Maternal smoking may lead to decreased milk levels of vitamin E, as a result of making use of this antioxidant in order to limit lipid peroxidation, as well as may lead to a possible limitation on the transfer of lipophilic antioxidants including vitamin A from blood plasma to milk. Further investigations conducted in large populations will be needed to assess the effects of maternal smoking on the oxidant and antioxidant status of breast milk.

Neural tube defects are important causes of infant mortality and childhood morbidity. We investigated the relationship between zinc, selenium, copper, and lead concentrations and neural-tube-defect occurrence in women with a second-trimester termination due to fetal-neural-tube defects (NTDs) in this case-control study. Fourteen pregnant women whose pregnancies were terminated as a result of second-trimester ultrasonographic diagnosis of neural tube defects were recruited as cases. The control group (n = 14) consisted of women who were selected among age-, gravidity-, and socio-economic-state (SES)-matched women who had a normal triple-screen and targeted ultrasound during the second trimester with documented normal fetal outcome. Zinc and copper determinations were made using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). Graphite furnace AAS was used for Pb, and Se levels were measured with hydride generation AAS. Cases had significantly low serum zinc and selenium levels (62.48+/-15.9 vs 102.6+/-23.7 and 55.16+/-11.3 vs 77.4+/-5.5, respectively, p<0.001). Serum Cu and whole-blood Pb levels were significantly high when compared to controls. There was a negative correlation between serum zinc and selenium levels, and serum copper levels (r=-425 and -0.443, p<0.05). Our results are consistent with some previous reports. The etiology of NTDs cannot be explained with one strict etiologic mechanism. On the contrary, an interaction among environmental, genetic, and nutritional factors such as trace elements and vitamins would explain these anomalies. If folic acid supplementation is given, additional Zn supplementation should be considered for the further decrease in the recurrence and occurrence of NTDs.

These results support the interpretation that disturbances in XCI mosaicism may be involved in the pathogenesis of RSA.

DMPA, which is an effective contraceptive agent, can be used to prevent bleeding from the corpus luteum by means of ovulation suppression in anticoagulated patients with prosthetic heart valves. However, meticulous surveillance should be provided during the follow-up, including close monitoring of anticoagulation intensity and lipid profile.

Forty consecutive healthy pregnant women aged 17-38 yr who attended the antenatal clinic of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ankara University in their first trimester participated in the study. The pregnant women were followed up longitudinally until the end of their pregnancy. Forty healthy age-matched nonpregnant women were used as a control group. Each pregnant woman was interviewed and a special questionnaire recording dietary history (3-d recall) and socioeconomic status (SES) was used. Birth weight, height, and head circumference of the newborn were measured and a complete physical examination was done for each neonate by the same observer. Blood samples were obtained at each trimester and zinc determinations were made using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results of plasma Zn measurements were available in 39 pregnant women. There were 23 women of low SES (mean plasma Zn level: 59.0 +/- 6.9 microg/dL) and 16 of high SES (mean plasma Zn: 70.3 +/- 5.2 microg/dL). The difference between the mean plasma Zn levels of these two groups was significant (p < 0.001). The nutritional status in our study appeared to be an important factor responsible for low plasma Zn levels during pregnancy. However, we did not find any correlation between plasma Zn levels and anthropometric parameters of the newborn and pregnancy outcome. Further studies using larger sample sizes are needed to clarify the role of plasma Zn levels on maternal features and fetal outcomes in Turkey.