The effects of enteral artificial amniotic fluid-containing erythropoietin on short term outcomes of preterm infants

Hosseini M, Azampour H, Raeisi S, Behtari M, Valizadeh H, Saboohi R. The effects of enteral artificial amniotic fluid-containing erythropoietin on short term outcomes of preterm infants. Turk J Pediatr 2019; 61: 392-398. Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) is a common devastating gastrointestinal disease, which usually develops in premature infants. Erythropoietin (EPO) as a hematopoietic hormone produced by the kidney can also be naturally found in amniotic fluid and breast milk. There is some evidence that supports the contribution of EPO in the prevention of inflammation and intestinal tissue repair. This study was aimed to determine if oral administration of artificial amniotic fluid with or without EPO would protect preterm infants against NEC and improve the certain neonatal outcomes. In this study, 150 preterm infants with gestational age 28 weeks or less and birth weight 1250 grams or less were enrolled. The infants were divided randomly into 3 groups: 1) Control group (n=50) with routine feeding protocol without any administration; 2) Amniotic fluid group (n=50) with 5mL/kg synthetic amniotic fluid; 3) EPO group (n=50) with RhuEPO dissolved in the synthetic amniotic fluid. The administrations of the study solution were started 3 days after the birth and were continued for 3 weeks (21 days). The infants in the study groups were followed up until discharge and the frequency of NEC, mortality, and other complications of the disease among the groups were compared. The mortality rate in preterm infants of the amniotic fluid and EPO groups were significantly lower than in the control group (p=0.027). We couldn`t find any significant differences in the frequency of NEC and other complications among the three study groups. The administration of synthetic amniotic fluid (with or without EPO) in preterm infants may decrease the mortality rate. Use of EPO in synthetic amniotic fluid did not affect the frequency of NEC.

Ketogenic diet: overview, types, and possible anti-seizure mechanisms

The ketogenic diet (KD) has been used for a long time as a therapeutic approach for drug-resistant epilepsy. It is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate, and adequate protein diet. There are various types of KD with some differences in their compositions that mainly include classic KD, medium-chain triglyceride diet, modified Atkins diet, and low glycemic index treatment. The anti-seizure mechanisms of KDs have not yet completely understood but, some possible mechanisms can be theorized. The aim of the present study was to review the various types of KD and explain the probable biochemical mechanisms involved in its anti-seizure property.

Streptomyces Levis ABRIINW111 Inhibits SW480 Cells Growth by Apoptosis Induction

Purpose: Streptomyces sp., a dominant genus in Actinomycetes, is the source of a wide variety of secondary metabolites. Microbial metabolites can be utilized as novel anticancer agents; with fewer side effects. The present article illustrated the anti-carcinogenic effect of the ether extracted organic metabolites derived from Streptomyces bacteria on SW480 colon cancer cell line.

Methods: MTT assay was performed in order to investigate the cytotoxicity effect of metabolites on SW480 cells. Apoptosis and cell cycle arrests were measured by flowcytometry. Morphological changes were indicated by Propidium iodide staining andP53 gene expression was evaluated by real-time PCR.

Results: Streptomyces Levis ABRIINW111 inhibited cell growth, increased Caspases 3 and reduced Ki67 expression in a concentration/time-dependent manner in SW40 cells. Metabolites increased subG1 phase (apoptosis) and also cell cycle arrest in G1, G­­­2/M and S phase. P53 gene expression followed Sw480 cells treatment significantly.

Conclusion: Streptomyces sp. metabolites have anti-carcinogenic effect on colon cancer cells. Streptomyces Levis ABRIINW111 metabolites are a candidate for Colon cancer treatment.