Genistein improve nicotine toxicity on male mice pancreas / 대한해부학회지

Nicotine is the most toxic factor of tobacco. Genistein is a phytoestrogen and antioxidant that has numerous health benefits. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of genistein against toxic properties of nicotine to the pancreas of mice. For this purpose, 48 male mice were randomly assigned into six groups (n=8): normal control, nicotine control (2.5 mg/kg), genistein (25 and 50 mg/kg), and nicotine+genistein (25 and 50 mg/kg) treated groups. Various doses of genistein and genistein+nicotine were administered intraperitoneally to animals for 4 weeks. The weight of pancreas, total antioxidant capacity and nitrite oxide of serum, insulin levels, and the number and diameter of islets of Langerhans were investigated. Nicotine administration reduced significantly total antioxidant capacity, insulin, pancreas weight, and the number and diameter of islets of Langerhans and increased nitrite oxide in serum compared to the control normal group (P<0.05). Conversely, genistein and genistein+nicotine increased significantly insulin, total antioxidant capacity, and the number and diameter islets of Langerhans and decreased serum nitrite oxide compared to the nicotine control group. It seems that the genistein can improve pancreas damage following the nicotine administration.

Comparison of serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels between mothers with small for gestational age and appropriate for gestational age newborns in Kerman

Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy is associated with some adverse pregnancy outcomes but its relationship with fetal growth is unknown. We compared the 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels between mothers and their small for gestational age [SGA] newborns with mothers and their appropriate for gestational age [AGA] newborns. The study population included pregnant women that referred to Afzalipour Hospital in Kerman from 2012 to 2013. The case and control group consisted of 40 pregnant mothers with SGA and AGA newborns, respectively. The maternal and infants 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels were measured in the two groups. 25-hydroxy vitamin D deficiency [<20 ng/ml] was statistically higher in women with SGA newborns in comparison to women with AGA newborns [p=0.003].Vitamin D deficiency was higher among the SGA newborns in comparison to AGA newborns [25% vs. 17.5%], although this finding was not statistically meaningful [p=0.379]. The relationship of vitamin D deficiency levels between mothers and infants in both the SGA group and the AGA group was significant. Our study reveals a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in women with SGA infants in comparison to women with AGA children. In addition, maternal vitamin D deficiency is associated with its deficiency in newborns

Association of hereditary thrombophilia with intrauterine growth restriction

Intrauterine growth retardation [IUGR] contributes significantly to fetal morbidity and mortality, but its etiology is unknown in most cases. The aim of this study was to examine the association between inherited thrombophilia and IUGR. A case-control study was performed in a tertiary referral center [Afzalipour Hospital] over 2-years period [2010-2011]. Cases [n=25] were women who had pregnancies complicated by IUDR and control subjects [n=25] were women who had normal growth fetuses. All women were tested for inherited thrombophilia at least 4 weeks after delivery. Main outcome measure was prevalence of maternal thrombophlia. Genotyping for factor V Leiden, prothrombin gene [nucleotide G20210A], and MTHFR [C677T] mutation was performed by PCR technique. Protein C, S and antithrombin III activity were determined with a clotting assay [STA-Staclot, France]. The prevalence of hereditary thrombophilia was 68% [n=17] in IUGR group, and 32% [n=8] in control group [OR: 1.5, p=0.011, 95% CI: 1.3-14.8]. The frequency of MTHFR [C677T] gene mutation [p=0.037; OR: 3.69] and protein S deficiency [p=0.034; OR: 5.41] was significantly increased in the group with IUGR compared with the control group. There was no significant difference between the two groups in prothrombin G20210A mutation [p=0.490] and protein C deficiency [p=0.609]. A significant difference in the frequency of multiple thrombophilias was detected between the two groups [p=0.009]. This study revealed that protein S deficiency and MTHFR gene mutation are more prevalent in pregnancies with IUGR