Melatonin in aging women.

Melatonin is a neurohormone secreted mainly by the pineal gland that controls circadian rhythm, which is primarily regulated by light. Although melatonin levels are known to be altered in individuals with sleep disorders, melatonin also has modulatory effects on other body systems, including the skeletal and immune systems. In addition, melatonin has been shown to interfere with carbohydrate and lipid metabolism and to have significant antioxidant effects, both directly and via its metabolites. Melatonin levels vary throughout human life and are known to decrease with age but the effects of declining melatonin levels are poorly understood. In women, this age-related decrease in melatonin levels coincides with the menopause. This review aims to summarize the impact of altered melatonin levels in aging women and the outcomes of exogenous replacement therapies.

Maternal and fetal blood levels of S100 and ischaemia modified albumin in term intrauterine growth restricted fetuses with abnormal umbilical artery Doppler values.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether levels of fetal hypoxia markers, S100 and ischaemia modified albumin (IMA) change in cases of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). This case-control study included 15 intrauterine growth restricted fetuses and 20 age-matched controls. During delivery of the fetuses, cord blood and maternal blood S100 and IMA levels were studied. The fetal weight and umbilical cord pH values of IUGR fetuses were significantly lower than the control group. The mean maternal and umbilical cord blood values of S100 and IMA were similar in the two groups. IMA levels in cord blood of the IUGR group were significantly higher than maternal levels, whereas umbilical and maternal levels of IMA did not differ among control cases. In cases without brain sparing effect in Doppler ultrasonography, umbilical cord S100 and IMA levels do not change significantly in IUGR when compared with appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) fetuses.