The problem in estimation of microelements in children

A comment on the article “The levels of bioelements in the saliva and hair of young athletes” by N.A. Troegubova et al

Atherosclerosis: Hypotheses and theories

The article gives basic theories of the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, including inflammatory, cholesterol, lipid, lipoprotein, iron ones, as a result of metabolic syndrome, oxidative stress. In spite of carefully and deeply developed and ongoing elaborated pathogenesis theories, the etiological factors of atherosclerosis remain unknown so far. The age-related aspect of the disease is discussed; atherosclerosis is considered to be a childhood-onset disease that manifests itself at a later age. The authors propose an experimental and clinical evidence-based concept of the common etiology of syndromes of atherosclerosis, namely: the body's endogenous intoxication that is permanent or periodically progressive may be a primary cause of altered conformation of different protein molecules with their higher ability to adsorb the trace elements consolidating the structural changes. This change of proteins diminishes their functions and determines their antigenic properties, which is attended by the development of different pathogenic components in relation to the body's individual features

Molecular stress and chronic metabolic disorders

Stress is the response of the organism to various external and internal events. All response reactions change from metabolic processes to metabolic stresses in minutes or even seconds. The scientists most often discuss oxidative, nitrosative and carbonyl stresses which are characterized by the accumulation of free radicals and other reactive oxygen species, as well as active carbonyl compounds, in the cells and extracellular fluid. These active (signal) molecules are powerful nonspecific modifiers of the structure and function of proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and they interfere with bioenergetics. Small doses of active signal molecules are necessary for adaptive reactions of the body, they inhibit metabolic disorders, especially protein disorders, but their excessive accumulation causes pathological processes with pronounced modification of proteins and cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, autoimmune, connective tissue diseases and cancer. The authors discuss possible protection and prevention measures of metabolic stress

LABORATORY MARKERS FOR MYOCARDIAL INJURY IN CHILDREN WITH CARDIOMYOPATHIES

Twelve biochemical parameters were measured to examine 145 children with cardiovascular diseases (cardiomyopathy, hypertension). Changes in these parameters were ascertained to be similar and different in relation to the specific disease. Cardiomyopathies were characterized by the elevated blood levels of natriuretic peptides (ANP, BNP, and CNP), myocardial creatine kinase (in all the patients), and aldosterone (in two thirds). In hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, there were increases in the blood levels of nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor-α, as well as the highest activity of creatine kinase. Dilated cardiomyopathy was characterized by rises in endothelin and ANP and a moderate elevation of creatine kinase. Children with restrictive cardiomyopathy were often noted to have a moderate increase in endothelin

Renal and extra-renal risk factors of urolithiasis in children

The data on the content and circadian changes in two calcium regulating hormones, parathyroid hormone and calcitonin, as well as on morphological changes in kidney tissue as risk factors for urolithiasis in children with various kinds of concrements in the organs of the urinary system, including bilateral and unilateral nephrolithiasis, concrements of the ureters and the bladder, are presented. Differences were established not only in the quantity, variation in the circadian periodicity of hormones, but also in the ratio of these two hormonesin comparison with the norm. The most pronounced changes were detected with bilateral and unilateral nephrolithiasis

Monitoring the efficiency of detoxification therapy in newborn infants with ventilatorassociated pneumonia

The efficiency of a fluorometric method for measuring the total and effective concentrations albumin and toxicity index in capillary blood was investigated in 60 neonates having a birth weight of 864 to 4020 g and bacterial pneumonia to evaluate the severity of endogenous toxicosis and to monitor detoxification therapy. The method can rapidly, objectively, and exactly estimate the adequately enhanced albumin functional activity that corresponds to an increase in total and effective blood albumin concentrations and a decrease in toxicity index by 20% or more. To alleviate the symptoms of pneumonia and infectious toxicity and to normalize both absolute albumin values and toxicity index are a ground to discontinue detoxification therapy. The method can substantially improve the objective monitoring of the efficiency of therapy for infectious toxicosis that complicates the course of bacterial pneumonia in newborns and ensure their adequate treatment

Hypoxic syndrome in hereditary diseases of connective tissue

Objective. To analyze the influence of clinical and biochemical markers on the diagnostic algorithm for hypoxic syndrome in children with genetic diseases of connective tissue.Characteristics of children and methods. There were examined 60 children were examined: 50 children with Ehlers–Danlossyndrome and 10 children with Marfan syndrome.Results. Constant fatigue, fast fatigue, low tolerance to physical exercises, pale skin, muscle hypotonia and headache are the most frequent symptoms of a hypoxic state in children with connective tissue dysfunction. At the biochemical level, hypoxic syndrome was characterized by signs of oxidative stress. The authors noted an decrease in pO2 , an increase in pCO2 in the circulating blood, an increase in the activity of anaerobic glycolysis with accumulation of lactate and pyruvate, a decrease in the synthesis of macroergs (ATP, ADP, AMP) and the activity of the mitochondrial respiratory enzymes, the emersion of mitochondrial insufficiency in the form of ripped red fibers (RRF) in myocytes , conglomerates of lipids, calcium, glycogen. There was an increased content of peroxidation products in the blood, urine and saliva.Conclusion. Periodic use of antihypoxants, drugs with detoxifying and immunomodulatory effect is justified for the treatment of children

Dysmetabolic nephropathy in children with hereditary connective tissue dysplasia

Nephropathy is a common associated pathology with hereditary connective tissue dysplasiaPurpose. To determine clinical and laboratory signs of renal pathology in the conditions of persisting hypoxic syndrome and anatomic abnormalities of the urinary system with hereditary connective tissue dysplasia syndromes in children Characteristics of children and research methods. We examined 36 children with Ehlers–Danlos syndrome and 10 children with Marfan syndrome to reveal signs of metabolic disorders in the blood and urine.Results. All children revealed abnormalities of the urinary system. In addition, children with Ehlers–Danlos syndrome demonstrated an increase in certain signs of dysmetabolic nephropathy when growing older: an increased content of parathyroid hormone in the blood, which inactivation and elimination is normally provided by the kidneys. Hypermicroproteinuria with a high content of microelements in proteins, increased excretion of medium molecules, lipid hydroperoxides, glycosaminoglycans, a decrease in antioxidant defense and crystal formation inhibitors are the characteristic signs of dysmetabolic nephropathy.Conclusion. Children with hereditary connective tissue dysplasia syndromes have a risk of developing nephropathy with signs characteristic of dysmetabolic nephropathy, requiring dynamic monitoring by a nephrologist

Metabolic nephropathies in children: Causes, clinical and laboratory manifestations

In the regions polluted with industrial or agricultural toxicants, dysmetabolic nephropathy is detected in every 2 or 3 children and this rate increases with age. Exogenous intoxication is not the only cause of dysmetabolic nephropathy; of no less importance are endogenous toxicants, such as oxidative stress products, excess of usual metabolites or emergence of unusual products of abnormal metabolism. The toxicants are ascertained to be able to change the conformation of protein molecules to give rise to additional ligand loci ensuring the aggressive uptake of trace elements that fix changes in protein molecules, making them antigenically alien to the body. Low molecular weight proteins with their changed structure, which penetrate through the basement membrane, are unrecognized by the reabsorption systems of proximal tubules and excreted with urine, determining the appearance of the most steady and age-increasing sign of dysmetabolic nephropathy – microproteinuria or trace elementuria