[State of the antioxidant system in premature newborn infants during early postnatal period]. / Sostoianie antioksidantnoi sistemy nedonoshennykh novorozhdennykh v rannem postnatal'nom periode.

The main parameters of the antioxidant system--AOS (glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase, ceruloplasmin, estriol, estradiol) were studied in 58 normal full-term infants and in 178 premature infants in the course of the early neonatal period. In the control group, the functioning of the AOS appeared more perfect and was characterized by phasic changes in the course of the first week of life. The premature infants demonstrated functional disorganization of both enzymatic (glutathione in particular) and hormonal components of the system of antiperoxide defence. This circumstance played a substantial part in the development of polysaturated fatty acids deficiency, which determined in turn the modification of the membrane lipid content and selective loss of cell sensitivity to neuro-humoral actions and unbalance in the system of cyclic nucleotides.

[Effect of human milk enzymes on carbohydrate metabolism during adaptation of newborn infants in the early neonatal period]. / Vliianie fermentov grudnogo moloka na metabolizm uglevodov v protsesse adaptatsii novorozhdennykh v rannem neonatal'nom periode.

The total activity and isoenzymatic composition of lactic dehydrogenase (LDG), malic dehydrogenase (MDG) and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDG) were studied in the blood serum and erythrocytes of 56 premature and 18 mature newborns, as well as in colostrum and mature breast milk. The growth of the role of anaerobic glycolysis was observed at the end of the neonatal period in the mature newborns. In highly premature newborns the activity of glycolysis and pentose cycle of glucose oxidation was especially high. Isozymic spectrum of LDG evidences the prevalence of the processes of aerobic glycolysis in the premature which is unfavourable under conditions of hypoxia. The pattern of changes in the MDG spectrum denotes a low activity of reactions of the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Isoenzymatic composition of colostrum and milk is close to that in the newborn's blood. Enzymes of colostrum and milk influence carbohydrate metabolism thus producing favourable effect on the adaptation processes in the newborns.