Evaluation of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant system in healthy iron-replete infants receiving iron prophylaxis.

OBJECTIVE: Iron supplementation is commonly recommended for infants; however, there are some reports that it causes oxidative damage. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential effects of iron supplementation at 4 mo of age, for a period of 2 mo, on lipid peroxidation and free radical scavenging enzymes. METHODS: Twenty-seven healthy 4-mo-old infants chosen randomly and given iron supplementation (ferrous sulfate, 10 mg of elemental iron per day) constituted the study group and 26 healthy 4-mo-old infants who were chosen randomly and not given iron supplementation constituted the control group. Weight, height, head circumference, complete blood cell count, serum ferritin level and intraerythrocytic zinc, iron, copper, malondialdehyde, catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase levels were measured in the two groups at 4 and 6 mo of life. RESULTS: Compared with controls at 6 mo of age, no significant differences were observed for intraerythrocytic zinc (0.5 ± 0.1 versus 0.6 ± 0.2 µg/mL, P > 0.05), copper (0.2 ± 0.1 versus 0.2 ± 0.2 µg/mL, P > 0.05), iron (130.8 ± 10.9 versus 127.4 ± 11.1 µg/mL, P > 0.05), malondialdehyde (21.4 ± 3.5 versus 22.4 ± 2.3 nmol/g of hemoglobin, P > 0.05), catalase (135.4 ± 23.9 versus 135.1 ± 23.3 MU/g of hemoglobin, P > 0.05), superoxide dismutase (1736.4 ± 141.1 versus 1701.3 ± 103.9 U/g of hemoglobin, P > 0.05), and glutathione peroxidase (8.9 ± 1.6 versus 8.4 ± 1.6 U/g of hemoglobin, P > 0.05) levels. CONCLUSION: Our study indicates that the supplemental use of elemental iron 10 mg/d for a period of 2 mo in healthy iron-replete infants did not cause lipid peroxidation or an impairment of antioxidant status.

Chromium, cadmium, and lead levels in urine of children with autism and typically developing controls.

Although potentially harmful effects of heavy metals are well known, limited numbers of studies exist regarding their relationship with autism. The aim of this study was to investigate urine levels of some heavy metals such as of chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) in children with autism and healthy subjects. Urine levels of Cr, Cd, and Pb were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry in 30 children with autism and compared with 20 healthy controls. Urine Cd and Pb levels were found as significantly decreased in children with autism compared to healthy subjects (p < 0.05). On the other hand, urine Cr levels were significantly higher in children with autism than healthy subjects (p < 0.05). This study suggested that autism may be associated with significant decrease in excretion rate of Cd and Pb and a significant increase excretion rate in the levels of Cr in the urine. These results have indicated that further studies are warranted for investigation of possible roles of heavy metals in autism.

Platelet aggregation in children with Helicobacter pylori infection.

This study was performed to investigate the platelet aggregation alterations in platelet-rich plasma (PRP) samples of children with Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection. Platelet aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate (ADP), collagen, ristocetin, or epinephrine was studied with photometric aggregometry in 30 patients before and after eradication therapy and in a control group including 15 children. The pretreatment mean maximum aggregation values and slope were significantly lower (P < .0001) in the study group at 10 µmol/L concentrations of ADP (ADP-like defect). The maximum aggregation values and slope revealed no significant differences (P > 0.05) between the study group after therapy and the control group. We concluded that H pylori infection may cause dysfunction of platelets in children and can be reversed by H pylori eradication therapy. Further studies should be carried out to determine the mechanisms of platelet dysfunction in children with H pylori infection.

The relation between coronary lesion distribution and risk factors in young adults.

OBJECTIVE: In this cross-sectional, case-controlled study, we aimed to evaluate classical and novel risk factors in young patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), and the relation between coronary risk factors and coronary lesion distribution. METHODS: Fifty-three patients under age of 45 years with severe coronary artery stenosis on angiography (group A) and age matched sixty patients having normal or non-critical stenosis on coronary angiography (group B) comprised the study groups. Conventional (smoking, family history, diabetes, hypertension) and novel risk factors (lipoprotein (a), homocysteine) were compared between the groups. Moreover, the relation between risk factors, and coronary lesions distribution, including left main artery (LMA) or proximal or mid left anterior descending (LAD) artery and remaining coronary lesions was investigated. Logistic regression analysis was used to define confounding factors predicting severe CAD and coronary lesion distribution and ROC curve analysis was performed to determine the cut-off value of independent factors, which were assessed by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Smoking was more prevalent in group A compared to group B. Lipoprotein (a) and homocysteine levels were also higher in group A than group B. For group A and B median (max-min) values of lipoprotein (a) were 34 (2-174) mg/dl and 38 (2-203) mg/dl (p=0.038), respectively and homocysteine levels were 12.3 (5-56.6) micromol/L and 9 (1.4-19) micromol/L (p=0.012), respectively. Smoking and homocysteine were independent predictors of severe CAD in young patients according to logistic regression analysis with an Odds ratio of 3.7 (95% CI=1.572-8.763; p=0.002) and 1.2 (95% CI=1.045-1.341; p=0.008), respectively. For predicting significant CAD the cut-off value of homocysteine was 11.6 micromol/L with a sensitivity and specificity of 53% and 77%, respectively (AUC=0.637; 95% CI=0.542-0.725; p=0.008). Within group analysis in group A patients revealed that only homocysteine was an independent predictor of LMA or proximal or mid-LAD lesion presence with an odds ratio of 1.2 (95% CI=1.011-1.465; p=0.016). ROC curve analysis revealed a cut-off value of 12 micromol/L in predicting LMA or proximal or mid-LAD lesions with a sensitivity and specificity of 65% and 91%, respectively (AUC=0.735; 95% CI=0.594-0.850; p=0.002). CONCLUSION: In our study, we found that young patients with severe CAD had different risk profile with higher frequency of smoking and increased levels of lipoprotein (a) and homocysteine. While smoking status and homocysteine may be used for prediction of severe CAD in young individuals, only homocysteine predicted coronary lesion distribution in LMA and proximal or mid-LAD.

Conventional and non-conventional coronary risk factors in male premature coronary artery disease patients already having a low Framingham risk score.

BACKGROUND: Individual risk factors and, more importantly, global risk assessment tools such as the Framingham risk score have been used successfully for risk prediction especially in older patients. However, there is paucity of data about the coronary heart disease prediction in premature coronary artery disease patients with a low Framingham risk score. METHODS AND RESULTS: We recruited 102 consecutive young patients without hypertension and diabetes mellitus in the study. All subjects had had chest pain and underwent coronary angiography since non-invasive diagnostic test results suggested ischaemia. Forty-five patients having at least one coronary lesion independent of severity were included in the study group.The remaining fifty-seven subjects without any coronary lesion were used as control group. Conventional and non-conventional risk factors were evaluated both in patients and control subjects. Framingham risk score and absolute 10-year hard CHD events risk were also calculated for each individual. The coronary heart disease group had a significantly higher smoking frequency as compared to the control group.They also had higher plasma levels of triglycerides, apolipoprotein B and apo B/AI ratio but a smaller LDL particle size.We failed to find any independent CHD predictor after logistic regression analysis. However, individual ROC curve analysis of risk factors revealed that apolipoprotein B, triglycerides and apo B/AI ratio have the highest area under the curve for coronary artery disease prediction. CONCLUSIONS: The Framingham risk score may underestimate the true risk of an individual. Incorporating non-conventional risk factors such as apolipoprotein B and apo B/apo AI ratio may provide valuable information in these patients.

Retrieval of zona-free immature oocytes in a woman with recurrent empty follicle syndrome: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Different ovulation trigger methods such as gonadotropin releasing hormone-agonist (GnRH-a) and recombinant human chorionic gonadotropin (r-hCG) plus rescue oocyte retrieval might reveal oocytes in patients with recurrent empty follicle syndrome. CASE: Endogenous luteinizing hormone was triggered with a GnRH-a (Buserelin [Suprefact pro-injection, Aventis-Pharma, Turkey], 250 microg subcutaneously) in a GnRH antagonist (Cetrorelix [Cetrotide 0.25, SeronoTurkey], 0.25 mg/d, starting on day 6), down-regulated cycle. At the first scheduled retrieval, 3 cumulus-oocytecorona complexes were recovered from the left ovary. During chemical denudation with hyaluronidase, 2 of them underwent lysis. The third was a zona-free, germinalvesicle-stage oocyte after mechanical denudation. Oocyte pickup was stopped, and recombinant human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) (250 microg subcutaneously) was injected. Five cumulus-oocyte-corona complexes were retrieved from the right ovary 24 hours after rescue with recombinant hCG. Only mechanical denudation was done, and 4 zona-free oocytes with germinal vesicle breakdown were seen. All oocytes underwent intracytoplasmic sperm injection, and none of them were fertilized. CONCLUSION: Oocyte maturation defects should be included in etiologic mechanisms for counseling patients with empty follicle syndrome.

The altered autonomic nervous system activity in iron deficiency anemia.

Autonomic function is impaired in anemic patients with various etiologies such as vitamin B12 deficiency, sickle cell trait, and thalassemia major. However, there are insufficient data about autonomic functions in patients with iron deficiency anemia, the leading cause for anemia in the general population. In the present study we aimed to investigate the autonomic status in iron deficiency anemia by analyzing the heart rate variability (HRV). Age- and gender-matched 43 patients with iron deficiency anemia and 39 healthy subjects were undertaken into 24-hr Holter monitoring for assessing the HRV. We used serum levels of iron, iron binding capacity, C-reactive protein, vitamin B12, and folate to exclude other causes of anemia. While age, gender, vitamin B12 and folate levels were not different between the groups, HRV values were lower in patients with iron deficiency anemia compared to control group, which reflects parasympathetic withdrawal. Blood hemorheological factors such as decreased viscosity and/or altered red cell deformability may be responsible for this decreased parasympathetic activity. However, these components do not display remarkable contribution in iron deficiency anemia. Therefore, we speculated a probable link between anemia and the accentuated sympathetic activity that may be triggered by hypoxia sensed through carotid bodies. Despite lacking adequate convincing evidence concerning exact mechanism of carotid body activation, it is assumed as due either to hypoxia-related mitochondrial respiratory chain inhibition or potassium channel suppression that leads to intracellular calcium accumulation. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates an altered autonomic balance in patients with true iron deficiency anemia.

Diagnostic approach to prostate cancer using total prostate specific antigen-based parameters together.

This prospective study investigated the value of serum total prostate specific antigen (tPSA)-based parameters in the diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa). Serum tPSA, free to tPSA ratio (f/tPSA), PSA density (PSAD), and PSA transition zone (PSAT) were evaluated in 110 patients with histologically confirmed benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and 98 patients with PCa. Once the serum tPSA was elevated (greater than 4 ng/ml) or digital rectal examination (DRE) was suspicious, transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsies were recommended. The tPSA, f/tPSA, PSAD, and PSAT levels were significantly different between the BPH and PCa groups. In patients with a tPSA level of 4.1-9.9 ng/ml or an abnormal DRE finding, only PSAT was found to have discriminating power. The cut-off values were 0.15 for f/tPSA, 0.30 for PSAT, and 0.15 for PSAD. The diagnostic sensitivity of a positive result for one of these parameters in the whole group was 84%, but 75% in patients with a tPSA of 4.1-9.9 ng/ml or an abnormal DRE finding. The diagnostic specificity of positive results for 3 parameters was 92% in the whole group and 93% in patients with a tPSA of 4.1-9.9 ng/ml or an abnormal DRE finding. All parameters were influenced by the histological grades. Histological grades showed a negative correlation (r = -0.56) with f/t PSA and a positive correlation (r = 0.44) with PSAT. No diagnostic marker investigated heretofore was able to rule out or detect early PCa in patients with a PSA level of 4.1-9.9 ng/ml. Using the PSA-based parameters together can be helpful in management of these patients. If all of the PSA-based parameters are negative, biopsy might be postponed; patients who have three positive PSA-based parameters should be biopsied. In case of one or two of the parameters, the patient's age and race should be considered in clinical decision-making.