Can antioxidants prevent preeclampsia?

To investigate the role of superoxide dismutase [SOD] in healthy pregnant women and in pregnant women with preeclampsia. The study was carried out on 80 pregnant ladies selected from the outpatient clinic of the Ain Shams University Maternity Hospital. They were classified into two groups: The control group: Consisting of 50 healthy pregnant ladies. The patients groups: Consisting of 30 ladies diagnosed as preeclamptic patients. All patients were subjected to history taking, clinical examination and blood chemistry for evaluation of SOD level using spectrophotometric assay. Compared with values in normotensive pregnant women. Preeclamptic patients had significantly lower SOD level being 1.54 +/- 0.60 vs. 0.63 +/- 0.36 Units/ml respectively. A cut-off point was detected below which preeclampsia supervenes. This level was calculated to be 1.01 U/ml. The decreased activity of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase may play an important role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia and hence the possibility of the use of antioxidant drugs in high-risk patients which may be of a prophylactic value. The presence of a cut-off point of SOD level may be of value in the preeclampsia prediction issue in high-risk patients

Serum Secretory phospholipase A2 and interleukin-1beta for prognosis and mortality perdiction in neonatal sepsis

To evaluate the measurement of IL-lbeta and sPLA2 for the diagnosis of neonatal Sepsis as well as their relation to severity and outcome. The current study was carried out on 40 full term neonates [23 males and 17 females] selected from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and the General Nursery of Gynecological and Obstetric Hospital of Ain Shams University. The studied neonates were divided into two groups: Group I: included 25 neonates with neonatal sepsis 15 males and 10 females. Their postnatal age ranged between 3-21 days [mean +/- SD 7.12 +/- 4.04 days] they were 14 neonates with early onset sepsis and 11 neonates with late onset sepsis. Group II: included 15 healthy neonates 8 males and 7 females served as control group. Their postnatal age ranged between 3-21 days [mean +/- SD 10.6 +/- 3.66 days]. All neonates underwent full history taking, thorough clinical examination, complete blood count, CRP level, blood culture, measurement of serum IL-lbeta, and sPLA2. A second sample was withdrawn after one week from seven cases who were improved clinically, to measure serum CRP, IL-lbeta, and sPLA2. the result of this study demonstrate that IL-lbeta was significantly higher in the septic group in comparison with the control group [21.10 +/- 9.79 vs. 4.90 +/- 3.58 pg/ml respectively, P<0.0001] and declined after antibiotic therapy [16.91 +/- 9.3 vs. 9.55 +/- 3.2, P<0.05]. No significant difference between early onset sepsis and late onset sepsis neonates was observed in regards IL-1beta, and sPLA2. Also significant elevations in IL-1beta levels in non-survivors than survivors of the septic group were observed [28.37 +/- 11.93 vs. 18.27 +/- 7.40pg/ml respectively, P<0.05]. Furthermore, secretory PLA2 [sPLA2] was significantly higher in the septic group in comparison with the control group [185.20 +/- 64.42 vs. 63.53 +/- 33,52 U/ml respectively, P<0.0001]. sPLA2 was significantly lower after antibiotic therapy [164.29 +/- 90.94, vs.57.14 +/- 15.77 U/ml, P<0.05]. Higher levels of sPLA2 were observed in non-survivors when compared with survivors of the septic group [243.43 +/- 34.54 vs. 162.56 +/- 59.15 U/ml respectively, p< 0.001]. A positive correlation between the level of IL-lbeta and sPLA2 was observed in the septic group [r = 0.78, P<0.0001] and the rate of change of sPLA2 was higher than IL-1beta after antibiotic therapy [61.23% vs. 46.57% respectively]. In conclusion, IL-lbeta and sPLA2 played a role in pathogenesis of neonatal sepsis. Moreover, their measurements could be used for diagnosis of neonatal sepsis and for prediction of prognosis and mortality