Oxidative modifications of foetal LDL-c and HDL-c lipoproteins in preeclampsia.

BACKGROUND: Oxidative modifications have been observed in lipids and proteins in lipoproteins isolated from women with preeclampsia. Thus, newborns could also be susceptible to this damage directly through their mothers. In this study, we evaluated the oxidative profile of LDL-c and HDL-c lipoproteins isolated from the umbilical cord from newborns born to women with preeclampsia. METHODS: Thirty newborns born to women with preeclampsia and thirty newborns born to women with healthy pregnancies were included. Lipid-damage biomarkers, including conjugated dienes, lipohydroperoxides and malondialdehyde, were measured. The reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium, formation of dityrosines, and carbonylation of proteins were assessed as indicators of protein damage. The protective activity of paraoxonase-I on HDL-c particles was evaluated. The total antioxidant capacity and lipid profiles were quantified in plasma. Data were analysed using Student's t-tests and Pearson correlation coefficients. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the preeclampsia group had an increase in the percentage of lipid damage in both lipoproteins. There was an increase of 23.3 and 19.9% for conjugated dienes, 82.4 and 21.1% for lipohydroperoxides, and 103.8 and 51.5% for malondialdehyde in LDL-c and HDL-c, respectively. However, these infants did not show evident damage in protein oxidation. The activity of the enzyme paraoxonase-I was decreased by 36.2%; by contrast, the total antioxidant capacity was increased by 40% (protein) and 28.8% (non-protein). CONCLUSIONS: The oxidative modifications that occur in HDL-c and LDL-c isolated from newborns from women with preeclampsia are mainly caused by lipoperoxidation processes related to evident paraoxonase-I inactivation. The absence of protein damage is likely linked to an increase in total antioxidant capacity. Therefore, antioxidant support could be helpful in reducing oxidative stress in mother/newborn dyads.

Oxidative profiles of LDL and HDL isolated from women with preeclampsia.

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress causes biochemical changes in lipids and proteins; these changes can induce damage to the vascular endothelium and create maternal complications that are characteristic of preeclampsia. In this study, we evaluated the oxidative profile of lipoproteins isolated from women with preeclampsia. METHODS: Thirty women diagnosed with preeclampsia and thirty women without preeclampsia were included in the study. Lipid-damage biomarkers, including conjugated dienes, lipohydroperoxides and malondialdehyde, were measured. The reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium, the formation of dityrosines, and the carbonylation of proteins were assessed as indicators of protein damage. The protective activity of HDL-c was evaluated by the paraoxonase-I activity present on the HDL-c particles. Serum lipid profiles were also quantified in both groups. Data were analysed using Student's t test and the Pearson correlation coefficient. RESULTS: Our results demonstrated in PE women evident oxidative changes in the lipids and proteins in HDL-c and LDL-c particles and the activity of the antioxidant enzyme PON-I decreased 59.9%. HDL-c exhibited self-defence, as demonstrated by the negative correlation between paraoxonase-I activity and the formation of lipohydroperoxides in HDL-c (r = -0.3755, p < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: LDL-c and HDL-c isolated from women with preeclampsia show oxidative damage to lipids and proteins. We propose an oxidative profile based on the oxidation levels indicated by each of the markers used. We also found that paraoxonase-I is inactivated in the presence of lipohydroperoxides. Antioxidant support might be helpful to reduce oxidative stress in patients with preeclampsia. Further investigations are necessary to define the association between antioxidant activities and preeclampsia.

[Dental caries in a school population with a program of periodical rinses with sodium fluoride]. / Caries dental en una población escolar con programa de enjuagues periódicos de fluoruro sódico.

OBJECTIVE: To appraise the level of school-children's dental health after five years in operation of the buccal-dental health programme, in which children received fortnightly rinses of sodium fluoride at 0.2%. DESIGN: A crossover study. School survey of the 1993-4 academic year. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1,674 school-children belonging to the first (6 years old), third (8), fifth (10) and eighth (13) years of EGB (basic) in the thirteen schools in this city. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Two odontologists checked the children according to the W.H.O. norms. The Index of individuals free of caries and the prevalence of caries were calculated. The first index showed its highest value at 10 (78.4%) and its lowest at 8 (53.34%). CAOD showed its lowest level at 6 years old (0.02%) and progressively rose to 13 (1.41). COD went up from 6 (0.96) to 8 (1.09) and afterwards went down till 13 years old (0.05). The restoration index was low in worn out teeth and particularly high in permanent ones (68.08%) at 13. CONCLUSIONS: The caries indexes are lower than in the majority of studies carried out in Spain, being most similar to a study carried out in the county of Mayorga de Campos (Valladolid) in 1988, where fluoridated water exists in a natural form (0.67-0.87 mg/litre), as well as to other areas in Catalonia where the same fluoride rinses were performed.

[Gardnerella vaginalis infection in heterosexual couples. Ultrastructural study of desquamation cells of the stratified epithelium]. / Infección por Gardnerella vaginalis en parejas heterosexuales. Estudio ultraestructural en células de descamación del epitelio estratificado.

Bacterial vaginosis is one of the most frequent infections during the woman's reproductive age. Lactobacilli normal flora is substituted by relatively elevated Gardnerella vaginalis (GV), anaerobic bacteroids, Mobiluncus and Mycoplasma. The purpose of this study is to perform a morphological analysis of possible mechanisms for adhesion and penetration of GV in the heterosexual couple, in squamous epithelium at vaginal wall, as well as in seminal fluid. Ten couples with positive GV culture with three to four days of abstinence, were studied. The women presented with at least three of the four Amsel's criteria. Samples were obtained from vaginal lateral walls and from seminal fluid; these were divided in two parts: 1. To realize cultures for GV. Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis; and 2. For an ultrastructural analysis. Samples were processed with common techniques for electronic microscopy. In vaginal cells, bacteria similar to GV free form fixed to plasmatic membrane and inside the cellular cytoplasm. In the seminal fluid there were found numerous urethral cells of desquamation, which presented, as well as in woman, free form bacteria, fixed to plasmatic membrane and inside the cytoplasm. In four cases, bacteria similar to Mycoplasma, were found; and one case with particles suggesting cytomegalovirus. It is concluded in this study that: 1. The male presents with urethral cells similar to vaginal "guide cells". 2. GV colonizes urethral epithelium in the male. 3. Male is capable of infecting and/or re-infecting the woman.

[Prevalence of dental caries, in children from a basic health area]. / Estudio de la prevalencia de la caries dental, en niños de una zona básica de salud.

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the actual state of dental health among the school population, with a view to taking the requisite preventive and corrective measures. Additionally, to evaluate the effectiveness of the dental health programme. DESIGN: This was a crossover study, following the dental examinations of pupils in first year E.G.B. (6 and 7 years old), fifth year E.G.B. (10, 11 and 12 years old) and eighth year E.G.B. (13, 14 and 15 years old). SITE. Chipiona Primary Health Care Centre. PARTICIPANTS: Staff from the Chipiona (Cádiz) Health Centre, an odonto-stomatologist and a paediatrician. MAIN MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Altogether, 808 schoolchildren, belonging to the seven schools in the area, were surveyed: 217 from first year E.G.B., 260 from the fifth year and 330 from the eighth year. The percentage of pupils with a history of caries (prevalence). The CAOD rises progressively from 1.10 (at 6 years old) to 15.07 (at 15). The COD studied reaches a highpoint of 0.42 at 12 years old. The level of dental repair-work has its lowest value at 6 years old for permanent teeth (0.48); and its highest proportion is 8.39, which appears in the permanent teeth of 13 year-old children. CONCLUSIONS: Levels of caries greater than in other areas of Spain were found. Therefore, measures need to be adopted in the community, both in order to lower these figures and to increase the amount of dental repair-work.