Evaluation of oxidative stress markers in neonates with intra-uterine growth retardation

Intra-uterine growth retardation (IUGR) is an abnormality of pregnancy. Neonates with IUGR weigh less than the 10th percentile for gestational age. The objective of the study was to identify the relationship between IUGR and the antioxidant status. Cord blood of 157 neonates with normal weight (control group) and 29 neonates with IUGR were included. The following parameters were determined and compared in the two groups: lipid peroxidation in the plasma, red blood cells and erythrocyte ghosts; protein and DNA damage; antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase); the level of reduced glutathione; and the ferric reducing ability of the plasma. The level of lipid peroxidation was significantly higher in the IUGR group. The antioxidant enzyme activities and the levels of antioxidants were significantly lower in the IUGR group. Damage of proteins and DNA was slightly, but non-significantly, higher in the IUGR group. Neonates with IUGR seem to have significant deficiencies in antioxidant defence. IUGR is correlated with significant oxidative stress

Evaluation of oxidative stress markers after vaginal delivery or Caesarean section

Background: The effects of vaginal delivery (VD) and of cesarean section (CS) on the markers of oxidative stress were investigated. Materials and Methods: Umbilical blood samples were analyzed from 74 full-term neonates, 46 born via VD, 28 via elective CS. The level of lipid peroxidation (LP), protein and DNA damage and the antioxidant status were compared. Results: Differences between CS and VD groups were generally non-significant for oxidative markers, except for the GSH concentrations (VD: 4.18 vs. CS: 2.77 mu M/mg protein x 10(-3); p<0.05). LP was significantly higher in the CS group (0.078 vs. 0.042 nM MDA/mg protein; p < 0.05). The level of carbonyl proteins was high in the VD group and significantly lower in the elective CS group (9.5 vs. 8.1 mMlmg protein x 10(-4); p<0.05). We found 0.78% more strand breaks in elective CS group than in VD group. Conclusion: CS does not have an advantage over VD with respect to oxidative stress

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase is up-regulated in the umbilical cord in pregnancies complicated with intrauterine growth retardation

Background: NO and NO synthases (NOS) play an important role in the physiology of the fetomaternal blood circulation, although their expression in pathological conditions is unclear. Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) is a disorder most probably caused by abnormality of the fetomaternal bloodflow. Materials and Methods: The expression of endothelial NOS (ecNOS) from arteria umbilicalis and the nitrite and peroxynitrite level of umbilical blood were determined. Major consequences of peroxynitrite toxicity are lipid peroxidation and glutathione depletion; these parameters were also measured. Finally, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was assayed to evaluate the level of superoxide anions. Results: Elevated expression of ecNOS was found to be coupled with significantly lower SOD activity and glutathione level, and increased lipid peroxidation in IUGR neonates. Conclusion: The increased NO indices could represent a compensatory effort to improve placental bloodflow, but in IUGR neonates it is coupled with inadequate antioxidant defence, resulting in significant oxidative stress

Effects of Positive Suggestions on the Need for Red Blood Cell Transfusion in Orthopedic Surgery

This study examined whether positive suggestions applied without a hypnotic induction in the perioperative period reduces the need for red blood cell transfusions in patients who underwent total hip or knee arthroplasties with spinal anesthesia. No hypnotic assessment was performed. Ninety-five patients were randomly assigned to the suggestion group (n = 45) and to the control group (n = 50). Patients in the suggestion group received verbal suggestions before and audiotaped suggestions during the surgery for reducing blood loss, anxiety, postoperative pain, and fast recovery. Our study showed that using positive suggestions in the perioperative period significantly decreases the necessity for transfusion

Ischemic postconditioning alters the gene expression pattern of the ischemic heart

To profile changes in gene expression in response to ischemic postconditioning, isolated rat hearts were subjected to 30 min of regional ischemia followed by 120 min of reperfusion with or without postconditioning. At the end of reperfusion, cardiac RNA was assayed by DNA microarrays (31,000 format), verified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (QRT-PCR). Postconditioning significantly up-regulated 50 genes and down-regulated 58 different genes, including pyruvate dehydrogenase, 60 kDa heat shock protein 1, lipoprotein lipase, gamma-sarcoglycan, and phospholipase C. Gene ontology analysis revealed that most of the altered genes belong to the cellular metabolic processes cluster. Many of the genes have not previously been suspected to be involved in the mechanism of postconditioning

The risk of fracture and prevalence of osteoporosis is elevated in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: cross-sectional study from a single Hungarian center

Background: The prevalence of osteoporosis and risk of fractures is elevated in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but we have limited information about the bone mineral density (BMD) and fracture risk in patients with inflammatory myopathies. We intended to ascertain and compare fracture risk, bone mineral density and the prevalence of vertebral fractures in patients with inflammatory myositis and rheumatoid arthritis and to assess the effect of prevalent fractures on the quality of life and functional capacity. Methods: Fifty-two patients with myositis and 43 patients with rheumatoid arthritis were included in the study. Fracture Risk was determined using FRAX® Calculation Tool developed by the University of Sheffield. Dual energy Xray absorptiometry and bidirectional thoracolumbar radiographs were performed to assess BMD and vertebral fractures. Quality of life was measured with Short Form-36 (SF-36) and physical function assessment was performed using Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). Results: We found a significantly elevated fracture risk in RA as compared to myositis patients if the risk assessment was performed without the inclusion of the BMD results. If BMD results and glucocorticoid dose adjustment were taken into account, the differences in fracture risk were no longer significant. The prevalence of osteoporosis was found to be significantly higher in the myositis group (7% vs. 13.5%, p: 0.045), but the fracture prevalence was similar in the two groups (75% vs. 68%). The fracture rates were independently associated with age in the myositis group, and with lower BMD results in the RA patients. The number of prevalent fractures was significantly correlated to poorer physical function in both groups, and poorer health status in the myositis group, but not in the RA groupConclusions: Our findings suggest that inflammatory myopathies carry significantly elevated risks for osteoporosis and fractures. These higher risks are comparable to ones detected with RA in studies and strongly affect the physical function and quality of life of patients. Therefore further efforts are required to make the fracture risk assessment reliable and to facilitate the use of early preventive treatmentsL