Intestinal fructose transporters GLUT5 and GLUT2 in children and adolescents with obesity and metabolic disorders.

Purpose: The excessive fructose intake including high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) may be responsible for increase of obesity occurrence. This study was designed to find potential differences in duodenal fructose transporters on mRNA and protein levels between obese and normal weight children and adolescents.

Materials/methods: We performed a cross-sectional study on a group of 106 hospitalized patients aged 12 to 18.

Evaluation of folate concentration in amniotic fluid and maternal and umbilical cord blood during labor.

Introduction: Folate is required for fetal, placental and maternal tissue growth during pregnancy. A decline in maternal circulating folate concentrations and an increase in total homocysteine (a non-specific indicator of folate deficiency) have been observed with the progression of pregnancy. However, the role of folate in the third trimester of pregnancy is not clear and folate status in late pregnancy has not so far been widely analyzed.

Relationship between pre-pregnancy body mass index and mineral concentrations in serum and amniotic fluid in pregnant women during labor.

The aim of the study was to determine the correlations between body mass index (BMI) values before pregnancy and the concentrations of selected elements (Mg, Co, Cu, Zn, Sr, Cd, Ba, Pb, U, Ca, Cr, Al, Mn, V, Fe) in blood serum and amniotic fluid (AF) in pregnant women. Elemental analysis of serum and amniotic fluid in 225 Polish women (Caucasian/white) showed a relationship between the concentration of minerals in the above-mentioned samples and the pre-pregnancy BMI. Analysis of blood serum was performed by using ICP-MS and it demonstrated that iron concentration was significantly lower in overweight and obese women.

Associations between the Level of Trace Elements and Minerals and Folate in Maternal Serum and Amniotic Fluid and Congenital Abnormalities.

Congenital birth defects may result in a critical condition affecting the baby, including severe fetal/neonatal handicap and mortality. Several studies have shown that genetic, nutritional, and environmental factors may have an impact on fetal development and neonatal health. The relevance of essential and toxic elements on fetal development has not yet been fully investigated, and the results of recent research indicate that these elements may be crucial in the assessment of the risk of malformations in neonates.

Oxidative Stress in Women Treated with Atosiban for Impending Preterm Birth.

Preterm birth is defined as delivery before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy, and it is the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Oxidative stress is recognized as an important factor in the pathogenesis of premature labor. We conducted this analysis to investigate the safety of administration of the tocolytic drug Atosiban-a reversible, competitive antagonist of the oxytocin receptor in the treatment of preterm birth and its impact on the level of oxidative stress in pregnant women after 48 hours of tocolytic treatment.

Evaluation of Essential and Toxic Elements in Amniotic Fluid and Maternal Serum at Birth.

The objective of this study was to determine the concentration and the reference ranges of essential and toxic elements in amniotic fluid (AF) and maternal serum (MS) at birth. This study was conducted among 175 healthy pregnant Caucasian European women aged 18-42. AF and maternal blood samples were collected during delivery.

Assessment of dietary intake and mineral status in pregnant women.

Purpose: To evaluate the dietary intake of pregnant women and their nutritional status of Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, and Cu, as the nutritional status of pregnant women is an important factor for the proper progression of a pregnancy and the development and health of the foetus.

Methods: The study was conducted on 108 pregnant women ages 18-42, at 6-32 weeks of gestation. We used a questionnaire and a 24-h recall nutrition interview.

Selected trace elements concentrations in pregnancy and their possible role - literature review.

The aim of this study was to review the role of selected trace elements in pregnancy and fetal development. Citations related to the role of iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu) and selenium (Se) during pregnancy were searched in PubMed, Medline, Web of Science, using keywords and MeSH terms. Inadequate supply of trace elements can cause abnormalities of fetal development and predispose a child to disorders later on in life.

Evaluation of Mineral Concentrations in Maternal Serum Before and After Birth and in Newborn Cord Blood Postpartum-Preliminary Study.

The mineral levels in maternal serum change during pregnancy and may be correlated with those of newborn cord blood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentrations of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), and copper (Cu) in maternal blood before and after delivery and in umbilical cord vein and artery serum. The study was carried out in 64 Caucasian pregnant women who delivered in a district hospital in Greater Poland region, aged 28.

Both a frameshift and a missense mutation of the STRA6 gene observed in an infant with the Matthew-Wood syndrome.

Background: The Matthew-Wood syndrome is associated with mutations of the STRA6 gene. It combines a pulmonary agenesis/hypoplasia; microphthalmia/anophthalmia; congenital cardiac, digestive, and urogenital malformations; and diaphragmatic defects.

Case: A 23-year-old nulliparous woman was referred to our center after a fetal ultrasound examination at 26 weeks of pregnancy revealed an abnormal head shape, a heart malformation, multiple cysts in both kidneys, and dilated ureters.

Association of TLR3 L412F Polymorphism with Cytomegalovirus Infection in Children.

Intracellular Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) recognizes viral double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) and activates antiviral immune responses through the production of type I interferons (IFNs) and inflammatory cytokines. This receptor binds to dsRNA molecules produced during human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) replication. TLR7 senses viral single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) in endosomes, and it can interact with endogenous RNAs.

TLR9 -1486T/C and 2848C/T SNPs Are Associated with Human Cytomegalovirus Infection in Infants.

Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) recognizes non-methylated viral CpG-containing DNA and serves as a pattern recognition receptor that signals the presence of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). Here, we present the genotype distribution of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the TLR9 gene in infants and the relationship between TLR9 polymorphisms and HCMV infection. Four polymorphisms (-1237T/C, rs5743836; -1486T/C, rs187084; 1174G/A, rs352139; and 2848C/T, rs352140) in the TLR9 gene were genotyped in 72 infants with symptomatic HCMV infection and 70 healthy individuals.

Human cytomegalovirus UL55, UL144, and US28 genotype distribution in infants infected congenitally or postnatally.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common cause of congenital infection. This pathogen exhibits extensive genetic variability in the genes that encode structural envelope glycoproteins, regulatory proteins, and proteins that contribute to immune evasion. However, the role of specific viral strains in the outcome of congenital CMV infection is unclear.

TLR9 2848 GA heterozygotic status possibly predisposes fetuses and newborns to congenital infection with human cytomegalovirus.

Background: Some single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP), located in Toll-like receptor (TLR) genes, were reported to be associated with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infections. The study was aimed to assess the correlation of SNPs at TLR4 and TLR9 genes with the occurrence of congenital cytomegaly, based on available samples.

Methods: Reported case-control study included both HCMV infected and non-infected fetuses and newborns.

Successful treatment of fetal bilateral primary chylothorax--report of the two cases.

Primary fetal chylothorax is an uncommon complication, associated with high perinatal morbidity and mortality. In our report, we describe two cases of fetal bilateral primary chylothorax successfully treated with pleuro-amniotic shunting. In both cases, ultrasound scans showed bilateral, hypoechoic fluid in the pleural space without any associated structural malformations and features of infection and aneuploidy Laboratory analysis of pleural fluids revealed 79% and 92% of lymphocytes, respectively confirming chylothorax in both fetuses.

[Evaluation of the association between maternal HCMV viremia and the course of pregnancy and neonatal outcome].

Unlabelled: Congenital cytomegaly is caused by intrauterine mother-to-fetus HCMV transmission and constitutes the most common vertical infection.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to analyze the viremia level in maternal blood and its influence on the course and duration of pregnancy as well as newborn condition.

Material And Methods: The material included blood samples collected from 117 pregnant women with serological features of HCMV infection and from 29 neonates hospitalized at DFMMG in Lodz between 1999 and 2009.

[Seroprevalence of cytomegalovirus infection in the population of Polish pregnant women].

Objectives: Human cytomegalovirus is a common etiological agent of infections and is the most common cause of intrauterine infections. Due to the scale and importance of infections during pregnancy in this study we investigated the incidence of specific IgG and IgM antibodies directed against HCMV in population of Polish pregnant women.

Material And Methods: The retrospective study included 1332 pregnant women who were hospitalized at the DFMMG in Lodz between 1999 and 2009.

Mannan-binding lectin-2 (MBL2) gene polymorphisms in prenatal and perinatal cytomegalovirus infections.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the leading cause of congenital infections among neonates. About 10% of newborns with such an infection have clinical symptoms at birth and about 1% of infected fetuses die due to developmental malformations. Mannan-binding lectin (MBL) is considered to be an important factor in innate immunity.

Intracellular glycoproteins binding galectin-1 in thyroid lesions.

Aims And Background: The increased expression of galectin-1 on the mRNA and protein level observed in malignant thyroid tumors in comparison with benign lesions suggests that this protein may be associated with malignant transformation of thyroid epithelium. Extracellular and membrane glycoproteins are the main known ligands for this galactose-binding lectin. However, immunofluorescence studies have shown that galectin-1 is found predominantly in the intracellular compartment.

[Evaluation of susceptibility to antifungal agents of fungal strains isolated from pregnant women with diabetes and healthy pregnant women].

Objectives: An increase in the frequency of fungal infections is related with progress in mycology and decreased susceptibility of fungal strains to commonly used antifungal agents. Diabetes and pregnancy are two independent factors believed to be responsible for an increased risk of mycoses.

Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the susceptibility of fungal strains isolated from pregnant women with diabetes as well as healthy pregnant women to ten antifungal agents.

[Occurrence of fungal infections in pregnant women and non-pregnant women with diabetes and without diabetes].

Unlabelled: Diabetes and pregnancy are thought to be independent factors increasing the risk of fungal infections.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the occurrence of fungal infection of the vagina, rectum and oral cavity in pregnant and non-pregnant women with and without diabetes.

Material And Methods: 627 women were included in the study, among them healthy non-pregnant women (HN), healthy pregnant women (HP), pregnant women with diabetes (PD) and non-pregnant women with diabetes (ND).

Expression of cytokeratin 19 in the cytosolic fraction of thyroid lesions: ELISA and Western blot analysis.

Cytokeratin 19 (CK19) is one of the most frequently studied immunohistochemical markers in thyroid pathology. The results of several studies suggest that CK19 may be useful in the diagnosis of papillary carcinoma, where it has been shown to have strong diffuse cytoplasmic reactivity. However, the published results vary, and the utility of CK19 in the diagnosis of thyroid lesions is controversial.

Sialylation of intracellular proteins of thyroid lesions.

Enhanced sialylation represents one of the most frequently occurring alterations of the sugar chain structure in various cancers. However, up to now, sialylation of intracellular proteins of thyroid carcinomas has never been investigated. The aim of this study was comparative analysis of cytoplasmic and nuclear sialoglycoproteins isolated from thyroid benign and malignant tumors as well as non-neoplastic lesions.