High fetal bisphenol A exposure enhances IL22 secretion: A proinflammatory cytokine.

BACKGROUND: Bisphenol A (BPA) is an industrial product, widely used in human consumed types of equipment that can be transmitted orally, by inhalation or through dermal absorption and is detectable in many body fluids including cord blood. A correlation between BPA concentration in maternal serum and cord blood has been demonstrated previously, suggesting a possible transfer of BPA via the transplacental path. OBJECTIVE: Our objective is to determine the impact of cord blood BPA level on cytokine responses. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, healthy pregnant women who delivered healthy newborns followed by the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department between September 2016 to June 2017 were enrolled. Cord blood samples were obtained and BPA and IL4, IL5, IL10, IL17, IL22, IFN gama and TGF beta levels were studied by ELISA. RESULTS: Among 197 deliveries, 176 of them were included in the study. Due to lack of cut-off value, BPA levels were stratified as percentiles. No statistically significant difference was detected in comparison of cytokine levels based on BPA concentrations below and above the 25th and 50th percentiles. Significantly higher IL22 levels (p = 0.007) and increased ratio of IL22/TGFß (p = 0.04) were detected in those with BPA level above 75th percentile (>19.16 ng/ml) compared to the below group. CONCLUSIONS: This in vivo real-life study demonstrated that very high BPA levels in cord blood of expectant mothers enhances IL22 secretion in cord blood which is a proinflammatory cytokine. Studies evaluating long term immunological effects on those highly exposed newborns are necessitated.

Association of cord blood bisphenol A (BPA) with cord blood adiponectin, leptin, fetal growth; adiposity and neoantal complications in a newborn cohort.

Objective: To evaluate the relation between cord blood bisphenol A (BPA), leptin, adiponectin, birth weight, height, skin thickness, and postnatal results.Method: This study was performed in near East University Medical Faculty, Nicosia, Cyprus with 150 healthy newborns. Cord blood leptin, adiponectin, BPA levels were measured by ELISA and birth weight, heights and back, waist, and arm skin thickness were measured and postnatal problems noted.Results: One hundred eighty-seven newborns were included in the study. Mean ± SD of BPA, adiponectin, leptin levels were 48.3 ± 2.22 ng/mL, 65.60 ± 15.29 µg/mL and 3.08 ± 2.08 ng/mL. Mean birth weight, height, head circumferences were 3156.76 ± 493.45 g, 48.28 ± 2.04 cm, 34.14 ± 1.74 cm. The association anthropometric measurements, BPA, leptin, and adiponectin levels were not statistically significant (p>.05). The relation between cord blood leptin, adiponectin, and BPA levels and small for gestation, large for gestation and average for gestation groups were not significant (p>.05). Moreover, relation between back, waist and arm skin thickness and BPA, leptin, and adiponectin were not statistically significant (p>.05). However, newborns who were hospitalized and had newborn jaundice had higher BPA levels (p<.05).Conclusion: In previous studies, higher BPA levels were associated with small for gestational age (SGA) birth, however, this relation was not noted in our study. Furthermore, there is no relation between skin thickness, BPA, leptin, and adiponectin. This difference may be as a result of higher cord BPA levels compared with previous studies.

Evaluation of the protective effect of Myrtus communis in scopolamine-induced Alzheimer model through cholinergic receptors.

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder causing common health problem with increasing age. Evidences show that the key symptoms of AD are mainly caused by cholinergic system dysfunction which has a role in cognitive disorders. Cholinergic pathways especially muscarinic receptors like M1 subtype also have a major role in learning, memory, cognitive functions and emotional state. There is no available permanent treatment currently to cure AD or to change its progression. This study was designed to investigate the factors that play important role in pathogenesis of AD and to compare the effects of Galantamine treatment with effects of Myrtus communis treatment. The expression level of M1, ACh, BDNF; AChE activity, GSH level, MDA and MPO activity and AChE gene expression were investigated in scopolamine-induced rat model. Results showed that, administration of MC significantly improves the SCOP-induced reduction of latency and object recognition time; increasing BDNF, M1 and ACh receptor expression levels in the different brain regions. Additionally, MC showed an increased in AChE by enhancing GSH activity and reducing MDA level and MPO activity. In conclusion MC considered as a possible novel therapeutic approach that can be a valuable alternative way in the prevention and treatment of AD.

High Prenatal Exposure to Bisphenol A Reduces Anogenital Distance in Healthy Male Newborns.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the relationship between cord blood bisphenol A (BPA) levels and anogenital measurements in healthy newborns. METHODS: Pregnancy and birth history, together with body mass and length data, anogenital measurements, penile measurements and cord blood samples were obtained from healthy newborns. Cord blood concentration of BPA was analyzed by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays kit. RESULTS: Among 130 healthy newborns (72 boys, 58 girls), mean anopenile distance was 45.2±6 mm and anoscrotal distance was 21.9±5.4 mm in boys; mean anoclitoral distance was 33.8±6.6 mm and mean anofourchette distance was 12.2±4.9 mm in girls. Mean cord blood BPA level was 4.75±2.18 ng/mL. 90th percentile value for cord blood BPA was 8.26 ng/mL and the analysis showed a statistically significant correlation between anoscrotal distance and cord blood BPA levels above the 90th percentile (p=0.047) in boys. The changes in anogenital distance in girls were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: We showed a significant association between high cord blood BPA levels and shortened anoscrotal distance in male newborns. However, this result should be interpreted with caution since there were no significant external genital abnormalities in our study group.

Silk fibroin as a non-thrombogenic biomaterial.

Silk fibroin (SF), is a very attractive protein-polymer, being processed into a variety of formats to match structural and morphological features for specific biomedical applications. The aim of the present work is to investigate blood compatibility of two forms, films and scaffolds, of silk fibroin-N,N' methylene bisacrylamide (MBA) prepared by using blend solutions of the two components. Biofilms were prepared under UV-irradiation while scaffolds were prepared via freeze-drying technique at -30°C and -80°C, respectively. Swelling, biodegradation tests with protease enzyme, FTIR, SEM, XRD analyses were applied to characterize the biomaterials. The results indicated that, the presence of the crosslinker (MBA) in the scaffold and biofilm aids the formation of ordered structure. The pore size and biodegradability can be controllable by the amount of crosslinker. The anticoagulant activity was evaluated using prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT). The in-vitro coagulation test and platelet adhesion test analyses indicated that the modified scaffolds and biofilms exhibited better hemocompatibility in comparison with pure silk fibroin. These results demostrated that the silk fibrion-N,N' methylene bisacrylamide biofilms and blended scaffolds have potential applications as blood contact device.

Coexisting anal human papilloma virus infection in heterosexual women with cervical HPV infection.

AIM: To evaluate the prevalence of coexisting anal human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and concordance of HPV types in women with cervical HPV infection and to investigate the possible predictors for anal HPV infection. METHODS: Study group was composed of women referred with documented cervical HPV infection. All patients had undergone anal HPV DNA testing. RESULTS: One hundred and six patients presenting with cervical HPV infection were eligible for the study. Overall, 24 and 20 distinct HPV genotypes were detected from cervical and anal specimens, respectively. We observed a considerably high prevalence (51.9 %) of coexisting anal HPV infection in our study group. A majority of the women who were found to have anal HPV infection were infected with oncogenic or probable oncogenic types (64.6 %). There were 20.0 and 58.3 % rate of total and partial concordance between the two sites, respectively. We found that no demographic parameter but history of anal intercourse was related with the risk of anal HPV infection. CONCLUSION(S): Women with cervical HPV infection have a considerable risk for coexisting anal HPV infection. Concordance of HPV types infecting the cervix and anal canal is relatively high. There is no strong predictor for anal HPV infection in this population.

Effect of isotretinoin on prothrombin time (PT), international normalized ratio (INR), and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT).

Patients with severe acne may need elective/urgent surgical interventions during treatment with isotretinoin and it is critical for the surgeon to consider the possible effects of this medication on coagulation systems. The aim of this study is to determine the changes in prothrombin time (PT), international normalized ratio (INR), and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) during isotretinoin treatment. PT, aPTT, and INR values of 51 severe acne patients were evaluated during routine pre-treatment biochemical analysis. Only patients with normal values were included in the study. The results of before and after 1 month treatment were compared statistically. There were no statistically significant change in mean alanine aminotranferease (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), PT, and INR values after treatment. A significant increase in aPTT was detected. The INR values, which are more trusted and safe, showed no difference. Isotretinoin seems to have no effect on these coagulation parameters.

Is calprotectin a marker of tobacco smoke related inflammation?: a pilot study in children.

CONTEXT: Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) related inflammation has an anorexigenic effect through affecting the release of appetite-modulating mediators, leptin and ghrelin. Elevated serum calprotectin levels are found in a variety of inflammatory conditions. OBJECTIVE: To study the relation between ETS and body mass index (BMI), as well as serum levels of leptin, ghrelin and calprotectin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed by searching the smoking status of parents. After filling in the questionnaires, parents were phoned and children were invited to supply fasting blood samples in order to measure serum levels of leptin, ghrelin and calprotectin, and to calculate their BMIs. Participant children were divided into Group 1 (n = 51), those who are not exposed to and Group 2 (n = 46), exposed to indoor ETS. RESULTS: There were no statistical difference in BMI, leptin and ghrelin levels between Group 1 and Group 2 (p values are 0.85, 0.87 and 0.42, respectively), but serum calprotectin levels were statistically higher in Group 2 (p = 0.003). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: In this study serum levels of calprotectin were found to be higher in children with indoor ETS exposure where no relation was detected with BMI and serum levels of leptin and ghrelin. Increased serum levels of calprotectin might be an indicator of inflammation related to ETS exposure.

Oxidized LDL and anti-oxLDL antibody levels in peripheral atherosclerotic disease.

OBJECTIVE: Oxidative modification of LDL (oxLDL) is important in atherogenesis and is proposed as a useful marker for identifying patients with coronary artery disease. Antibody to oxLDL (oxLDL Ab) is detected in human sera, although its biological significance is not well established. We aimed to measure oxLDL and oxLDL Ab in peripheral atherosclerotic disease (PAD) patients, and to examine the relation between them in an attempt to understand the role of oxLDL Ab. Total risk of atherosclerosis was estimated using the global risk assessment score (GRAS) calculated on the basis of age, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol (HDL-Chol), diabetes, hypertension and smoking. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-one patients aged 63.05+/-9.13 years, diagnosed by peripheric angiography as PAD, and 21 healthy controls aged 47.67+/-13.61 years took part in the study. Total LDL and HDL cholesterol levels were determined by enzymatic methods. Levels of circulating oxLDL were measured by monoclonal antibody 4E6-based competition ELISA. IgG class oxLDL Ab titre was measured by ELISA. RESULTS: Compared to healthy controls, PAD patients had higher levels of oxLDL (p<0.05), oxLDL Ab (p<0.05), LDL cholesterol (LDL-Chol) (p<0.05), total cholesterol (p<0.05) and lower HDL-Chol (p<0.05). OxLDL was found to be positively correlated with total cholesterol (r = 0.471, p<0.05) and LDL-Chol (r = 0.614, p<0.01) and GRAS (r = 0.435, p<0.05) and negatively with HDL-Chol (r = -0.459, p<0.05), but not with oxLDL Ab in PAD patients. CONCLUSIONS: These findings might indicate that high LDL-Chol levels influence the oxidation of LDL and that oxLDL is a possible marker of PAD. However, the role of oxLDL Ab in atherosclerosis remains controversial.

Effects of vitamin E supplementation on oxidative stress in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats: investigation of liver and plasma.

This experimental study was designed to investigate the effects of vitamin E supplementation, especially on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status elements 3/4 namely, glutathione (GSH), CuZn superoxide dismutase (CuZn SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH Px), both in blood and liver tissues of streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic rats. The extent to which blood can be used to reflect the oxidative stress of the liver is also investigated. In diabetic rats, plasma lipid peroxide values were not significantly different,from control,whereas erythrocyte CuZn SOD (p < 0.01), GSH Px (p < 0.001) activities and plasma vitamin E levels (p < 0.001), were significantly more elevated than controls. Vitamin E supplementation caused significant decreases of erythrocyte GSH level (p < 0.01) in control rats and of erythrocyte GSH Px activity (p < 0.05) in diabetic rats. Liver findings revealed significantly higher lipid peroxide (p < 0.001) and vitamin E (p < 0.01) levels and lower GSH (p < 0.001), CuZn SOD (p < 0.001) and GSH Px (p < 0.01) levels in diabetic rats. A decreased hepatic lipid peroxide level (p < 0.01) and increased vitamin E/lipid peroxide ratio (p < 0.001) were observed in vitamin E supplemented, diabetic rats. A vitamin E supplementation level which did not cause any increase in the concentration of the vitamin in the liver or blood, was sufficient to lower lipid peroxidation in the liver. Vitamin E/lipid peroxide ratio is suggested as an appropriate index to evaluate the efficiency of vitamin E activity,independent of tissue lipid values. Further, the antioxidant components GSH, GSH Px and CuZn SOD and the relationships among them, were affected differently in the liver and blood by diabetes or vitamin E supplementation.