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Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and its complex with matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) are present in a variety of human tissues and extracellular fluids. The aim of this pilot prospective case-control study was to detect NGAL and MMP-9/NGAL complex in human breast milk postpartum in women with normal and pregnancies that developed insulin-depended gestational diabetes mellitus (iGDM). We detected both biomarkers in human breast milk and concentrations were determined at the first day of colostrum secretion and two days after, in 22 normal pregnancies and 13 pregnancies with iGDM. Mean NGAL concentration decreased significantly from the first to the second sample, in both groups. Mean MMP-9/NGAL complex concentration decreased also significantly from the first to the second sample in normal pregnancies. Mean complex concentration was significantly higher in diabetic pregnancies compared to normal ones in the second sample.IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? There is limited information on the presence of Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in human milk and its physiological role.What the results of this study add? It is the first time that MMP-9/NGAL complex is detected in human milk in both normal and pregnancies complicated with insulin-depended gestational diabetes mellitus (iGDM). We confirm the presence of NGAL in colostrum of normal pregnancies and for the first time we detected NGAL in milk of pregnancies with iGDM. Concentrations of NGAL and MMP-9/NGAL complex tend to lessen postpartum in both groups. Pregnancies with iGDM compared to normal ones showed significantly higher concentration of MMP-9/NGAL complex two days after the beginning of lactation.What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Further studies are necessary to determine the levels of NGAL and MMP-9/NGAL complex in human milk postpartum in normal and pathological pregnancies. Taking into consideration the well-established NGAL's ability to act as a bacteriostatic agent and its mucosal healing activity in gastrointestinal track, early breastfeeding of neonates is a logical recommendation. Finally, new studies on the actual physiological role of milk NGAL in neonates are necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Basketball incorporates intense eccentric muscle activity that induces muscle microtrauma and an inflammatory response. This study investigated time-dependent inflammatory and performance responses during a weekly microcycle after a basketball match. Twenty elite-standard players underwent a trial that comprised a match followed by a 6-day simulated in-season microcycle. The trial was preceded by a control condition that did not have a match. Blood sampling and tests of maximal-intensity exercise performance and muscle damage occurred before each condition, immediately after the match and daily thereafter for 6 consecutive days. The match induced marked increases in heart rate, lactate, ammonia, glucose, non-esterified fatty acids and triglycerides. Performance deteriorated for 24–48 h after the match, whereas knee flexor and extensor soreness increased for 48 and 24 h post-match, respectively. Inflammatory (leukocytes, C-reactive protein, creatine kinase activity, adhesion molecules, cortisol, uric acid and cytokines) and oxidative stress (malondialdehyde, protein carbonyls, oxidised glutathione, antioxidant capacity, catalase and glutathione peroxidase) markers increased for ~24 h and subsided thereafter. Reduced glutathione declined for 24 h after exercise. These results suggest that a basketball match elicits moderate and relatively brief (~24–48 h) inflammatory responses, is associated with marked but short-lived performance deterioration, but is less stressful than other intermittent-type sports. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background. Lipodystrophy characterized by adipose tissue redistribution and lipid and glucose metabolism abnormalities, is common among HIV-infected adults and children on highly-active-antiretroviral-therapy (HAART). In a previous study of HIV-infected children, we did not detect insulin resistance, despite a high percentage of body fat redistribution abnormalities. Aim of the study. To investigate the non-traditional adipokines Retinol-binding-Protein-4 (RBP4), neutrophil-gelatinase-associated-lipocalin (NGAL), a-Fatty-Acid-Binding-Protein (a-FABP) and YKL-40 in HIV-infected children on highly-active-antiretroviral-therapy and evaluate their possible association to lipodystrophic changes or insulin resistance. Methods. Seventeen vertically HIV-infected children (mean age: 12.5 years, mean duration of HAART: 5.2 years) and 20 age- and BMI-matched controls were recruited. The HIV-children were re-evaluated after 12 months. RBP4, NGAL, a-FABP and YKL-40 were assessed at study entry and 12 months later and were correlated to body fat content and insulin resistance. Results. RBP4 values were similar at study entry and 12 months later in HIV-children and controls and showed no correlation to body fat or insulin resistance. NGAL was lower in HIV children at study entry but normalized after 12 months with no positive correlation to insulin resistance. a-FABP was positively correlated to body fat content, especially to trunk fat, both at initial evaluation and at follow-up in HIV children and, after prolonged highly-active-antiretroviral-therapy, it was also positively correlated to insulin resistance. Conclusions. This study is the first one to demonstrate that a-FABP could be a useful marker in unraveling central fat accumulation in HIV-infected children on highly-active-antiretroviral-therapy. Large prospective studies are needed to confirm these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]