Foetal lipoprotein oxidation and preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia (PE) is a multisystemic syndrome specific to pregnancy. Although PE is the leading cause of death from complications associated with pregnancy, its aetiology is still unknown. In PE, lipid metabolism is altered. When lipids are damaged, both the mother and the foetus may be at risk. Lipoproteins contain apolipoproteins, triacylglycerols, free and esterified cholesterol, and phospholipids, all of which are susceptible to oxidative stress when high levels of oxygen and nitrogen free radicals are present. Lipoperoxidation can occur in three stages: mild, moderate, and severe. In severe lipid damage, highly toxic products such as malondialdehyde (MDA) can be generated; under these conditions, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) proteins can be oxidized (oxLDL). oxLDL is a biomolecule that can affect the production of nitric oxide (NO), the main vasodilator derived from the endothelium. oxLDL can interfere with the transduction of the signals responsible for triggering the activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), causing reduced vasodilation and endothelial dysfunction, which are the main characteristics of preeclampsia. The objective of the review was to analyse the information the current information about exists about the impact generated by the oxidation of LDL and HDL lipoproteins in neonates of women with preeclampsia and how these alterations can predispose the neonate to develop diseases in adulthood.PE can cause foetal loss, intrauterine growth restriction, or developmental complications. Neonates of mothers with PE have a high risk of cardiovascular diseases, stroke, mental retardation, sensory deficiencies and an increased risk of developing metabolic diseases. PE not only affects the foetus, generating complications during pregnancy but also predisposes them to chronic diseases in adulthood.

An analysis of the electrocardiogram QT interval

No reports testing the efficacy of the use of the QT/RR ratio <1/2 for detecting a normal QTc interval were found in the literature. The objective of the present study was to determine if a QT/RR ratio <=1/2 can be considered to be equal to the normal QTc and to compare the QT and QTc measured and calculated clinically and by a computerized electrocardiograph. Ratios (140 QT/RR) of 28 successive electrocardiograms obtained from 28 consecutive patients in a tertiary level teaching hospital were analyzed clinically by 5 independent observers and by a computerized electrocardiograph. The QT/RR ratio provided 56 percent sensitivity and 78 percent specificity, with an area under the receiver operator characteristic curve of 75.8 percent (95 percentCI: 0.68 to 0.84). The divergence in QT and QTc interval measurements between clinical and computerized evaluation were 0.01 ± 0.03 s (95 percentCI: 0.04-0.02) and 0.01 ± 0.04 s (95 percentCI: -0.05-0.03), respectively. The QT and QTc values measured clinically and by a computerized electrocardiograph were similar. The QT/RR ratio <=1/2 was not a satisfactory index for QTc evaluation because it could not predict a normal QTc value.

An analysis of the electrocardiogram QT interval.

No reports testing the efficacy of the use of the QT/RR ratio <1/2 for detecting a normal QTc interval were found in the literature. The objective of the present study was to determine if a QT/RR ratio < or =1/2 can be considered to be equal to the normal QTc and to compare the QT and QTc measured and calculated clinically and by a computerized electrocardiograph. Ratios (140 QT/RR) of 28 successive electrocardiograms obtained from 28 consecutive patients in a tertiary level teaching hospital were analyzed clinically by 5 independent observers and by a computerized electrocardiograph. The QT/RR ratio provided 56% sensitivity and 78% specificity, with an area under the receiver operator characteristic curve of 75.8% (95%CI: 0.68 to 0.84). The divergence in QT and QTc interval measurements between clinical and computerized evaluation were 0.01 +/- 0.03 s (95%CI: 0.04-0.02) and 0.01 +/- 0.04 s (95%CI: -0.05-0.03), respectively. The QT and QTc values measured clinically and by a computerized electrocardiograph were similar. The QT/RR ratio < or =1/2 was not a satisfactory index for QTc evaluation because it could not predict a normal QTc value.

Tryptamine derived amides and acetogenins from the seeds of Rollinia mucosa.

Bioactivity-directed fractionation of a CHCl(3)-MeOH (1:1) extract prepared from the seeds of Rollinia mucosa led to the isolation of a mixture of eight novel tryptamine amides. Extensive HPLC allowed the isolation of the major component of the mixture, which was characterized as N-lignoceroyltryptamine (6) using a combination of spectroscopic and chemical methods. The minor amides were identified by GC-MS analysis as N-palmitoyltryptamine (1), N-stearoyltryptamine (2), N-arachidoyltryptamine (3), N-behenoyltryptamine (4), N-tricosanoyltryptamine (5), N-pentacosanoyltryptamine (7), and N-cerotoyltryptamine (8). Two lignans (pinoresinol dimethyl ether and magnolin) and six acetogenins [membranacin (9), desacetyluvaricin (10), rolliniastatin 1, bullatacin, squamocin, and motrilin] were also isolated. The cytotoxicity of membranacin (9) and desacetyluvaricin (10) against six human solid tumor cell lines was determined. The absolute configuration of the former is reported.