[Plasma free 8-iso-PGF2alpha levels in normotensive and preeclamptic pregnancies]

Preeclampsia is a main cause of morbidity and mortality of pregnant women worldwide. Recently oxidative stress was considered as a part of pathophysiolgy of preeclamsia and 8-isc% prostaglandin F2alpha [8-iso-PGF2 alpha] is known as a marker of oxidative stress. The purpose of this study was to measure and compare plasma concentration of free 8-iso-PG F2 alpha in women with normotensive and preeclamptic pregnancies. In this descriptive-analytic study, Plasma free 8-iso-PGF2 alpha levels were measured in pregnant women with preeclamsia [n=42] and normotensive pregnant women [n=39] between 28-38 weeks of gestation. Women in two groups were matched in age, gestational age and socioeconomic statue and all women were nulligravid. Free 8-iso-PGF2 alpha levels were not significantly different in women with preeclamsia and normotensive group [17808 vs. 24288 pg/dl, NS]. Plasma free 8-iso-PGF2 alpha levels were increased in severe compared to mild preeclampsia [NS]. Neonates weight of preeclamptic mothers was significantly lower than neonates of normotensive women [p<0.0001]. Although free 8-iso-PGF2 alpha is a marker of oxidative stress in vitro, but its measurement is not valuable in clinical medicine. However, further studies in normal pregnancy and preeclampsia will be needed

Association of variable number of tandem repeats in endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene with coronary artery disease

Endo-derived nitric oxide [NO] is synthesized from L-arginine by endothelium nitric oxide synthase [eNOS]. Since reduced NO synthesis has been implicated in the development of coronary atherosclerosis; we hypothesized that polymorphisms of NOS gene might be associated with increased susceptibility to this disorder and coronary artery disease [CAD]. We studied the 27 base pair tandem repeat polymorphism in intron4 of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase [eNOS] gene in 141 unrelated CAD patients with positive coronary angiograms in Shahid Rajaee Heart Hospital and 159 age matched control subjects without a history of symptomatic CAD. The study protocol was approved by the Iran University of Medical Sciences Ethics Committee. The eNOS gene intron4a/b VNTR polymorphism was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction. The plasma lipids levels and other risk factors were also determined. The genotype frequencies for eNOS4b/b, eNOS4a/b and eNOS4a/a were 68.8, 29.1 and 2.1% in CAD subjects, and 81, 18.4 and 0.6% in control subjects, respectively. The genotype frequencies differed significantly between the two groups [X[2]=6.38 P=0.041]. The frequency of the allele was 16.7% in CAD subjects and 9.8% in control subjects and was significantly higher in the patients [X[2]=6.18 P=0.013, odds ratio=1.84]. Plasma lipids, except HDL-C were also remarkablely increased in CAD group

[Zinc hair concentration in children suffering from down syndrome, cerebral palsy, macrocephaly and hydrocephaly]

Objectives: The purpose of this survey was to compare the amount of zinc concentration between normal children and the children suffering from Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, micromacrocephaly, and hydrocephaly in Iran. The correlation between zinc concentration and the spoken syndromes was further assessed

Method: In the present study, the hair samples were used to estimate zinc concentration. Whereas many pathological conditions are associated with alteration of scarce elements in hair, samples of both normal children and patients were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometery

Findings: The patients had significantly higher level of zinc concentration in hair samples than normal children

Results: Considering the dietary of the children in the study, this increased level of zinc could not be attributed to qualitative dietary intake. Therefore, such a high accumulation of zinc uptake could be due to the very syndromes from which the children are suffering; this could lead to receiving or using cellular substances such as albumin, transferrin, or other related proteins

Maternal and newborn proteins status at delivery in a public and private maternity hospital in Tehran

Protein status of 194 pregnant women and their newborn at a public and a private maternity hospital in Tehran was studied. Blood samples were taken from all women before delivery and from cords at delivery of the placenta. The following determinations were made: total serum protein, protein fractions, creatinine and urea. In the private group, significantly higher maternal mean values were found for serum urea [P< 0.01], albumin [P< 0.05] and Beta -globulin [P< 0.01] when compared to the public group. In cord blood, the mean serum creatinine [P< 0.01] and urea [P< 0.02] were significantly higher and Beta -globulin [P< 0.05] was lower in the private group when compared to the public group. It can be concluded that socio-economic status clearly affects maternal nutrition, thereby affecting to some extent the nutritional status of the fetus