Relationship among placental cadmium, lead, zinc, and copper levels in smoking pregnant women.

Previous studies on Cd-exposed pregnant animals have reported a Cd-Zn interaction that result in increased placental Cd levels and decreased placental Zn transport. In this study, placental Cd, Pb, Cu, and Zn status in pregnant women exposed to Cd and Pb through cigarette smoke was investigated. Placental tissues obtained from 30 nonsmokers (controls), 70 passive smokers, and 90 smokers were analyzed for Cu and Zn levels using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer and for Pb and Cd levels using an EG&G PARC Model 303A hanging mercury drop electrode.

Plasma D-lactic acid level: a useful marker to distinguish perforated from acute simple appendicitis.

Early diagnosis of perforated appendicitis is important for reducing morbidity rates. The aim of this study was to determine the value and utility of plasma D-lactic acid levels in identifying the type of appendicitis. In this clinical study, plasma D-lactic acid levels were assessed in 44 consecutive paediatric patients (23 with acute appendicitis, 21 with perforated appendicitis) before laparotomy.

Maternal and fetal plasma adenosine deaminase, xanthine oxidase and malondialdehyde levels in pre-eclampsia.

The aim of this study was to evaluate maternal-fetal plasma adenosine deaminase, xanthine oxidase (ADA, XO) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and the relationship between them in pre-eclampsia. Maternal and umbilical cord whole blood samples were taken from 29 pre-eclamptic and 33 normal pregnants. The plasma ADA, XO activities as well as MDA levels were assayed by spectrophotometric methods.

[Comparison of the antioxidant enzyme levels with the degree of dysfunction in patients with myocardial dysfunction].

Objective: Myocardial dysfunction in patients with cardiomyopathy is proposed to occur due to membrane changes caused by oxidative stress. In our study we evaluate whether there is any relation between the degree of myocardial dysfunction and antioxidant enzymes.

Methods: We studied superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) and catalase (CAT) enzyme activities from blood samples of 60 patients (30 patients had ejection fraction (EF) < %35 and 30 patients had EF= %35-50) who have myocardial dysfunction according to clinical findings and two-dimensional echocardiography, and 20 healthy volunteers.