[Valproic acid concentration in the blood serum of pregnant women and umbilical cord blood in relation to the condition of the newborn--case studies].

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological diseases in the world. One of the most difficult clinical problems associated with the disease is to treat pregnant women because the use of antiepileptic drugs increase the risk of birth defects in the fetus. The second most common use in pregnant women is an antiepileptic drug valproic acid.

[Electronic cigarettes - effects on health. Previous reports].

Currently very popular in the market of tobacco products have gained electronic cigarettes (ang. E-cigarettes). These products are considered to be potentially less harmful in compared to traditional tobacco products.

[Artichoke--untapped potential of herbal medicine in the treatment of atherosclerosis and liver diseases].

Substances of natural origin are the subject of growing interest on the part of both researchers and doctors. One of the well known herbal medicines extensively examined in terms of clinical and pharmacological is artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.), which was used in European medicine from the 18th century.

[Artichoke--herbal drug].

The liver is the gland most vulnerable to the toxic effects of xenobiotics, as responsible for their metabolism. Significant impact on the functioning of this gland has a style of life: alcohol consumption, diet with high fats ingredients and prooxidative substances and synthetic drugs. Very improtant aspect in herbal medicaments is protective properties on parenchymal organ-damaging.

[Cotinine in urine of mother and their newborn and in cord serum and placenta as a biomarker of foetal exposure to tobacco smoke].

In Poland, tobacco smoking by women in a procreational age as well as the pregnant women is a common phenomenon. The aim of the conducted research was to assess the usefulness of cotinine markers in different biological materials--mother and newborn's urine, cord blood se. rum, placenta--as a biomarker of tobacco smoking by delivering women, and dependence between these biomarkers and the newborn's health state.

[Effect of tobacco smoke on permeability of capillary of pregnant and non-pregnant rats].

From among 4200 chemical compounds contained in the tobacco smoke, nicotine and carbon monoxide are responsible for changes in the heart-vessel system to the greatest extent. Additionally, other toxic compounds, including the carcinogenic ones, have a significant impact on the biological activity in the tissues of blood vessels. A particularly complex picture of the detrimental impact of the tobacco smoke is presented in case of pregnant women, fetuses and newborns.

[Tobacco smoke effects the activity of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and total antioxidant status in pregnant and non-pregnant animals].

Total antioxidant status was measured as the reduction of the ABTS radical cation as well as the activities of SOD and GPx in female rats exposed and non-exposed to the cigarette smoke, pregnant and non-pregnant. The assessment was done in lungs, plasma, kidneys, liver and placenta of Wistar rats exposed to the cigarette smoke (1500 mg CO/m3 air) for 21 days. Total antioxidant status was significantly elevated in lungs and plasma of smoke-exposed animals, pregnant and non-pregnant, when compared to the matched controls.