background: Recent data suggest that acute hyperglycemia may increase in vivo free radical production. This increased production has been implicated in many disease processes.

Objective: The objective was to investigate whether a diet with a high glycemic index (GI) or glycemic load (GL) is associated with greater oxidative stress as measured by 2 lipid peroxidation markers, malondialdehyde (MDA) and F2-isoprostanes (IsoPs).

Intraindividual variability of plasma antioxidants, markers of oxidative stress, C-reactive protein, cotinine, and other biomarkers.

Background: Within-person variability in biomarkers results in random error that can attenuate estimates of association. Little information on such variability is available for a number of nutrition-related biomarkers.

Methods: Blood samples obtained 2 to 4 weeks apart were analyzed for tocopherols, carotenoids, ascorbate, lipids, cotinine, C-reactive protein, and oxidative stress.

The effect of folate fortification of cereal-grain products on blood folate status, dietary folate intake, and dietary folate sources among adult non-supplement users in the United States.

Objective: Since January 1998, the Federal Drug Administration has required folic acid fortification of all enriched cereal-grain products in the U.S. This program intended to increase folic acid intake among women of childbearing age in order to decrease their risk of pregnancies affected by neural tube defects.

A review: dietary and endogenously formed N-nitroso compounds and risk of childhood brain tumors.

Maternal dietary exposure to N-nitroso compounds (NOC) or to their precursors during pregnancy has been associated with risk of childhood brain tumors. Cured meat is one source of exposure to dietary NOC and their precursors. Most epidemiological studies that have examined the role of maternal consumption of cured meats during pregnancy have found a significant positive association between maternal intake of cured meat and the risk of childhood brain tumor (CBT).

The effect of weight loss on a stable biomarker of inflammation, C-reactive protein.

Inflammation is pivotal in all phases of atherosclerosis. Increasing body weight is positively associated with inflammation. Weight loss studies have shown that decreasing body weight significantly decreases C-reactive protein, the prototypic biomarker for inflammation.

Plasma C-reactive protein concentrations in active and passive smokers: influence of antioxidant supplementation.

Objective: C-reactive protein (CRP) may directly affect the progression of atherosclerosis, and therefore, may be a target for reducing disease risk. The objective was to determine whether antioxidant supplementation reduces plasma CRP in active and passive smokers.

Design: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group trial with 2 months exposure to study supplements.

The effect of breakfast type on total daily energy intake and body mass index: results from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III).

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between breakfast type, energy intake and body mass index (BMI). We hypothesized not only that breakfast consumption itself is associated with BMI, but that the type of food eaten at breakfast also affects BMI.

Methods: Data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), a large, population-based study conducted in the United States from 1988 to 1994, were analyzed for breakfast type, total daily energy intake, and BMI.

Vitamin C supplementation decreases oxidative stress biomarker f2-isoprostanes in plasma of nonsmokers exposed to environmental tobacco smoke.

Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) has been linked to increased risk of lung cancer and cardiovascular diseases in nonsmokers. Current research suggests that some of these diseases are associated with elevated oxidative stress. We investigated the effect of antioxidant (AO) intervention on the lipid peroxidation biomarker F2-isoprostanes (F2-IsoPs), an index of oxidative stress, in plasma of nonsmokers exposed to ETS (passive smokers).

Smoking and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke decrease some plasma antioxidants and increase gamma-tocopherol in vivo after adjustment for dietary antioxidant intakes.

Background: Free radicals in cigarette smoke may cause oxidative damage to macromolecules, contributing to cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Decreased plasma antioxidant concentrations may indicate cigarette smoke-related oxidative stress.

Objective: We compared the effects on plasma antioxidant concentrations in cotinine-confirmed active and passive smokers with those in nonsmokers, independent of differences in dietary intakes and other covariates.

Factors associated with oxidative stress in human populations.

Oxidation of biomolecules may play a role in susceptibility to a number of diseases. However, there are few large-scale survey data describing oxidative damage that occurs in humans and the demographic, physical, or nutritional factors that may be associated with it. Such information is essential for the design and analysis of studies investigating the role of oxidative stress in health and disease.

Antioxidant supplementation decreases lipid peroxidation biomarker F(2)-isoprostanes in plasma of smokers.

Free radicals in cigarette smoke (CS) cause oxidative damage to proteins, DNA, and lipids, contributing to the pathobiology of atherosclerosis, heart disease, and cancer. In vitro studies have shown that antioxidants quench free radicals and ameliorate certain aspects of biomolecular damage caused by CS. It is hypothesized that a combination of antioxidants is more effective than a single antioxidant, due to their interactions.