ABSTRACT
Background: Asthma and atherosclerosis are both chronic inflammatory diseases. The progression of the inflammation in asthmatic patients is known to be similar to the increased development of atherosclerosis Objective: The aim of this study was to research the relationship between the difference in carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) and oxidative stress together with difference in CIMT in asthmatic children and control group. Methods: A total of 84 subjects between 6-15 years of age who had been attending the Pediatric Allergy Unit of the Medical Faculty were included in this study. Asthmatic patients and a control group were evaluated by ultrasonography for measurements of CIMT and oxidative status. Results: In the asthmatic patient group, the CIMT was 0.48 ± 0.06 mm (right side) and 0.44 ± 0.05 mm (left side). In the control group it was 0.42 ± 0.05 mm (right side) and 0.42 ± 0.04 mm (left side). This difference is statistically significant (p < 0.0001, p = 0.019 respectively). In the asthmatic group a positive correlation was determined between the total oxidant status (TOS) value and the right and left CIMT (p = 0.007, r = 0.44 and p = 0.001, r = 0.50 respectively). Conclusions: A significant correlation was determined between an increase in oxidative stress and CIMT in asthmatic children. This indicates that atherosclerosis, which is known as an adult disease, may start in childhood. These findings show that it might be beneficial for children who are being followed-up from a diagnosis of asthma to also be evaluated in respect of the development of atherosclerosis.
ABSTRACT
Objectives: To measure the cord blood and maternal serum levels of folic acid, vitamin B12, zinc, copper, selenium and lead in infants born with neural tube defect (NTD), and to examine a possible relationship between the nutriture of these micronutrients and occurrence of neural tube defect. Design: Case-control study. Methods: Maternal serum and cord blood samples were obtained at delivery from 70 healthy mothers and 74 mothers who had a newborn with NTD. Results: The mean (± SD) maternal serum zinc level in the NTD group was significantly lower than that of the control group (835.6 µg/L ±333.8 µg/L vs. 1035.7 µg/L ± 299.8 µg/L, P=0.004, respectively). The mean maternal and cord serum copper levels in the NTD group were significantly higher when compared to the control group (2831.1 µg/L ± 1017 µg/L vs. 2402 µg/L ± 744.2 µg/L; P=0.03; and 789.8 µg/L vs 517.2 µg/L, P<0.001, respectively). There was a negative correlation between the cord levels of folic acid and copper in the NTD group with the respective maternal serum levels (r=-0.289; P=0.018). Conclusions: High maternal serum levels of copper and lower level of zinc during pregnancy associated with NTD in newborn.