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Maternal and umbilical serum levels of interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and tumor necrosis factor-α in normal pregnancies and in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia

Objectives. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of maternal and umbilical cord interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) serum levels with the existence and severity of preeclampsia. A particular objective was the comparison of normal umbilical serum levels to preeclamptic values. Materials and Methods. The study group consisted of 24 patients with third trimester singleton pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia (15 severe and 9 mild preeclampsia). The gestational age-matched 19 healthy pregnant women were compared by study group. Maternal and umbilical serum IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α were calculated by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results. Significantly increased maternal and umbilical serum levels of IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α were found in preeclamptic patient group in comparison with the control group. Maternal serum IL-8 and TNF-α concentration were significantly higher in patients with severe preeclampsia than in mild preeclampsia. Increased umbilical serum levels of IL-6 and IL-8 were found in severe preeclampsia than in mild preeclampsia. There were significantly higher levels of maternal serum IL-8 and TNF-α in patients with preeclampsia with IUGR than in patients with preeclampsia with normal fetal growth. Conclusion. Our findings suggest that increased concentrations of IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α in the maternal and umbilical serum play a significant role in pathogenesis of preeclampsia. Alterations in maternal and umbilical serum levels of IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α may also play role in preeclampsia complicated by intrauterine growth retardation. These associations may offer insight into the etiology and pathogenesis of preeclampsia.

Oxidative stress induced by 1.8 GHz radio frequency electromagnetic radiation and effects of garlic extract in rats.

Abstract Purpose: We aimed to study the oxidative damage induced by radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) emitted by mobile telephones and the protective effect of garlic extract used as an anti-oxidant against this damage. Materials and methods: A total of 66 albino Wistar rats were divided into three groups. The first group of rats was given 1.8 GHz, 0.4 W/kg specific absorption rate (SAR) for 1 h a day for three weeks. The second group was given 500 mg/kg garlic extract in addition to RF-EMR. The third group of rats was used as the control group. At the end of the study, blood and brain tissue samples were collected from the rats. Results: After the RF-EMR exposed, the advanced oxidation protein product (AOPP) levels of brain tissue increased compared with the control group (p < 0.001). Garlic administration accompanying the RF-EMR, on the other hand, significantly reduced AOPP levels in brain tissue (p < 0.001). The serum nitric oxide (NO) levels significantly increased both in the first and second group (p < 0.001). However, in the group for which garlic administration accompanied that of RF-EMR, there was no difference in serum NO levels compared with the RF-EMR exposed group (p > 0.05). There was no significant difference among the groups with respect to malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in brain tissue and blood samples (p > 0.05). Similarly, no difference was detected among the groups regarding serum paroxonase (PON) levels (p > 0.05). We did not detect any PON levels in the brain tissue. Conclusions: The exposure of RF-EMR similar to 1.8 GHz Global system for mobile communication (GSM) leads to protein oxidation in brain tissue and an increase in serum NO. We observed that garlic administration reduced protein oxidation in brain tissue and that it did not have any effects on serum NO levels.

Effect of 900 MHz radiofrequency radiation on oxidative stress in rat brain and serum.

The increasing use of mobile telephones raises the question of possible adverse effects of the electromagnetic fields (EMF) that these phones produce. In this study, we examined the oxidative stress in the brain tissue and serum of rats that resulted from exposure to a 900-MHz EMF at a whole body average specific absorption rate (SAR) of 1.08 W/kg for 1 h/day for 3 weeks. We also examined the antioxidant effect of garlic powder (500 mg/kg/day) given orally to EMF-exposed rats. We found that malondialdehyde (MDA) (p < 0.001) and advanced oxidation protein product (AOPP) (p < 0.05) increased in rat brain tissue exposed to the EMF and that garlic reduced these effects (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the nitric oxide (NO) levels in the brain. Paraoxonase (PON) was not detected in the brain. There was a significant increase in the levels of NO (p < 0.001) detected in the serum after EMF exposure, and garlic intake did not affect this increase in NO. Our results suggest that there is a significant increase in brain lipid and protein oxidation after electromagnetic radiation (EMR) exposure and that garlic has a protective effect against this oxidative stress.

Oxidative stress in bipolar and schizophrenia patients

Oxidative stress has an important place in studies investigating the pathophysiology of psychiatric diseases. In spite of this fact, longitudinal studies are required to clarify the subject. Therefore, in this study, we examined lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, total oxidized guanine species, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and total glutathione (GSH) levels in blood collected from adult bipolar patients (n=18) during manic and euthymic episodes, schizophrenic patients (n=18) during acute psychotic attack and remission phases and the control group (n=18). There was a significant increase in the level of lipid peroxidation in the bipolar disorder manic episode group (BD-ME) compared to control group. The level of protein oxidation was significantly higher in the schizophrenia acute psychotic attack group (SZ-APA) compared to the control group. The level of total oxidized guanine species was statistically higher in all psychiatric groups compared to the control group. There was no significant difference among the groups with regard to SOD and GSH. Consequently, we believe that lipid peroxidation may be effective in the pathogenesis of bipolar patients; that protein oxidation may be of importance in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia and that total oxidized guanine species may be crucial in the pathogeneses of both psychiatric disorders.

Obesity and oxidative stress in patients with different periodontal status: a case-control study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Obesity has become an important global health concern as obesity-associated adiposity is supposedly related to systemic immunologic and inflammatory alterations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of obesity on periodontally healthy and diseased tissue according to the changes in malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyl (PC) and total antioxidant capacity (TAOC) levels in gingival crevicular fluid as biomarkers of oxidative stress (OS). MATERIAL AND METHODS The study sample comprised systemically healthy normal-weight (n = 45) and obese (n = 48) adults. Obesity was diagnosed according to body mass index, waist circumference and waist/hip ratio. Periodontal status was evaluated according to plaque index, gingival index, bleeding on probing, probing depth and clinical attachment level. Participants were distributed among six groups according to obesity and periodontal status, as follows: normal weight+periodontally healthy (NH); normal weight+gingivitis (NG); normal weight+generalized chronic periodontitis (NCP); obese+periodontally healthy (OH); obese+gingivitis (OG); and obese+generalized chronic periodontitis (OCP). MDA, PC and TAOC levels were measured using ELISA. RESULTS The MDA and PC levels in gingival crevicular fluid varied among groups, as follows: NCP > NG > NH (p < 0.01) and OCP > OG > OH (p < 0.01). Conversely, the levels of TAOC in gingival crevicular fluid varied as follows: NCP < NG < NH (p < 0.01) and OCP < OG < OH (p < 0.01). Paired comparisons conducted according to periodontal status showed MDA and PC levels to be higher, and TAOC levels to be lower, in the OCP group than in the NCP group, in the OG group than in the NG group and in the OH group than in the NH group. However, only the differences between the OCP and NCP groups were significant (p < 0.01). In both obese and normal-weight individuals, clinical assessments showed significant, positive correlations with MDA and PC levels and negative correlations with TAOC levels (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION Obesity may influence periodontal tissue destruction and disease severity by increasing the level of oxidative stress in the presence of periodontal disease.

Kidney Injury Molecule-1 as a Promising Biomarker for Acute Kidney Injury in Premature Babies

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the role of urinary kidney injury molecule-1 (uKIM-1) in early determination of renal injury in premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). STUDY DESIGN Forty-eight premature babies hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit were included in the study and divided into three groups: group I, healthy premature infants; group II, preterm infants with RDS without acute kidney injury (AKI); group III, preterm infants with RDS and AKI. uKIM-1 and creatinine along with serum creatinine levels were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay on days 1, 3, and 7 of life. RESULTS On day 1, uKIM-1 levels in babies with RDS and AKI were higher than the other two groups. In this group, a significant increase in uKIM-1 levels were detected on day 3 (p = 0.015). The sensitivity and specificity of uKIM-1 were calculated as 73.3% and 76.9%, respectively, along with the increase of 0.5 ng per milligram of creatinine of uKIM-1 in day 3, when compared with values on day 1. Elevated uKIM-1 on day 7 was found to increase the risk of death by 7.3 times. CONCLUSION Serial uKIM-1 measurements can be used as a noninvasive indicator of kidney injury and uKIM-1 can be an ideal biomarker in premature infants.

Comparison of maternal serum levels of interleukin-10, interleukin-12, and interleukin-2 in normal and preeclamptic pregnancies

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was 2 fold: (1) to compare the maternal serum levels of IL-10, IL-12, and IL-2 in preeclamptic and normal pregnant women, and (2) to study the serum levels of these cytokines in preeclamptic pregnancies with and without intrauterine growth retardation. STUDY DESIGN Forty women with singleton pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia (32 severe and 8 mild) and 29 normotensive healthy pregnant women were included in the study. Preeclamptic patients were further divided into 2 groups according to the presence or absence of intrauterine growth retardation. Maternal serum levels of IL-10, IL 12, and IL-2 were compared between these groups using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. RESULTS Maternal serum levels of IL-10 were significantly higher in the preeclampsia group than in controls (p<0.001). There were no statistically significant differences in maternal serum concentrations of IL-2 and IL-10 between the study and control groups (p>0.05). Serum levels of IL-2 and IL-10 in the patients with preeclampsia complicated by IUGR were elevated in comparison with the uncomplicated preeclampsia group. These differences were statistically significant (p<0.05 for both). CONCLUSIONS IL-10 may be involved in the pathologic process of preeclampsia. Increased serum levels of IL-10 and IL-2 in preeclampsia complicated with IUGR suggests a possible role of these cytokines in IUGR.

Serum VEGF and PGF may be significant markers in prediction of severity of preeclampsia.

Abstract Objective: The aim of this study evaluate the value of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and placental growth factor (PGF) serum levels in prediction of preeclampsia, severity and onset time of the disease. Methods: Twenty five placentas of pregnant women diagnosed with preeclampsia (15 severe preeclampsia, 10 mild preeclampsia) and peripheral venous blood samples were collected. The placental and serum levels of VEGF and PGF were measured. Results: VEGF level was significantly higher in cases and the optimal cut-off point was calculated as 600.5 to differentiate the cases and the controls, with 64% sensitivity and 100% specificity. There was a significant increase in median serum level of VEGF in severe cases compared to the mild cases and the controls. The optimal cut-off point for VEGF was calculated as 673.5 to differentiate mild and severe cases, with 93.3% sensitivity and 90% specificity. Whereas, PGF was significantly lower in severe cases than that in the mild cases and controls. The optimal cut-off point for PGF was calculated as 16.1 to differentiate mild and severe cases, with 66.7% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Conclusion: VEGF and PGF may be significant markers in prediction of severity of preeclampsia, and VEGF may also be valuable in prediction of preeclampsia.

Evaluation of plasma chemerin levels in patients with non-dipper blood pressure patterns

Background Chemerin is a novel adipokine that plays a role in inflammation and atherosclerosis. Although there are several correlations between hypertension and the inflammatory system, there is still insufficient information about the relationship between blood pressure variability and inflammatory markers. In this study, we aimed to determine whether chemerin levels are elevated in non-dipper patients compared with dippers and healthy controls. Material/Methods This study was composed of a group of 90 patients: 60 hypertensive patients and 30 healthy control subjects (12 males, mean age 53.2±15.4 years). Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring devices (ABPM) were connected to all patients. Using data from the ABPM, hypertensive patients were divided into 2 groups: 30 dipper patients (12 males, mean age 52.5±15.1 years) and 30 non-dipper patients (11 males, mean age 54.6±13.0 years). Complete blood count and biochemistry were measured by standard methods and plasma chemerin concentrations were quantified by ELISA. Results Non-dipper patients demonstrated higher chemerin levels compared to dippers and normotensives (219.7±16.3 vs. 182.4±21.4 ng/ml; 219.7±16.3 vs. 85.4±38.1 ng/ml, respectively, p<0.001 for both comparisons). A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that the optimal cut-off value for chemerin to predict a non-dipping pattern was 201.4, with 90% sensitivity and 90% specificity. There was a positive correlation between chemerin levels and all ambulatory blood pressure values in all hypertensive patients. Conclusions Chemerin, which plays a role in inflammation and atherosclerosis, was higher in non-dippers compared to dippers and normotensives. Additionally, chemerin shows positive correlations with blood pressure.

Influence of α-tocopherol and α-lipoic acid on bisphenol-A-induced oxidative damage in liver and ovarian tissue of rats.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a commonly used material in daily life, and it is argued to cause oxidative stress in liver and ovarian tissue. α-Lipoic acid (ALA) and α-tocopherol (ATF), two of the most effective antioxidants, may play a role in preventing the toxic effect. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the beneficial effects of ALA, ATF, and that of ALA + ATF combination on oxidative damage induced by BPA. Female Wistar rats were divided into five groups (control, BPA, BPA + ALA, BPA + ATF, and BPA + ALA + ATF). BPA (25 mg/kg/day), ALA (100 mg/kg/day), and ATF (20 mg/kg/day) were administered for 30 days.  The levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), liver malondialdehyde (L-MDA) and glutathione peroxidase (L-GPx), and ovarian malondialdehyde (Ov-MDA) and nitric oxide (Ov-NO) were significantly higher in the BPA-treated groups compared with the control group. The levels of AST and ALT decreased in the BPA + ALA, BPA + ATF, and BPA + ALA + ATF groups compared with the BPA group. Similarly, BPA + ALA or BPA + ATF led to decreases in L-MDA and Ov-MDA levels compared with the BPA group. However, the BPA + ALA + ATF group showed a significant decrease in L-MDA levels compared with the BPA + ALA group and the BPA + ATF group. The levels of L-GPx decreased in the BPA + ATF and the BPA + ALA + ATF groups compared with the BPA group. The administration of ATF and ALA + ATF significantly decreased the Ov-NO levels.  This study demonstrates that BPA causes oxidative damage in liver and ovarian tissues. ALA, ATF, or their combination were found to be beneficial in preventing BPA-induced oxidative stress.