Enteral L-citrulline supplementation in preterm infants is safe and effective in increasing plasma arginine and citrulline levels-a pilot randomized trial.

Objective: Deficiencies of citrulline and arginine have been associated with adverse outcomes in preterm-infants and data regarding enteral supplementation in preterm infants is limited.

Study Design: This randomized -trial [NCT03649932] included 42 preterm infants (gestational age ≤33 weeks) randomized to receive enteral L-citrulline in low (100 mg/kg/day), medium (200 mg/kg/day) and high-dose (300 mg/kg/day) groups for 7 days. Plasma citrulline and arginine levels were obtained pre-and-post supplementation and efficacy was determined by a significant increase in levels after supplementation.

Aging, oxidative stress and degenerative diseases: mechanisms, complications and emerging therapeutic strategies.

Aging accompanied by several age-related complications, is a multifaceted inevitable biological progression involving various genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. The major factor in this process is oxidative stress, caused by an abundance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated in the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum (ER). ROS and RNS pose a threat by disrupting signaling mechanisms and causing oxidative damage to cellular components.

Oxidative stress, inflammation and hormesis: The role of dietary and lifestyle modifications on aging.

Oxidative stress (OS) is primarily caused by the formation of free radicals and reactive oxygen species; it is considered as one of the prominent factors in slowing down and degrading cellular machinery of an individual, and it eventually leads to aging and age-related diseases by its continuous higher state. The relation between molecular damage and OS should be particularized to understand the beginning of destruction at the cellular levels, extending outwards to affect tissues, organs, and ultimately to the organism. Several OS biomarkers, which are established at the biomolecular level, are useful in investigating the disease susceptibility during aging.

Ebstein's Anomaly, Left Ventricular Noncompaction and Gerbode-Like Defect Triad (Fetal Diagnosis and Neonatal Course).

Ebstein's anomaly is characterized by the apical displacement of the septal and posterior leaflets of the tricuspid valve with atrialization of the right ventricle (RV). It is commonly associated with other heart defects including left ventricular noncompaction. We describe a case of prenatally diagnosed Ebstein's anomaly in association with left ventricular noncompaction and a septal defect between the left ventricle and the atrialized portion of the RV (Gerbode-like defect).

Oxidative stress, antioxidants, hormesis and calorie restriction: The current perspective in the biology of aging.

Aging, in a large measure, has long been defined as the resultant of oxidative stress acting on the cells. The cellular machinery eventually malfunctions at the basic level by the damage from the processes of oxidation and the system starts slowing down because of intrinsic eroding. To understand the initial destruction at the cellular level spreading outward to affect tissues, organs and the organism, the relationship between molecular damage and oxidative stress is required to understand.

Outcome of hairy cell leukemia patients treated with cladribine - a 10-year single-center experience in Pakistan.

Introduction And Objective: Hairy cell leukemia is an uncommon, indolent B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder. Therapy with cladribine (2-chlorodeoxyadenosine) is able to induce complete remission (CR) in the majority of patients after a single course of treatment. We report the outcomes of patients treated at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.

N,N-Dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine dihydrochloride-based method for the measurement of plasma oxidative capacity during human aging.

N,N-Dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine dihydrochloride (DMPD) is a compound that is normally used to measure the antioxidant potential. In the presence of Fe(3+), it gets converted to DMPD(∙+) radical, which is scavenged by antioxidant molecules present in test samples. In plasma, due to the presence of iron, this method cannot be applied for the measurement of antioxidant potential.

Plasma protein hydroperoxides during aging in humans: correlation with paraoxonase 1 (PON1) arylesterase activity and plasma total thiols.

Background And Aims: Oxidative stress is thought to play a major role in the development of several age-dependent diseases. Proteins are major targets for oxidative attack. Protein hydroperoxides are formed by hydroxyl and singlet oxygen attack on protein, forming relatively stable hydroperoxides on histidine, tyrosine and tryptophan residues.

Prevalence of overweight and obesity in preschool children (2-5 year-olds) in Birjand, Iran.

Background: Childhood overweight and obesity have increased progressively in developing countries and nowadays they are considered as a global epidemic.The aim of the present study was to determine prevalence of overweight and obesity in 2-5 year-old children in kindergartens of Birjand in 2008.

Findings: This cross- sectional and descriptive- analytical study was conducted on 500 children, who were 2-5 years-old, in kindergartens of Birjand selected through census.

Human plasma paraoxonase 1 (PON1) arylesterase activity during aging: correlation with susceptibility of LDL oxidation.

Background And Aims: The role of free radicals has long been proposed as a cause for the aging process. Oxidative stress is considered a major factor for altering many physiological processes and enzymatic activities during aging and is also known to play a major role in the development of several age-dependent diseases. Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) is an anti-atherosclerotic enzyme that mainly prevents accumulation of lipoperoxides and inhibits the lipid oxidation in low-density lipoproteins (LDL).

Erythrocyte sialic acid content during aging in humans: correlation with markers of oxidative stress.

Sialic acids are substituted neuraminic acid derivatives which are typically found at the outermost end of glycan chains on the membrane in all cell types. The role of erythrocyte membrane sialic acids during aging has been established however the relationship between sialic acid and oxidative stress is not fully understood. The present work was undertaken to analyze the relationship between erythrocyte membrane sialic acid with its plasma level, membrane and plasma lipid hydroperoxide levels and plasma total antioxidant capacity.

Comparing Seminal Plasma Biomarkers between Normospermic and Azoospermic Men.

Introduction: Azoospermia affects more than 10% - 15% of infertile male subjects attending infertilty clinics. At present, testicular biopsy is the golden standard procedure for evaluating spermatogenesis status in men with azoospermia. Semen collection and analysis is a non-invasive method and has proven to be valuable in the evaluation of spermatogenesis.

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) is expressed at feto-placental unit throughout mouse gestation: An immunohistochemical study.

Introduction: The cells expressing Indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase (IDO) in feto-maternal interface mediate tryptophan catabolism, hence protect allogeneic fetus from lethal rejection by maternal immune responses. In this study, we report immuno-localization of IDO(+) cells in murine reproductive tract and placenta throughout mouse pregnancy by immunohistochemistry.

Materials And Methods: Syngeneic pregnant mice were examined for vaginal plug to discover about their state of pregnancy.

Tracheobronchomalacia and air trapping after mustard gas exposure.

Rationale: Mustard gas primarily affects the eyes, skin, and particularly the respiratory tract. Tracheobronchomalacia (TBM) and air trapping are often observed in high-resolution computerized tomography (HRCT) scans of the chest of mustard gas-exposed patients.

Objectives: To examine the frequency and severity of TBM in a group of Iranian wartime mustard gas-exposed victims, and to investigate the correlation between TBM and air trapping in these cases.

Bronchiolitis obliterans following exposure to sulfur mustard: chest high resolution computed tomography.

Background: Pulmonary complications are known to occur in over half of the patients exposed to sulfur mustard (SM). Chemical weapons of mass destruction (WMD) including SM were used by Iraq during Iran-Iraq war between 1983 and 1989. We undertook this study to evaluate the chest high resolution computerized tomography (HRCT) as a diagnostic tool in patients with documented exposure to SM and chronic respiratory symptoms.

Hyperalgesia in outpatients with dermal injury: quantitative sensory testing versus a novel simple technique.

Objective: Dermal inflammation from many causes may produce a reversible period of hyperalgesia (increased sensitivity to pain perception) or allodynia (pain from innocuous stimuli). Hyperalgesia and allodynia have received relatively little attention in clinical trials of acute pain. We sought to quantitate tactile allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia in outpatients presenting with acute dermal injuries.