Effect of antioxidants on markers of apoptosis in postoperative radiotherapy of cancer cervix

AIM OF THE WORK

To investigate whether a mixture of antioxidant supplementation can ameliorate damaging effects of ionizing radiation in cancer cervix patients during radiotherapy Accordingly apoptosis, lipid peroxides and Fas among cancer cervix patients undergoing postoperative radiotherapy (n=40) were measured before and after administration of a mixture of antioxidants including 60 mg vitamin C, 10 mg vitamin E, 1000 IU vitamin A and 50 mg Selenium.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients were divided into 2 groups each of 20 patients. Antioxidant mixture was administered to one group thrice per day during the duration of radiotherapy and one more week post cessation of radiotherapy. Twenty normal healthy women participated as controls.

RESULTS

Results revealed that following the first and second sessions of radiotherapy, both the groups with and without antioxidant administration showed higher frequency of lipid peroxidation and the frequency of micronuclei compared to their level before radiotherapy as measured 24 hours and 48 hours post first session of radiotherapy. Patients undergoing radiotherapy showed a decrease in all parameters of the study after one-week, one-month post irradiation and one week post cessation of radiotherapy. However, the antioxidants group showed significantly lower levels of apoptosis and lipid peroxides and Fas compared to patients who did not receive antioxidant supplementation.

CONCLUSION

The results of the present study reveals adaptation to radiation during radiotherapy and evaluate the prophylactic effect of a mixture of antioxidants during radiotherapy.

Angiogenin and vascular endothelial growth factor in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the role of the angiogenic factors, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiogenin in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia and how their concentrations correlate with the severity of the disease and fetal outcome.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A prospective study was carried out on 71 pregnant patients with preeclampsia and 20 pregnant normotensive controls. Maternal serum levels of VEGF and angiogenin were determined in all cases by enzyme immunoassay. Assessment of fetal well-being using the Biophysical Profile Score (BPS), umbilical and uterine artery Doppler velocimetry, and infant birthweight were carried out.

RESULTS

Maternal serum VEGF and angiogenin levels were significantly increased in cases of mild and severe preeclampsia compared to controls. Their increase was positively correlated with elevated systolic and diastolic blood pressure, as well as poor BPS, abnormal Doppler velocimetry, and low birthweight.

CONCLUSION

Elevated levels of both VEGF and angiogenin could confirm the existence of vascular reactivity and endothelial disturbance in preeclampsia. Measurement of these angiogenic factors in maternal serum may be a useful as biomarkers for the assessment of the severity of the disease and of fetal outcome.