Associations of variants of folate cycle genes with features of the clinical course of severe intraventricular hemorrhages in premature infants.

BACKGROUND: Summary data indicate that it has increased attention to the study of the role of the folate cycle and the genes encoding its key components in the complicated course of the neonatal period in premature infants. Therefore, the aim of our study was to investigate the relationship of folate cycle gene variants with the features of the neonatal course in premature infants with severe intraventricular hemorrhages (IVH). METHODS: The study included 24 preterm infants with with IVHs of 3d and 4th degree that received standard clinical, laboratory and instrumental examination. RESULTS: Apgar scores at 1 and 5 minutes were significantly lower in patients with AA genotype according to variant A1298C of the MTHFR gene. The concentration of total protein on 6th day after birth was negatively correlated with the A66G variant of the MTRR gene. The mean concentration of ionized calcium in the first day after birth was higher in the subgroup of patients with the AA genotype (according to variant A1298C of the MTHFR gene). In the subgroup of patients requiring mechanical ventilation, the frequency of AA genotype according to variant A2756G of the MTR gene was significantly increased. The presence of respiratory disorders and oxygen dependence was negatively correlated with variant A1298C MTHFR. The day of surfactant administration was positively correlated with variant A1298C of the MTHFR gene. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that gene variants MTHFR (C677T, A1298C), MTRR (A66G), MTR (A2756G), RFC1 (G80A) may affect the neonatal course in premature infants with severe IVH.

[ANALYSIS OF THE ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN ANGIOTENSIN-CONVERTING ENZYME GENE POLYMORPHISM AND ARTERIAL HYPOTENSION IN PREMATURE INFANTS WITH EARLY ONSET BACTERIAL INFECTIONS].

The rate of neonatal sepsis is not reduced varying inversely proportional to the gestational age at birth, and may reach 60% in the most immature infants. The high mortality rate of this disease and adverse neurological effects are associated with the development of cardiovascular changes and shock. The main leadership role in the regulation of blood pressure and blood volume in the body plays a renin-angiotensin system. Synthesis of angiotensin-converting enzyme is regulated by the ACE gene. The aim of the study was to identify and analyze the associations between the development of arterial hypotension in premature infants and insertion-deletion (I/D) polymorphism of the ACE gene. We conducted a prospective cohort study, which included 118 prematurely born children with early onset bacterial infections (n=57 with clinical manifestations in the form of hypotension, n=61 without hypotension). Both groups were genotyped to determine the insertion-deletion polymorphism ACE gene. We compared the clinical, laboratory and instrumental parameters in premature infants with hypotension and II, ID, DD genotype of the ACE gene. Also an analysis of the associations between different genotypes of ACE gene and the development of arterial hypotension in prematurely born children was conducted. The distribution of neonates in relation to the three polymorphic variants of ACE gene with respect to I/D polymorphism was identical among the study groups. The study found that children with a variety of I/D polymorphic variants of ACE gene had no significant differences in hemodynamic parameters. The rate of hemodynamic support use did not differ in both groups. The study of the associations between the ACE gene polymorphism and major ultrasound, Doppler indices that characterized both systemic and organ hemodynamics, revealed no significant differences in mean values of all the criteria that have been studied. It can be concluded no effect of I/D polymorphism of ACE gene on the occurrence of hemodynamic disorders in premature born children with early onset bacterial infections.

[PREDICTIVE MODEL OF EARLY BACTERIAL INFECTIONS DEVELOPMENT IN PREMATURE INFANTS].

Symptoms and signs of early infection and sepsis in premature infants are varied; there are no clear criteria for the diagnosis of such conditions in this cohort. The aim of our study was to analyze and identify the risk factors for early infections in premature infants and to develop on their basis the clinical prognostic model with high diagnostic performance. A retrospective cohort study, which included 152 premature infants, was conducted; 121 of them had the signs of early infections, 31 - had no signs of infection. 52 candidates of prognostic variables were considered. According to the results of multiple stepwise logistic regression analysis, the predictive model has been developed. It includes gestational age, visual changes of the placenta, Apgar score at the 1st minute, the level of monocytes more than 6.5%, the history of abortions and premature rupture of membranes. The diagnostic characteristics of the developed model are high: sensitivity - 82.2%, specificity - 93.55%, positive predictive value - 97.98%, negative predictive value - 58%. Therefore, when interpreting the figures of biomarkers, the decision as to the prescription of antibiotics should be based on the presence of maternal risk factors and clinical symptoms of the infection in the newborn.

The role of genetic determinant in the development of severe perinatal asphyxia.

The frequency of GSTT1 and GSTM1 gene deletion polymorphism was determined in a case-control study of full-term Ukrainian newborns including patients with perinatal asphyxia. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction was used for genotyping 245 full-term newborns. The investigated full-term newborns with perinatal asphyxia were subdivided in the subgroups depending of severity of perinatal asphyxia and neonatal outcome. No significant differences in allele frequencies of homorygous null genotypes of GSTT1 and GSTM1 gene were detected among newborns with moderate perinatal asphyxia and healthy control. However, association with the development of severe perinatal asphyxia was detected for the deletion polymorphism in GSTT1 gene and the combination of the GSTT1 absent/GSTM1 absent in the newborns. The study shows that severe perinatal asphyxia may develop in the consequence of genetic predisposition to this condition as compare with moderate.