Zinc and selenium status in pediatric malignant lymphomas.

Ninety-six untreated patients with malignant lymphoma (ML), 81 Hodgkin's disease, and 15 Burkitt's lymphoma were studied for zinc (Zn) status, and 21 patients also had selenium (Se) status analysis. Plasma and hair Zn and Se levels were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Chronic Zn and Se deficiencies (low plasma and low hair Zn and Se levels together) were found to be associated with ML in Turkish children. This was most likely due to the poor "nutritional environment" of the patients because majority of the ML patients were from families of low socioeconomic status. Supplementation of pediatric ML patients with Zn and Se, in addition to standard chemotherapy and radiotherapy regimen, is recommended.

Effects of nutrition on zinc, folic acid, and vitamin B12 levels during pregnancy.

In this article, we report the results of a case control study carried out on 290 Turkish pregnant women at 5-24 wk of gestation to determine their zinc, folic acid, and vitamin B12 levels in relation to their nutritional and socioeconomic status. The women were divided into two groups (n=145 each), depending on the stage of gestation. Group I consisted of women in the first trimester of gestation; those in the second trimester were allocated into group II. Twenty-five age-matched, healthy nonpregnant women were selected as controls. The nutritional status of the subjects was determined by means of a survey. Based on this, the women were subdivided into three subgroups: malnourished (PN), moderately nourished (MN), and well nourished (WN). Also from the survey, the socioeconomic status was classified as good (G) or bad (B). A statistically significant decrease on zinc and folic acid was observed in group I women, as their socioeconomic status worsened. In group II, zinc decreased only in the PN and MN subgroups, p<0.001. The folic acid and vitamin B12 levels did not change significantly during the second trimester of gestation in all subgroups. Regarding zinc, nutrition, or dietary habits are more relevant than socioeconomic status, but poor nutrition affects folic acid levels only during the first trimester of gestation.

Serum zinc, selenium, copper, and lead levels in women with second-trimester induced abortion resulting from neural tube defects: a preliminary study.

Neural tube defects are important causes of infant mortality and childhood morbidity. We investigated the relationship between zinc, selenium, copper, and lead concentrations and neural-tube-defect occurrence in women with a second-trimester termination due to fetal-neural-tube defects (NTDs) in this case-control study. Fourteen pregnant women whose pregnancies were terminated as a result of second-trimester ultrasonographic diagnosis of neural tube defects were recruited as cases. The control group (n = 14) consisted of women who were selected among age-, gravidity-, and socio-economic-state (SES)-matched women who had a normal triple-screen and targeted ultrasound during the second trimester with documented normal fetal outcome. Zinc and copper determinations were made using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). Graphite furnace AAS was used for Pb, and Se levels were measured with hydride generation AAS. Cases had significantly low serum zinc and selenium levels (62.48+/-15.9 vs 102.6+/-23.7 and 55.16+/-11.3 vs 77.4+/-5.5, respectively, p<0.001). Serum Cu and whole-blood Pb levels were significantly high when compared to controls. There was a negative correlation between serum zinc and selenium levels, and serum copper levels (r=-425 and -0.443, p<0.05). Our results are consistent with some previous reports. The etiology of NTDs cannot be explained with one strict etiologic mechanism. On the contrary, an interaction among environmental, genetic, and nutritional factors such as trace elements and vitamins would explain these anomalies. If folic acid supplementation is given, additional Zn supplementation should be considered for the further decrease in the recurrence and occurrence of NTDs.

Plasma zinc levels during pregnancy and its relationship to maternal and neonatal characteristics: a longitudinal study.

Forty consecutive healthy pregnant women aged 17-38 yr who attended the antenatal clinic of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ankara University in their first trimester participated in the study. The pregnant women were followed up longitudinally until the end of their pregnancy. Forty healthy age-matched nonpregnant women were used as a control group. Each pregnant woman was interviewed and a special questionnaire recording dietary history (3-d recall) and socioeconomic status (SES) was used. Birth weight, height, and head circumference of the newborn were measured and a complete physical examination was done for each neonate by the same observer. Blood samples were obtained at each trimester and zinc determinations were made using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results of plasma Zn measurements were available in 39 pregnant women. There were 23 women of low SES (mean plasma Zn level: 59.0 +/- 6.9 microg/dL) and 16 of high SES (mean plasma Zn: 70.3 +/- 5.2 microg/dL). The difference between the mean plasma Zn levels of these two groups was significant (p < 0.001). The nutritional status in our study appeared to be an important factor responsible for low plasma Zn levels during pregnancy. However, we did not find any correlation between plasma Zn levels and anthropometric parameters of the newborn and pregnancy outcome. Further studies using larger sample sizes are needed to clarify the role of plasma Zn levels on maternal features and fetal outcomes in Turkey.

Characteristics of "Early Type-I Pattern" (0-6 years) Hodgkin's Disease in Turkish Children.

The clinico-epidemiologic characteristics of 54 children with HD in 0-6 years of age group were retrospectively analyzed. This group represented 27% of 200 HD cases observed in our center and was named as early type-I pattern HD. The association of EBV with HD was also shown by serologic and immunohistochemical methods (LMP1) in these very young Turkish patients. T-cell immune deficiency, cytokine imbalance and Zn deficiency were additional findings found in these patients. This series seems to be the largest one studying early type-I HD, by several aspects.

Trace Element Analyses (Zinc and Selenium) in Pediatric Malignant Lymphomas.

Ninetysix untreated patients with Malignant lymphoma's, 81 Hodgkin's disease and 15 Burkitt's lymphoma were studied for zinc (Zn) and selenium (Se) status. Plasma and hair Zn, and Se levels were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Chronic Zn and Se deficiencies (low plasma and low hair Zn and Se levels together) were found to be associated with Malignant lymphoma's in Turkish children. This was most likely due to poor "nutritional environment" of the patients since majority of the Malignant lymphoma cases were from low socioeconomic class. Supplemention of the patients with physiological doses of Zn and Se, in addition to standard chemo radiotherapy regimen was proposed.

Endocrinologic Late Effects of Chemoradiotherapy in Pediatric Acute Leukemia.

UNLABELLED: This study intends to describe growth and endocrine disorders secondary to chemotherapy among long-term survivors of pediatric acute leukemia. Sixteen patients including 14 ALL and 2 AML entered the study. Four were females and 12 were males with the mean age of 17.38 ± 3.81 years. Following the completion of their therapy, the mean follow up period of the patients was 62.43 ± 41.11 months. Somatic growth, sexual maturation, hypothalamic- pituitary-thyroid axis and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis were evaluated in all the patients. Two out of 16 had pathologic short stature (12.5%) and 3 patients had enuchoid status (18.75%) with antrophometric measurements. Eleven patients had normal thyroid gland dimensions and homogeneous thyroid tissue on ultrasonographic examination. One patient had Ia and another four patients had Ib diffuse goitre according to WHO criteria. Two out of 16 patients were diagnosed as subclinic primary hypothyroidism (12.5%), and three of them were diagnosed as subclinic central hypothyroidism (18.75%) according to TRH testing. Three patients were subclinic subtle central hypothyroidism. Thyroid auto-antibodies were in normal range in all patients. Eight patients (66.6%) out of 12 male subjects revealed impaired HHG axis. Hypergonadotropic hypogonadism (Leydig and Sertoli dysfunction) were observed in five of them and isolated Sertoli dysfunction was detected in three of them. Azoospermia was encountered in all patients with isolated Sertoli dysfunction. Testicular biopsy was obtained from only one of them and atrophic testicular tissue was detected. Female patients show normal pubertal development and gonadal functions. CONCLUSION: Subclinic subtle primary and subclinic central hypothyroidism were found in 31.2%, impaired Sertoli and Leydig with Sertoli cell function in 66.66% of long-term survivors pediatric acute leukemia and testicular tissue was more sensitive to adverse effects of chemotherapy than ovarian tissue.