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The goal of this study was to investigate metabolic changes in lipids and oxidative stress parameters in the first trimester of pregnancy with the more specific aim of estimating the significance and strength of researched parameters in the prediction of preeclampsia. Design and Methods. The study included 87 high-risk pregnant (HRG) female subjects, 14 with developed preeclampsia (PEC) and 43 healthy pregnant female subjects matched for gestational age (CG). Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) concentration, lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH), pro-oxidant antioxidant balance (PAB) and total oxidative status (TOS) were measured as oxidative stress markers, while total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was measured as an antioxidative defense parameter. The Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP) was calculated as the base 10 logarithm of the ratio of the plasma concentration of triglycerides (TG) to the plasma concentration of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), with each concentration expressed in mmol/L. Results: The results have shown that lipid indices, especially AIP, were significantly higher in the first trimester of HRG (p < 0.001) and PEC (p < 0.001). Oxidative stress parameters were significantlly higher, while TAC was significantly lower in HRG vs. CG [0.7 ± 0.15 vs 1.1 ± 0.16; (p < 0.001)] and in PEC [0.6 ± 0.12 vs 1.1 ± 0.16; (p < 0.001)] vs. CG. Also, in the HRG, results have shown an independent association of AIP with the preeclampsia development (p < 0.05), while placental growth factor did not show the expected level of significance (p = 0.648). Analysis of the Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curves indicated that certain parameters included in the research model have very good diagnostic accuracy for preeclampsia (AUC = 0.856). AIP is associated with high-risk pregnancies. Furthermore, our results firmly underscored AIP as a potential marker for preeclampsia prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A new approach to the two-level design and self-assembling of Me x SiO y (Me=Gd, Y and Ca or their mixtures) nano-powders from SiO2 sols is described. The nanostructure design of various optical active materials based on different compounds of Me x SiO y is discussed. These particles were formed by the combination of hydrothermal synthesis and ultrasound spray pyrolysis. The morphology and structural design of the particles and sub-particles are defined by their synthesis procedure and processing parameters. The mean particle size and size distribution of all the Me x SiO y based compounds were determined by SEM analysis. These results were compared with the particle diameter evaluated from the theoretical model of the breaking-up of capillary waves. For all the synthesized powders, the obtained results indicate the possibility of a rigorous design of the structure of the particles throughout their entire hierarchy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Quaternary spinel oxide LiMn1.825Cr0.175O4 powder was synthesized by using an ultrasonic spray pyrolysis method, without additional annealing. The crystal structure of the as-prepared powder was revealed by X-ray powder diffraction and identified as a single spinel phase with Fd3m space group. The powders had a spherical morphology with extremely smooth surface appearance and densely congested interior structure. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed that the particle consisted by the cohesion of the primary particles. Magnetic measurements performed in DC field in both zero-field-cooled and field-cooled regimes, as well as AC susceptibility experiments, show that system undergoes spin-glass transition at the freezing temperature T f =20K. The value of the effective magnetic moment μ eff =4.34 μ B obtained from the Curie-Weiss fit in the high temperature region confirms the substitution of Mn3+ ions with Cr3+ ions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]