Blood antioxidant activity in preterm neonates with and without respiratory distress

Concentrations of circulating antioxidants were considered being important in the pathogenesis of diseases in preterm infants. Plasma total antioxidant status [TAS], some preventive and chain breaking antioxidants were studied in 20 preterm infants with respiratory distress on the first and fifth day of life. Ten preterm infants without respiratory distress and ten full term healthy neonates were also evaluated. On the first day of life, the plasma TAS, uric acid, transferrin % saturation levels were significantly high in the preterm infants with respiratory distress. On the contrary, serum albumin, total iron binding capacity [TIBC], ceruloplasmin, red blood cell superoxide dismutase [SOD] and red blood cell glutathione peroxidase [GSHPx] levels were significantly low, By the fifth postnatal day, plasma TAS, uric acid, transferrin % saturation, and red cell GSHPx levels were significantly decreased while, serum bilirubin, ceruloplasmin, TIBC and red cell SOD levels were significantly increased in preterm infants with respiratory distress. The duration of oxygen therapy was negatively correlated with plasma TIBC and was positively correlated with transferrin % saturation on the first and fifth day of life. Plasma TAS, uric acid, serum bilirubin and transferrin % saturation were significantly high while, serum albumin and TIBC were significantly low in non-survived preterm infants who had respiratory distress. Recurrent apneas, elevated uric acid levels and decreased TlBC on the first day of life in addition to increased duration of oxygen therapy and high transferrin % saturation on the fifth day of life, were significant predictors of mortality. These major postnatal changes in blood antioxidant activity in preterm infants with respiratory distress may influence their susceptibility to oxygen toxicity

Effect of oral contraceptive pills on some aspects of the immune system

To detect the effect of oral contraceptive pills on some aspects of the immune system. The present study was conducted on forty apparently healthy females who were using combined oral contraceptive pills [OCs] for not less than 2 years. They were compared to an equal number of apparently healthy females who did not use the pills or any other hormonal method of contraception. The comparison included: the cellular immunity [T-cell population and function] and humoral immunity [immunoglobulins, C3, C4]. Significant increase in helper T-cells with significant decrease in suppressor T-cells was demonstrated. H: S ratio was shown to increase proportional to duration of pill use. Impairment of T-cell function was reported by significant increase in MII. The percentage of phagocytes was significantly higher in pill users. The levels of IgA, 1gM, C3 and C4 did not show significant change. IgG levels were significantly higher in pill users. T-cells and their subsets are the primary target for steroid hormone influences. Modulation of T-cell population and impairment of T-cell function have been proved to be related to the duration of pill use. OCs may have a possible role in auto-immune diseases

clinical and immunological study of slipped upper femoral epiphysis

Sixteen patients with 18 hips affected by SUFE with a mean age of 13.7 years were included in this study. IgM, IgG and IgA were measured by radial immunodiffusion. SUFE was treated with Moore's pins fixation. IgM was raised in 100% of cases, IgG in 87.5% and IgA in 75%. The overall results were satisfactory in 14 hips [77.8%]. Immunological mechanisms may play a role in SUFE. Results of surgical treatment of SUFE are affected by age, sex, degree of slipping, timing of surgery and period of follow up. Complications were chondrolysis, avascular necrosis, pin problems and shortening