Selected maternal, fetal and placental trace element and heavy metal and maternal vitamin levels in preterm deliveries with or without preterm premature rupture of membranes.

AIM: To compare maternal, fetal and placental trace element (magnesium, zinc and copper) and heavy metal (cadmium and lead) and maternal vitamin (retinol, α [alpha]-tocopherol, vitamin D3 , 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 ) levels in preterm deliveries with and without preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM). METHODS: Sixty-eight patients giving birth preterm were grouped into preterm deliveries with PPROM (n = 35) and without PPROM (n = 33). Following delivery, maternal and umbilical cord blood sera and placental tissue samples were obtained. While magnesium, zinc, copper, cadmium and lead levels were measured in all samples, the levels of retinol, α-tocopherol, vitamin D3 , 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 were measured only in maternal serum. RESULTS: While magnesium level in maternal serum and zinc levels in both maternal and umbilical cord sera were lower, placental magnesium level was higher in preterm deliveries with PPROM (P < 0.01). Umbilical cord serum magnesium, placental tissue zinc and maternal and umbilical cord sera and placental tissue copper, cadmium, and lead levels did not differ between the groups (P > 0.05). In preterm deliveries with PPROM, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and retinol levels were higher, while vitamin D3 and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 levels were lower in maternal serum (P < 0.05). Maternal serum α-tocopherol levels were similar between the groups. CONCLUSION: Compared to spontaneous preterm births, PPROM is associated with low maternal serum together with high placental tissue magnesium and low maternal and umbilical cord sera zinc levels. Higher retinol and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and lower vitamin D3 and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 maternal serum levels are also evident in these patients.

An analysis on the roles of angiogenesis-related factors including serum vitamin D, soluble endoglin (sEng), soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt1), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the diagnosis and severity of late-onset preeclampsia.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the roles of proangiogenic factors including serum vitamin D and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and anti-angiogenic factors including soluble endoglin (sEng) and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt1) in the diagnosis and severity of late-onset preeclampsia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted at Yuzuncu Yil University Research and Education Hospital Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics. The study included a patient group of 40 women with late-onset preeclampsia who were pregnant at ≥32 weeks of gestation according to the last menstrual period (LMP) or ultrasonographic fetal biometric measurement and a control group of 40 healthy pregnant women who presented to our clinic for routine pregnancy examination and were at the same age and gestational period with those in the patient group. The two groups were compared in terms of maternal age, gravida, parity, week of gestation, systolic/diastolic blood pressure, total protein in spot urine sample, 24-h urine protein, white blood cell (WBC), hemoglobin (Hgb), platelet count, urea, creatinine, liver function tests (AST, ALT, LDH), vitamin D3, 25(OH) vitamin D3, 1,25(OH) vitamin D3, sEng, sFlt1, and VEGF levels, mode of delivery, the infant APGAR score at 1 and 5 min after delivery, and infant weight at delivery. RESULTS: The groups were similar in terms of age, gravida, parity, week of gestation, serum vitamin D3, 25(OH) vitamin D3, 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D3 and VEGF levels, and infant weight at delivery (p > 0.05). Systolic/diastolic blood pressure, total protein in spot urine sample, 24-h urine protein, WBC, Hgb, serum urea, creatine, AST, ALT, and LDH were significantly higher in the preeclamptic group compared to the healthy group (p < 0.05). However, thrombocyte level and the APGAR score at 1 and 5 min after delivery were significantly lower in the preeclamptic group compared to the healthy group (p < 0.05). No significant correlation was found between serum sEng, sFlt1, VEGF, vitamin D3, 25(OH) vitamin D3, and 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D3 levels. The sEng level was higher in the women with severe preeclampsia compared to the women with mild preeclampsia (p < 0.05) and no significant difference was observed in serum sFlt1, VEGF, vitamin D3, 25(OH) vitamin D3, and 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D3 levels between the subgroups of preeclampsia (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Both sEng and sFlt1 levels are remarkably high in patients with late-onset preeclampsia; however, only sEng may be a useful tool in the determination of the severity of preeclampsia.

Determination of micronutrients and oxidative stress status in the blood of STZ-induced experimental diabetic rat models.

This study aims to research the effect of streptozotocin (STZ) at different doses on the serum micronutrients and oxidative stress status in diabetic rat models. Twenty male rats averaged 250 g and 3-4 months old were used as experimental models. They were put in four groups composed of five rats each. Diabetic was induced by administering STZ 55 and 65 mg/kg intraperitonally. The serum micronutrients including minerals and vitamins (Cu, Zn, Mg, Fe, vitamins D, E, and C) and oxidative stress (malondialdehyde, MDA) were determined. Cu, Zn, and Vitamin D3 levels were found to increase significantly in STZ groups (p < 0.005). Retinol levels decreased significantly in STZ groups (p < 0.005). In the groups administered 55 mg/kg STZ ferrum and vitamin C levels were found significantly lower than the other groups (p < 0.005). In the group given 65 mg/kg STZ α-tocopherol levels were highest (p < 0.005) among other groups. There was not any difference between the groups for MDA, Cu/Zn, and Mg. For both doses, oxidative stress status was not significantly affected within 48 h of the application, however, some micronutrients were affected significantly.

Trace elements, heavy metals and vitamin levels in patients with coronary artery disease.

AIM: In the present study, we aimed to assess serum concentrations of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), vitamins A (retinol), D (cholecalciferol) and E (α-tocopherol) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and to compare with healthy controls. METHODS: A total of 30 CAD patients and 20 healthy subjects were included in this study. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry (UNICAM-929) was used to measure heavy metal and trace element concentrations. Serum α-tocopherol, retinol and cholecalciferol were measured simultaneously by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). RESULTS: Demographic and baseline clinical characteristics were not statistically different between the groups. Serum concentrations of retinol (0.3521 ± 0.1319 vs. 0.4313 ± 0.0465 mmol/I, p=0.013), tocopherol (3.8630 ± 1.3117 vs. 6.9124 ± 1.0577 mmol/I, p<0.001), cholecalciferol (0.0209 ± 0.0089 vs. 0.0304±0.0059 mmol/I, p<0.001) and Fe (0.5664 ± 0.2360 vs. 1.0689 ± 0,4452 µg/dI, p<0.001) were significantly lower in CAD patients. In addition, while not statistically significant serum Cu (1.0164 ± 0.2672 vs. 1.1934 ± 0.4164 µg/dI, p=0.073) concentrations were tended to be lower in patients with CAD, whereas serum lead (0.1449 ± 0.0886 vs. 0.1019 ± 0.0644 µg/dI, p=0.069) concentrations tended to be higher. CONCLUSIONS: Serum level of trace elements and vitamins may be changed in patients with CAD. In this relatively small study we found that serum levels of retinol, tocopherol, cholecalciferol, iron and copper may be lower whereas serum lead concentrations may be increased in patients with CAD.

Vitamin levels in lung tissue of rats with bleomycin induced pulmonary fibrosis.

Bleomycin (BLM) is a chemotherapeutic agent against different carcinomas, one dose of which causes dependent pulmonary fibrosis. The present study was taken up in order to measure the retinyl ester, alpha-tocopherol and cholecalciferol (vitamin D(3)) level in lung tissue in the rats following BLM-induced fibrosis. Fourteen rats were randomly divided into two groups as a control and a BLM group. On the day of the experiment, the BLM group rats were instilled with BLM (7.5 mg/kg) and the control group with sterile saline intratracheally. Fourteen days after instillation, rats in each group were sacrificed and the lungs were prepared for histopathological examination and determination of the vitamin levels with a HPLC system. The levels of retinyl ester, alpha-tocopherol and vitamin D(3) in the lungs of the BLM group were determined to be lower than in the controls. There was statistically significant difference for the alpha-tocopherol and vitamin D(3) concentrations compared to the control group (p<0.01, p<0.001), respectively. According to these results in pulmonary fibrosis, vitamins were consumed by the lung tissue and their levels decreased.

Serum selenium, vitamin E, and sialic acids concentrations in lambs with white muscle disease.

The aim of this study was to determine the serum concentrations of selenium, vitamin E, and total- and lipid-bound sialic acid (LBSA) in lambs with white muscle disease (WMD) before and after treatment with a commercial preparation containing selenite and vitamin E. Fifteen lambs with WMD and ten control animals were used as research materials. Blood samples were collected from both groups before- and 1 month after treatment for Se analysis by fluorimetry, whereas vitamin E and sialic acid were measured by HPLC and spectrophotometry, respectively. Compared to controls, in the diseased animals, there was a significant increase of serum total sialic acid (TSA) and LBSA, together with significant decreases of serum Se and vitamin E concentrations (p < 0.001). One month after treatment, a reversal of trend was observed with decreases of TSA and LBSA and increases of Se and vitamin E concentrations. The TSA and LBSA levels, however, remained significantly higher than those of the controls, p < 0.05 and 0.001, respectively. The Se and vitamin E concentrations of the treated animals were the same as those of controls. This is the first study on total and LBSA concentrations in lambs with WMD, showing that these markers can be used in the prognosis of the disease.

Serum concentration of copper, zinc, iron, and cobalt and the copper/zinc ratio in horses with equine herpesvirus-1.

The serum concentrations of copper, zinc, iron, and cobalt and copper/zinc ratio were investigated in horses infected with equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1). Nine horses were naturally infected with the virus and nine healthy horses served as controls. The concentrations of copper, zinc, iron, and cobalt were determined spectrophotometrically in the blood serum of all horses. The results were (expressed in micrograms per deciliters) copper 2.80 +/- 0.34 vs 1.12 +/- 0.44, zinc 3.05 +/- 0.18 vs 0.83 +/- 0.06, iron 2.76 +/- 0.17 vs 3.71 +/- 0.69, cobalt 0.19 +/- 0.37 vs 0.22 +/- 0.45, and copper/zinc ratio 0.72 +/- 0.38 vs 1.41 +/- 0.36 for control vs infected group, respectively. In conclusion, copper and zinc concentrations of the infected group were lower than the control group (p < 0.001), whereas iron concentration and the copper/zinc ratio of the infected group were higher than the control group (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001). The cobalt concentration was not found to be statistically different between two groups. It might be emphasized that copper/zinc ratio was significantly affected by the EHV-1 infection, so it could be taken into consideration during the course of infection.

Effects of 900-MHz electromagnetic field emitted from cellular phone on brain oxidative stress and some vitamin levels of guinea pigs.

This study was designed to demonstrate the effects of 900-MHz electromagnetic field (EMF) emitted from cellular phone on brain tissue and also blood malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), retinol (vitamin A), vitamin D(3) and tocopherol (vitamin E) levels, and catalase (CAT) enzyme activity of guinea pigs. Fourteen male guinea pigs, weighing 500-800 g were randomly divided into one of two experimental groups: control and treatment (EMF-exposed), each containing seven animals. Animals in treatment group were exposed to 890- to 915-MHz EMF (217-Hz pulse rate, 2-W maximum peak power, SAR 0.95 w/kg) of a cellular phone for 12 h/day (11-h 45-min stand-by and 15-min spiking mode) for 30 days. Control guinea pigs were housed in a separate room without exposing EMF of a cellular phone. Blood samples were collected through a cardiac puncture and brains were removed after decapitation for the biochemical analysis at the end of the 30 days of experimental period. It was found that the MDA level increased (P<0.05), GSH level and CAT enzyme activity decreased (P<0.05), and vitamins A, E and D(3) levels did not change (P>0.05) in the brain tissues of EMF-exposed guinea pigs. In addition, MDA, vitamins A, D(3) and E levels, and CAT enzyme activity increased (P<0.05), and GSH level decreased (P<0.05) in the blood of EMF-exposed guinea pigs. It was concluded that electromagnetic field emitted from cellular phone might produce oxidative stress in brain tissue of guinea pigs. However, more studies are needed to demonstrate whether these effects are harmful or/and affect the neural functions.