Comparing maternal and neonatal prooxidant-antioxidant balance during delivery

Objective: Oxidative stress (OS) is due to a disturbance in the balance between the production of free radicals and antioxidant defense, resulting in a predominance of free radicals over endogenous anti-oxidant defenses. OS may have many causes. Pregnancy, and especially delivery, are associated with increased OS. The relationship between maternal and infant prooxidant-antioxidant balance (PAB) is unclear. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to compare PAB in mother and baby pairs. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 104 mothers and normal term infants during 2017-2020. PAB was measured in healthy mothers before delivery and in umbilical cord samples after delivery. Data on the infant characteristics including age, gestational age, birth weight, Apgar score, and maternal history including the duration of mother's education, weight of the last month, and gravidity were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire. The cord and maternal PAB were compared by statistical methods. Results: In this study, the mean PAB of the neonates and mothers was 30.76 and 214.87 HK, respectively. The results revealed a moderate association between the PAB neonate and maternal PAB before delivery but it was not significant. Conclusion: Overall, the level of oxidants and antioxidants reduced during pregnancy and before delivery, and it was found that the relative incidence of neonatal PAB increases by increasing maternal PAB.

Comparison of birth weights of neonates of mothers receiving vs. not receiving zinc supplement at pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Zinc is an essential element for normal embryogenesis and embryonic and neonatal development. Therefore, we compared the birth weights of neonates born to mothers who consumed zinc supplement during pregnancy with that of neonates born to mothers who did not. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, we divided 200 pregnant mothers into two groups: case group (mothers receiving zinc supplement during pregnancy) and control group (mothers not receiving zinc supplement during pregnancy) Then, the neonate's cord zinc level and mother's serum level were measured and neonate's growth charts (weight, height and head circumference)were completed. RESULTS: In this study, both groups of mothers were observed to have zinc deficiency; 35% of the mothers who consumed zinc supplements and 81% of the mothers who did not consume zinc supplements (P < 0.001). Based on the results, maternal serum of zinc (P < 0.001), neonatal birth weight (P = 0.008), maternal age (P < 0.001) and parity (P < 0.01) in zinc-supplemented group were higher. Neonatal birth weight was associated moderately with mother's zinc serum levels and poorly with neonatal serum zinc levels. CONCLUSION: Zinc consumption during pregnancy increases serum zinc level of mother and neonatal weight. Neonatal weight has a higher correlation to maternal serum zinc level.

Tuberous sclerosis, deep vein thrombosis and lack of C and S proteins: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Tuberous sclerosis, an autosomal dominant disorder, is characterized by hamartomas in different organs of body. Kidney involvement is quite common in this disorder and sometimes it is accompanied by adult polycystic kidney disease. CASE: A 46-year-old woman who was being treated for adult polycystic kidney disease and systemic hypertension was admitted to this hospital because of acute lower limb edema. Color Doppler sonography study showed deep vein thrombosis of lower limbs and also left iliac vein. Despite the initiation of hourly heparin infusion, the patient involved by pulmonary emboli on the 2(nd)day of admission. Lab tests revealed protein C and S deficiency. The patient had already experienced episodes of pneumothorax too. Cutaneous lesions due to sebaceous adenoma were seen on her cheeks, nose and neck. She had also periungual fibroma suggestive of tuberous sclerosis. CONCLUSION: Although, according to our patient with both tuberous sclerosis and protein C and S deficiency, a significant relation between these two diseases, cannot confirmed, however, evaluation of other patients who have tuberous sclerosis can help to confirm or rule out this relation.