The role of vitamin D and trace elements in premature newborns with congenital pneumonia.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of the research is to determine the levels of vitamin D and trace elements in the umbilical cord blood, as well as to evaluate the clinical and laboratory characteristics in premature newborns with congenital pneumonia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This single­center case-control research included 228 premature newborns who were divided into the main group composed of 76 newborns with congenital pneumonia, and control group composed of 152 newborns without congenital pneumonia, who were born in the period from January 2021 to December 2021. An enzyme immunoassay of vitamin D determination was performed along with an assessment of clinical and laboratory characteristics. The modern mass spectrometry was performed to determine the trace element status of the blood of 46 premature newborns proven to have a severe vitamin D deficiency. RESULTS: The results of our research demonstrated that premature newborns with congenital pneumonia had a severe vitamin D deficiency, low Apgar scores, and severe respiratory disorder (assessed by means of modified Downes score). The analysis showed that the newborns with congenital pneumonia had a significantly worse pH, lactate, HCO3, and pCO2 as compared with the newborns without pneumonia (p < 0.05). The analysis also revealed early biomarkers of congenital pneumonia in premature newborns, particularly thrombocytopenia, leukocytosis, high c-reactive protein (CRP) (p < 0.05).Stage 2 of the research was performed with the use of modern mass spectrometry to determine the trace element status (in the first stage, vitamin D was determined) in 46 premature newborns proven to have a severe vitamin D deficiency. The examination revealed that the levels of iron, calcium, manganese, sodium, strontium were decreased, whereas the levels of magnesium, copper, zinc, aluminum, and arsenic were increased. Only potassium, chromium, and lead turned out to be in normal range. According to the available data, in contrast to the most of micronutrients in the context of inflammatory response, the plasma concentrations of copper and zinc are reported to be increased as opposed to iron, the concentration of which is shown to be decreased. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated a high prevalence of 25 (OH) vitamin D deficiency in premature newborns. A significant relationship has been shown between the respiratory status of vitamin D and presence of congenital pneumonia in premature newborns. The analysis also showed that the content of trace elements in premature newborns plays an immunomodulatory role and affects the susceptibility and outcome of the infectious process. Thrombocytopenia in premature newborns may be an early biomarker for monitoring congenital pneumonia (Tab. 2, Ref. 28). Text in PDF www.elis.sk Keywords: congenital pneumonia, premature newborn, vitamin D, trace elements, mass spectrometry.

A modern look at the development of intrauterine pneumonia in premature newborns: Literature review.

Infectious diseases such as malaria, pneumonia, diarrhea and preventable neonatal diseases are common causes of death in children. Globally, neonatal mortality is 44% (2.9 million) annually, with up to 50% of babies dying within the first day of life. Pneumonia kills between 750000 and 1.2 million infants in the neonatal period each year in developing countries. Premature birth, pneumonia, and labor complications are common causes of neonatal mortality. The objective of the study is to present the general characteristics of congenital pneumonia, vitamin D deficiency and micronutrient deficiencies in premature infants. To date, numerous studies confirm the relationship between the inadequate supply of the body with macro- and microelements and the development of diseases of varying severity, including metabolic disorders. Based on this, primary screening, aimed at identifying metabolic disorders of macro- and microelements and further drug correction, should become the main concept for the management of patients in modern times.

BRCA1 and TP53 Gene-Mutations: Family Predisposition and Radioecological Risk of Developing Breast Cancer.

Frequencies of polymorphisms of genes BRCA1 and TP53 in breast cancer (BC) patients with a BC family history and radiation history were assessed and compared in the Semey region of Kazakhstan. The study included 60 women directly irradiated by the activities of the Semipalatinsk test site with a calculated effective equivalent dose of 500 mSv and their first generation descendants (group BC+Her+Exp); 65 women with family BC and absence of radiological history - the effective equivalent dose due to anthropogenic sources not exceeding 50 mSv (group BC+Her-Exp). The comparison group consisted of 65 women patients with breast cancer without family and radiological history (BC-Her-Exp). The control group comprised 60 women without breast cancer and without family and radiological history (nonBC). We carried out the genotyping of the polymorphisms c.2311T>C, c.4308T>C and 5382insC of the BRCA1 gene and rs1042522 of the TP53 gene. The frequency of the polymorphism c.2311T>C was significantly higher in patients of the group BC+Her+Exp than in healthy women, and of the polymorphism 5382insC in BC+Her+Exp compared to all other groups. The frequency of the rs1042522 polymorphism of TP53 was significantly higher in all groups of patients with breast cancer compared with the control group. Differences between groups of women with breast cancer were significant only in BC+Her+Exp vs. BC+Her-Exp. Combinations of polymorphisms of the genes BRCA1 and TP53 predominated in women with a family and radiological history.

Temporal Epidemiological Assessment of Colorectal Cancer Incidence and Mortality in East Kazakhstan, 2004-2013.

Colorectal cancer incidence and mortality in Kazakhstan are relatively high but exact statistics have hitherto been lacking and trends over time are unclear. The present study was therefore undertaken to retrospectively assess data for East Kazakhstan, accessed from the central registration office, for the period 2004-2013. Approximate age standardized data for incidence and mortality were generated and compared across age groups, gender and year. It was determined that during the studied period 3,417 new cases of colorectal cancer were registered and 2,259 died of this pathology. Average cancer cancer incidence and mortality over the ten years were 24.1/105 and 15.9/105 respectively, and the overall ratio of mortality/incidence (M/I) was 0.69:1 (range 0.58-0.73). Both incidence and mortality tended to remain constant in both males and females. The male to female ratios also did not significantly vary over time but a trend for improvement of the mortality to incidence ratio was observed, especially for rectum. Whether this might be related to screening remains unclear. These preliminary data indicate that whereas colorectal cancer continues to be important, change in environmental factors are not having a great impact on incidence in East Kazakhstan.