Browsing by Author "Kontic-Vucinic, Olivera (16063770000)"

The aim of the present study was to analyze the distribution of genotypes and haplotypes of functional eNOS gene polymorphisms in the promoter (−786 T/C), intron 4 (VNTR4b/a) and exon 7 (894 G/T), in Serbian population of pregnant women, and establish a possible association between these polymorphisms and preeclampsia development. DNA was isolated from venous blood samples of 50 heathy pregnant women and 50 preeclampsia patients. Polymerase Chain Reaction/Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR/RFLP) technique, with appropriate sets of primers and specific restriction enzymes, was used to determine polymorphisms in eNOS gene. Statistical analysis was done using the SPSS and HAPLOVIEW software packages. eNOS −786 T/C polymorphism was significantly associated with preeclampsia (P = 0.006). Homozygotes for the VNTR polymorphism had also an elevated risk of developing preeclampsia (OR=7.68, 95%CI (0.89–65.98)), especially the mild (OR=9.33, 95%CI (0.98–88.57)) and late form (OR=8.52, 95%CI (0.90–80.58)). The 894 G/T polymorphism was not associated with preeclampsia. “G-C-b” and “T-4a-T” haplotypes were more frequent in preeclampsia, though without reaching statistical significance. −786 T/C and VNTR 4b/a eNOS gene polymorphisms were associated with preeclampsia risk in Serbian patients. © 2021, Society for Reproductive Investigation.

[No abstract available]

Well-balanced and adequate maternal nutrition prior conception and during pregnancy affects the course and outcome of pregnancy, and enables achievement of a: 1) healthy pregnancy, 2) uncomplicated delivery of a full-term and well-developed baby, 3) lower risk of maternal postpartum complications, and 4) sufficient source for lactation. Adequate maternal nutrition also improves future maternal health in general and reproductive health in particular. As it is now widely recognized that the risk of various chronic diseases in adulthood might have their origins in intrauterine life, the new goal of the contemporary approach in pregnancy nutrition is to establish the nutritional foundations for a healthy adults during intrauterine life. Pregnancy represents a special maternal demand for high-quality nutrients, as it is regarded as a metabolic stress that is increasing according to the course of the gestation. Although it is not completely clear how nutritional status of the mother influences her own health as well as fetal growth/development, nutrition imbalance could be harmful to the pregnant woman, influencing both the outcome of pregnancy and the composition of breast milk. In well-nourished women these increased needs are best met by biological and metabolic adaptation to pregnancy. Increasing demands should be achieved by appropriate dietary intake, which contains all nutrition requirements. In cases of imbalanced dietary intake, preexisting deficiencies of micronutrients, previous adverse pregnancy outcomes, and in all cases of high-risk pregnancies micronutrient supplementation is especially important. However, until now there is insufficient evidence to define whether there is a need for routine antepartum supplementation or should nutritional intervention be restrained to deficient populations and high-risk pregnancies. As the data on the effectiveness of supplementation in preventing or treating pregnancy-related disorders and perinatal complications are contradictory, future well designed randomized control trials would try to solve this dilemma. Micronutrient supplementation supporters have a standpoint that the potential benefits of routine supplementation overweigh any potential adverse reaction that can be attributed. In the other hand, the daily requirements are easily met in all individuals having a balanced diet. Although deficiency states are rare, several pharmaceutical companies produce over-the-counter vitamin - plus-mineral nutritional supplements, despite the lack of clear evidence to support their supplemental consumption. Currently, micronutrient supplementation should be chosen on an individual basis. In the near future, the goal would be to estimate micronutrient status prior to conception or in the early pregnancy, in order to define patients who must receive appropriate micronutrient supplementation. © 2008 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.

Well-balanced and adequate maternal nutrition prior conception and during pregnancy affects the course and outcome of pregnancy, and enables achievement of a: 1) healthy pregnancy, 2) uncomplicated delivery of a full-term and well-developed baby, 3) lower risk of maternal postpartum complications, and 4) sufficient source for lactation. Adequate maternal nutrition also improves future maternal health in general and reproductive health in particular. As it is now widely recognized that the risk of various chronic diseases in adulthood might have their origins in intrauterine life, the new goal of the contemporary approach in pregnancy nutrition is to establish the nutritional foundations for a healthy adults during intrauterine life. Pregnancy represents a special maternal demand for high-quality nutrients, as it is regarded as a metabolic stress that is increasing according to the course of the gestation. Although it is not completely clear how nutritional status of the mother influences her own health as well as fetal growth/development, nutrition imbalance could be harmful to the pregnant woman, influencing both the outcome of pregnancy and the composition of breast milk. In well-nourished women these increased needs are best met by biological and metabolic adaptation to pregnancy. Increasing demands should be achieved by appropriate dietary intake, which contains all nutrition requirements. In cases of imbalanced dietary intake, preexisting deficiencies of micronutrients, previous adverse pregnancy outcomes, and in all cases of high-risk pregnancies micronutrient supplementation is especially important. However, until now there is insufficient evidence to define whether there is a need for routine antepartum supplementation or should nutritional intervention be restrained to deficient populations and high-risk pregnancies. As the data on the effectiveness of supplementation in preventing or treating pregnancy-related disorders and perinatal complications are contradictory, future well designed randomized control trials would try to solve this dilemma. Micronutrient supplementation supporters have a standpoint that the potential benefits of routine supplementation overweigh any potential adverse reaction that can be attributed. In the other hand, the daily requirements are easily met in all individuals having a balanced diet. Although deficiency states are rare, several pharmaceutical companies produce over-the-counter vitamin - plus-mineral nutritional supplements, despite the lack of clear evidence to support their supplemental consumption. Currently, micronutrient supplementation should be chosen on an individual basis. In the near future, the goal would be to estimate micronutrient status prior to conception or in the early pregnancy, in order to define patients who must receive appropriate micronutrient supplementation. © 2008 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.

Objective: To measure fetal and maternal plasma homocysteine (Hcy) concentrations in uncomplicated pregnancies. Methods: Paired maternal venous and fetal umbilical cord blood (n = 81) samples were evaluated for plasma Hcy and vitamin B12 levels, in addition to eight neonatal umbilical cord blood samples obtained immediately following delivery. Results: Both fetal and maternal Hcy concentrations were positively correlated with advancing gestational age (ρ = 0.44, p < 0.0001; and ρ = 0.27, p < 0.05, respectively). Fetal plasma Hcy concentrations [2.2 μmol/l (IQR: 2.0-3.2)] were significantly lower than both neonatal umbilical vein [5.0 μmol/l (IQR: 4.4-6.5); p < 0.001] and maternal plasma Hcy levels [4.4 μmo/l (IQR: 3.4-5.4); p < 0.001]. In addition, Hcy values at term were higher in the umbilical vein compared with the umbilical artery [5.0 μmol/l (IQR: 3.4-5.4) versus 4.2 μmol/l (IQR: 3.7-5.5), respectively; p = 0.016]. Significant correlation was noted and between fetal and maternal Hcy levels (ρ = 0.50, p < 0.0001), while fetal Hcy was negatively correlated with maternal B12 concentrations (ρ = -0.32, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Fetal Hcy levels were significantly lower than maternal and neonatal levels and correlated with gestational age across the second half of pregnancy. © 2014 Informa UK Ltd. All rights reserved.

[No abstract available]

[No abstract available]

Problem: Preeclampsia has a multifactorial origin with genetic, immunological, and environmental factors described as main contributors to its onset. This study aimed to investigate glutathione-S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) and glutathione-S-transferase T1 (GSTT1) gene polymorphisms, the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6), and the potential relationship between GST polymorphisms and cytokine expression levels in preeclampsia and uncomplicated pregnancy. Method of Study: This prospective case-control study included 50 women with preeclampsia and 50 healthy pregnant women. DNA and RNA were extracted from women leukocytes. Deletion polymorphisms were analyzed by PCR, while cytokine mRNA expression was analyzed by real-time PCR. Results: GSTM1 null genotype with present GSTT1 increased the risk for preeclampsia development. Deletion of GSTT1 without deletion of GSTM1 increased the risk for early preeclampsia. Relative mRNA expression of TNF-α was significantly higher in preeclampsia compared to healthy pregnant women (P = 0.006). Expression of IL-1β was significantly higher in severe and late preeclampsia compared to the control group (P = 0.005, P = 0.007, respectively). A significant positive correlation between TNF-α and IL-1β was observed (Spearman's ρ = 0.312, P = 0.028) and between IL-1β and IL-6, in preeclampsia group (Spearman's ρ = 0.296, P = 0.037). IL-1β was significantly increased in patients with GSTT1 null genotype (P = 0.015) while IL-6 was increased in patients with GSTM1 null genotype (P = 0.015). Conclusions: GSTM1 null genotype represents a risk factor for preeclampsia development, while GSTT1 null genotype favors early preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is also associated with increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, predominantly TNF-α and IL-1β. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd

Problem: Preeclampsia has a multifactorial origin with genetic, immunological, and environmental factors described as main contributors to its onset. This study aimed to investigate glutathione-S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) and glutathione-S-transferase T1 (GSTT1) gene polymorphisms, the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6), and the potential relationship between GST polymorphisms and cytokine expression levels in preeclampsia and uncomplicated pregnancy. Method of Study: This prospective case-control study included 50 women with preeclampsia and 50 healthy pregnant women. DNA and RNA were extracted from women leukocytes. Deletion polymorphisms were analyzed by PCR, while cytokine mRNA expression was analyzed by real-time PCR. Results: GSTM1 null genotype with present GSTT1 increased the risk for preeclampsia development. Deletion of GSTT1 without deletion of GSTM1 increased the risk for early preeclampsia. Relative mRNA expression of TNF-α was significantly higher in preeclampsia compared to healthy pregnant women (P = 0.006). Expression of IL-1β was significantly higher in severe and late preeclampsia compared to the control group (P = 0.005, P = 0.007, respectively). A significant positive correlation between TNF-α and IL-1β was observed (Spearman's ρ = 0.312, P = 0.028) and between IL-1β and IL-6, in preeclampsia group (Spearman's ρ = 0.296, P = 0.037). IL-1β was significantly increased in patients with GSTT1 null genotype (P = 0.015) while IL-6 was increased in patients with GSTM1 null genotype (P = 0.015). Conclusions: GSTM1 null genotype represents a risk factor for preeclampsia development, while GSTT1 null genotype favors early preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is also associated with increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, predominantly TNF-α and IL-1β. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd

Preeclampsia (PE) is an important and a leading cause of both maternal morbidity and adverse perinatal outcomes. Despite progress in perinatal medicine for patients with an established diagnosis of PE, a therapeutic approach other than termination of pregnancy was unsuccessful. Women predisposed to PE begin pregnancy with a certain degree of endothelial dysfunction, a lesion that precedes shallow placentation. The proposed sequence of events comprises endothelial dysfunction, defective trophoblast invasion, and consequential impaired placental perfusion, immune maladaptation and inflammation. The possible link between these could be oxidative stress by excessive production of reactive oxygen species coupled with inadequate or overwhelmed antioxidant defense mechanisms. These defense mechanisms, involving antioxidant vitamins and enzyme systems, may restrain the extent of damage caused by oxidative stress. Markers of oxidative stress in women with established PE were confirmed. Accordingly, these findings support an expected beneficial effect of antioxidant therapy in the prevention of PE and other pregnancy-related disorders. Numerous studies have been carried out in order to investigate this possible and simple prophylactic and/or therapeutic approach in prevention of oxidative stress and eventual reduction of PE and its perinatal complications. In this review the role of vitamin antioxidants in prevention and treatment of PE is discussed. Despite the logic behind using antioxidant vitamins, the data, thus far, are at best conflicting. © 2008 by Walter de Gruyter.

Objectives: Establishment of association between: (a) Val158Met COMT (G1947A) polymorphism and preeclampsia; (b) cytokines gene expression and COMT genotypes. Methods: 50 preeclampsia and 50 healthy pregnant women were enrolled. COMT genotyping was done by PCR/RFLP. TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 mRNA levels were determined by Real-time PCR. Results: Variant (AA) homozygotes carried 3.7-fold increased preeclampsia odds, especially for severe (OR = 9.0, 95%CI (2.09–38.799)) and early forms (OR = 6.6, 95%CI (1.62–26.87)). AA homozygotes with PE had higher TNF-α levels compared to controls (P = 0.012). Conclusions: Val158Met COMT polymorphism increases preeclampsia risk. TNF-α expression and Val158Met COMT polymorphism have concomitant roles in PE pathogenesis. © 2020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.