In this study, we investigated the levels of serum Zn, Cu, Mg, Mn, Fe, ceruloplasmin (Cp), transferrin (Trf), and albumin in laryngeal carcinoma and correlated their levels with the cancer stage. The sera from 35 patients with laryngeal cancer (10 at stage II, 12 at stage III, and 13 at stage IV) were extracted before treatment and compared with those from the healthy control group (n=15). Although serum Fe and Mn concentrations were lower in the laryngeal cancer groups (for all stages) than in the control group, the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). The higher Cu (p<0.001) and Cp (p<0.01) and lower Zn (p<0.01), Mg (p<0.001), and Trf (p<0.01) concentrations were found in laryngeal cancer groups (for each stage) when compared to the control group. In the comparison of stages II, III, and IV (with each other), all parameters were found to be statistically not significant (p>0.05). On the other hand, no meaningful difference was found in terms of the serum albumin level. In our opinion, alterations in the level of trace elements and antioxidant proteins, important for many metabolic processes, in laryngeal cancer may not be a reason for but is, in fact, a consequence of the disease itself.

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of systemic zinc sulfate in the treatment of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The study was carried out on 40 patients with RAS. The first group consisted of 20 subjects with RAS who were administered zinc sulfate (220mg) once per day for one month. In the second group, there were 20 subjects with RAS who were administered placebo (saccharose). Results showed that the levels of serum zinc before treatment were under the normal value in the 42.5% percent of the patients with RAS. Saliva ALP, serum zinc, serum albumin, and serum alkaline phosphates activity for group II were significantly lower than those for group I after treatment (p<0.01). After 1 month of zinc therapy the aphthae reduced and did not reappear for 3 months. The empirical use of systemic zinc sulfate supplementation in the treatment of RAS is recommend.

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These data reveal that the significant correlations between sICAM-1 and TSA in laryngeal cancer, more prominent at advanced stage, might reflect the similar nature of these molecules, which function as adhesion molecules.

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