The effects of anemia in pregnancy on the mode of delivery and newborn

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of anemia in pregnancy on the mode of delivery and new-born. Methods: Between June and October 2009, 307 pregnant women were evaluated in terms of hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (Hct) values, and delivery mode retrospectively. And also, the first and fifth minute Apgar scores, birth weight, and the values of Hb, Hct, and bilirubin, which obtained from the cord blood of neonates, were analyzed. Pregnant women were divided into two groups and classified as: hemoglobin value under 11.1 g / dl as anemic and the others as non-anemic group. In addition, the anemic group were divided into three group in terms of hemoglobin value, as follows: Group 1: 10.1 -11 mg/dl, group 2: 9.1 - 10 mg/dl, and group 3: <9 mg/dl. Results: In the study, 146 pregnants were anemic, while the 161 were non-anemic. The rate of low birth weight neonates was significantly higher in anemic pregnant women (p=0.029). The values of Hb (p=0.026) and Htc (p=0.006) were found to be lower in the anemic pregnant’ neonates. The incidence of low birth weight was significant increased when the maternal Hb value was smaller than 10g/dl (62.5% sensitivity, 74.7% specificity). Conclusion: It is observed that the low birth weight and the low values of Hb and Hct were more common in anemic pregnant neonates. Therefore, anemia should be screened and treated during the pregnancy due to the potential negative consequences

The relationship between neopterin and hepatitis B surface antigen positivity

Hepatitis B is a life-threatening viral liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus. Neopterin is regarded as an immunologic biomarker of several diseases related to activation of the cellular immune system. Hepatitis B infection is associated with increased production of cellular immune system markers. We aimed to investigate whether there is a relationship between hepatitis B surface antigen-positivity (HBsAg +) and neopterin to determine the role of neopterin in the early diagnosis of hepatitis B infections. Seventy-two HBsAg (+) patients with normal liver function tests and forty-three controls were included in the study. Neopterin levels were 17.6 ± 0.13 nmol/L in HBsAg (+) patients; and 9.12 ± 0.09 nmol/L in infection-free controls, respectively. Compared to the control group, a statistically significant increase (p 0.05). With overstimulation of interferon-gamma, the production of neopterin increases by monocytes/macrophages. Likewise with other diseases associated with an activated cellular immune system, this study shows that neopterin can be a predictive biomarker for persistent carriers of hepatitis B infection

Investigação dos níveis séricos de vaspina, visfatina, quemerina e IL-18 em pacientes com migrânea

Background: Migraines are headaches caused by changes in the trigeminovascular metabolic pathway. Migraine headache attacks are associated with neurovascular inflammation, but their pathophysiological mechanisms have not been fully explained. Objective: To investigate the relationship between serum vaspin, visfatin, chemerin and interleukin-18 (IL-18) levels and the frequency of attacks in migraine headache. Methods: Three groups were established: migraine with aura (n = 50), migraine without aura (n = 50) and control group (n = 50). The migraine diagnosis was made in accordance with the International Classification of Headache Disorders-III beta diagnostic criteria. The analyses on serum vaspin, visfatin, chemerin and IL-18 levels were performed using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Results: The serum vaspin, visfatin, chemerin and IL-18 levels were found to be significantly higher in the migraine patients than in the control group (p 0.05). The serum visfatin and chemerin levels of the migraine patients were positively correlated with their serum IL-18 levels (p < 0.01), while their serum chemerin and visfatin levels were positively correlated with their serum vaspin levels (p < 0.05). Conclusions: This study showed that these biomarkers may be related to migraine pathogenesis. Nonetheless, we believe that more comprehensive studies are needed in order to further understand the role of vaspin, visfatin, chemerin and IL-18 levels in the pathophysiology of migraine headache

Níveis de sortilina-1, lipocalina-2, autotaxina, decorina e interleucina-33 no líquido cefalorraquidiano em pacientes com hipertensão intracraniana idiopática]

Background Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is characterized by increased cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure of unknown cause. It has been suggested that the inflammatory process plays a role in the pathophysiology of the disease. Sortilin-1, lipocalin-2, autotaxin, decorin, and interleukin-33 (IL-33) are among the factors involved in inflammatory processes. Objective To investigate the CSF levels of sortilin-1, lipocalin-2, autotaxin, decorin, and IL-33 in patients with IIH. Methods A total of 24 IIH patients and 21 healthy controls were included in the study. Demographic characteristics of the patients and of the control group as well as CSF pressures were evaluated. Sortilin-1, lipocalin-2, autotaxin, decorin and IL-33 levels in the CSF were measured. Results The CSF levels lipocalin-2, sortilin-1, autotaxin, IL-33 and CSF pressure were significantly higher in the patients group compared with the control group (p < 0.001). Decorin levels were reduced in patients (p < 0.05). There was no correlation between the autotaxin and IL-33 levels and age, gender, CSF pressure, and body mass index. The results of our study showed that inflammatory activation plays an important role in the development of the pathophysiology of IIH. In addition, the fact that the markers used in our study have never been studied in the etiopathogenesis of IIH is important in explaining the molecular mechanism of this disease. Conclusion Studies are needed to evaluate the role of these cytokines in the pathophysiology of the disease. It is necessary to evaluate the effects of these molecules on this process. © 2022. Academia Brasileira de Neurologia. All rights reserved

Increased visinin-like protein-1, YKL-40, lipocalin-2, and IL-23 levels in patients with migraine

Background: Migraine is a type of primary headache caused by changes in the trigeminal system and has been reported to be associated with neurovascular inflammation of cerebral and extracerebral vessels. Objective: It is known that inflammation is an important process in the pathogenesis of migraine. It has been shown that the molecules of visinin-like protein 1 (Vilip-1), YKL-40, lipocalin-2 and interleukin (IL)-23 play a role in the inflammatory process. Our aim is to investigate the role of this molecule in the metabolic pathway of migraine disease. Methods: Fifty migraine patients with and without aura in the interictal period were included in the study. Vilip-1, YKL-40, lipocalin-2, and IL-23 levels were measured by ELISA method. Results: Serum vilip-1, YKL-40, lipocalin-2, and IL-23 levels were found to be significantly higher in migraine patients compared to the control group. We found that this molecule increased significantly in migraine subgroups compared to the control group (p < 0.001). A positive significant correlation was found between vilip-1 level and YKL-40 and lipocalin-2 levels in migraine patients. In addition, a positive correlation was observed between visual analogue scale score, number of days with pain and vilip-1 level (p < 0.01). The results of our study showed that activation of inflammatory mediators may play a role in the pathogenesis of migraine disease. In addition, our study is valuable in that inflammatory molecules are high in the interictal period and these biomarkers have never been analyzed in migraine patients. However, we still believe that larger studies are needed to explain the role of vilip-1, YKL-40, lipocalin-2, and IL-23 in the molecular mechanism of migraine disease