Plasma lipocalin-2 levels in pregnant women with pre-eclampsia, and their relation with severity of disease.

OBJECTIVE: To compare lipocalin-2 (LCN2) levels in pre-eclamptic women with those in healthy pregnant women, and to determine whether there is a correlation between LCN2 levels and the severity of the disease. METHODS: The study included 66 pregnant women: 22 healthy pregnant women (Group 1), 23 women with mild pre-eclampsia (Group 2), and 21 women with severe pre-eclampsia (Group 3). Pre-eclamptic women and normal controls were carefully matched for maternal age, gestational age, and body mass index (BMI). The maternal levels of plasma LCN2 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Plasma LCN2 levels in the pre-eclamptic group were significantly lower than those in the healthy control group (p < 0.05). Although plasma LCN2 level was lower in the severe compared to the mild pre-eclamptic group, the difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). There was no significant correlation between LCN2 levels and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), BMI, triglyceride, gestational week at delivery, birth weight, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure in pre-eclamptic and healthy pregnant women (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that there are decreased concentrations of plasma LCN2 in pre-eclamptic subjects and this may indicate that LCN2 plays a role in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia. However, further experiments are needed to clarify this role.

Serum reference levels of selenium, zinc and copper in healthy pregnant women at a prenatal screening program in southeastern Mediterranean region of Turkey.

PROJECT: The aim of the study was to investigate the serum reference range for Selenium (Se), Zinc (Zn) and Copper (Cu) levels in women of 10-14 (group I) and 16-20 (group II) weeks of gestation and compare them with those in non-pregnant healthy women and healthy men. PROCEDURE: This cross-sectional study was performed in 351 pregnant women [group I (n: 177) and group II (n: 174)], 30 non-pregnant women and 30 men as controls. The levels of Se, Zn and Cu levels were determined on flame and furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer using Zeeman background correction. RESULTS: In the 10-14 weeks of gestation Se, Zn and Cu serum levels were 44.85+/-9.23, 81.30+/-31.94 and 132.33+/-38.24 microg/dl, in 16-20 weeks of gestation were 47.18+/-10.92, 74.25+/-22.47 and 164.86+/-39.69 microg/dl, in non-pregnant women were 55.38+/-8.81, 121.41+/-29.22 and 104.75+/-39.14 microg/dl also in men 72.24+/-9.28, 134.85+/-15.95 and 78.29+/-20.90 microg/dl, respectively. CONCLUSION: A significant low level of serum Se, Zn and a high level of Cu in the pregnant women in the 10-14 and 16-20 weeks of gestation were detected when compared with that of non-pregnant women and men.

Propofol with N-acetylcysteine reduces global myocardial ischemic reperfusion injury more than ketamine in a rat model.

OBJECTIVE: We examined the cardioprotective effects of propofol and ketamine with and without N-acetylcysteine (NAC). METHODS: 60 rats were divided into six groups of 10 rats each. Anesthesia induction was produced with an intraperitonal injection of ketamine in Groups 1-3 and propofol in Groups 4-6. NAC (200 mg kg(- 1)) was given intraperitonally during anesthesia induction in Groups 3 and 6. Groups 2, 3, 5, and 6 were subjected to 90 s of myocardial ischemia by clamping the ascending aorta, and then reperfusion was begun by unclamping the ascending aorta. After 60 min of reperfusion, blood samples were taken from the ascending aorta for biochemical analyses, and heart tissue samples were taken for biochemical and histopathological analyses. RESULTS: Creatine kinase (CK), myocardial band of creatine kinase (CK-MB), and troponin-I (Tn-I) levels were significantly higher in the ischemia-reperfusion groups (2, 3, 5, 6) compared to the nonischemic groups (1, 4). CK, CK-MB, and Tn-I levels did not differ significantly between the ketamine groups (1-3) and the propofol groups (4-6) p > .05). Malondialdehyde levels were significantly higher in Groups 2 and 3 than in Group 1 and were significantly lower in Groups 4 and 6 than in Group 5 (p < .05). Malondialdehyde levels in the propofol groups (4-6) were significantly lower than in the ketamine groups (1-3; p < .05). Catalase levels in propofol groups were higher than ketamine groups. Superoxide dismutase levels were significantly higher in Group 6 than in Group 3 (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: In this rat model of global cardiac ischemia, propofol with NAC attenuates myocardial injury more than ketamine (with or without NAC).

Selenium levels in first-degree relatives of diabetic patients.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the serum selenium levels in first-degree relatives of diabetic patients (FDR) according to controls. Insulin resistance, serum lipid levels, inflammation markers, and blood pressure were also studied in these patients. Serum levels of selenium in FDR were significantly lower than control group (74.65 +/- 5.9 vs 88.7 +/- 8.7 microg/dl, p < 0.0001). HsCRP, HOMA-IR, insulin, homocysteine levels were significantly higher in FDR according to the control group (1.32 +/- 0.9 vs 0.63 +/- 0.4 mg/dL, p < 0.0001; 2.07 +/- 0.84 vs 1.51 +/- 0.69, p < 0.0001; 9.26 +/- 3.8 vs 6.8 +/- 2.98 microU/MI, p < 0.0001; 15.7 +/- 7.4 vs 11.5 +/- 5.1 micromol/L, p < 0.0001, respectively). There was significant correlation between selenium levels and hsCRP (r = - 0.450, p < 0.0001). There was also weak significant correlation also between HOMA-IR and selenium levels (r = -0.227, p = 0.003). There was a correlation between systolic blood pressure and BMI (r = 0.365, p < 0.0001). But there was no correlation between selenium levels and blood pressure or other parameters. HsCRP, HOMA-IR, homocysteine levels in individuals with selenium levels < 80 microg/L (n = 78) was significantly higher than hsCRP HOMA-IR, homocysteine levels in individuals with selenium levels >or= 80 (n = 91; 1.23 +/- 0.98 vs 0.81 +/- 0.76 mg/dL, p < 0.003; 1.99 +/- 0.88 vs 1.64 +/- 0.74, p < 0.005; 15.0 +/- 7.6 vs 12.9 +/- 5.7 micromol/L, p < 0.049, respectively). Selenium deficiency may contribute to cardiovascular disease risk in FDR.