Relationship between pregnancy outcomes and maternal vitamin D and calcium intake: A cross-sectional study.

Poor maternal vitamin D status affects fetal and infant skeletal growth. The aim of the present study was to determine the association between newborn outcomes and maternal calcium and vitamin D intakes. Four hundred and forty-nine pregnant women, healthy at the point of delivery, and their newborns were enrolled in the study, which was performed in three university hospitals in Tehran in March 2004. Maternal anthropometric data and energy, protein, calcium and vitamin D intakes were collected, and newborn outcomes (weight, length, head circumference and 1-min Apgar score) were determined. Almost two-thirds of the mothers (64.3%) took no supplements during pregnancy. Only one-third of the mothers (33.8%) had adequate intakes of calcium and vitamin D (from supplements and foods) compared with the Recommended Dietary Allowances. Mean length at birth and 1-min Apgar score were higher in newborns whose mothers had adequate calcium and vitamin D intake than in newborns whose mothers had inadequate intake (p = 0.03 and p = 0.04, respectively). Significant correlations were found between adequate maternal calcium and vitamin D intake and both appropriate birth weight and 1-min Apgar score of newborns and weight gain of mothers during pregnancy. Informing mothers of the critical importance of consuming adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D seems necessary.     

Prostate cancer after heart transplantation: unicenter case-control study.

BACKGROUND: We have noted an unexpectedly high incidence of prostate cancer in our heart transplant recipients (HTR). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of patients after heart transplantation to investigate the prevalence, treatment, and outcome of prostate cancer diagnosed after systematic screening (study group). We compared them with case-matched HTR (control). RESULTS: Among 702 recipients, 15 patients had elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. Fourteen cases of prostate cancer were diagnosed and treated. The median time between transplantation and prostate cancer diagnosis was 73 months. No patient was diagnosed in a locally advanced (>T2) or metastatic stage. Eleven patients (78.6%) received curative treatment. During follow-up (median, 44 months), 1 patient died from prostate cancer. The survival rate between the study and control groups did not differ. CONCLUSION: Routine PSA testing is recommended as a screening test for prostate cancer in patients after heart transplantation. We believe this could also result in detection of early stages of prostate cancer, thus allowing curative treatment, and achieving similar survival to other case-matched HTR with no prostate cancer.     

Measure of association between selenium status and sepsis in cattle

Odds ratio was used to evaluate relationship between sepsis in cattle less than 1 year old and mastitis in cows and erythrocyte glutathione peroxides (GSH-PX) activity as an indicator of selenium status. Data were from 178 blood samples collected from referred cases to Urmia University, Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Low activity of GSH-PX was significantly associated with higher odds of developing sepsis (P=0.005) in young cattle and mastitis (P=0.044) in adult cows. The odds ratios for the low activity of GSH-PX on incidence of sepsis and mastitis were 4.74 and 3.95, respectively. Selenium deficiency was associated with sepsis in young cattle and mastitis in cows, i.e., cattle with low activity of erythrocyte GSH-PX were at increased risk of sepsis and mastitis.     

Perioperative outcomes of goal-directed versus conventional fluid therapy in radical cystectomy with enhanced recovery protocol

International Urology and Nephrology - The aim of this study is to evaluate the intra/perioperative fluid management and early postoperative outcomes of patients who underwent radical cystectomy...     

Novel Derivatives of Tetrahydrobenzo (g) Imidazo[α-1,2] Quinoline Induce Apoptosis Via ROS Production in the Glioblastoma Multiforme Cells,U-87MG

Background:Despite newer therapeutic approaches against glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the severely poor prognosis and treatment resistance are still disadvantages that slow down the patient’s recovery process. Consistent with the need to develop more effective and optimized therapies to control GBM cell growth, the effects of a new series of tetrahydrobenzo(g)imidazo[α-1,2]quinolone derivatives on GBM cell growth and the underlying mechanism is investigated in the current study. Methods:U-87MG cell line, glioblastoma multiforme and normal skin fibroblast cell line, AGO1522 were used to study the anticancer effects of 5 derivatives of tetrahydrobenzo(g)imidazo[α-1,2]quinolone and paclitaxel as a standard drug. The cytotoxic effect on cell growth was assessed using the MTT assay. Annexin V FITC staining and PI staining were applied to detect apoptosis and cell cycle distribution using flow cytometry. The extent of reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation was assessed using the fluorescent probe 7-dichlorofluorescin diacetate and caspase-3 activity using the colorimetric assay kit. Results:Among the 5 derivatives of tetrahydrobenzo(g)imidazo[α-1,2]quinolone, the 5c derivative (5-(6-bromo-2-chloroquinolin-3-yl)-9a-hydroxy-8,8-dimethyl-4-Nitro-2,3,5,5a,7,8,9,9a-octahydroimidazo[α-1,2]quinoline-6(1H)) showed the strongest cytotoxic effect on U-87MG cells in a time and Dose-dependent manner compared to the other derivatives and paclitaxel. The IC₅₀ (11.91 M) of the 5c derivative induced apoptosis accompanied by a significant increase in sub-G1 and super-G2 phases of U-87MG cells. The increased level of cellular ROS and caspase 3 activity after treatment of U-87MG cells with 5c derivative was significant compared to untreated cells. Conclusion:Our data provide insights into the potent anticancer effects of the 5c-derivative of tetrahydrobenzo(g)imidazo[α-1,2]quinolone on GBM cells via the caspase-dependent apoptotic pathway, which may merit further attention.Key Words: Glioblastoma multiforme, imidazoquinoline, apoptosis, ROS, reactive oxygen species     

Duplex Ultrasound Findings Before and After Surgery in Children and Adolescents with Renovascular Hypertension

We report our experience with duplex ultrasound in young patients with renal artery stenosis (RAS) or middle aortic syndrome (MAS) before and after surgery (1995 and 2009). Of 36 patients (mean age: 13 ± 7 y), 21 had RAS and 15 had MAS. For patients with RAS, the V_max in the affected artery was 350 ± 111 cm/s before surgery and 145 ± 55 cm/s after surgery. The resistance index was 0.46 ± 0.1 in the post-stenotic kidney and increased to 0.60 ± 0.08 after revascularization. Determination of the flow profile in the iliac artery revealed triphasic flow. In individuals with MAS, V_max in the aorta was 323 ± 98 and the resistance index in both kidneys was low, even in the absence of RAS. The flow profile in the iliac arteries was monophasic before surgery and became triphasic after surgery. Duplex ultrasound is useful for the evaluation of children and young adults both pre- and post-surgery. Duplex ultrasound criteria for RAS in adults appear to be applicable in children and young adults also. The diagnostic evaluation of suspected renal vascular disease should include assessment of the aorta and the flow profile in the iliac arteries, as this could help differentiate between aortic and isolated renal artery stenosis.