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Journal Article 2006; 27(4): 415-423 PubMed PMID: 16891999 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Apolipoprotein E2:genetics, Chronic Disease, Dental Amalgam:adverse effects, Dental Restoration, Permanent, Depression:chemically induced, Fatigue:chemically induced, Female, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Genotype, Humans, Male, Memory Disorde.   

: In a group of 465 patients diagnosed as having chronic mercury toxicity (CMT), 32.3% had severe fatigue, 88.8% had memory loss, and 27.5% had depression. A significant correlation was found between CMT and the Apo-lipoprotein E4 genotype (p=0.001). An investigation into an additional 864 consecutively seen general practice patients, resulted in 30.3% having evidence consistent with CMT, and once again a significant correlation was found with the APO-E4 genotype (p=0.001). Removal of amalgam mercury fillings when combined with appropriate treatment resulted in a significant symptom reduction (p<0.001) to levels reported by healthy subjects....

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Journal Article 2006; 27(4): 529-534 PubMed PMID: 16891989 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Condylomata Acuminata:epidemiology, Female, Human papillomavirus 11, Human papillomavirus 16, Human papillomavirus 6, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical, Kidney Failure, Chronic:epidemiology, Kidney Transplantation:s.   

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate: 1) The prevalence of human papillomavirus (types 6 and 11 carrying a low risk of neoplasia, and type 16 implicated as cause of cervical neoplasia and cancer) in normal pregnant women and pregnant renal transplant recipients. 2) The correlation between maternal HPV infection and HPV presence in the cord blood and the oral cavity of the neonate. Evaluation of a likely, additional route of HPV transmission to the fetus, apart from the infected birth canal during vaginal delivery. The correlation between the mode of delivery in HPV-infected patients and the presence of HPV in their offspring.

DESIGN: Thirty-nine pregnant patients were included in the study. The study group consisted of nine pregnant renal transplant recipients. The control group consisted of 30 patients with normal pregnancy. The DNA of HPV types 6, 11 and 16 was studied in the discharge from the cervical canal, the maternal venous blood, the cord blood and the buccal smear obtained from the neonates.

SETTING: A university teaching hospital delivering approximately 2000 women annually.

RESULTS: Human papillomavirus (HPV) was found in 10 (26%) of 39 subjects. HPV types 6 and 11 was found in 7 (18%) of 39 subjects while HPV type 16 was present in 5 (13%) of the subjects. The co-occurrence of HPV types 6, 11 and 16 was detected in 2 patients from the control group. Transmission of HPV was established in 70% of study patients and their offspring.

CONCLUSIONS: 1) The HPV was found with 26% pregnant women. 2) The occurrence of HPV infections with pregnant renal transplant recipients in comparison with normal pregnancy was on similar level. High percentage of HPV transmission from mother to neonate was obtained. 3) The cesarean section probably doesn't protect from HPV infection. 4) There's a suggestion, the HPV infection of fetus may occur in utero....

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Controlled Clinical Trial 2006; 27(3): 373-380 PubMed PMID: 16816833 Citation  Keywords:  Bottle Feeding, Chronobiology Phenomena:physiology, Circadian Rhythm:physiology, Double-Blind Method, Feeding Behavior:physiology, Female, Humans, Infant, Infant Formula:pharmacology, Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena, Infant, Newborn, Male, Nucl.   

: On the basis of the circadian nutritional variations present in breast milk, and of the implications for the sleep/wake cycle of the nutrients present in infant formula milks, we designed a formula milk nutritionally dissociated into a Day/Night composition. The goal was to improve the bottle-fed infant's sleep/wake circadian rhythm. A total of 21 infants aged 4-20 weeks with sleeping difficulties were enrolled in the three-week duration study. The sleep analysis was performed using an actimeter (Actiwatch) placed on an ankle of each infant to uninterruptedly record movements during the three weeks. The dissociated Day milk, designed to be administered from 06:00 to 18:00, contained low levels of tryptophan (1.5g/100g protein) and carbohydrates, high levels of proteins, and the nucleotides Cytidine 5 monophosphate, Guanosine 5 monophosphate and Inosine 5 monophosphate. The dissociated Night milk, designed to be administered from 18.00 to 06.00, contained high levels of tryptophan (3.4g/100g protein) and carbohydrates, low levels of protein, and the nucleotides Adenosine 5 monophosphate and Uridine 5 monophosphate. Three different milk-feeding experiments were performed in a double-blind procedure covering three weeks. In week 1 (control), the infants received both by day and by night a standard formula milk; in week 2 (inverse control), they received the dissociated milk inversely (Night/Day instead of Day/Night); and in week 3, they received the Day/Night dissociated formula concordant with the formula design. When the infants were receiving the Day/Night dissociated milk in concordance with their environment, they showed improvement in all the nocturnal sleep parameters analyzed: total hours of sleep, sleep efficiency, minutes of nocturnal immobility, nocturnal awakenings, and sleep latency. In conclusion, the use of a chronobiologically adjusted infant formula milk seems to be effective in improving the consolidation of the circadian sleep/wake cycle in bottle-fed infants....

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Journal Article 2006; 27(1-2): 189-197 PubMed PMID: 16648791 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Antioxidants:therapeutic use, Biocompatible Materials:adverse effects, Cell Separation, Chronic Disease, Dental Materials:metabolism, Down-Regulation, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic:etiology, Female, .   

OBJECTIVES: This study was done to evaluate the results and clinical relevance of an optimized lymphocyte proliferation test, MELISA, for metal-induced inflammation in patients with CFS-like symptoms. The treatment of patients consisted of the replacement of incompatible dental materials (RID) together with supportive anti-oxidant therapy.

DESIGN OF THE STUDY: 513 patients were tested by MELISA at the beginning of the study. Out of this group, 248 patients were available for follow-up MELISA after RID.

METHODS: In MELISA, lymphocytes are isolated from the blood and cultivated with different metal salts in tissue culture medium containing 10% inactivated human AB+ serum or autologous serum. After 5 days, the presence of metal-reactive lymphocytes are measured by isotope labelling of newly formed DNA in growing lymphoblasts and evaluated by calculating the Stimulation Index.

RESULTS: Nickel was the most common sensitizer, followed by inorganic mercury, thimerosal, lead, cadmium, palladium and gold. After RID treatment, a decrease of metal-specific lymphocyte responses in patients who reacted to metals at the beginning of the study could be observed. The cultivation of lymphocytes in autologous and homologous serum did not significantly affect the results. Simultaneous, the health status of patients improved as well.

CONCLUSIONS: Replacement of incompatible dental materials resulted in down-regulation of metal-induced lymphocyte sensitivity in vitro, as well as in the improvement of health status of majority of patients with unspecific CFS-like symptoms....

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Comparative Study 2005; 26(6): 819-822 PubMed PMID: 16380704 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Analysis of Variance, Female, Ghrelin, Humans, Male, Matched-Pair Analysis, Middle Aged, Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive:blood, Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting:blood, Peptide Hormones:blood, Reference Values, Severity of Illness Ind.   

: In addition to metabolic and neuroendocrine actions, the recently discovered hormone ghrelin has been found to have inhibitory effects on inflammatory processes. This novel finding suggests possible involvement of the peptide in the pathogenesis of inflammatory disorders including the inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system, multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim of the present study was to evaluate serum ghrelin levels in patients with MS. Serum ghrelin levels were measured in 40 MS patients and 20 controls. Control subjects were selected from healthy individuals, matched for age, sex and BMI. Fasting plasma levels of ghrelin were determined by radioimmunoassay. Serum ghrelin level was significantly higher in MS group (226.16 +/- 35.84 pg/ml, n=40) than that in the control group (113.04 +/- 11.28 pg/ml, n=20, P<0.001). Both, relapsing remitting and secondary progressive MS patients had ghrelin levels significantly higher than controls, while there was no significant difference between the ghrelin levels of patients with these two categories of MS. This study for the first time shows that patients with MS have higher levels of ghrelin and this increase in circulating ghrelin level may function against the proinflammatory process in these patients....

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Controlled Clinical Trial 2005; 26(6): 653-656 PubMed PMID: 16380697 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Circadian Rhythm:physiology, Down-Regulation, Female, Humans, Kidney Failure, Chronic:blood, Male, Melatonin:blood, Middle Aged, Reference Values, Renal Dialysis, Reproducibility of Results,.   

OBJECTIVES: In spite of broad interest, intensive studies on function of melatonin have not yielded much information about relationships between this hormone and kidneys in health, and particularity, in disease. There are only a few studies dealing with melatonin concentrations in renal diseases, mainly performed in hemodialyzed patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Moreover, the most melatonin assays were performed during the daytime, and the results are conflicting. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the circadian melatonin profiles in patients ESRD before and after hemodialysis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty patients (19 males and 11 females) with ESRD undergoing dialysis, aged 22 to 64 years (mean+/-SEM: 49.1.0+/-1.9 years) were included in the study. The control group consisted of 20 healthy volunteers (13 males and 7 females) aged 35 to 55 years (mean+/-SEM: 46.2+/-1.4 years) matched according to sex and age. Blood samples were collected on the day preceding hemodialysis and one day following dialysis at 08:00, 12:00, 16:00, 20:00, 24:00, 02:00, 04:00, and 08:00 h. Melatonin concentration was measured by enzyme immunoassay.

RESULTS: In patients with renal insufficiency undergoing dialysis mean melatonin nocturnal concentrations were significantly lower then those in healthy volunteers. The presence of the circadian rhythm in melatonin concentrations (although of significantly lower nocturnal amplitude) was detected only in 8 patients with renal failure undergoing hemodialysis, whereas in remaining 22 patients no such rhythm was found. Hemodialysis did not influence melatonin concentrations.

CONCLUSIONS: The mechanism of depressed melatonin concentrations in hemodialyzed patients observed in our study remains unclear. However, it seems possible that decline in melatonin levels is due to impairment in adrenergic function that occurs in renal failure. Because the studies on the melatonin secretion in chronic renal failure bring about conflicting results, the relationship between renal diseases and melatonin secretion needs further investigations....

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Journal Article 2005; 26(6): 799-805 PubMed PMID: 16380691 Citation  Keywords:  Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid, Dihydropyridines:analysis, Histamine:chemistry, Malondialdehyde:chemistry, Neurotoxins:chemistry, Nitrogen Compounds:analysis, Protein Carbonylation,.   

OBJECTIVES: To explore the mechanism of carbonyl stress-related toxification on neurotransmitter histamine and the potential de-carbonylation function of histamine.

METHODS: The reaction mixture of malondialdehyde (MDA) and histamine (HA) at pH7.4, 37 degrees C was assayed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), spectrophotometry and spectrofluorometry. The reaction products were assayed by LC/MS.

RESULTS: In physiological condition, the reaction of MDA and HA yielded two products: a nonfluorescent enaminal derivatives and a fluorescent 1,4-dihydropyridine adducts. The fluorescence maxima of the fluorescent products (Ex. 393 nm/Em. 464 nm) were similar to those of lipofuscin pigment. The fluorescence intensity of reaction mixture was in direct proportion to the MDA concentration.

CONCLUSIONS: HA can react with MDA to form stable products, a non-fluorescent enamine (product 1) and a fluorescent 1,4-dihydropyridine (product 2) which are ceroid/lipofuscin-related adducts. The reaction of HA with MDA may reveal toxic effect of unsaturated carbonyls in the brain and may reflect a novel de-carbonylation function of histamine under various pathological conditions....

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Controlled Clinical Trial 2005; 26(6): 745-751 PubMed PMID: 16380690 Citation  Keywords:  Analysis of Variance, Antigens, CD:immunology, Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte:immunology, Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic:blood, Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated:blood, Fatty Acids, Omega-3:blood, Fatty Acids, Omega-6:blood, Fatty Acids, Unsaturated:blood,.   

: There is now evidence that major depression is accompanied by decreased levels of omega3 poly-unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). There is a strong comorbidity between major depression and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). The present study has been carried out in order to examine PUFA levels in CFS. In twenty-two CFS patients and 12 normal controls we measured serum PUFA levels using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. We found that CFS was accompanied by increased levels of omega6 PUFAs, i.e. linoleic acid and arachidonic acid (AA), and mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), i.e. oleic acid. The EPA/AA and total omega3/omega6 ratios were significantly lower in CFS patients than in normal controls. The omega3/omega6 ratio was significantly and negatively correlated to the severity of illness and some items of the FibroFatigue scale, i.e. aches and pain, fatigue and failing memory. The severity of illness was significantly and positively correlated to linoleic and arachidonic acid, oleic acid, omega9 fatty acids and one of the saturated fatty acids, i.e. palmitic acid. In CFS subjects, we found significant positive correlations between the omega3/omega6 ratio and lowered serum zinc levels and the lowered mitogen-stimulated CD69 expression on CD3+, CD3+ CD4+, and CD3+ CD8+ T cells, which indicate defects in early T cell activation. The results of this study show that a decreased availability of omega3 PUFAs plays a role in the pathophysiology of CFS and is related to the immune pathophysiology of CFS. The results suggest that patients with CFS should respond favourably to treatment with--amongst other things--omega3 PUFAs, such as EPA and DHA....

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