Serum levels of nitric oxide in newborns of preclamptic-and those of normal mothers

Nitric oxide [NO] is a labile radical gas that plays a critical role in many vital biological processes, including the control of vascular tone, ventilation, inflammation and immunity. In pre-eclampsia, NO is usually increased in the maternal circulation which may in turn affect the infant of those women. This study is carried out to asses endothelial derived [endogenous] NO concentration in newborns of pre-eclamptic compared to those newborns of normal mothers. Serum NO levels were assayed in newborns of pre-eclamptic mothers [n=33] and newborns of normal mothers [n=12]. Serum NO levels were estimated calorimetrically using commercial kit of total NO based on the enzymatic conversion of nitrate to nitrite by nitrate reductase and detection of nitrite as an azo-dyc product of the Griess reaction. Serum NO levels were found to be significantly lower among newborns of pre-eclamptic mothers [P<0.05] when compared to newborns of normal mothers. There is a defect in serum nitric oxide levels in infant of preeclamptic mothers which reflects the endothelial dysfunction, as well as, reduced uteroplacental perfusion

Early detection of ventricular dysfunctions in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

Cardiac involvement as pericarditis, myocarditis and endocarditis is common in adults with rheumatoid arthritis while there are few studies on patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis [JRA]. Early detection of these cardiac involvements and ventricular dysfunction in children with JRA will improve the outcome of the disease. Twenty-one patients with JRA without any cardiac symptoms and 20, sex and age matched, controls were included in the study. M-mode, two-dimensional, Doppler [pulsed, continuous wave and color flow mapping] echocardiography were performed on each participant to asses the systolic and diastolic functions of both right and left ventricles. Left ventricular end-systolic diameter and volumes were larger and ejection fraction and fractional shortening were decreased in JRA patients. Our results of increased late flow velocity, decreased early flow velocity and prolonged isovolumic ventricular relaxation reflected an abnormal relaxation form of diastolic dysfunction in patients with JRA which is seen in patients with ischemic heart disease. These children can therefore be candidates for ischemic heart disease in the future