Association between antioxidant vitamins and oxidative stress among patients with a complete hydatidiform mole.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the potential relationship between oxidative stress, dietary intake, and serum levels of antioxidants in patients with a complete hydatidiform mole (CHM) compared with controls. METHODS: This was an observational cross-sectional study conducted in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A total of 140 women were enrolled in this study and divided into four groups: 43 patients with CHM, 33 women who had had an abortion, 32 healthy pregnant women, and 32 healthy non-pregnant women. All participants underwent blood sampling, assessment using a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire, and anthropometric measurement. Blood samples were collected after overnight fasting (10-12 h). Vitamin levels (A, C, and E) were determined by ultra-performance liquid chromatography, and gamma-glutamyl transferase levels were assessed using an automated quantitative analysis system (Dimension®, Siemens). RESULTS: Although all groups showed sufficient serum vitamin A and E levels, the participants had inadequate dietary intake of these vitamins. Conversely, all groups had an insufficient serum level of vitamin C, despite adequate intake. The gamma-glutamyl transferase values did not differ significantly among the groups. However, elevated serum levels of this enzyme were observed in several patients. CONCLUSIONS: All groups exhibited high levels of oxidative stress, as evaluated by gamma-glutamyl transferase levels, and had inadequate intake of antioxidant vitamins. Therefore, the high exposure to oxidative stress found in our study, even in healthy pregnant and non-pregnant women, may increase the incidence of CHM in this region.

Association between antioxidant vitamins and oxidative stress among patients with a complete hydatidiform mole

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the potential relationship between oxidative stress, dietary intake, and serum levels of antioxidants in patients with a complete hydatidiform mole (CHM) compared with controls. METHODS: This was an observational cross-sectional study conducted in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A total of 140 women were enrolled in this study and divided into four groups: 43 patients with CHM, 33 women who had had an abortion, 32 healthy pregnant women, and 32 healthy non-pregnant women. All participants underwent blood sampling, assessment using a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire, and anthropometric measurement. Blood samples were collected after overnight fasting (10-12 h). Vitamin levels (A, C, and E) were determined by ultra-performance liquid chromatography, and gamma-glutamyl transferase levels were assessed using an automated quantitative analysis system (Dimension®, Siemens). RESULTS: Although all groups showed sufficient serum vitamin A and E levels, the participants had inadequate dietary intake of these vitamins. Conversely, all groups had an insufficient serum level of vitamin C, despite adequate intake. The gamma-glutamyl transferase values did not differ significantly among the groups. However, elevated serum levels of this enzyme were observed in several patients. CONCLUSIONS: All groups exhibited high levels of oxidative stress, as evaluated by gamma-glutamyl transferase levels, and had inadequate intake of antioxidant vitamins. Therefore, the high exposure to oxidative stress found in our study, even in healthy pregnant and non-pregnant women, may increase the incidence of CHM in this region.

Papel da Apoptose em Obstetrícia / Role of Apoptosis in Obstetrics

Apoptose, ou morte celular programada, é um mecanismo fisiológico universal entre mamíferos que regula o equilíbrio entre proliferação e morte celular a fim de manter a homeostase tecidual. Nesse processo, a apoptose poderá ser iniciada intrinsicamente por via mitocondrial ou, extrinsecamente, mediada por sinalização via receptor de morte ou em resposta a elementos exógenos como citocinas e processos não excludentes, complementares e com ativação cruzada. As moléculas envolvidas no controle das vias de ativação da apoptose são as proteínas anti, pró-apoptóticas e caspases. Esse fenômeno biológico, além de desempenhar um papel importante no controle de diversos processos vitais, está associado a inúmeras complicações da gravidez como toxemia, crescimento intrauterino restrito, parto pré-termo, diabetes gestacional, abortamento, gravidez ectópica e a transformação maligna da mola hidatiforme. No denominador comum dessas doenças está o desconhecimento de sua etiopatogenia e o desenvolvimento/funcionamento placentário anormal. Compreender todas essas alterações deverá interessar não apenas ao pesquisador dessas moléstias, mas também aos clínicos que tratam essas doenças no intuito de se incorporar novas tecnologias na rotina médica e na melhoria das perspectivas prognósticas e terapêuticas dentro da obstetrícia.(AU)

Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is a universal physiological mechanism in mammals, which regulates the balance between cell proliferation and death in order to maintain tissue homeostasis. In this process, apoptosis can be initiated intrinsically or extrinsically by mitochondrial pathway, mediated by death receptor signaling or in response to exogenous factors such as cytokines and processes not mutually exclusive, complementary and cross-activation. The molecules involved in the control of apoptosis activation pathways are anti and pro-apoptotic proteins as well as caspases. This biological phenomenon, besides play an important role in the control of many vital processes, is associated with many complications of pregnancy such as toxemia, intrauterine growth, preterm birth, gestational diabetes, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy and malignant in transformation hydatiform mole. The common denominator of these diseases is the lack of knowledge about its pathogenesis and development/abnormal placental function. Understand all these changes should interest not only to the researchers, but also for clinicians who treat these diseases in order to incorporate new technologies in the medical routine and in improving prognostic and therapeutic perspectives in obstetrics.(AU)

Metabolic syndrome components and estimated glomerular filtration rate based on creatinine and/or cystatin C in young adults: A gender issue?

AIMS: This work aims to identify correlations between estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) based on creatinine and/or cystatin C (Cr, CysC) with metabolic syndrome (MS) components in young adults, according to gender. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a cross sectional study, where young adults aged between 18 and 30 were matched by gender, age and body mass index. All subjects underwent clinical evaluation and blood sampling for laboratory measurements. MS was determined according to the JIS criteria. The eGFR was estimated using CKD-EPI equations (eGFRCr; eGFRCysC; eGFRCr-CysC). RESULTS: We evaluated 78 subjects with a mean age of 24.5 years. 10.2% had MS, with higher incidence among males (15.4% ♂ vs. 5.1% ♀). Elevated waist circumference was the MS component most observed. Significant correlations (Pearson; p<0.05) between eGFR and metabolic markers were observed only in males. In addition, we observed a significant association between the increase of MS components and the decay of eGFRCr and eGFRCr-CysC (zero vs. two or more components, ANOVA, p<0.05) only among males. CONCLUSION: eGFR decay associated with components of MS and insulin resistance in young male adults could represent a worrying specific risk and indicate that further studies are needed to better understand these findings.

Atualização no diagnóstico e tratamento da gravidez molar / Update on the diagnosis and treatment of molar pregnancy

A doença trofoblástica gestacional (DTG) é um termo aplicado a um grupo de tumores relacionados à gestação, caracterizado por entidades clínicas benignas (mola hidatiforme ? MH) e malignas (neoplasia trofoblástica gestacional ? NTG). Os principais desafios para o tratamento das pacientes com MH abrangem o diagnóstico precoce, esvaziamento uterino imediato e seguimento pós-molar regular com dosagem sérica de hCG, melhorando assim o prognóstico das pacientes, sua qualidade de vida e resultados reprodutivos. A atualização das estratégias diagnósticas e terapêuticas envolvidas no tratamento da DTG, foco deste trabalho, tem por objetivo melhorar esse cenário, contribuindo para o maior conhecimento sobre o assunto.

The gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) is a term applied to a group of pregnancy related tumors, characterized by benign clinical entities (hydatidiform mole ? HM) and malignant ones (gestational trophoblastic neoplasia ? GTN). The main challenges for treatment of patients with HM include early diagnosis, immediate uterine evacuation and systematic post-molar follow-up with seric dosage of hCG, improving the prognosis of patients, their quality of life and reproductive outcomes. The focus of the present paper is the update of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies involved in the treatment of GTD aiming to improve this scenario to enhance the knowledge on the subject.

Alterações hepáticas da gravidez / Liver disorders in pregnancy

A gestação é um período de significativas modificações no organismo materno, que objetivam promover a homeostase do binômio materno-fetal. Sob o ponto de vista hepático, demais das alterações conspícuas à gravidez, deve o obstetra detectar precocemente anomalias envolvendo o fígado, que complicam até 3% das gestações e são responsáveis por elevada mortalidade materna e perinatal. Por outro lado, certas doenças hepáticas têm sua história natural modificada quando ocorrem durante a gestação, demandando cuidados especiais de uma equipe multidisciplinar que envolva o obstetra e o hepatologista. Este artigo revisa as modificações fisiológicas do sistema hepático na gravidez, assim como suas alterações hepáticas mais prevalentes no Brasil. O objetivo é auxiliar e fornecer orientações ao obstetra e guiar o melhor cuidado das pacientes a fim de prevenir e reduzir as complicações hepáticas na gravidez.(AU)

Pregnancy is a period of significant changes in the mother's organism aimed at promoting the mother-fetus homeostasis. From the hepatic standpoint, the obstetrician should detect early the abnormalities attacking the liver, which complicates up to 3% of pregnancies and are responsible for high rates of maternal and perinatal mortality. On the other hand, some liver diseases have their natural evolution changed when they occur during the pregnancy, requiring special care of a multidisciplinary team involving obstetrician and hepatologist specialists. This study presents the physiological changes of the hepatic system during pregnancy, as well as the most prevalent pregnancy hepatic disorders occurring in Brazil. It aims to help the obstetrician and guide the best patient care to prevent and reduce hepatic complications in pregnancy.(AU)

[Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia after spontaneous normalization of human chorionic gonadotropin in patient with partial hydatidiform mole]. / Neoplasia trofoblástica gestacional após normalização espontânea da gonadotrofina coriônica humana em paciente com mola hidatiforme parcial.

We report here a case of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia after spontaneous normalization of human chorionic gonadotropin in a patient with a partial hydatidiform mole. This is the second occurrence of this event to be reported and the first one with proven immunohistochemical evidence. Besides showing the treatment for this pregnancy complication, this case report discusses the possibility of reducing the duration of post-molar follow-up, as well as strategies for early recognition of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia after spontaneous remission of molar pregnancy.

Oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of metabolic syndrome: which mechanisms are involved? / Estresse oxidativo na fisiopatologia da síndrome metabólica: quais mecanismos estão envolvidos?

ABSTRACTMetabolic syndrome (MS) is a combination of cardiometabolic risk factors, including obesity, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, dyslipidemia and hypertension. Several studies report that oxidative condition caused by overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays an important role in the development of MS. Our body has natural antioxidant system to reduce oxidative stress, which consists of numerous endogenous and exogenous components and antioxidants enzymes that are able to inactivate ROS. The main antioxidant defense enzymes that contribute to reduce oxidative stress are superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and gluthatione peroxidase (GPx). The high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) is also associated with oxidative stress because it presents antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. HDL-c antioxidant activity may be attributed at least in part, to serum paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activity. Furthermore, derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs) also stand out as acting in cardiovascular disease and diabetes, by the imbalance in ROS production, and close relationship with inflammation. Recent reports have indicated the gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) as a promising biomarker for diagnosis of MS, because it is related to oxidative stress, since it plays an important role in the metabolism of extracellular glutathione. Based on this, several studies have searched for better markers for oxidative stress involved in development of MS.

RESUMOA síndrome metabólica (SM) representa uma conjunção de fatores de risco cardiometabólicos, incluindo obesidade, hiperglicemia, hipertrigliceridemia, dislipidemia e hipertensão. Vários estudos reportam que a condição oxidativa causada pela superprodução de espécies reativas de oxigênio (EROs) desempenha importante papel no desenvolvimento da SM. Nosso organismo apresenta sistema antioxidante natural para diminuir o estresse oxidativo, o qual consiste em numerosos componentes endógenos e exógenos e enzimas antioxidantes que são capazes de inativar as EROs. As principais enzimas de defesa antioxidante que contribuem para o processo de redução do estresse oxidativo são a superóxido dismutase (SOD), a catalase (CAT) e a glutationa peroxidase (GPx). O colesterol associado à lipoproteína de alta densidade (HDL-c) também está relacionado com o estresse oxidativo por apresentar propriedades antioxidantes e anti-inflamatórias. A atividade antioxidante do HDL-c pode ser atribuída, pelo menos em parte, à atividade da paraoxonase 1 (PON1) sérica. Além disso, os metabólitos derivados de oxigênio reativo (d-ROMs) também se destacam como atuantes nas doenças cardiovasculares e no diabetes, pelo desequilíbrio na produção de EROs, tendo relação importante com a inflamação. Relatos recentes vêm apontando a gama-glutamiltransferase (GGT) como biomarcador promissor para diagnóstico da SM, pois esta se associa ao estresse oxidativo, uma vez que desempenha papel relevante no metabolismo extracelular de glutationa. Com base nisso, vários estudos vêm buscando melhores marcadores do estresse oxidativo e sua relação com o desenvolvimento da SM.

Neoplasia trofoblástica gestacional após normalização espontânea da gonadotrofina coriônica humana em paciente com mola hidatiforme parcial / Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia after spontaneous normalization of human chorionic gonadotropin in patient with partial hydatidiform mole

Neste relato, é apresentado um caso de neoplasia trofoblástica gestacional após normalização espontânea de gonadotrofina coriônica humana em paciente com mola hidatiforme parcial. Trata-se da segunda ocorrência publicada desse evento e a primeira em que há comprovação imuno-histoquímica. No bojo dessa apresentação, ademais de mostrar o tratamento para essa intercorrência da gravidez, discute-se a possibilidade de redução da duração do seguimento pós-molar, assim como estratégias para o precoce reconhecimento da neoplasia trofoblástica gestacional após a remissão espontânea da gravidez molar.

We report here a case of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia after spontaneous normalization of human chorionic gonadotropin in a patient with a partial hydatidiform mole. This is the second occurrence of this event to be reported and the first one with proven immunohistochemical evidence. Besides showing the treatment for this pregnancy complication, this case report discusses the possibility of reducing the duration of post-molar follow-up, as well as strategies for early recognition of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia after spontaneous remission of molar pregnancy.

Mola hidatiforme parcial recorrente evoluindo para neoplasia trofoblástica gestacional / Recurrent partial hydatidiform mole evolving to gestational trophoblastic neoplasia

Mola hidatiforme parcial recorrente é evento em que há repetição da mola hidatiforme parcial. Há cerca de 100 casos relatados na literatura e dúvida se essa entidade pode evolver para neoplasia trofoblástica gestacional pós-molar. Apresenta-se relato de caso de paciente com recorrência de mola hidatiforme parcial em que houve aumento de embriopatia, bem como transformação maligna da mola parcial recorrente. Empregou-se quimioterapia com Methotrexate para induzir cura. Não obstante seja ocorrência rara, a importância deste relato encontra-se na evidência de neoplasia trofoblástica gestacional em recorrência de mola hidatiforme parcial, determinando vigilância hormonal rigorosa para detectar a malignização desses blastomas.

Recurrent partial hydatidiform mole is an event of repetitive partial hydatidiform mole. It has been reported around 100 cases in the literature and it is still unclear if this entity can evolve to postmolar gestational trophoblastic neoplasia. In this report, it is presented a case of recurrent partial hydatidiform mole with an increase in embriologic alterations, as well as malignization of recurrent partial hydatidiform mole. Chemotherapy with Methotrexate regimen was used to induce remission. Although rare, the importance of this report relies on the evidence of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia in recurrent partial hydatidiform mole, demanding straight hormonal surveillance to detect malignization of these tumors.

Impacto da ingestão dietética e do estresse oxidativo em pacientes com doença trofoblástica gestacional / Impact of dietary intake and oxidative stress in patients with gestational trophoblastic disease

A doença trofoblástica gestacional (DTG) é um termo aplicado a um grupo de tumores relacionados à gestação, caracterizando formas benignas (mola hidatiforme - MH) e malignas (neoplasia trofoblástica gestacional - NTG). O estresse oxidativo, a ingestão dietética e o estado nutricional da gestante constituem possíveis fatores de risco para a ocorrência da MH e sua progressão para NTG. A presente revisão tem como objetivo abordar a relação entre essas entidades. Apesar de haver evidências mostrando que a ingestão dietética e o estresse oxidativo possam ter papéis relevantes na etiopatogênese da DTG, ainda são necessários muitos estudos para uma melhor investigação da atuação desses agentes na gravidez molar e suas sequelas malignas e proliferativas.(AU)

The gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) is a term applied to a rare group of pregnancy related tumors of benign forms (hydatidiform mole - HM) as well as malignant ones (gestational trophoblastic neoplasia - GTN). Oxidative stress, dietetic intake and nutritional status of pregnant women are possible risk factors for the occurrence of HM and its progression to GTN. This review aims to address the relationship between these entities. Besides the evidences supporting that dietetic intake and oxidative stress may have important roles in the GTD etiopathogenesis, many studies are needed to better investigate the role of these agents in molar pregnancy and their proliferative and malignant sequelae.(AU)