The relationship between breast milk leptin and neonatal weight gain.

AIM: To investigate whether change in leptin content of breast milk during lactation acts on neonatal body weight gain. METHODS: In total 15 lactating women and their 15 term infants were involved in the study. Breast milk and neonatal serum samples were obtained from the same women and their neonates on the 1st day and any day between the 21st and 30th days after birth. Breast milk and serum leptin concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay. Anthropometric indexes of the infants were recorded. RESULTS: The study was completed with 15 multiparious mothers aged 19-37 years and their infants. The mean collection time of the first samples after birth was 6.07 +/- 1.94 h. The leptin level in the mature milk was significantly higher than in the colostrum (p < 0.001). Neonatal weight and height were significantly increased on 21-30 lactation days compared to 1st day of lactation (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively). The leptin concentration in the mature milk was negatively correlated with delta BMI (r =-0.53; p < 0.05). The delta breast milk leptin concentration was also found to be inversely correlated with delta BMI (r =-0.529; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of this study have suggested that change in the leptin content of breast milk during lactation might play a role in the regulation of weight gain in healthy neonates.

The effects of oral contraceptives including low-dose estrogen and drospirenone on the concentration of leptin and ghrelin in polycystic ovary syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate short-term leptin and ghrelin concentrations in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) who use low-dose oral contraceptives containing drospirenone. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Department of obstetrics and gynaecology in a university hospital. PATIENT(S): Twenty women with PCOS were enrolled in the study. INTERVENTION(S): A low-dose oral contraceptive containing ethinyl estradiol and drospirenone was given for three cycles. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Serum androstenedione, free T, T, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, sex hormone-binding globulin, FSH, LH, E(2), lipid profiles, leptin, and ghrelin levels were measured in each subject. Insulin resistance was estimated by the homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). RESULT(S): While leptin concentrations did not change with therapy, ghrelin levels increased statistically. Baseline leptin concentrations were correlated positively with body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, insulin, and HOMA-IR and negatively with ghrelin. After controlling for body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio in a partial correlation analysis, leptin levels were not correlated with these parameters. Ghrelin was inversely correlated with body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, insulin, HOMA-IR, and free T. CONCLUSION(S): In patients with PCOS, an oral contraceptive containing ethinyl estradiol and drospirenone increases ghrelin levels but not leptin levels in a 3-month period. Ghrelin might be related to the metabolic and androgenic changes in patients with PCOS.

Combined HPLC-CUPRAC (cupric ion reducing antioxidant capacity) assay of parsley, celery leaves, and nettle.

This study aims to identify the essential antioxidant compounds present in parsley (Petroselinum sativum) and celery (Apium graveolens) leaves belonging to the Umbelliferae (Apiaceae) family, and in stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) belonging to Urticaceae family, to measure the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of these compounds with CUPRAC (cupric ion reducing antioxidant capacity) and ABTS spectrophotometric methods, and to correlate the TAC with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) findings. The CUPRAC spectrophotometric method of TAC assay using copper(II)-neocuproine (2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline) as the chromogenic oxidant was developed in our laboratories. The individual antioxidant constituents of plant extracts were identified and quantified by HPLC on a C18 column using a modified mobile phase of gradient elution comprised of MeOH-0.2% o-phosphoric acid and UV detection for polyphenols at 280 nm. The TAC values of HPLC-quantified antioxidant constituents were found, and compared for the first time with those found by CUPRAC. The TAC of HPLC-quantified compounds accounted for a relatively high percentage of the observed CUPRAC capacities of plant extracts, namely 81% of nettle, 60-77% of parsley (in different hydrolyzates of extract and solid sample), and 41-57% of celery leaves (in different hydrolyzates). The CUPRAC total capacities of the 70% MeOH extracts of studied plants (in the units of mmol trolox g(-1)plant) were in the order: celery leaves>nettle>parsley. The TAC calculated with the aid of HPLC-spectrophotometry did not compensate for 100% of the CUPRAC total capacities, because all flavonoid glycosides subjected to hydrolysis were either not detectable with HPLC, or not converted to the corresponding aglycons (i.e., easily detectable and quantifiable with HPLC) during the hydrolysis step.

Lipid profile in children with acute viral hepatitis A.

BACKGROUND: Most of the knowledge about lipid parameters in acute hepatitis is originated from adult studies. In this study, the authors investigated lipid profile of children with acute hepatitis A (AVH) at diagnosis and recovery in order to observe the behavior of lipid parameters in such children. METHODS: A total of 28 children (mean age, 8.2 +/- 2.7 years) with AVH and 20 gender and age-matched healthy children were included. In addition to the routine tests, triglyceride, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), plasma apo A-I and apo B were studied at diagnosis and recovery. RESULTS: Serum triglyceride and apo B level was higher, and apo A-I level was lower in patients compared to healthy children (P < 0.01, <0.05 and <0.01, respectively). On admission, three children had fulminant hepatic failure (FHF). Serum lipid parameters were evaluated in respect with the presence of icterus and FHF, and found that apo A-I level was lower in icteric children and LDL and apo A-I were lower in FHF compared to others (P < 0.05, P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). At recovery, while triglyceride, cholesterol, LDL, and apo B decreased (P < 0.01), HDL and apo A-I increased (P < 0.01). Serum apo A-I level was inversely correlated with serum ammonia level but was positively correlated with serum albumin (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It was shown that serum triglyceride and apo B level increased, but apo A-I level decreased in patients with AVH. While cholestasis lowers apo A-I level, severe hepatic damage lowers both apo A-I and LDL. These parameters return to normal levels within 30 days. An interesting relationship between ammonia and apo A-I deserves further investigations, speculatively focused on hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha.

Blood and urine iodine levels in patients with gastric cancer.

In this study, we aimed to investigate whether there is any relationship between gastric cancer and iodine concentrations in blood and urine in the northeast Anatolia region, where iodine deficiency is common. A total of 56 patients, diagnosed as gastric cancer and 25 healthy volunteers were included in the study. The methods used were based on the Sandell-Kolthoff reaction. The urine iodine concentration (UIC) and serum protein-bound iodine (PBI) levels were higher in patients with gastric cancer compared with healthy control subjects. The UIC in stage IV was higher than all other stages and the control group. The UIC was higher in stages III and IV compared with stages I and II. However, serum PBI levels in stage III were higher compared with stages I and II and also control group. The serum PBI level in stage IV was higher than stage II and the control group. In the patient and control groups, there were no significant differences in serum PBI and UIC with regard to age or sex. Our results suggested that urinary and blood iodine concentration might be a useful marker for following the disease.

Serum leptin levels in childhood celiac disease.

OBJECTIVE: Leptin has effects on growth and is also involved in immune regulation. We thought that with its intestinal histopathologic alterations due to immune mechanisms, and subsequent malnutrition and/or growth failure, celiac disease (CD) deserves interest regarding leptin status. METHOD: Serum leptin levels of 19 children with CD on admission and 1 year after gluten-free diet (GFD) and of 16 healthy children were determined. RESULTS: Mean age was 9.7+/-3.3 years. Mean serum leptin level of children with CD on admission and of healthy children were 1.60+/-0.63 ng/mL, and 3.98+/-1.49 ng/mL, respectively (P: 0.0001). Mean serum leptin level under GFD was 4.55+/-1.97 ng/mL. There was a statistical significant difference between serum levels determined before and 1 year after GFD (P: 0.001) and between those of under GFD and healthy children (P: 0.001). Of 19 patients with CD, 10 (52.6%) showed Marsh IIIc, other 9 (47.4%) showed Marsh IIIa histologic lesions. Mean serum leptin level of children with Marsh IIIc and Marsh IIIa were not different (1.70+/-0.73 ng/mL vs. 1.45+/-0.59 ng/mL). Leptin was correlated with body mass index in healthy children, and in CD both before and after GFD (P<0.001). Mean lumbar z score of the patients on admission and after GFD were 2.7+/-1.3 and 1.9+/-0.8, respectively (P: 0.048). Serum leptin level was not correlated with lumbar z score either before or after GFD. CONCLUSIONS: Serum leptin level is affected in childhood CD, it is not directly related to histopathologic findings, and is responsive to GFD. Further studies investigating its level in different clinical and histopathologic presentations might give clear clues about the role of leptin in CD.

Comparison of iodine contents in gastric cancer and surrounding normal tissues.

It has been suggested that iodine plays an important role in gastric cancer. Gastric cancer ranks first among the cancers in the north-eastern Anatolia region, Turkey, where iodine deficiency is common. In this study, iodine levels were determined in gastric cancer and surrounding normal tissues in 19 patients with gastric cancer. Tissue iodine levels were determined by the Foss method based on the Sandell-Kolt-hoff reaction. Tissue iodine levels were lower in gastric cancer tissue (17.8+/-3.4 ng I/mg protein, mean+/-SEM) compared with surrounding normal tissue (41.7+/-8.0 ng I/mg protein) (p<0.001). There was positive correlation between the iodine levels in gastric cancer tissue and surrounding normal tissue (r = 0.845, p<0.001). There was no significant difference in iodine levels in cancer and surrounding normal tissue between male and female subjects. The iodine deficiency in our region may be one of the factors for increased gastric cancer prevalence. Our results support the hypothesis that iodine plays an important role in gastric cancer development.

The changes of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities in erythrocytes of active and passive smokers.

Cigarette smoking has been implicated in the pathogenesis of ischemic heart disease, emphysema, obstructive lung disease and neoplastic disorders. More than 1000 constituents of smoke, including many oxidants, pro-oxidants, free radicals and reducing agents, have been identified. The activities of erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), which are the important components of antioxidant defense system, were measured in 100 healthy volunteers. This study included heavy smokers (consuming cigarettes > or = 20 per day; n=30, group I), light smokers (consuming cigarettes<20 per day; n=30, group II), passive smokers (exposed to cigarette smoke in the indoor environment; n=20, group III), and non-smokers (n=20, the control group). While activities of SOD and CAT in erythro cytes were significantly lower in groups I, II and III than in the control group (p<0.01 for all), mean erythrocyte GSH-Px activity in group III was higher than that in groups l, II and in controls. These results suggest that the increased oxidative stress occurs in smokers, owing to the free radicals present in smoke. It might cause a decrease in antioxidant enzyme activities and oxidant/antioxidant imbalance. We also observed that passive smokers were affected by the environmental smoke to the same extent as active smokers.

Umbilical cord and maternal blood leptin concentrations in intrauterine growth retardation.

Leptin, the ob gene product, plays an important role in the regulation of body fat mass and weight. In previous studies, it was demonstrated that leptin is detectable in human fetal cord blood as early as at 18 weeks of gestation and that serum leptin concentrations are significantly reduced in small gestational age newborns. In the present study, we investigated whether umbilical and maternal serum leptin concentrations correlate with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). In addition, we aimed to determine the relationships between leptin concentration in the maternal and cord blood. We studied 40 newborn infants (21 female and 19 male; gestational age, 38-42 weeks) and their mothers. Of the infants studied, 10 had IUGR. Serum leptin concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay. All newborns had detectable leptin concentrations. Leptin concentrations were significantly lower in newborns with IUGR and in their mothers (n = 10; 3.53 +/- 1.42 ng/ml, 6.75 +/- 1.47 ng/ml, respectively) than in infants experiencing normal growth and their mothers (n = 30; 5.58 +/- 2.98 ng/ml, 9.85 +/- 6.50 ng/ml, respectively) (p < 0.01 for newborns, p < 0.05 for mothers). There was no significant correlation between umbilical leptin concentration and maternal leptin concentration (r = 0.229; p = 0.155) in all study groups but, significantly, a correlation was observed in the group with IUGR (r = 0.736; p = 0.015). There were no significant correlations between both umbilical and maternal leptin concentrations and parity, delivery type and gestational age. There was a correlation between umbilical leptin concentration and birth weight of newborns (r = 0.383; p = 0.015) but no correlation with body mass index (BMI) of the newborns (r = 0.034; p = 0.834). Maternal leptin concentrations correlated with maternal weight and BMI (r=0.606; p=0.000, r=0.535; p=0.000, respectively). There was no correlation between maternal leptin concentrations and birth weight of the newborns (r=0.179; p=0.269) and with BMI of the newborns (r = 0.146; p = 0.367). There was no gender difference in leptin concentrations in the newborns (n=21; 5.50 +/- 3.37 ng/ml, for females; n = 19; 4.58 +/- 1.98 ng/ml for males) (p = 0.296). In summary, we have shown that IUGR is associated with a decreased leptin concentration in newborns and their mothers. The association between umbilical serum leptin and birth weight in this and other studies suggests a pivotal role of fetal leptin in regulating fetal growth and development.