[Relationship of serum ceruloplasmin and pre-eclampsia]

Pre-eclampsia is a pregnancy disorder which increases maternal and pre-natal morbidity and mortality. The incidence is about 5% and is influenced by pariety, genetic background, and environmental factors. At present, the sole treatment is termination. It is suitable to use antioxidants for pre-eclampsia prevention. The aim of this study is to measure the maternal serum ceruloplasmin and evaluation of changes presented in pre-eclamptic women VS. Non pre-eclamptic ones. This study is executed in a case-control method. 100 cases were selected through pregnant women bedridden from obstetrics-gynecologic and maternity ward of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Sari. After examination of exclusion criteria in each case and receiving consent, information was entered in the questionnaire. Venous blood samples were sent to laboratory to measure ceruloplasmin. Data was analyzed by independent t-test. The gestational age means in case and control groups were serially 36.01 +/- 2.90 and 37.86 +/- 2.82 weeks. The mean for systolic blood pressure for these two groups were serially 153.40 +/- 12.22 and 112.5 +/- 8.90 mm Hg. The average amount of serum ceruloplasmin in case group was significantly more than control group. 63.3% of women in the case group were in early pre-eclamptic phase and 36.7% of them were in late phase. 22% of women in this group had a history of pre-eclampsia in previous pregnancies and 16% additionally had a history of hypertension before pregnancy. 92% of women in the case group had an extra normal serum ceruloplasmin, while in the control group the number was 42%. The variables of Body mass Index, Systolic and Diastolic blood pressure and ceruloplasmin showed a significant difference between case and control groups. The history of pre- eclampsia and hypertension were effective on the appearance of pre-eclampsia and increased in serum ceruloplasmin, can be considered as an early sign, while having a correlation with pre-eclampsia severity

Wilson's disease in Egyptian children: a single center 10-year experience

Wilson's disease [WD] is a multisystem disease with variable presentations. The aim of this work is to illustrate the diverse patterns of presentation of WD in Egypt. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report regarding the clinical presentation of WD in Egypt. The study included all patients of WD presented to Pediatric Hepatology Unit Cairo University Children's Hospital within a period of ten years [1996-2005]. Analysis of date included thorough history, clinical examination, laboratory findings and treatment. Nine cases presented with hepatic manifestations [64.29%]; 2 with acute fulminant hepatitis and 7 with chronic hepatitis. Two cases presented with neurological manifestations [14.29%]. Three cases [21.4%] were presymptomatic siblings of patients with WD. The age range was 5 to 15 years. Eight patients [57.14%] had Kayser Fleischer ring [KF ring], but none had cataract. All patients had low serum ceruloplasmin level. Ten patients [71.42%] had high basal urinary copper in 24 hours and all had markedly elevated urinary copper in 24 hours after penicillamine [penicillamine challenge test]. The diagnosis of WD can be made provided that it is suspected in any patient presenting with obscure hepatic or neurological manifestations. Moreover, screening of asymptomatic relatives is a key point as 21.4% of our cases were presymptomatic relatives. Whether the predominance of hepatic presentation in our patients, was a real predominant pattern of presentation in Egypt or was due to center, awaits further studies

Evaluation of some parameters of the stress response in patients undergoing ophthalmic surgery using either protofol or isoflurane as the anaesthetic maintenance agent

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of both propofol and isoflurane on several parameters of the stress response in patients undergoing ophthalmic surgery. This work studied 30 patients ASA I or II divided randomly into two groups to receive either propofol or isoflurane as a maintenance agent for anaesthesia for their surgical procedures. The rest of the anaesthetic protocol including a remifentanil infusion was similar between the two groups. The two groups experienced haemodynamic stability with no significant differences between mean values of heart rate, systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressures of the two groups during the surgical procedure. Studies on osmotic stress induced haemolysis of red cells, agonist induced platelet aggregation and serum levels of ceruloplasmin at the end of the operation showed significant differences between the two anaesthetic agents on parameters of stress at cellular level. Propofol reduced the extent of red cell haemolysis at 0.45%. 0.4%, 0.35% and 0.3% concentrations of phosphate buffered saline when compared to corresponding values of the isoflurane group. Propofol produced a significant increase in ADP threshold of platelet aggregation at the end of surgical procedure when compared to corresponding values in the group maintained on isoflurane [3.6 +/- 0.8 uM versus 1.8 +/- 0.7 uM] suggesting a significant inhibition of platelet aggregation. Propofol also reduced the increase in serum level of ceruloplasmin at the end of the operation [25% over control values] when compared to corresponding increase in the group maintained on isoflurane [75% over control values]

Effects of methotrexate and leflunomide therapy on knee synovium of adjuvant induced arthritis as a model for rheumatoid arthritis

Leflunomide and methotrexate have proven to be efficacious in reducing joint inflammation and joint destruction in clinical models of arthritis and in rheumatoid arthritis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of both drugs as well as their combination therapy on the synovium and cartilage of adjuvant arthritis as a model of rheumatoid arthritis [RA] in humans. This study was carried out on forty animals stratified into 5 groups: normal, adjuvant arthritis [AA] control, AA who received leflunomide in a dose of 20 mg/kg orally, AA who received intraperitoneal methotrexate in a dose of 0.3 mg/kg twice weekly and AA who received both leflunomide and methotrexate of the same dose given in groups 3 and 4. All animals were sacrificed after 3 weeks; the right knee was dissected and examined with light microscopy. Oxidants markers [nitric oxide [NO] and malondialdhyde [MAD]] and antioxidants markers [glutathione [GSH], erythrocyte superoxide dismutase [SOD] and ceruloplasmin [CP]] were all measured. All the treatment modalities showed variable degrees of improvement of synovial and cartilage scoring in comparison to AA [the non-treated group]. The leflunomide treated group [group 3] showed the best improvement of synovial pathology, while the combined therapy group [group 5] showed the best improvement of cartilage pathology. The oxidative stress markers showed some changes with different modalities of treatment where, nitric oxide did not change significantly between all groups. Malondialdhyde [MAD] was significantly lower in the methotrexate [MTX] treated group as compared to AA controls. Also, superoxide dismutase [SOD] was significantly lower in the leflunomide treated group, MTX treated group as well as in the group who received combined therapy as compared to AA the controls. Glutathione [GSH] level was significantly decreased with combination therapy as compared to the leflunomide treated group. Serum ceruloplasmin [CP] showed a significant decrease in its level in the MTX treated group as compared to the AA controls. MTX treatment [group 4] was the best in controlling oxidative stress markers. Further study is needed to evaluate the duration and dose effect of each drug on synovium, cartilage and oxidative markers

Imbalance between free radical propagation and some antioxidants in patients with cataract

The relation of oxidative stress to the occurrence of cataract remains to be undetermined and must be clarified. So, the aim of this work was to study the effect of O2-free radical and some antioxidants in the pathogenesis of senile and diabetic cataract. This work was carried on 30 patients and 10 healthy subjects as control. They were 23 males and 17 females. Their ages ranged from 50 to 64 years. Patients were classified into senile cataract, diabetic without cataract and diabetic cataract groups. Each group included 10 patients. The results of this work showed that, in patients with senile cataract, were non-significant increase of fasting serum glucose [FSG] and serum total bilirubin [serum T. bilirubin] compared with the control group. Serum lipid peroxide [S. LP] and serum ceruloplasmin [S. Cp] were. significantly increased [P<0.05] while plasma superoxide dismutase [SOD] and serum uric acid were significantly decreased [P<0.05] compared with the control group. Moreover, diabetic patients with and without cataract showed a significant increase of FSG, S. total bilirubin. S. LP, S. Cp, and S. uric acid [P<0.05] while plasma SOD was significantly decreased [P<0.05] compared with the control group. Comparative study of the diabetic cataract versus senile cataract and diabetic without cataract, our results showed a significant increase of FSG, S. LP, S. total bilirubin and S. Cp, while there was significant decrease of plasma SOD in diabetic cataract compared with both senile cataract and diabetic without cataract [P1<0.05 and P2<0.05], respectively. S. uric acid was significantly increased in diabetic cataract compared with senile cataract group [P1<0.05] while it was non-significantly increased compared with diabetic without cataract group. Also, aqueous humor study of diabetic cataract group versus senile cataract group showed that LP and uric acid were significantly increased [P<0.05] while SOD was significantly decreased [P<0.05]. Correlation study revealed that, age was significantly and positively correlated with LP, but negatively correlated with SOD both in serum and aqueous in all patient groups. FSG was significantly and directly correlated with serum and aqueous LP, uric acid, S. total bilirubin, and S. Cp in diabetics with and without cataract. Moreover, serum and aqueous LP was significantly and inversely correlated with serum and aqueous SOD in all patient groups, while, it was positively correlated with S. total bilirubin, and S. Cp in diabetics with and without cataract. We could conclude that the imbalance between generation of O2-free radical and plasma SOD may have an etiological implication in the occurrence of cataract

Effect of exchange transfusion on oxygen free radicals and some antioxidants in newborn infants

Exchange transfusion rapidly produces variable changes in pro-oxidants and antioxidants plasma concentrations in neonates which may be responsible for free radical metabolism. So our study aimed to evaluate the effect of exchange transfusion on some pro-oxidants [iron, and ferritin] and primary antioxidants [ceruloplasmin and transferrin] in newborn infants. The study included 25 neonates [16 males and 9 females] with mean gestational age of 34.4 +/- 3.9 weeks. They were divided into 2 groups according to clinical presentation, 17 with hyperbilirubinemia [6 haemolytic and 11 non haemolytic] and 8 hyperbilirubinemia with sepsis. All neonates were subjected to full clinical history, Gestational age assessment, thorough clinical examinations for all systems and laboratory investigations [before and after exchange transfusion] in the form of complete blood count, serum levels of total and direct bilirubin, serum levels of ferritin, Iron and T.I.B.C., serum level of malondialdehyde and serum levels of ceruloplasmin and transferrin.Regarding to our results, serum level of total bilirubin showed statistically highly significant decrease after exchange transfusion [E.T.] and primary antioxidant [ceruloplasmin and transferrin] were significantly elevated after E.T. As regard pro oxidants, there was highly significant decrease in serum levels of ferritin, iron and malondialdehyde after E.T. and highly significant rise in serum level of T.I.B.C. after E.T. The differences between the mean values of serum ferritin, iron, T.I.B.C., transferrin and - ceruloplasmin before and after exchange transfusion were statistically significant in preterm and neonates with birth weight less than 2kg. Transferrin showed positive correlation with gestational age.After exchange transfusion there was significant decrease in serum levels of ferritin and iron and significant increase in T.I.B.C. in both groups of neonataI hyperbilirubinemia and neonatal hyperbilirubinemia with septicemia. Serum levels of transferrin and ceruloplasmin were also increased after exchange transfusion in both groups but without significant statistical difference. Finally we can conclude that elevation of serum levels of primary antioxidants [ceruloplasmin and transferrin] and lowering serum levels of oxygen free radicals [MDA as an index] after exchange transfusion indicate its important role not only in decreasing the serum bilirubin level but also in improving the defence mechanism against oxygen free radical injury especially in preterm neonates. Preterm and neonates with low birth weight are more vulnerable to neonatal oxygen radical diseases because of their developmentally low iron associated antioxidant proteins [transferrin]

Role of norharman, harman and ceruloplasmin in the aetiopathogenesis of Parkinson's disease

Determination of serum levels of Norharman, Harman and Ceruloplasmin of 39 patients with PD and 54 age and sex matched control subjects was done. The study aimed to identify the possible role of these biochemical indices in the etiopathogenesis of PD. The study clarified that most of the PD patients [59%] had moderate degree of illness. The most frequent presenting signs were in the following order: Resting tremors and bradykinesia in 97.4% of cases for each, loss of upper limb swinging during walking in 94.9%, mask facies in 92.3%, rigidity in 84.6%, postural abnormalities and speech disorders in 71.8% for each. Highly significant increase of serum levels of Harman and Norharman and highly significant decrease of Ceruloplasmin level were found among PD patients compared with the control group. The study added more support to the possible roles of the biochemical substances in the etiopathogenesis of Parkinson's disease through defects in the enzymes that regulate potential nigral neurotoxins [Norharman and Harman] or by the deficiency of one of the major plasma antioxidants [Ceruloplasmin]

Plasma antioxidant status in preterm infants in health and disease and its relation to vitamin C concentration at birth

Concentrations of circulating antioxidants may be important in the etiology of disease in preterm infants. We aimed at measuring vitamin C. ceruloplasmin and ability of plasma to prevent lipid peroxidation at birth and observing the variation of these measures with gestational age. We also examined the relation between plasma antioxidant activity in diseased preterm infants and their mortality. 30 diseased preterm infants requiring intensive care, 20 healthy preterm and 15 healthy full term infants were enrolled in the study. The antioxidant activity of plasma [ul plasma required to inhibit lipid peroxidation], plasma vitamin C and ceruloplasmin were measured. Diseased preterm infants showed significantly higher vitamin C, and significantly lower ceruloplasmin and antioxidant activity of plasma than healthy preterm and full term infants. In the preterm infants, there was a strong negative correlation between plasma antioxidant activity and vitamin C. Diseased preterm infants who died showed significanrly lower plasma antioxidant activity than those who survived

Assessment of erythrocyte free radical scavenging enzymes, copper and zinc in retinitis pigmentosa

The possible contribution of free-radicals in progression of retinitis pigmentosa [RP] was investigated by appraising the free radical scavenging enzymes superoxide dismutase [SOD] and catalase in 76 patients suffering from this disease compared to 20 healthy subjects as control. Blood haemoglobin and certain serum parameters viz., ceruloplasmin, total protein, albumin, globulin, vitamin E, copper and zinc were also estimated. This is to clarify their conceivable involvement in pathogenesis of RP. These parameters were additionally analyzed in blood, serum and retinal samples of control and UV-irradiated rabbits for comparison. Significant increased activity of erythrocyte SOD and catalase in RP patients with concomitant decrease of serum vitamin E and copper revealed an active role of these factors in the scavenging of free radicals that most probably associate RP. However, in RP patients haemoglobin and the other serum parameters remained relatively unchanged. The performance of erythrocyte scavenging enzymes and serum vitamin E antioxidant activity were significantly lowered in head-UV-irradiated rabbits. Meanwhile, retinal SOD and catalase activities were also reduced after deliberate exposure to UV. A strong relationship between the development of RP, environmental exposure to UV and the protective efficacy of SOD, catalase and vitamin E was suggested

Serum ceruloplasmin and heat-stable alkaline phosphatase in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Serum acute phase reactants including ceruloplasmin [Cp] were reported to increase in some types of malignancies. The present study was carried out on 34 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Serum Cp concentration was measured in unmanaged patients. Significantly higher values of Cp were found among those patients when compared with the results obtained from 19 normal controls of matching age [51.0 +/- 17.1 and 29.0 +/- 4.6 mg/dl respectively, P < 0.005]. A follow up study for a number of those patients resulted in the accumulation of 62 observations. It has been found that changes in serum Cp agreed with the clinical status in 71% of the observations, while changes in serum heat-stable alkaline phosphatase, another biomarker, showed such an agreement in 76% of the observations. However, when both parameters were considered together, at least one of them was in agreement with the clinical state in 84% of the observations. This finding implies that measurement of the two parameters together improves the chances for confirming of following up cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Superoxide dismutase, calcium, copper, ceruloplasmine levels after single and repeated exposure to halothane or isoflurane in albino rats

This study was done on 72 albino rats from both sexes. They were divided into three equal groups according to the time of exposure to the oxygen [control], isoflurane or halothane. Time of exposure was single [1 hour] or 3 or 5 exposures with 5 days rest in between. Samples were taken after 24 hours after the last exposure. Serum calcium, copper ceruloplasmine levels were estimated. Superoxide dismutase enzyme activity was also determined and showed a significant drop in the enzyme activity after both isoflurane and halothane anesthesia. The results of this study explored the potential risk of free oxygen radicals on liver cells after exposure of the rats to isoflurane or halothane anesthesia

Determinación de ceruloplasmina y cobre sérico en la colestasia intrahepatica del embarazo / Serum determination of ceruloplasmina and copper in pregnant women with intrahepatic cholestasis

Se realizan determinaciones e colilglicina (CG), ceruloplasmina (Cp) y cobre (Cu) séricos en 30 mujeres sanas no embarazadas; en 74 embarazadas sanas, y en 57 embarazadas con diagnóstico clínico de colestasia intrahepática del embarazo (CIE). A estas últimas se las clasifica de acuerdo con los niveles séricos de CG. Se concluye que en las embarazadas con diagnóstico clínico de CIE,pero con niveles de CG en ayunas y después de ingestión de grasas normales (= grupo uno), los niveles de Cp y de Cu no presentan diferencias con respecto al grupo de embarazadas normales. El grupo tres, con niveles de CG elevados, señala valores significativamente mayores que las embarazadas normales y el grupo uno. Se llama la atención sobre la utilidad de la determinación de CG en el diagnóstico de la CIE. Se omite en la casuística el grupo dos, que está reducido a sólo dos pacientes. Finalmente, los autores declaran que están estudiando un índice bioquímico para detectar el sufrimiento fetal en la colestasia hepática

Serum level of some trace elements in children with nephrotic syndrome under corticosteroid therapy

Three trace elements, namely copper, zinc and iron were determined in nephrotic children under corticosteroid therapy for variable periods. Serum copper, zinc and iron were significantly decreased in nephrotic children before starting and medication [Group II]. Nephrotic cases with proteinuria receiving corticosteroids for 2 weeks [Group III] showed a significant decrease in serum copper and ceruloplasmin while iron and zinc were not significantly changed. Cases of nephrotic syndrome under corticosteroid therapy for one month with absent proteinuria [Group IV] showed a significant decrease in both copper and iron. Serum zinc increased significantly in nephrotic cases under corticosteroid therapy for two months [without proteinuria] [Group V.]. While copper and ceruloplasmin were still significantly decreased without significant changes in serum iron level. These results were discussed