Correlation between oxidative stress and G6PD activity in neonatal jaundice.

Fetal distress represents a pathophysiological condition in which oxygen is not available to the fetus in sufficient quantities. In cases of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, under conditions of oxidative stress, the residual G6PD and complimentary antioxidant mechanisms may become insufficient to neutralize the large amounts of ROS and to prevent severe hemolysis. Alteration in the oxidant-antioxidant profile is also known to occur in neonatal jaundice. The study group included 22 neonates presented with fetal distress during labor and 24 neonates with no evidence of fetal distress (control group). Umbilical cord blood samples were taken immediately after delivery, and the following blood tests were carried out after birth and at discharge from the hospital: erythrocyte count, total bilirubin, G6PD activity, and parameters presenting oxidative status [thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), NO, O2 (-), H2O2, SOD, CAT, O2 (-)/SOD, and H2O2/CAT]. There were no significant differences in TBARS and NO values among neonates with or without fetal distress. However, the values of O2 (-), H2O2, SOD, O2 (-)/SOD, and H2O2/CAT among neonates born after fetal distress were significantly higher than in neonates without fetal distress (p < 0.01). In neonates with fetal distress, the total number of RBCs at delivery was significantly lower, accompanied with higher bilirubin content. Also neonates with fetal distress had lower activity of G6PD and lower CAT activity. Higher values of oxidative stress parameters in newborns delivered after fetal distress do not indicate strictly what occurred first-oxidative stress or basic lower G6PD activity.

[Incidence of sincipital hair whorls in schoolchildren]. / Ucestalost vrtloga kose na temenu kod skolske dece.

The frequency of hair whorl in the parietal area was examined in the sample of 865 schoolchildren. The simple hair whorl was more frequent in boys (62.13%) than in girls (21.41%). The double hair whorl was found only in 0.69% of the cases. The parietal hair whorl was not noticed in 58.49% of the examined children. The percentage was considerably higher in girls than in boys accounting for 77.92% and 37.13%, respectively.