Could maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index affect Apgar score?

Objective

Obesity is one of global health problems and maternal obesity may be associated with increase in risk of pregnancy complications and neonatal death. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) on neonate Apgar score at minute 5.

Methods

In a retrospective cohort study, Apgar score at minute 5 of all singleton term babies of nulliparous women whom were delivered in Shahid Sadoughi Hospital, Yazd, Iran, from 2007 to 2009 were evaluated. Body mass index (BMI: weight in kg/height in m²) of the mothers were calculated and BMI less than 18.5, 18.5–24.9, 25–29.9 and more than 30 were considered underweight, normal, overweight and obesity, respectively. Neonatal Apgar score of 3–7 and less than three was considered as low and very low Apgar score, respectively.

Results

Eighty-eight (2.8 %) women were underweight, 1,401 (44.9 %) normal weight, 1,389 (44.5 %) overweight and 242 (7.8 %) were obese. 477 (15.3 %) and 31(0.7 %) neonates had low and very low Apgar score, respectively at minute 5. Logistic regression analysis showed maternal overweight [in odd ratio of 3.7, 95 % CI 2.4–4.6] and obesity [in odd ratio of 13.4, 95 % CI 9.7–14.1] were risk factors of neonatal low Apgar score, but they had not any statistically significant effect on neonatal very low Apgar score.

Conclusion

Maternal pre-pregnancy overweight should be more concerned to prevent complication of low Apgar score in their newborns.     

Antioxidant efficacy of Nasturtium officinale extracts using various in vitro assay systems

Nasturtium officinale R. Br. (watercress), of the family Brassicaceae, has been long used as a home remedy or a medicinal plant by the people of southeastern Iran. The aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant activity of N. officinale extract using various in vitro assay systems, including the ferric reducing antioxidant power and 2,2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) assays, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, hydrogen peroxide, nitric oxide radical scavenging, and ferrous ion chelating activity, as well as the inhibitory effect on ferrous ion/ascorbate induced lipid peroxidation, in rat liver homogenate. The results revealed that N. officinale extract possesses potent reducing power in a ferric reducing antioxidant power assay, concentration-dependent scavenging ability on 2,2'-azinobis 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, nitric oxide radicals, and hydrogen peroxide, as well as chelating ability on ferrous ions. Furthermore, N. officinale extract prevented thiobarbituric acid reactive substances formation in ferrous ion/ascorbate induced lipid peroxidation in rat liver homogenate in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, this N. officinale extract had the phenolic and flavonoid contents of 96.2 mg gallic acid equivalents/g dried extract and 63.2 mg catechin equivalents/g dried extract, respectively. The cumulative results clearly indicate that N. officinale extract possesses potent antioxidant properties probably mediated through direct trapping of free radicals, reducing power, and also through metal chelating. Based on its antioxidative potential, N. officinale extract might find applications in the prevention of free radical-related diseases.     

Effect of low-frequency stimulation on kindling induced changes in rat dentate gyrus: an ultrastructural study

It has been shown that low-frequency stimulation (LFS) can induce anticonvulsant effects. In this study, the effect of different LFS frequencies on kindling induced behavioral and ultrastructural changes was investigated. For induction of kindled seizures in rats, stimulating and recording electrodes were implanted in perforant path and dentate gyrus, respectively. Animals were stimulated in a rapid kindling manner. Different groups of animals received LFS at different frequencies (0.5, 1 and 5 Hz) following kindling stimulations and their effects on kindling rate were determined using behavioral and ultrastructural studies. Kindling stimulations were applied for 7 days. Then, the animals were sacrificed and their dentate gyrus was sampled for ultrastructural studies under electron microscopy. All three used LFS frequencies (0.5, 1 and 5 Hz) had a significant inhibitory effect on kindling rate and decreased afterdischarge duration and the number of stimulations to achieve stage 4 and 5 seizures significantly. In addition, application of LFS prevented the increase in the post-synaptic density and induction of concave synaptic vesicles following kindling. There was no significant change between anticonvulsant effects of LFS at different frequencies. Obtained results show that LFS application can prevent the neuronal hyperexcitability by preventing the ultrastructural changes during kindling and this may be one of the mechanisms of LFS anticonvulsant effects.     

Improving respiratory muscle strength and health status in burn patients: a randomized controlled trial

Quality of Life Research - Pulmonary complications are among the major disadvantages of burns. The present study aimed to determine the effect of inspiratory muscle training on respiratory muscle...     

Involvement of miR-155/FOXO3a and miR-222/PTEN in acquired radioresistance of colorectal cancer cell line

Purpose

Finding a novel biomarker for determining the radiosensitivity of colorectal cancer (CRC) is critical. The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of two main miRNAs including miR-222 and miR-155 in radiation response of CRC.

Materials and methods

The radioresistant CRC cell lines were established by exposing the HCT 116 cell line to fractional X-ray radiation. SubG1 fraction analysis, MTT and clonogenic assays were applied to evaluate acquired radioresistant cell line radiosensitivity. miR-222/PTEN and miR-155/FOXO3a expressions were detected by RT PCR.

Results

The clonogenic assay and sub-G1fraction analysis indicated that the RR2 sub-line was significantly more resistant than the parental cell line. MiR-222 and miR-155 were significantly upregulated in the radioresistant cell lines compared with the parental cell lines. The PTEN and FOXO3a expressions in the radioresistant cell lines were significantly higher than in the parental line.

Conclusion

These observations indicate that miR-222 and miR-155 could induce radiation resistance in colorectal cancer by targeting PTEN and FOXO3a genes, respectively. Therefore, miR-222 and miR-155 can be suggested as good biomarkers of CRC radiation response.

     

The effects of fluoxetine on the human adipose‐derived stem cell proliferation and differentiation

Fluoxetine is one of the most commonly used antidepressants. Fluoxetine could prevent the mesenchymal stem cell differentiation in lung fetus of rat. Moreover, the mesenchymal stem cells are also present in adult tissues. Therefore, in the current study, we aimed to investigate the effects of fluoxetine (FLX) on both proliferation and adipogenic/osteogenic differentiation of human adipose‐derived stem cells (ADSCs). After culturing of human ADSCs, these cells were treated with two concentrations of FLX (10 and 20 μm ). Then, cells were differentiated by adding osteogenic and adipogenic media. The effect of FLX on human ADSCs proliferation was evaluated by MTT assay. Fluoxetine role on adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation of human ADSCs was analyzed by oil red and alizarin red staining and RT‐PCR reaction. According to MTT assay, FLX showed a time‐ and concentration‐dependent proliferation response and eventually decreased human ADSCs proliferation. RT‐PCR analysis indicated that FLX significantly diminished the expression of osteogenesis‐related genes such as RUNX2 and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Data also revealed a significant reduction in the expression of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and fatty acid‐binding protein (FABP) (specific genes of adipogenic lineage). In addition, FLX decreased mineralized matrix and the amount of lipid droplets in human ADSCs by staining methods. Our observation demonstrated that the effects of FLX may be time‐dependent. This drug possesses an increasing phase in proliferation and survival of human ADSCs (first 24 h) following a decreasing phase (after 48 h). Moreover, FLX could attenuate both osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of human ADSCs.     

Protective effect of L-carnitine on apoptosis,DNA fragmentation,membrane integrity and Lipid peroxidation of spermatozoa in the asthenoteratospermic men

This in vitro study aimed to measure the ameliorative effect of L-carnitine against apoptosis, DNA fragmentation, membrane integrity and lipid peroxidation of spermatozoa from men with asthenoteratozoospermia (ATS). L-carnitine has an impressive effect on boosting the quality and quantity of spermatozoa and also can prevent apoptosis induction. For this purpose, semen samples were collected from 50 ATS men. Semen was divided into control and L-carnitine (0.5 mg/ml) groups at 2, 4, 6 and 24 hr. Concentrating on the reasons for apoptosis is an arduous process, but in the present research for this evaluation, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), DNA fragmentation by TUNEL and SCD methods, and lipid peroxidation were carried out. Also, sperm viability was performed. In the control group, MDA levels were increased significantly at 6 hr; however, sperm viability was decreased significantly at 4 and 6 hr. Moreover, in the L-carnitine group, TUNEL, SCD and MDA levels were decreased significantly and MMP and viability were increased significantly compared with the control group. In this writers' view, in vitro L-carnitine treatment can downregulate apoptosis in men with ATS.     

Circumscribed juvenile-onset pityriasis rubra pilaris with hypoparathyroidism and brachyonychia

Circumscribed juvenile-onset pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP) manifests as well-defined erythematous scaly plaques with follicular keratosis mainly over the elbows and knees. There are several reports of the association of PRP with other conditions. We report a boy with scattered erythematosquamous skin lesions and follicular hyperkeratotic papules since he was 6 years old. Results of a skin biopsy were compatible with PRP. The patient also had hypoparathyroidism and brachyonychia. To our knowledge, this association has not been reported to date, though minor disturbances of calcium and vitamin D metabolism have been mentioned in some disorders of keratinization. We further discuss the epidemiologic, clinical, and pathologic features of PRP; review the conditions associated with brachyonychia; and give a brief discussion about the possible role of calcium metabolism in disorders of keratinization.