Comparison of etoricoxib and indomethacin for the treatment of experimental periodontitis in rats

We investigated the effect of etoricoxib, a selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, and indomethacin, a non-selective cyclooxygenase inhibitor, on experimental periodontitis, and compared their gastrointestinal side effects. A ligature was placed around the second upper left molars of female Wistar rats (160 to 200 g). Animals (6 per group) were treated daily with oral doses of 3 or 9 mg/kg etoricoxib, 5 mg/kg indomethacin, or 0.2 mL saline, starting 5 days after the induction of periodontitis, when bone resorption was detected, until the sacrifice on the 11th day. The weight and survival rate were monitored. Alveolar bone loss (ABL) was measured as the sum of distances between the cusp tips and the alveolar bone. The gastric mucosa was examined macroscopically and the periodontium and gastric and intestinal mucosa were examined by histopathology. The ongoing ABL was significantly inhibited (P < 0.05) by 3 and 9 mg/kg etoricoxib and by indomethacin: control = 4.08 +/- 0.47 mm; etoricoxib (3 mg/kg) = 1.89 +/- 0.26 mm; etoricoxib (9 mg/kg) = 1.02 +/- 0.14 mm; indomethacin = 0.64 +/- 0.15 mm. Histopathology of periodontium showed that etoricoxib and indomethacin reduced inflammatory cell infiltration, ABL, and cementum and collagen fiber destruction. Macroscopic and histopathological analysis of gastric and intestinal mucosa demonstrated that etoricoxib induces less damage than indomethacin. Animals that received indomethacin presented weight loss starting on the 7th day, and higher mortality rate (58.3%) compared to etoricoxib (0%). Treatment with etoricoxib, even starting when ABL is detected, reduces inflammation and cementum and bone resorption, with fewer gastrointestinal side effects.

VITAMIN E IN HUMAN MILK AND ITS RELATION TO THE NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENT OF THE TERM NEWBORN

Objectives:

To determine the alpha-tocopherol concentration in breast milk at different periods of lactation and to estimate the possible supply of vitamin E to the infant.

Methods:

A longitudinal observational study was carried out with 100 mothers at University Hospital Ana Bezerra (HUAB), at Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, in Santa Cruz (RN), Northeast Brazil. Samples of colostrum (n=100), transitional milk (n=77), and mature milk (n=63) were collected. Alpha-tocopherol was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Vitamin supply to the newborn was estimated by comparing the nutritional requirement of vitamin E (4 mg/day) with the potential daily intake of milk.

Results:

The mean alpha-tocopherol concentration found in colostrum, transitional, and mature milk was 40.5±15.0 µmol/L, 13.9±5.2 µmol/L, and 8.0±3.8 µmol/L, respectively (p<0.001). The possible effect of these milks offered to the infant 6.2 mg/day of vitamin E in colostrum, 4.7 mg/day in transitional milk, and 2.7 mg/day in mature milk (p<0.0001), shows that only the mature milk did not guarantee the recommended quantity of this vitamin.

Conclusions:

Alpha-tocopherol levels in human milk decrease through the progression of lactation, and the possible intake of colostrum and transitional milk met the nutritional requirement of the infant. Mature milk may provide smaller amounts of vitamin E. Thus, it is important to study the factors that are associated with such low levels.

Breast milk retinol concentration in mothers of preterm newborns

BACKGROUND

Preterm newborns have low vitamin A reserves at birth, which increases their risk of morbidity and mortality. In the absence of supplementation, breast milk is the only source of this nutrient for exclusively breastfed infants.

AIMS

To assess retinol concentration in preterm milk and the relationship between this retinol concentration and lactation phase, degree of prematurity, and maternal serum retinol level.

STUDY DESIGN

Longitudinal study.

SUBJECTS

Fifty-eight preterm mothers.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Colostrum (1-3d), transitional (7-15d), and mature human milk (30-55d) samples were collected. Maternal blood was collected once at postpartum. Retinol level was measured using high-performance liquid chromatography.

RESULTS

Milk retinol concentration was statistically different between lactation phases (p<0.001): 2.84±1.05μmol/L in colostrum (58), 3.47±1.28μmol/L in transitional (58), and 2.03±0.61μmol/L in mature milk (30). No difference was found in milk retinol levels between groups with different degrees of prematurity (p>0.05). Maternal serum retinol (1.82±0.50μmol/L) did not correlate with milk levels (p>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Retinol level in preterm milk seems to be independent of the degree of prematurity and maternal serum status. A significant increase in micronutrient levels in transitional milk was observed, which is likely to contribute to reserves in the premature liver.

Alpha-tocopherol concentration in serum and colostrum of mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate and compare the levels of α-tocopherol in colostrum and in the serum of healthy and diabetic mothers.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study enrolled 51 volunteer mothers, 20 with the diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus and 31 without associated diseases. Serum and colostrum samples were collected in fasting in the immediate postpartum period and α-tocopherol was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In order to define the nutritional status of vitamin E, the cutoff point for the serum (697.7µg/dL) was adopted. Student's t-test for independent variables compared the average concentrations of α-tocopherol in the serum and in the colostrum between control and gestational diabetes mellitus groups. Pearson's correlation was used to assess the relationship between the concentration of α-tocopherol in serum and colostrum for both groups. Differences were considered significant when p<0.05.

RESULTS

The α-tocopherol concentration in colostrum was 1,483.1±533.8µg/dL for Control Group and 1,368.8±681.8µg/dL for diabetic women, without differences between groups (p=0.50). However, α-tocopherol concentration in the serum was 1,059.5±372.7µg/dL in the Control Group and 1,391.4±531.5µg/dL in the diabetic one (p<0.01). No correlation was found between the concentration of α-tocopherol in the serum and in the colostrum for control and diabetic groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The groups had adequate nutritional status of vitamin E. Gestational diabetes was not associated with changes in α-tocopherol concentration in colostrum.