Search NEL Online

Journal Article 2012; 33(2): 224-235 PubMed PMID: 22592206 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Estrogens:blood, Female, Humans, Hydrocortisone:blood, Intelligence:physiology, Intelligence Tests:statistics & numerical data, Male, Memory:physiology, Mental Disorders:blood, Military Personnel:psychology, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales:statist.   

BACKGROUND: Cortisol, along with other hormones of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis, belongs to one of the main factors influencing psychological and pathognomic factors, intelligence, and memory.

METHODS: The aim of our study was to review a large battery of psychological, performance, IQ and memory tests as to their relation with cortisol, testosterone and estrogen levels in groups of 100 men and 93 women who attended the Central Military Hospital in Prague for regular entrance psychological examinations for military personnel.

RESULTS: In men, we detected positive correlations between cortisol and emotional lability, and negative correlations with impulsivity, while in women hypochondria and psychopathology were negatively correlated, and aggression measured with the Meili selective memory test had a positive relation to cortisol level. Testosterone correlated positively with emotional liability and negatively with impulsivity in men, and negatively with hypochondria and psychasteny, indirect aggression, irritability and paranoia in women. Estradiol correlated positively with psychopathology in men, and negatively with phobia. It was positively correlated with negativism in women. No clear correlation was observed between the concentration of steroid hormones and psychomotor performance or intelligence.

CONCLUSIONS: Concentrations of steroid hormones correlate with results of several psychological tests, the sign and magnitude of these correlations, however, very often differ in military men and women....

Read abstract  Full text PDF

Journal Article 2012; 33(2): 217-223 PubMed PMID: 22592205 Citation  Keywords:  Adiponectin:blood, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Biomarkers:blood, Case-Control Studies, Endometrial Neoplasms:blood, Female, Humans, Leptin:blood, Middle Aged, Postmenopause:blood, Predictive Value of Tests, Sensitivity and Specificity, Uterine Hemorrhage:blo.   

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the correlation between endometrial cancer and adiponectin plasma concentration, leptin plasma concentration as well as adiponectin to leptin index in the population of postmenopausal women with abnormal vaginal bleeding.

DESIGN: An observational study SETTINg: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Specialist Teaching Hospital in Tychy, Poland. Population. 99 women between 47 and 88 years old, in postmenopausal state.

METHODS: The cases (54 women) were females hospitalized due to postmenopausal vaginal bleeding in whom dilation and curettage (D&C) was performed and endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia (EIN) was diagnosed in anathomopathology. Hysterectomy was then performed in all cases and the endometrial cancer diagnosis was confirmed. The controls (45 women) consists of females with no postmenopausal uterine bleeding in whom endometrial thickness in transvaginal ultrasound was greater than 5 mm. D&C was than performed and no endometrial neoplasia was detected in any of the subjects. Adiponectin and leptin plasma concentration was measured in both groups. Mein outcome measures. The area under the curve, sensitivity, specificity and cutoffs for adiponectin, leptin and adiponectin to leptin index.

RESULTS: Adiponectin, leptin and adiponectin to leptin index were statistically correlated with the risk of endometrial cancer. At the suggested cutoffs, corresponding to the highest accuracy (minimal false-negative and false-positive results), adiponectin to leptin index resulted in the highest sensitivity and specificity compared to adiponectin and leptin alone.

CONCLUSIONS: Adiponectin to leptin index due to the highest sensitivity and specificity may be used as a marker of endometrial cancer in postmenopausal women with abnormal vaginal bleeding....

Read abstract  Full text PDF

Comparative Study 2012; 33(2): 212-216 PubMed PMID: 22592204 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Endometrium:diagnostic imaging, Endosonography:methods, Female, Humans, Hysteroscopy:methods, Imaging, Three-Dimensional:methods, Middle Aged, Perimenopause, Sensitivity and Specificity, Uterine Hemorrhage:diagnosis, Uterus:diagnostic imaging,.   

OBJECTIVE: In many publications the transvaginal ultrasound is regarded as the first step to diagnose the cause of uterine bleeding in perimenopausal women. In order to improve the sensitivity and specificity of the conventional ultrasound physiological saline solution was administered to the uterine cavity and after expansion of its walls the interior uterine cavity was examined. And this procedure is called 2D sonohysterography (SIS 2D). By the ultrasound scanners which enable to get 3D real time image a spatial evaluation of the uterine cavity is possible. Clinical value of the real time 3D sonohysterography and 2D sonohysterography compared to hysteroscopy with histopathological examination in perimenopausal women.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study concerned a group of 97 perimenopausal women with abnormal uterine bleeding. In all of them after a standard transvaginal ultrasonography a catheter was inserted into the uterine cavity. After expansion of the uterine walls by administering about 10 ml of 0,9% saline solution the uterine cavity was examined by conventional sonohysterography. Then a 3D imaging mode was activated and the uterine interior was examined by real time 3D ultrasonography. The ultrasound results were verified by hysteroscopy, the endometrial lesions were removed and underwent a histopathological examination.

RESULTS: In two cases the SIS examination was impossible because of uterine cervix atresion. In the rest of examined group the SIS 2D sensitivity and specificity came up to 72 and 96% respectively. In the group of SIS 3D the sensitivity and specificity reached 83 and 99% respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: Adding SIS 3D, a minimally invasive method, to conventional sonohysterography improves the precision of diagnosis of endometrial pathology, allows to get three-dimensional image of the uterine cavity and enables examination of endometrial lesions. The diagnostic precision of this procedure is similar to the results achieved by hysteroscopy....

Read abstract  Full text PDF

Journal Article 2012; 33(2): 207-211 PubMed PMID: 22592203 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Child, Child, Preschool, Craniocerebral Trauma:blood, Female, Glasgow Coma Scale:statistics & numerical data, Glasgow Outcome Scale:statistics & numerical data, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Male, Nerve Growth Factors:blood, S100 Calcium Bi.   

OBJECTIVES: The S100B protein subgroup is a thermolabile acidic calcium-binding protein, which was first described in association with the central nervous system. Destruction of nerve tissue results in S100B protein release from astrocytes and elevation of its levels in cerebrospinal fluid. If the blood-brain barrier is also damaged, S100B can pass into the systemic circulation and elevated blood levels of S100B can be detected. High S100B serum levels in patients with head injuries are predictive of possible development of secondary brain injury and may be related to the extent of permanent injury to the CNS .

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The authors present results obtained from a group of 39 children aged 0 (newborns) to 17 years with an isolated craniocerebral injury.

RESULTS: In our group of 39 children (aged 0-17 years) we observed excellent GOS group (GOS - Glasgow Outcome Scale 4 or 5) in 33 patients at the time of transfer from our intensive care unit to the neurological department. There were no deaths and only 6 children were in the poor GOS group (GOS 2 or 3). A second GOS evaluation was performed 6 months later: at this time 36 children were in the excellent GOS group and only 3 children remained in the poor GOS group.

CONCLUSIONS: Due to high variability in S100B protein serum levels in children (dependent on age and gender) no correlation between initial S100B levels and GOS was observed for our group of patients. Our results indicate that the rate of decrease of S100B protein levels back to normal values is more meaningful than its absolute value....

Read abstract  Full text PDF

Journal Article 2012; 33(2): 201-206 PubMed PMID: 22592202 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity:diagnosis, Case-Control Studies, Child, Female, Humans, Male, Parents:psychology, Prospective Studies, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales:statistics & numerical data,.   

BACKGROUND: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common mental health disorders in childhood; symptoms persist into adulthood in a majority of patients. It is among the most heritable of psychiatric disorders with a high risk for familial aggregation and has been linked in adulthood with impairment across a variety of domains, including parenting. Parental gender, ADHD status and symptom expression could be related to the severity of ADHD symptoms in the child.

METHODS: We used prospective, observational study of clinical group of 30 children with diagnosed ADHD and control group of 37 healthy subjects. Only children with both biological parents available were included. Data on ADHD symptomatology for all subjects was gathered by a set of clinical tools (CBCL1991, TRF1991, WURS, self-report scale modified from DSM IV). Under the assumption that ADHD is a dimensional disorder, raw scores from questionnaires were used as they display the complete range of values.

RESULTS: Clinical group showed higher values in all areas of children symptomatology, the same was observed for parental ADHD symptomatology. Significant correlation was found between children and paternal current ADHD symptomatology in the clinical group. This was not confirmed for mothers.

CONCLUSION: Our study stresses an importance of screening for ADHD symptoms in parents of clinically referred children with ADHD as the correlation between severity of paternal and child's ADHD symptoms was confirmed. Our results stress the importance of including the father into the clinical assessment....

Read abstract  Full text PDF

Journal Article 2012; 33(2): 196-200 PubMed PMID: 22592201 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Anorexia Nervosa:physiopathology, Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory:methods, Case-Control Studies, Female, Heart Rate:physiology, Humans, Posture:physiology, Sleep:physiology, Supine Position:physiology, Wakefulness:physiology,.   

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association of heart rate variability (HRV) examined in supine and standing position with ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN).

METHODS: HRV in supine and standing position and ABPM were examined in 30 AN patients and 30 control subjects. The correlations between HRV and ABPM were evaluated.

RESULTS: The average age was 25±5 in AN patients and 25±4 years in controls (NS). LF (low frequency) power in AN patients and controls was comparable in supine position. LF power significantly increased during standing in controls, but no increment was detected in AN patients. The HF (high frequency) power was significantly increased in AN patients in supine position, but after standing was comparable with controls. The ratio LF/HF was lower both in supine and standing position in AN patients but the differences did not reach statistical significance. Blood pressure values in AN patients were comparable with controls in supine position but were significantly lower in standing position. Ambulatory blood pressure values were significantly lower in AN patients during active but not sleeping period. In standing position HF and LF powers positively and LF/HF negatively correlated with ABPM blood pressure values during active period in controls while in AN patients only LF power correlated with diastolic and mean blood pressures.

CONCLUSION: The lower ABPM values in AN patients during active period in comparison with control subjects may be explained by HRV changes, mainly by its impaired relations with blood pressure in standing position....

Read abstract  Full text PDF

Journal Article 2012; 33(2): 183-190 PubMed PMID: 22592199 Citation  Keywords:  DNA Copy Number Variations:genetics, Genetic Predisposition to Disease:genetics, Genome, Human:genetics, Genome-Wide Association Study:statistics & numerical data, Humans, Schizophrenia:genetics,.   

OBJECTIVES: The term "copy number variation/variant" (CNV) denotes a DNA sequence with a magnitude of 1 kb at least which is differently represented among individuals based on its deletion or duplication. Since 2008, multiple studies have reported copy number variations in schizophrenia, and they seem to fill in a gap in our knowledge on the genetic background of schizophrenia. The aim of this review is to sum up the current findings related to CNVs in schizophrenia in order to facilitate further research.

METHODS: We searched the PubMed computer database using the key words "schizophrenia AND CNVs" on 26th October 2011. Out of 91 obtained results, we selected the references based on their relevance.

RESULTS: The CNVs at genome loci 1q21.1, 2p16.3, 3q29, 15q11.2, 15q13.3, 16p13.1 and 22q11.2 were associated with schizophrenia most frequently. The data provide evidence for low prevalent, but highly penetrant CNVs associated with schizophrenia. CNV deletions show higher penetrance than duplications. Larger CNVs often have higher penetrance than smaller CNVs. Although the vast majority of CNVs are inherited, CNVs that have newly occurred as de novo mutations have more readily been implicated in schizophrenia. De novo CNVs may be responsible for the presence of schizophrenia in only one of the two monozygotic twins, who otherwise have identical genomes.

CONCLUSION: Identifying CNVs in schizophrenia can lead to changes in the treatment and genetic counselling. Our knowledge on the genetic background of neurodevelopmental disorders may also reduce stigma in schizophrenia....

Read abstract  Full text PDF

Journal Article 2012; 33(2): 156-166 PubMed PMID: 22592196 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Age Factors, Antidepressive Agents:pharmacology, Autonomic Nervous System:physiopathology, Case-Control Studies, Dissociative Disorders:physiopathology, Electrocardiography:drug effects, Female, Heart Rate:drug effects, Humans, Male, Panic Disorder.   

OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study is to measure very low frequency band (VLF), low frequency band (LF) and high frequency band (HF) components of R-R interval during orthostatic test in patients with panic disorder and a comparison with healthy controls.

METHODS: We measured HRV in 31 patients with panic disorder and 20 healthy controls. Diagnosis was done according to the ICD-10 research diagnostic criteria confirmed with MINI (MINI international neuropsychiatric interview). Autonomic nervous system (ANS) has been evaluated during orthostatic change in three positions. Intensity of symptoms was assessed using psychiatric scales.

RESULTS: There were highly statistically significant differences between panic patients and control group in all components of power spectral analysis in 2nd and 3rd VLF components and in HF components of 2nd. We have found highly statistically significant negative correlations between level of dissociation measured by DES and some parameters of ANS. We found negative correlations between the age of the patient and activity of ANS, and negative correlations between activity of ANS and duration and onset of disorder and dosage of antidepressants.

CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate a lower parasympathetic activity and higher sympathetic/parasympathetic ratio in panic disorder patients measured during the changes of postural position in comparison with healthy controls. Autonomic dysregulation is associated with panic disorder and has the relation with the level of dissociation, the age of patiens and age of onset of disorder....

Read abstract  Full text PDF