Effect of maternal and neonatal interleukin-6 - 174 G/C polymorphism on preterm birth and neonatal morbidity.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze maternal and neonatal interleukin 6 (IL-6) (-174 G/C) polymorphism and to determine effect on preterm birth and neonatal morbidity. STUDY DESIGN: One hundred and sixty-four mothers (100 term births, 64 preterm births) and 183 newborn infants who were 100 healthy term and 83 preterm babies followed in newborn intensive care units were evaluated. PCR-RFLP was performed for IL-6 (-174 G/C) genotyping. RESULTS: The rate of GG genotype in mothers of term and preterm infants were 54% (n = 54/100), 75% (n = 48/64), respectively (p > .05) and the rate of GC + CC genotype was 46% (n = 46/100) and 25% (n = 16/64) in mothers giving term and preterm birth (PTB), respectively (p < .05). Additionally, the rate of GG genotype was 65% (n = 65/100) and 81.9% (n = 68/83) in term infants and preterm infants, respectively. GC + CC genotype was 35% (n = 35/100) in term infants and 18.1% (n = 15/83) in preterm infants (p < .05). The effect of IL-6 (-174) GC + CC genotype on PTB was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The IL-6 174 G/C gene polymorphism was significantly different between mothers who were giving to term and preterm birth. The presence of polymorphism is protective against preterm birth and was not associated with neonatal outcome.

Congenital Hypothyroidism and Bone Remodeling Cycle.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to evaluate the biochemical markers of bone turnover in children with congenital hypothyroidism during the course of treatment as compared to healthy children selected as controls. METHODS: The study included 31 children with congenital hypothyroidism and 29 healthy children. In both groups, we evaluated serum procollagen type-1 N-terminal propeptide (PINP) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase type 5b isoform (TRACP 5b) levels as bone turnover markers. RESULTS: In both groups, thyroid hormone levels were within normal limits. The levels of vitamin D were significantly higher in the cases with congenital hypothyroidism. Although PINP levels were not found to be different, TRACP 5b levels which are related to osteoclastic activities were significantly higher in the control group. CONCLUSION: We did not detect an increase in bone resorption in patients with congenital hypothyroidism, despite long-term treatment with LT4. Our results suggest that with effective vitamin D treatment and thyroxin replacement, congenital hypothyroidism is not a deleterious factor for bone turnover.

Role of tumor-associated macrophages in the Hexim1 and TGFß/SMAD pathway, and their influence on progression of prostatic adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Hexamethylene bisacetamide-inducible protein 1 (Hexim1) regulates transforming growth factor-ß (TGFß) activity and turnover of SMAD proteins in a cyclin-dependent kinase 9-dependent way. It does so specifically through inhibiting function of this enzyme and by inhibiting the transcriptional activity of positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb). Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play a role in the progression of prostate adenocarcinomas. We investigated the clinicopathological significance of Hexim1, TGFß, SMAD2, and SMAD7 expression in prostate adenocarcinoma cells, and assessed associations between TAMs density and these proteins. METHODS: The cases of 100 patients diagnosed with prostate acinar adenocarcinoma who had undergone radical prostatectomy were retrospectively examined. Each was reviewed for Gleason score, cancer stage, and specific histopathological features. Original slides were re-examined, and new slides were prepared and immunostained with Hexim1, TGFß, SMAD2, SMAD7 and CD68. RESULTS: Hexim1 expression was positively correlated with Gleason score, cancer stage, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, extracapsular extension, and positive surgical margin. TAMs density was positively correlated with Gleason score, cancer stage, perineural invasion, extracapsular extension, and positive surgical margin. TAMs density was positively correlated with Hexim1 expression and TGFß expression. More advanced cancer stage, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, and extracapsular extension were correlated with strong Hexim1 expression, strong SMAD2 expression, and mild SMAD7 expression, respectively. Strong Hexim1 expression, strong TGFß expression, and mild SMAD7 expression were associated with higher Gleason score. Strong Hexim1 expression was correlated with strong TGFß expression and mild SMAD7 expression. Strong Hexim1 expression, strong SMAD2 expression, and mild expression of SMAD7 were associated with disease progression. Strong SMAD2 expression was associated with shorter disease-free survival. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that greater TAMs density, strong Hexim1 expression, strong SMAD2 expression, and mild SMAD7 expression play important roles in the progression of prostate adenocarcinoma. Further investigation of these proteins will help facilitate the definitive prognosis of prostate adenocarcinomas. Ultimately, these proteins may be therapeutic targets for patients with prostate cancer.

Inferior Vena Cava Oxygen Saturation during the First Three Postnatal Days in Preterm Newborns with and without Patent Ductus Arteriosus.

BACKGROUND: Inferior vena cava (IVC) oxygen saturation as an indicator of mixed venous oxygenation may be valuable for understanding postnatal adaptations in newborn infants. It is unknown how this parameter progresses in critically ill premature infants. AIMS: To investigate IVC oxygen saturation during the first three days of life in preterm infants with and without patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). STUDY DESIGN: Case-control study. METHODS: Twenty-seven preterm infants were admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care. Preterm infants with umbilical venous catheterization were included in the study. Six umbilical venous blood gas values were obtained from each infant during the first 72 hours of life. Preterm infants in the study were divided into two groups. Haemodynamically significant PDA was diagnosed by echocardiography in 11 (41%) infants before the 72(nd) hour of life in the study group and ibuprofen treatment was started, whereas 16 (59%) infants who didn't have haemodynamically significant PDA were included in the control group. RESULTS: In the entire group, the highest value of mean IVC oxygen saturation was 79.9% at the first measurement and the lowest was 64.8% at the 72(nd) hour. Inferior vena cava oxygen saturations were significantly different between the study and control groups. Post-hoc analysis revealed that the first and 36(th) hour measurements made the difference (p=0.01). CONCLUSION: Inferior vena cava oxygen saturation was found to be significantly different between preterm infants with and without PDA. Further studies are needed to understand the effect of foetal shunts on venous oxygenation during postnatal adaptation in newborn infants.