Serum copper and zinc levels in healthy greek children and their parents.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is a correlation between copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) levels in children and their parents, considering their nutritional habits. Cu and Zn concentrations were measured by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry in the serum of 66 healthy children, aged 3-14 years, and their parents, residing in a region of Greece (Thrace). Cu levels were higher in mothers than those in fathers, but they were lower in both parents than those in children. They also tended to decrease with age in both parents and children, whereas Zn levels significantly increased with age in children. There was a positive correlation between children's and mothers' Zn levels, as well as children's and both parents' Cu levels. Children used to eat meat, fish, vegetables, and legumes as frequently as their parents, but they were consuming more eggs, milk, and fruits than the latest. Regarding parents' diet, higher Zn levels were depended on the consumption of meat and milk, whereas higher Cu levels were depended on the consumption of milk. Consequently, children's Cu and Zn levels are related to their parents' levels, which can be influenced by their nutritional habits.

The effect of obesity on pulmonary lung function of school aged children in Greece.

Obesity impacts on many issues of pulmonary medicine, where it is debated if obesity is linked to asthma, atopy or altered lung function tests. Our study aimed to investigate primarily the effect of obesity on the lung function tests and secondary the possible link of obesity with atopy and asthma in a large cohort of children in Greece. Body mass index (BMI) and data from a questionnaire for lung health, atopy, nutritional habits and family history were obtained from 2,715 children aged 6-11 years. Six hundred fifty-seven children with BMI>85th percentile (357 overweight, 300 obese) and a group of 196 normal weight children underwent spirometry. The % expected FVC, FEV(1), FEF(25-75), and FEV1/FVC were significantly reduced in overweight or obese children compared to children with normal weight (P = 0.007, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, and P < 0.001, respectively). Reported atopy was significantly higher in overweight or obese children compared to normal weight children (P = 0.008). High BMI remained a strong independent risk factor for asthma (OR = 2.17, 95% CI = 1.22-3.87, P = 0.009) and for atopy (OR = 2.06, 95% CI = 1.32-3.22, P = 0.002). The effect of increased BMI on asthma was significant in girls, but not in boys (OR = 2.73, 95% CI = 1.09-6.85, P = 0.032; OR = 1.74, 95% CI = 0.83-3.73, P = 0.137, respectively). In conclusion we have shown that high BMI remains an important determinant of reduced spirometric parameters, a risk factor for atopy in both genders and for asthma in girls.

Serum copper and zinc concentrations in healthy children aged 3-14 years in Greece.

Zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) are essential trace elements in people, being required for functional activity of several enzyme systems. In this study, we determined Cu and Zn concentrations in the serum of 105 healthy children randomly selected, aged 3-14 yr, residing in a region of Greece (Thrace), and we investigated their association with children's gender, age, height, weight, and nutritional habits. The mean levels of Zn and Cu were 15.01 +/- 2.95 micromol/L and 26.18 +/- 5.47 micromol/L, respectively, with no significant difference between boys and girls. Asignificant positive correlation was found between age and Zn levels, and a negative one was found between age and Cu levels. Both Zn and Cu levels tended to increase with height, whereas Zn levels significantly decreased with increasing body mass indent (BMI). The consumption of meat, milk, and eggs were independent determinants for higher Zn levels, and the consumption of legumes and fruits were independent determinants for higher Cu levels. Asignificant negative correlation was found between Zn and Cu levels. In conclusion, our study, the first one evaluating the serum status of Cu and Zn in healthy Greek children, identified significant correlations of Zn and Cu levels with their age, height, BMI, and nutritional habits.

The HIF-2alpha/VEGF pathway activation in cutaneous capillary haemangiomas.

AIM: To investigate the pathogenesis of capillary haemangiomas, a common form of vascular malformation. METHODS: Twenty-five cutaneous capillary haemangiomas, excised from patients under 14 years of age, were studied immunohistochemically for endothelial cells, the angiogenic factors thymidine phosphorylase (TP) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), the proliferation index Ki-67, and the hypoxia inducible factors-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) and -2alpha (HIF-2alpha). RESULTS: Endothelial-lined channels reacted strongly with CD31 in all cases, clearly definining capillary spaces. Between 5 and 20% of the endothelial cells were Ki-67 positive, indicating an intense proliferative activity; more importantly, they consistently expressed VEGF and HIF-2alpha, and in many cases TP, but failed to react with HIF-1alpha. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that the activation of the HIF-2alpha pathway and the consequent overexpression of VEGF by the endothelial cells are involved in the pathogenesis of cutaneous capillary haemangiomas.

Altered intrahepatic hematopoiesis in neonates from women with pregnancy induced hypertension/pre-eclampsia.

AIM: To detect whether preeclampsia influences neonatal intrahepatic hematopoiesis, given that an activation of fetal neutrophils and monocytes during the course of this disorder occurs. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We examined liver samples from 10 neonates of hypertensive/preeclamptic women at 27 to 28 weeks of gestation delivered by a cessarian section. All neonates were placed in incubators but they all died within 24 hours due to immaturity. The control group comprised 10 fetuses of the same gestational age, after voluntary abortion due to a neural defect. Specific antibodies against CD34, glycophorin C, hemoglobins A and F, myeloperoxidase, CD61, CD68, terminal desoxynucleotidyl transferase and the pax-5/B-cell specific activator protein, were used in each sample. RESULTS: Neonates from hypertensive/preeclamptic women, in comparison with controls, showed: a statistically significant reduction of erythropoiesis by 25% (p=0.015); a statistically significant increase of granulopoiesis (p=0.019); a statistically significant increase in the expression of CD68 positive cells of the monocytic lineage (p=0.017); a statistically significant increase in the expression of CD34 progenitor/stem positive cells (p=0.021). No statistically significant differences were observed in both examined groups, concerning megakaryopoiesis and B lymphopoiesis. CONCLUSIONS: Preeclampsia of pregnancy has an impact on neonatal intrahepatic hematopoiesis by increasing granulopoiesis, reducing erythropoiesis and triggering endothelial and stem cell activation. We suggest that these findings reflect a state of persistent inflammation and a loss of red blood cell production possibly contributing to the neonatal morbidity related to this disorder.