RESUMO
ABSTRACT Objective: To establish the oxidant/antioxidant status in serum samples from pregnant women above the threshold for Down syndrome (DS) risk, according to the quadruple test. Methods: Thirty maternal serum samples that were above the threshold for DS risk (study group) were chosen from pregnant women whose quadruple tests were studied at Ankara University Ibni Sina Hospital Central Laboratory. They were matched with the control group consisting of 30 pregnant women whose DS risk were below threshold. Malondialdehyde level, glutathione peroxidase and non-enzymatic superoxide radical scavenger activities (NSSAs) were analyzed in the study and control groups. Results: It was found that NSSA was significantly decreased in the study group as compared to the control group (p = 0.006). Malondialdehyde levels had a tendency to increase with gestational week in both groups (p = 0.042 in the study group and p < 0.001 in the control group). Conclusion: There is a significant decrease in non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity in pregnant women that were above the threshold for DS risk, as compared to the control group. In the context of these results, dietary antioxidant supplementation might be a useful approach during early gestation, especially around the time of conception, possibly to prevent bearing a DS fetus.
RESUMO
ABSTRACT Objective: To reveal the effect of 2100 MHz radio frequency (RF) radiation on thyroid tissues of rats in the 10 days (group E1) and 40 days (group G1) exposure groups. Methods: In this study, 30 healthy female Wistar albino rats, weighing 200−256 g each, were used. The animals were randomly divided into four groups (E1, E2, G1 and G2). Groups E2 and G2 served as the control groups. The exposure groups were exposed to 2100 MHz RF radiation emitted by a generator, simulating a 3G-mobile phone for 6 hours/day, 5 consecutive days/week, at the same time of the day (between 9 am and 3 pm), for 10 days (group E1) and 40 days (group G1). Results: Catalase and xanthine oxidase enzyme activities were compared between the groups E1 and E2; it was found that the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Between the groups G1 and G2, the difference was found to be significant with respect to catalase activities. Tissue samples of the early and late groups showed no serious pathological findings in the histopathological examination. Conclusion: We believe that comprehensive, clinical and experimental studies are needed to assess the effect of the RF exposure duration and dosage of exposure on thyroid tissues.