Study of serum zinc in neonates and their mothers in Shimla hills (Himachal Pradesh).

Serum zinc level in cord blood of 159 neonates was estimated by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The cases were classified according to birth weight and gestation of babies as Term appropriate for date (TAFD), Term small for date (TSFD), Term large for date (TLFD), Preterm appropriate for date (PAFD), Preterm small for date (PSFD) and Preterm large for date (PLFD). The zinc level were also estimated in mothers of these groups at the time of delivery, and compared with cord blood levels of those in non-pregnant mothers. Mean serum zinc level in infant born full term AFD, full term SFD, full term LFD, preterm AFD, preterm SFD and preterm LFD were 79.6 +/- 17.8 micrograms/dl, 58.2 +/- 13.4 micrograms/dl, 84.1 +/- 21.1 micrograms/dl, 81 +/- 25.2 micrograms/dl, 51.2 +/- 51.7 micrograms/dl and 76 +/- 14.7 micrograms/dl respectively. The maternal zinc levels in respective groups were 67 +/- 9.6 micrograms/dl, 56.5 +/- 7.5 micrograms/dl, 63.6 +/- 14.4 micrograms/dl, 62.7 +/- 21.1 micrograms/dl, 54.5 +/- 5.4 micrograms/dl, and 58.2 +/- 2.7 micrograms/dl. The mean serum zinc values in mothers and babies in birth weight group ranging from 1500-2000 gm were 55.3 +/- 4.3 micrograms/dl and 60 +/- 23.1 micrograms/dl, 2001-2500 gm were 59.5 +/- 11.3 and 65.8 +/- 17 micrograms/dl, 2501-3000 gm were 69.2 +/- 9.5 and 84.7 +/- 14 micrograms/dl, 3001-3500 gm were 65.8 +/- 12.7 micrograms/dl, 82.2 +/- 20.8 micrograms/dl and 3501 and above were 70.5 +/- 8.2 micrograms/dl and 85 +/- 14.3 micrograms/dl respectively. Statistically significant low zinc levels were observed in SFD babies and their mothers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Human alpha 2-macroglobulin and its biological significance.

The review deals with an important plasma protein viz. alpha 2-macroglobulin, which is a wide-spectrum proteinase-inhibitor and can bind covalently with certain growth factors. Unlike other plasma proteinase-inhibitors, the alpha 2M-proteinase complex remains active towards low mol. wt synthetic substrates. Human alpha 2M contains an internal thiol ester and the disulphide bridged dimer of the complex appears to be the functional unit of alpha 2M. The potentially harmful complexes are cleared by the receptor-mediated mechanism in the reticuloendothelial system. Rapid clearance of the active complex from the circulation indicates its importance in controlling proteolytic activity. It is a potent immunoregulator. A number of immunologically important reactions involve a protease-dependent step, which could be modified by alpha 2M. The tumor associated alpha 2M may have a role in the biology of tumor cells.