Evaluation of oxidative stress and antioxidant defence in subjects of preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the parameters of oxidative stress and anti oxidant defense in preeclampsia and thereby find any etiological correlation. METHODS: Study was carried out on pregnant and non pregnant women attending or admitted in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of SSG Hospital, Baroda between 1st June 2007 to 31st May 2008. Each serum sample from different groups was evaluated for malondialdehyde (MDA), a product of lipid peroxidation process as a marker for oxidative stress and reduced Glutathione, Superoxide Dismutase, and Catalase for antioxidant enzyme activity and a comparison drawn and analyzed using t-test and χ(2) test. RESULTS: The levels of MDA (a lipid peroxidation product) increased significantly in pregnancy compared to non-pregnant females and further significantly increased in preeclampsia compared to normal pregnant females. The superoxide dismutase levels, catalase levels and vit-E levels were found to be increased in preeclamptic females as compared to normal pregnant females. CONCLUSION: Preeclampsia is found to be a condition with markedly increased oxidative stress as is evidenced by highly significantly increased levels of MDA, a marker of lipid peroxidation. Levels of antioxidant enzymes, viz. reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase and vitamin E have been found to be increased in preeclampsia as compared to normal pregnant females. This may be a compensatory mechanism for handling the increased oxidative stress.

Estimation of lipid profile in subjects of preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate lipid profiles in subjects with preeclampsia. To determine if there is any change in lipid profiles in subject of preeclampsia as compared to normal antenatal females, non-pregnant females and post partum females. METHODS: Study was carried out on pregnant women and non pregnant women attending or admitted in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of SSG Hospital, Baroda between 1st June 2007 to 31st May 2008. Each serum sample from different groups was evaluated for Total cholesterol(mg/dl), Triglyceride (mg/dl), HDL-cholesterol (mg/dl), LDL-cholesterol (mg/dl) and VLDL-cholesterol (mg/dl) using diagnostic kits and a comparison drawn and analyzed using t-test and chi-square test. RESULTS: Dyslipidemia in the form of significantly decreased HDL concentration and significantly increased total cholesterol, LDL, VLDL & Triglycerides concentration is conspicuously evident in subjects of preeclampsia as compared to non pregnant, normotensive pregnant and postpartum subjects. CONCLUSION: Dyslipidemia is significantly evident in preeclampsia and plays an important pathological role. The various causative factors for dyslipidemia and its prevention need to be further studied and evaluated.

A Study to Compare the Efficacy of Misoprostol, Oxytocin, Methyl-ergometrine and Ergometrine-Oxytocin in Reducing Blood Loss in Active Management of 3rd Stage of Labor.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to compare the efficacy of misoprostol 400 µg per rectally, injection oxytocin 10 IU intramuscular, injection methylergometrine 0.2 mg intravenously and injection (0.5 mg ergometrine + 5 IU oxytocin) intramuscular on reducing blood loss in third stage of labor, duration of third stage of labor, effect on haemoglobin of the patient, need of additional oxytocics or blood transfusion and associated side effects and complications. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective non-randomized uncontrolled study was carried out in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, SSG Hospital and Medical College, Baroda enrolling 200 women and dividing them into four groups. Active management of 3rd stage of labor was done using one of the 4 uterotonics as per the group of the patient. The main outcome measures were the amount of blood loss, the incidence of postpartum hemorrhage and a drop in hemoglobin concentration from before delivery to 24 h after delivery. RESULTS: Methylergometrine was found to be superior to rest of the drugs in the study with lowest duration of third stage of labor (P = 0.000096), lowest amount of blood loss (P = 0.000017) and lowest incidence of PPH (P = 0.03). There was no significant difference in the pre-delivery and the post-delivery hemoglobin concentration amongst the four groups with P = 0.061. The need of additional oxytocics and blood transfusion was highest with misoprostol as compared to all other drugs used in the study with P = 0.037 and 0.009, respectively. As regards side effects, misoprostol was associated with shivering and pyrexia in significantly high number of patients as compared to the other drugs used in the study while nausea, vomiting and headache were more associated with methylergometrine and ergometrine-oxytocin. However all the side effects were acceptable and preferable to the excessive blood loss. CONCLUSION: Methylergometrine has the best uterotonic drug profile amongst the drugs used, strongly favouring its routine use as oxytocic for active management of third stage of labor. Misoprostol was found to cause a higher blood loss compared to other drugs and hence should be used only in low resource setting where other drugs are not available. The role of misoprostol in third stage of labor needs larger studies to be proved.

Polyvinyl alcohol as the barrier layer in thin film composite nanofiltration membranes: preparation, characterization, and performance evaluation.

The present paper describes the preparation, characterization, and performance evaluation of thin film composite (TFC) nanofiltration (NF) membranes having porous polysulfone as base support and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA, degree of hydrolysis 86-87% and molecular weight 125,000) as the final barrier layer. Maleic acid (MA) was used as the cross-linker of PVA. The membranes were characterized by their molecular weight cutoff, FTIR, SEM, and contact angle. The effects of variation of different parameters like concentration of polysulfone, polyvinyl alcohol, maleic acid, and cure time on the membrane performance (flux and rejection of inorganic salts) were studied and the optimum membrane composition was evaluated. From the analysis of flux and rejection data it may be concluded that membranes prepared from 17%PSF, 1%PVA, with MA solution concentration of 0.2% (w/w) cured at a temperature of 125+/-2 degrees C for 30 min give the optimum balance of flux and rejection (R). Such membranes show differential rejection among the sulfate and chloride salts. For membranes prepared under optimum conditions the average rejections of NaCl and MgSO4 are 22.8% and 83.8%, respectively; i.e., on an average 60% difference exists between the rejection of MgSO4 and NaCl. The overall trend of rejection by such membranes is R(Na2SO4) > R(MgSO4) > R(NaCl) > R(CaCl2) approximately = R(MgCl2) (R = rejection). The average MWCO of these membranes varies between 250 and 350 Da.

Conformationally restricted indolopiperidine derivatives as potent CCR2B receptor antagonists.

The preparation and biological evaluation of a series of indolopiperidine CCR2B receptor antagonists possessing a conformationally restricted C-5 linker chain in combination with a restricted piperidine ring are described. Compared to the parent compound 1, analogue 8 shows a dramatic improvement in selectivity against a range of 5-HT and dopaminergic receptors.

CCR2B receptor antagonists: conversion of a weak HTS hit to a potent lead compound.

A weak HTS hit at the CCR2B receptor has been converted into a potent antagonist by array SAR studies. Selectivity over the closely related CCR5 receptor is also achieved.

The role of fractalkine in the recruitment of monocytes to the endothelium.

Recombinant fractalkine possesses both chemoattractive and adhesive properties in vitro. Previous studies have demonstrated an upregulation of this molecule on the membranes of activated human endothelial cells and hypothesised that fractalkine plays a role in the recruitment and adherence of monocytes to the activated endothelium. Here we present data analysing both the adhesive and chemoattractive properties of this chemokine expressed by activated human umbilical vein endothelial cells. We demonstrate that both recombinant fractalkine and endogenously produced fractalkine function as adhesion molecules, tethering monocytes to the endothelium. However, our data demonstrate that although recombinant fractalkine has the potential to function as a potent monocyte chemoattractant, the endogenous fractalkine cleaved from activated human umbilical vein endothelial cells is not responsible for the observed chemotaxis in this model. Instead, we show that monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), secreted from the activated human umbilical vein endothelial cells, is responsible for the chemotaxis of these monocytes.

Selective binding of the truncated form of the chemokine CKbeta8 (25-99) to CC chemokine receptor 1(CCR1).

Human CC chemokine receptor 1 (CCR1) has been proposed as a receptor for CKbeta8. To obtain conclusive evidence, binding-displacement studies of 125I-CKbeta8 (25-99) were performed on membranes of Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing human CCR1. The Ic50 for displacement of 125I-CKbeta8 (25-99) with CKbeta8 (25-99) was 0.22 nM. The longer forms of CKbeta8 (24-99 and 1-99) also displaced 125I-CKbeta8, with Ic50 values of 6.5 and 16 nM, respectively. Displacement profiles of 125I-CKbeta8 (25-99) on freshly prepared human monocytes indicated that CCR1 was the major receptor for CKbeta8. We conclude that CCR1 is a receptor for different-length CKbeta8 and that CKbeta8 (25-99) has a similar affinity for CCR1 as macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha (MIP-1alpha). The longer variants of CKbeta8 are significantly less potent than CKbeta8 (25-99) and MIP-1a on CCR1 and monocytes (P < 0.05).

Footlength measurement in the neonate.

In 353 neonates, foot length were recorded along with birth weight, crown heel length and head circumference. Foot length correlated well with all three indices (p less than .01). Highest correlation in preterm babies was with crown heel length and weight, and in term babies with head circumference. The formula, length = footlength x 6.5 +/- 20 mm could be correctly used in 95% of babies. When it is difficult to weigh or measure the length accurately, foot length can serve as a useful measurement to assess a baby quickly.