Influence of hypercholesterolemia on serum antibodies against oxidized LDL in children and adolescents.

BACKGROUND: The oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL; oxLDL) appears to play a key role in the early development of atherosclerosis. Increased serum antibodies against the oxLDL (anti-oxLDL antibodies) have been found in adults with atherosclerotic disease, as well as in healthy adults. The clinical significance and its precise role (atherogenic or atheroprotective), however, have not yet been clarified. This aim of this study was therefore to evaluate anti-oxLDL antibodies in healthy children and adolescents with and without hypercholesterolemia. METHODS: The study involved 312 subjects, aged 4-18 years, 141 with LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) ≥130 mg/dL and 171 with acceptable LDL-C (<110 mg/dL). Total anti-oxLDL antibodies, total cholesterol, LDL-C and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoproteins A1 and B, lipoprotein (a) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were measured in fasting serum. The anti-oxLDL antibodies were measured on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Anti-oxLDL antibodies were similar in the hypercholesterolemia and non-hypercholesterolemia groups. Girls had significantly higher anti-oxLDL antibodies compared with boys. There was no significant correlation of antibodies with age or body mass index. Increased apolipoprotein B was an important factor for lower anti-oxLDL antibodies, while all other parameters had no significant association with anti-oxLDL antibodies. CONCLUSION: In children and adolescents with hypercholesterolemia, total anti-oxLDL antibodies cannot serve as a marker for risk for atherosclerosis or for future cardiovascular disease.

The effect of intrauterine growth restriction on circulating surfactant protein D concentrations in the perinatal period.

The aim of this study was to investigate possible alterations in circulating concentrations of surfactant protein D (SP-D)-an important component of the innate immune system that is upregulated in pulmonary diseases-in appropriate for gestational age (AGA) and intrauterine growth-restricted (IUGR) pregnancies, because the latter are characterized by structural lung immaturity, impaired immunocompetence, and increased risk of respiratory infections and chronic obstructive lung disease in later life. Serum SP-D concentrations were determined in 40 mothers and their 20 IUGR and 20 AGA full-term fetuses-neonates on postnatal day 1 (N1) and 4 (N4). Fetal SP-D concentrations were higher in the IUGR group (b = 18.16, 95% CI: 6.86-29.47, P = .002) and negatively correlated with infants' customized centiles and gestational age (r = -.326, P = .04, and r = -.446, P = .004, respectively). In both groups, fetal SP-D concentrations were lower than N1 and N4 ones (P

Soluble fas antigen and soluble fas ligand in intrauterine growth restriction.

BACKGROUND: The Fas-Fas ligand (FasL) pathway of apoptosis contributes to immune tolerance at the fetomaternal interface and has been ascribed a role in implantation and placental development. Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) may be associated with impaired maternal-fetal tolerance, resulting in increased trophoblast apoptosis and uteroplacental vascular insufficiency. OBJECTIVES: To investigate soluble Fas (sFas) and FasL (sFasL) concentrations in maternal, fetal and neonatal serum of IUGR and appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) pregnancies. METHODS: Circulating sFas and sFasL concentrations were determined in 40 mothers and their 20 IUGR (due to several etiologies) and 20 AGA singleton full-term fetuses and neonates on postnatal day 1 (N1) and 4 (N4). RESULTS: No significant differences in sFas and sFasL concentrations were observed between groups. In both groups, maternal sFas concentrations were increased compared to fetal, N1 and N4 ones (p< or =0.005 in AGA and p < 0.001 in IUGR, in all cases). On the other hand, maternal sFasL concentrations were lower compared to fetal, N1 and N4 ones (p < 0.001 in all cases). Fetal sFasL concentrations were increased compared to maternal, but lower compared to N4 sFasL ones (p < 0.001 in AGA and p < or = 0.020 in IUGR, in all cases). N4 sFasL concentrations were elevated compared to N1 ones (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Circulating maternal, as well as fetal sFas and sFasL concentrations do not differ between AGA controls and IUGR cases, irrespectively of the etiology of the latter. Furthermore, the results of this study imply an acceleration of Fas-FasL-mediated apoptosis during delivery and a respective decrease postpartum in both normal and IUGR pregnancies.

Perinatal bone turnover in term pregnancies: the influence of intrauterine growth restriction.

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) has been associated with low bone mass in infancy and increased risk for osteoporosis development in adult life. We aimed to investigate the effect of IUGR on bone metabolism in mother/infant pairs, by determining circulating biochemical markers of bone turnover in IUGR and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) pregnancies. Circulating markers of bone formation [bone specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP), total alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteocalcin (OC)] and bone resorption [cross-linked N-telopeptide of type I collagen (NTx)], as well as intact parathormone (PTH), calcium and phosphorus levels were measured in 40 mothers and their 20 IUGR and 20 AGA singleton full-term fetuses and neonates on postnatal days 1 (N1) and 4 (N4). No significant differences in BALP, ALP, OC, NTx, PTH, calcium or phosphorus levels were observed between the AGA and the IUGR groups. In both groups, maternal BALP levels were lower compared to fetal, N1 and N4 levels (p< or =0.005 in all cases). In the AGA group, maternal NTx and OC levels were lower compared to fetal, N1 and N4 levels (p<0.001 in all cases), and fetal NTx levels were lower compared to N1 and N4 ones (p<0.001 and p=0.002, respectively). In the IUGR group, maternal OC levels were lower compared to fetal, N1 and N4 ones (p<0.001 in each case) and fetal OC levels were elevated compared to N1 and N4 ones (p<0.001 and p=0.003, respectively). N4 NTx levels were elevated compared to maternal, fetal and N1 levels (p=0.009, p<0.001 and p=0.002, respectively) and fetal NTx levels were lower compared to N1 and N4 ones (p=0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). Finally, positive correlations were found between maternal NTx and BALP (r=0.332, p=0.037), as well as ALP (r=0.329, p=0.038) levels, and between maternal, fetal, N1, N4 BALP and respective ALP levels (r=0.432, p=0.005, r=0.534, p=0.001, r=0.778, p<0.001, r=0.694, p<0.001, respectively). In conclusion, maternal, fetal and neonatal bone turnover in IUGR cases may not differ from respective bone metabolism in AGA controls. In addition, fetal and neonatal bone remodeling is markedly enhanced and independent of maternal bone turnover in late pregnancy.

Perinatal changes of circulating N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in normal and intrauterine-growth-restricted pregnancies.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate changes in NT-proBNP in intrauterine-growth-restricted (IUGR) and appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) pregnancies. METHODS: NT-proBNP levels were measured in 40 mothers (MS), umbilical cords (UC), and their 20 IUGR/ 20 AGA neonates on day 1 (N1) and day 4 (N4). RESULTS: UC, N1, and N4 NT-proBNP was lower in IUGR pregnancies (p

Perinatal changes of cardiac troponin-I in normal and intrauterine growth-restricted pregnancies.

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) implies fetal hypoxia, resulting in blood flow redistribution and sparing of vital organs (brain, heart). Serum cardiac Troponin-I (cTnI), a well-established marker of myocardial ischaemia, was measured in 40 mothers prior to delivery, the doubly clamped umbilical cords (representing fetal state), and their 20 IUGR and 20 appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) neonates on day 1 and 4 postpartum. At all time points, no differences in cTnI levels were observed between the AGA and IUGR groups. Strong positive correlations were documented between maternal and fetal/neonatal values (r > or = .498, P < or = .025 in all cases in the AGA and r > or = .615, P < or = .009 in all cases in the IUGR group). These results may indicate (a) normal heart function, due to heart sparing, in the IUGR group (b) potential crossing of the placental barrier by cTnI in both groups.