Vitamin A supplementation modifies the antioxidant system in rats

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: It has been shown that vitamin A supplementation has different effects on skeletal health and the antioxidant system. Deficiency or excess of this vitamin can lead to health problems. Vitamin A can work as either an antioxidant or prooxidant depending on its concentration. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of different doses of vitamin A supplementation on the antioxidant system in rats. MATERIALS/METHODS: Forty Spargue-Dawley male rats were divided into four groups according to the dose of vitamin A received: 0 (A0), 4,000 (A1), 8,000 (A2), and 20,000 (A3) IU retinyl palmitate/kg diet. After a feeding period of 4 wks, lipid peroxide levels, glutathione concentration, antioxidant enzyme activities, and vitamins A and E concentrations were measured. Histopathological changes were observed in rat liver tissue using an optical microscope and transmission electron microscope. RESULTS: Lipid peroxide levels in plasma were significantly decreased in the A1 and A2 groups compared to the A0 rats. Erythrocyte catalase and hepatic superoxide dismutase activities of the A2 group were significantly higher than those of the A0 group. Hepatic glutathione peroxidase activity was significantly lower in the A3 group compared to the other groups. Total glutathione concentrations were significantly higher in the A1 and A2 groups than in the A0 group. Histological examination of liver tissue showed that excessive supplementation of vitamin A might lead to lipid droplet accumulation and nuclear membrane deformation. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that appropriate supplementation of vitamin A might have a beneficial effect on the antioxidant system in rats.

Modified Tei index in patients with Kawasaki disease by tissue doppler imaging / 소아과

PURPOSE: A quantitative and easily measured Doppler index of combined systolic and diastolic ventricular myocardial performance (Tei index) was recently proposed as a potentially useful predictor of global myocardial performance. However, presence of heart rate fluctuation makes it unreliable. Therefore, the modified Tei index was introduced by using tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) which enables measuring contraction and relaxation velocities from myocardium simultaneously. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the modified Tei index in the evaluation of global cardiac function. METHODS: Forty eight patients in the acute phase of Kawasaki disease (KD) were studied. These patients were divided into two groups according to the modified Tei index. TDI and conventional echocardiography were performed. Systolic velocity, systolic displacement, E' velocity, E' displacement, A' velocity and A' displacement were measured at the base, mid-septum and the apex of the interventricular septum. Ejection fraction (EF), Tei index and modified Tei index were estimated. RESULTS: Modified Tei index correlated negatively with systolic displacement, E' displacement and A' displacement at the base. Modified Tei index correlated positively with ESR and CRP. EF and Tei index were normal in KD patients. CONCLUSION: Modified Tei index is a safe, feasible and sensitive index for evaluating global ventricular functions in spite of normal EF and Tei index in KD.

Serum homocysteine and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels after intravenous gammaglobulin treatment in patients with Kawasaki disease / 소아과

PURPOSE: Homocysteine is a strong and independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The deleterious effects of homocysteine included endothelial dysfunction, arterial intimal-medial thickening, wall stiffness and procoagulant activity. However, the precise mechanism responsible for homocysteine release in children with coronary artery disease is still unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate serum homocysteine and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-alpha levels and identify whether these levels had any association with the development of coronary artery lesions in Kawasaki disease(KD). METHODS: Serum homocysteine and TNF-alpha levels were measured in 24 KD patients(group 1, eight patients with normal coronary artery; group 2, 16 patients with coronary artery lesions) and 21 controls(group 3, 10 afebrile controls; group 4, 11 febrile controls). Blood samples were drawn from each study group before and after intravenous immunoglobulin(IVIG) therapy and in the convalescent stage. RESULTS: The homocysteine levels before IVIG therapy were significantly higher in group 1 than in group 3, and in group 2 than in group 3 and 4. The TNF-alpha levels before IVIG therapy were significantly higher in group 2 than group 3 and 4. Serum homocysteine and TNF-alpha levels were highest in group 2 before IVIG therapy. In the acute KD patients, serum homocysteine levels correlated significantly with TNF-alpha levels. CONCLUSION: The increased serum homocysteine levels in the acute stage increase the susceptibility to coronary arterial lesions in KD. TNF-alpha may also play an important role in the formation of coronary arterial lesions in KD.

Variable Factors affecting the Neonatal Kidney Size / 대한주산의학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: There are reports that a history of low birth weight, and accordingly, a small kidney could be a risk factor for hypertension and end-stage renal disease in older age. We looked for factors that have an influence on the kidney size to make guidelines for follow up and early detection of renal diseases. METHODS: From April 2003 to October 2004, we studied the kidney size of neonates, who had an abdominal ultrasound done within two weeks of life. We measured the kidney length and anterior-posterior (AP) diameter and compared the values with each patient's gestational age, birth weight, height, body surface area (BSA), percentile, blood pressure, laboratory findings and various neonatal diseases. RESULTS: The kidney length and AP diameter had a good correlation with the patient's gestational age, birth weight, height and BSA. The kidney size was larger in the appropriate for gestational age (AGA) than in the small for gestational age (SGA) group in full term neonates. The kidney size did not have a correlation with systolic and diastolic blood pressure, laboratory findings, such as hemoglobin or hematocrit, and various diseases, except congenital heart disease, which had a weak correlation with kidney size. CONCLUSION: Neonates with early gestational period, low birth weight, small height and BSA tend to have a small kidney. Also SGA patients, especially symmetrical type, tend to have a small kidney. So we recommend high risk neonates to be followed up for early detection of hypertension and renal diseases.

A Case of Genitopatellar Syndrome / 대한주산의학회잡지

We report a female with genitopatellar syndrome, a recently identified arthrogryposis syndrome. Genitopatellar syndrome is a suggested autosomal recessive disorder, which is characterized by absent patellae, genital and renal anomalies, dysmorphic features, bilateral hypoplasia of the ischia and corpus callosum dysgenesis, mental retardation, micrognathia and swallowing difficulty. External genital anomaly consists of scrotal hyperplasia, clitoris hypertrophy or small clitoris. Possible renal anomalies are multicystic kidneys or hydronephrosis. Dysmorphic features include a coarse face and a broad nose with a high nasal bridge. In our case, the patient has an absent patellae, hydronephrosis, clitoris hypertrophy, dysmorphic features, club foot, corpus callosum dysgenesis, micrognathia and swallowing difficulty.