Relations of neuropeptide Y and heme oxygenase-1 expressions with fetal brain injury in rats with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy

Abstract Purpose: To investigate the relations of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expressions with fetal brain injury in rats with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP). Methods: Sixty rats pregnant for 15 days were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. The ICP model was established in experimental group. On the 21st day, the blood biochemical test, histopathological examination of pregnant rat liver and fetal brain tissues and immunohistochemical analysis of fetal rat brain tissues were performed. Results: On the 21st day, the alanineaminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and total bile acid levels in experimental group were significantly higher than control group (P<0.01). Compared with control group, there was obvious vacuolar degeneration in pregnant rat liver tissue and fetal brain tissue in experimental group. NPY expression in fetal brain tissue was negative in control group and positive in experimental group. HO-1 expression in fetal brain tissue was strongly positive in control group and positive in experimental group. There was significant difference of immunohistochemical staining optical density between two groups (P<0.01). Conclusion: In fetal brain of ICP rats, the NPY expression is increased, and the HO-1 expression is decreased, which may be related to the fetal brain injury.

Growth evaluation in infants with neonatal cholestasis

BACKGROUD: Chronic liver diseases in childhood often cause undernutrition and growth failure. To our knowledge, growth parameters in infants with neonatal cholestasis are not available AIM: To evaluate the nutritional status and growth pattern in infants with intrahepatic cholestasis and extrahepatic cholestasis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred forty-four patients with neonatal cholestasis were followed up at the Pediatric Gastroenterology Service of the Teaching Hospital, State University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil, in a 23-year period, from 1980 to 2003. The records of these patients were reviewed and patients were classified into two groups, according to their anatomical diagnosis: patients with intrahepatic cholestasis - group 1, and patients with extrahepatic cholestasis - group 2. Records of weight and height measurements were collected at 4 age stages of growth, in the first year of life: 1) from the time of the first medical visit to the age of 4 months (T1); 2) from the 5th to the 7th month (T2); 3) from the 8th to the 10th month (T3); and 4) from the 11th to the 13th month (T4). The weight-by-age and height-by-age Z-scores were calculated for each patient at each stage. In order for the patient to be included in the study it was necessary to have the weight and/or height measurements at the 4 stages. Analyses of variance and Tukey's tests were used for statistical analysis. Repeated measurement analyses of variance of the weight-by-age Z-score were performed in a 60-patient sample, including 29 patients from group 1 and 31 patients from group 2. The height-by-age data of 33 patients were recorded, 15 from group 1 and 18 from group 2 RESULTS: The mean weight-by-age Z-scores of group 1 patients at the 4 age stages were: T1=-1.54; T2=-1.40; T3=-0.94; T4=-0.78. There was a significant difference between T2 X T3 and T1 X T4. The weight-by-age Z-scores for group 2 patients were :T1=-1.04; T2=-1.67; T3=-1.93 and T4=-1.77, with a...

RACIONAL: As doenças hepáticas crônicas na infância freqüentemente levam à desnutrição e ao déficit de crescimento, sem haver referência de um padrão definido para colestase neonatal OBJETIVO: Avaliar o estado nutricional e o padrão de crescimento em crianças com colestase intra-hepática e colestase extra-hepática MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: Foram revistos os prontuários de 144 pacientes com colestase neonatal atendidos no Serviço de Gastroenterologia Pediátrica do Hospital de Clínicas da UNICAMP, Campinas, SP, durante o período de 1980 a 2003 e de acordo com o diagnóstico anatômico, classificados em dois grupos: grupo 1, pacientes com colestase intra-hepática e grupo 2, com colestase extra-hepática. Os valores de peso e estatura foram obtidos em quatro momentos: 1°) Na primeira consulta realizada até o 4° mês de vida, 2°) entre o 5° e o 7° mês, 3°) entre o 8° e o 10° mês e 4°) entre o 11° e 13° mês. Para cada paciente foi realizado o cálculo do Z-escore em relação ao peso para a idade e estatura para a idade nos momentos 1 a 4. Para o paciente ser incluído no estudo, era necessário ter as medidas de peso e/ou estatura nos quatro estágios. A estatística empregada foi a análise de variância e o teste de Tukey. Para análise de variância com medidas repetidas quanto ao escore-Z de peso para a idade, a amostra utilizada foi de 60 pacientes, sendo 29 do grupo 1 e 31 do grupo 2. Para estatura, a amostra utilizada foi de 33 pacientes, sendo 15 do grupo 1 e 18 do grupo 2. RESULTADOS: As médias dos escores-Z de peso para a idade nos quatro momentos da avaliação para os pacientes do grupo 1 foram: T1 =-1.54; T2 = -1.40; T3 = -0,94; T4 = -0.78, havendo diferença significante entre T2×T3 e entre T1×T4. Para os pacientes do grupo 2 foram: T1 = -1.04; T2 = -1.67; T3 =-1.93 e T4 = -1.77, havendo diferença significante entre T1×T2 e T1×T4. Houve também diferença significante entre as médias dos escores-Z de peso para a idade entre o grupo...