Purpose To compare plasma levels of oxidative stress biomarkers in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and controls and to evaluate a potential relationship between biochemical markers of oxidative stress and AMD susceptibility genotypes. Design Prospective case-control study Methods Plasma levels of oxidative stress biomarkers were determined in 77 AMD patients and 75 controls recruited from a clinical practice. Cysteine (Cys), cystine (CySS), glutathione (GSH), isoprostane (IsoP), and isofuran (IsoF) were measured, and participants were genotyped for polymorphisms in the complement factor H (CFH) and age-related maculopathy susceptibility 2 (ARMS2) genes. Results CySS was elevated in cases compared to controls (p = 0.013). After adjustment for age, gender, and smoking, this association was not significant. In all participants, CySS levels were associated with the CFH polymorphism rs3753394 (p = 0.028) as well as an eight-allele CFH haplotype (p = 0.029) after correction for age, gender, and smoking. None of the other plasma markers was related to AMD status in our cohort. Conclusions Our investigation of the gene/environment interaction involved in AMD revealed a relationship between a plasma biomarker of oxidative stress (CySS) and CFH genotype. These data suggest a potential association between inflammatory regulators and redox status in AMD pathogenesis.

Purpose To determine if short-term Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) antioxidant and zinc supplementation affects biomarkers of oxidative stress, possibly serving as a predictor of their efficacy. Design Prospective interventional case series Methods Nineteen subjects, 12 with intermediate or advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) (AREDS categories 3 or 4) and 7 non-AMD controls, were admitted to the Vanderbilt General Clinical Research Center and placed on a controlled diet for 7 days. Antioxidant and zinc supplements were stopped two weeks prior to study enrollment. Dietary supplementation with 500 mg vitamin C, 400 IU vitamin E, 15 mg β-carotene, 80 mg zinc oxide, and 2 mg cupric oxide per day was instituted on Study Day 2. Blood was drawn on Study Days 2 and 7, and plasma concentrations of cysteine (Cys), cystine (CySS), glutathione (GSH), isoprostane (IsoP), and isofuran (IsoF) were determined. Results Short-term AREDS supplementation significantly lowered mean plasma levels of CySS in participants on a regulated diet (p = 0.034). No significant differences were observed for Cys, GSH, IsoP, or IsoF. There were no significant differences between AMD patients and controls. Conclusions This pilot interventional study shows that a 5-day course of antioxidant and zinc supplements can modify plasma levels of CySS, suggesting that this oxidative stress biomarker could help predict how likely an individual is to benefit from AREDS supplementation. Further, CySS may be useful for the evaluation of new AMD therapies, particularly those hypothesized to affect redox status.

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189 Background: Geriatric syndromes are multifactorial conditions affecting the elderly that are associated with decreased quality of life and poor outcomes. We sought to quantify the prevalence of geriatric syndromes in a group of navigated cancer patients and identify conditions associated with distress. Methods: Distress assessments were conducted between January 2012 and December 2015 on enrollment into the PCCP, a lay-navigation program that serves Medicare recipients in the UAB Health System Cancer Community Network. Assessments were made using a modified Distress Tool, which captures sources of distress in multiple domains. We identified questionnaire items related to common geriatric syndromes including functional decline, sensory impairment, cognitive and mood changes, sleep problems, incontinence, pressure ulcers, and malnutrition. Prevalence of geriatric syndromes was indicated by reported distress for an item that mapped to one of the above syndromes. Results: 8,014 patients were surveyed; 53 % of patients were 65- 74 yoa with 47% > 74 yoa while 52% were female. The most common cancer types were breast (18%), lung (17%), and gastrointestinal (16%). Of all surveyed patients, 1,779 (22%) reported distress related to at least one geriatric syndrome. The most common complaint was decline in functional ability relating to ADLs (11%) and IADLs (7%). Conclusions: Geriatric syndromes, such as functional disability, contribute to distress in older patients with cancer patients. Early screening and identification may lead to timely intervention to help improve quality of life. Further research is needed to describe the relationship between these syndromes and health outcomes, such as their association with health care utilization in older adults with cancer.

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