Evaluation of the status quo of polyphenols analysis: Part II-Analysis methods and food processing effects.

Nowadays due to the concern with the environmental impact of analytical techniques and in order to reduce the ecological footprint there is a tendency to use more efficient and faster procedures that use a smaller amount of organic solvents. Polyphenols have been widely studied in plant-based matrices due to their wide and potent biological properties; however there are no standardized procedures both for sample preparation and analysis of these compounds. The second of a two-part review will carry out a critical review of the extraction procedures and analytical methods applied to polyphenols and their selection criteria over a wide range of factors in relation to commerce-associated, environmental, and economic factors. It is foreseen that in the future the analysis of polyphenols in plant-based matrices includes the use of techniques that allow the simultaneous determination of different subclasses of polyphenols using fast, sophisticated, and automated techniques that allow the minimal consumption of solvents.

Coumarins: Auspicious Cholinesterase and Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors.

Cholinesterase inhibition is the only current validated target in clinics in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Therefore, there is continuous interest in the development and discovery of novel cholinesterase inhibitory molecules. Coumarins, beside their employment in other pharmacological groups, have also attracted attention to be utilized in cholinesterase inhibitory molecule discovery and development. Numerous studies so far indicated the natural and synthetic coumarin analogues that have the potential to inhibit acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase enzymes. Since the pathophysiology of AD is highly complex and, in particular, monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors are also utilized in clinic for disease symptoms, coumarin analogues, either natural or synthetic, that have the potential to inhibit cholinesterase or MAO enzymes are summarized within this review.

Robinow Syndrome: a case report.

We report a case with Robinow syndrome which has been rarely reported in the literature. A male newborn who had fetal face appearance (broad and prominent forehead, hypertelorism, small saddle nose, anteverted nostrils, glabellar nevus flammeus, malar hypoplasia, down-turned mouth and retrognathia), mesomelic limb shortening, hemivertebra and genital hypoplasia was diagnosed as Robinow syndrome. Elevated levels of both basal and stimulated testosterone and dihydrotestosterone were found along with normal baseline levels of gonadotropins. These endocrinologic studies were suggestive for an androgen insensitivity. Mental and motor development of the infant were normal at 3 and 6 months of age. Because of the high level of consanguineous marriages in Turkey, we may expect a higher incidence of the autosomal recessive form of the syndrome. This gives a high recurrence risk and makes prenatal diagnosis an important option for future pregnancies in the families.

Synchronized ventilation of very-low-birth-weight infants; report of 6 years' experience.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of long-term patient triggered ventilation (PTV) using assist/control or synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation (SIMV) in very-low-birth-weight infants with respiratory distress. METHODS: Ninety-seven very-low-birth-weight infants who had undergone synchronized ventilation for respiratory distress or insufficiency were assessed from January 1995 to December 2000. Death, oxygen support, pneumothorax development while ventilated, intracranial hemorrhage, necrotizing enterocolitis, periventricular leukomalacia, retinopathy of prematurity and duration of ventilation were noted as the mean outcome measures. RESULTS: The mean birth weight was 1139 +/- 268 g (range 450-1500 g) and the mean gestational age was 29.0 +/- 2.8 weeks (range 23-36 weeks). Eighty-four per cent of 97 infants survived. Antenatal steroids were administered to only 20% of mothers. Surfactant was administered to all of the 67% of infants with respiratory distress syndrome. The mean duration of ventilator support was 4.7 +/- 7.3 days (1-43 days) for survivors and 8.9 +/- 11 days (1-45 days) for infants who died. No respiratory paralysis was necessary in any case during ventilation and pneumothorax was diagnosed in only eight infants. Severe intracranial hemorrhage (grade > or = III) and periventricular leukomalacia developed in 15% and 12% of infants, respectively. Necrotizing enterocolitis (Bell's classification stage > or = 2) and retinopathy of prematurity were noted in two infants. Four infants had evidence of chronic lung disease. The rate of survival without major morbidity was 83.5%. CONCLUSION: Patient-triggered ventilation, initially PTV with Asist/Control and subsequently with SIMV in very-low-birth-weight infants with respiratory distress is feasible, but optimization of trigger and ventilator performance with respect to respiratory diagnosis is essential.

Analyses of polymorphism for UGT1*1 exon 1 promoter in neonates with pathologic and prolonged jaundice.

In this study, we investigated whether a TATA box polymorphism in the promoter of the UGT1*1 exon I, the most common detected DNA polymorphism in Gilbert's syndrome, is a contributory factor in unexplained pathologic or prolonged jaundice. 38 neonates who had unexplained pathologic jaundice, 37 neonates who had unexplained prolonged jaundice, and 35 healthy, nonjaundiced neonates were enrolled in the study. Genotypes were assigned as follows: 6/6 (homozygous for a normal allele bearing the sequence [TA](6)TAA), 7/7 (homozygous for an abnormal allele with the sequence [TA](7)TAA), and 6/7 (heterozygous with one of each allele). Of the 110 infants, 10 (9%) had 7/7, 51 (46%) had 6/7, and 49 (45%) had 6/6 genotype; the differences between the three groups were not statistically significant. Also no differences were observed among different genotypes and mean serum total bilirubin concentrations. In conclusion, we showed that TA 7/7 and TA 6/7 genotypes are not rare in our population and that the presence of these polymorphisms alone does not play a significant role in the etiology of unexplained pathologic or prolonged neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.

Outcome of very-low-birth-weight infants in a developing country: a prospective study from the western region of Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: To illustrate neonatal outcomes, including morbidity, birth weight and gestational age-specific mortality, and care practices for very-low-birth-weight infants admitted to our tertiary neonatal intensive care unit in Turkey and compare these with the corresponding data from recent reports from developed countries. METHODS: Perinatal data were collected prospectively from January 1996 to December 2000. Perinatal events and the neonatal course to 120 days of life, discharge, or death were evaluated. RESULTS: Of 173 infants, 82% survived until discharge to home or to 120 days of life. Survival was 13% for infants of 501-750 g at birth, 74% for those of 751-1000 g, 92% for those of 1001-1250 g and 87% for those of 1251-1500 g. Mortality rates were greater for male than for female infants (25% vs. 12%). The mean birth weight was 1218 (450-1500) g and the mean gestational age was 29.8 (23-36) weeks. The birth weight and gestational age distributions showed that the majority of infants (48%) weighed 1251-1500 g and were between 28 and 31 weeks' gestation (57%). Antenatal steroids were administered to only 19% of mothers. The overall Cesarean section rate was 77%. Respiratory distress syndrome was diagnosed in 36% and surfactant was administered to 98% of these infants. The rate of ventilator support was 54% for a mean duration of 9 days. Air leak syndromes were diagnosed in only nine infants (5%). Severe intracranial hemorrhage (grade > II) and periventricular leukomalacia developed in 9% of infants. Four infants had evidence of chronic lung disease. Retinopathy of prematurity (stage > II) was noted in only one infant, and proven necrotizing enterocolitis (Bell's classification stage > 2) was not observed. The rate of survival without major morbidity was 91%. The mean hospital stay was 40 days for survivors and 19 days for infants who died. CONCLUSION: Despite marked differences in socioeconomic conditions and tertiary care facilities, the mortality (except in the smallest babies) and morbidity rates were comparable with those of recent studies from developed countries.

Adrenomedullin and nitrite levels in children with minimal change nephrotic syndrome.

Nitric oxide (NO) serves many functions within the kidney, and recent evidence suggests that NO contributes to glomerular injury. Adrenomedullin (AM) is a novel hypotensive peptide originally isolated from human pheochromocytoma. Recent studies showed that plasma AM concentrations correlated with the extent of proteinuria. We have examined the possible role of these two agents by studying plasma and urinary total nitrite (NO-2 + NO-3) and AM levels in children with minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS). In comparison with healthy controls, children with MCNS had increased urinary nitrite excretion (micromol/mg urinary creatinine), irrespective of whether the disease was in relapse or remission (3.2+/-0.2 in relapse, n=13; 1.9+/-0.3 in remission, n=12; 1.0+/-0.2 in controls, n=10, P<0.05). Plasma nitrite levels (micromol/l) were high in relapse compared with controls (53.2+/-8.7 vs. 32+/-4.0, P<0.05). Plasma AM levels (pmol/ml) were decreased in relapse (27.6+/-1.4 in relapse, 43.3+/-1.2 in remission, 41.5+/-1.6 in controls, P<0.05). Urinary AM levels (pmol/mg urinary creatinine) were significantly higher in relapse than in remission and in controls (156+/-43 in relapse, 56+/-18 in remission, 36+/-16 in controls, P<0.05). Our data indicate that NO may play a role in mediating the clinical manifestations of MCNS in children. However, changes in AM levels may be the result of heavy proteinuria.

Lipids of human retina, retinal pigment epithelium, and Bruch's membrane/choroid: comparison of macular and peripheral regions.

PURPOSE: To understand the difference between macular and peripheral regions, tissue samples of human retina, retinal pigment epithelium, and Bruch's membrane/choroid were dissected and analyzed for lipid composition. METHOD: To facilitate dissections and enhance the recovery of tissues, eyecups were prefixed for 1 hour in 10% formalin (pH 7). Lipids were extracted from 4-mm trephined punches of tissues and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. After separation of neutral lipids and phospholipids, total fatty acids in both lipid classes were quantitated. RESULTS: The major phospholipid classes in retina, retinal pigment epithelium, and Bruch's membrane/choroid were phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, phosphatidyl inositol, and phosphatidyl serine; the major fatty acids were palmitic (16:0), stearic (18:0), and oleic (18:1). Although the three tissues had similar total fatty acid and phospholipid components, their relative compositions were different. Neutral lipid/phospholipid ratios in retinal pigment epithelium and Bruch's membrane/choroid were almost three times higher than in the retina. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides information about the lipid composition of macular and peripheral regions of the human retina, retinal pigment epithelium, and Bruch's membrane/choroid. The methodology employed enabled study of lipids in small amounts of tissue, which will be of value in investigating the biochemical aspects of age-related macular degeneration.