Placenta tissue may be a major source of lipid peroxidation products in pregnancy. It was proven that placental peroxidation activity increases with gestation. Selenium (Se), as an essential constituent of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), takes part in the reduction of hydrogen peroxides and lipid peroxides. Malondialdehyde (MDA) is a major breakdown product split off from lipid peroxides. In this study, Se and MDA content and GSH-Px activity were measured in blood and plasma taken from 20 apparently healthy nonpregnant women between 19 and 38 yr of age and from 115 unselected pregnant women between 17 and 45 yr of age (35 in the first trimester, 22 in the second trimester, 38 in the third trimester, and 20 within 2 d of delivery). Samples of umbilical cord blood and amniotic fluid were taken from women in the second and third trimesters and at delivery. The Se content was measured by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), plasma MDA concentration by thiobarbituric acid reaction, and Se-dependent GSH-Px spectrometrically. Blood and plasma Se contents of nonpregnant women were below those considered adequate, indicating low selenium intake. In comparison to nonpregnant women, pregnant women had significantly decreased whole-blood and plasma Se levels in the second and third trimesters and at delivery. The significant drop of whole-blood SeGSH-Px activity was observed in the first trimester of pregnancy and its lower activity was maintained until delivery. A significant drop in plasma SeGSH-Px activity occurred in the second trimester and attained the minimal level at delivery. The Se level and SeGSH-Px activity in maternal and umbilical cord blood were at similar levels. Amniotic-fluid SeGSH-Px activity was nondetectable or exceptionally low and its Se content remained unchanged during pregnancy. Plasma levels of MDA were significantly decreased in the second and third trimesters and at delivery. The fetal blood plasma at birth had a lower MDA level compared to the levels of MDA of their mothers at delivery. A low, but significant inverse correlation existed between blood SeGSH-Px activity and plasma MDA content and between plasma Se and plasma MDA contents during pregnancy. A significant decrease of Se and SeGSH-Px activities (antioxidant enzyme) in both blood and plasma suggests a possible drop in total antioxidant status during pregnancy. Elevated MDA plasma levels might be the result of increased lipid peroxidation in placental tissue during pregnancy. Index Entries: Selenium; glutathione peroxidase; malondialdehyde; pregnancy; umbilical cord blood; amniotic fluid.

The mechanism of the positive inotropic effect of prostacyclin (PGI2) (2.6 x 10(-6) mol/l) on the isolated right ventricle of rat heart was studied. Our results show that the positive inotropic effect of prostacyclin is produced indirectly through beta adrenoceptors and slow Ca2+ channels, because blockade of slow Ca2+ channels with verapamil (10(-6) mol/l) and beta adrenoceptors with propranolol (10(-6) mol/l) abolishes this effect. Alpha adrenoceptors do not mediate the action of PGI2.

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Using a detailed model of the InGaAs P-i-N photodiode that includes effects caused by the change of bias voltage and effects of the RC parasitic constant, authors describe the implementation of the pulse response of the P-i-N photodiode in the lightwave system model obtaining greater accuracy in comparison to an ideal square-law detector or to the simplified one-pole P-i-N photodiode model. Developed method has been used for the evaluation of the 10 Gbit/s 1.55 μιη IM/DD (Intensity Modulation/Direct Detection) digital optical system performance with InGaAs P-i-N photodiode as an optical receiver. The authors also propose the correction factor, the photodiode bandwidth penalty, in the total optical system penalty that describes the influence of the P-i-N photodiode properties on the optical system performance.