Metabolic profile of oxidative stress and trace elements in febrile seizures among children.

Febrile seizures (FS) are frequent convulsive disorders, occurring in infants and young children. The present study aims to assess and compare the serum levels of oxidative stress markers and some essential trace minerals in FS with normal or abnormal EEG and evaluate the effect of antioxidant therapy on the clinical outcome. This study has been carried out on 80 children with FS (40 with simple FS and 40 with complex FS) and 40 febrile children without seizures. Clinical and EEG findings were recorded for the included patients. Biochemical assays of serum nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and selenium (Se), using colorimetric methods, were measured in the studied groups. The overall results showed an increased values of NO, MDA and Cu with decreased values of SOD, Zn and Se in patients with FS (simple and complex) in comparison with febrile children without seizures (p < 0.05 for all). Additionally, NO and MDA was increased in complex FS patients with EEG abnormalities in comparison with complex FS with normal EEG findings (p < 0.05); NO and MDA were also significantly decreased after valproate therapy in complex FS patients (p < 0.05 for all). In conclusions, oxidative stress, decreased Zn and Se with increased Cu may play a role in FS. Valproate improves the oxidative stress status in complex FS.

Nitric oxide and antioxidant enzyme levels in blood of respiratory distress syndrome--Egyptian preterms and their mothers.

BACKGROUND: The mechanisms of tissue injury in respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) have not been completely elucidated but the involvement of oxidative damage due to reactive oxygen species (ROS) is important in the pathogenesis of preterm labor and RDS. OBJECTIVES: To assess the oxidative status in preterms with and without RDS and in their mothers. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Measuring and comparing concentrations of serum nitric oxide (NO), and erythrocytic activities of some antioxidant enzymes in blood of 20 preterms with RDS and 20 preterms without and their mothers, respectively. RESULTS: Our results confirm significant elevation of mean levels of serum NO and reduced mean levels of erythrocytic activities of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase (CAT), in RDS preterms and their mothers compared with controls and their mothers. A significant positive correlations were found between maternal and preterm serum NO (r=0.3 & 0.6) and erythrocytic activity of SOD (r=0.5 & 0.4) for RDS and control groups, respectively. In addition, a significant negative correlations were found between NO and SOD in all groups. CONCLUSIONS: The existence of oxygen metabolites and lipid peroxidation was significantly more obvious in RDS preterms and in their mothers than those without.