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Clinical Trial 2005; 26(6): 696-698 PubMed PMID: 16380679 Citation  Keywords:  Aged, Alzheimer Disease:blood, Amyloid beta-Peptides:cerebrospinal fluid, Biomarkers:blood, Female, Humans, Male, Multivariate Analysis, Peptide Fragments:cerebrospinal fluid, beta Carotene:blood, tau Proteins:cerebrospinal fluid,.   

: We studied the plasma beta carotene concentrations in 40 Alzheimer's disease patients and the association with cerebrospinal fluid beta-amyloid 1-40, (Abeta40), cerebrospinal fluid beta-amyloid 1-42 (Abeta42) and cerebrospinal fluid total Tau. We found that patients with plasma beta carotene levels below the 25th percentile had 55% reduced ratios of Abeta40/Tau and 51% reduced ratios of Abeta 40/Abeta 42 compared with patients in the highest quartile. Mean Tau concentrations in the lowest quartile of plasma beta-carotene levels were 74% higher compared with the highest quartile of plasma beta-carotene levels. Thus, we could demonstrate an statistically significant association between beta carotene levels in plasma and neurochemical markers in the cerebrospinal fluid of Alzheimer's disease patients....

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Comparative Study 2005; 26(6): 766-770 PubMed PMID: 16380676 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Comorbidity, DNA, Viral:analysis, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1:epidemiology, Female, Fetal Blood:virology, Genitalia, Female:virology, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical:statistics & numerical data, Mouth:virology, Papi.   

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of human papillomavirus, both types of a low oncogenic risk (HPV 6, 11) and a type carrying a high oncogenic risk (HPV 16) in the genital tract of the pregnant patients, their venous blood, the cord blood and the oral cavities of the neonates. Normal pregnant women and pregnant women with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) diagnosed before pregnancy were included in the study.

DESIGN: The study group consisted of 15 pregnant women aged 22 to 32 years with IDDM diagnosed before pregnancy. The control group consisted of 30 patients aged 18 to 38 years, 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. To detect of viral DNA the PCR was used.

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

RESULTS: Human papillomavirus (HPV) was found in 12 (26.7%) of the 45 pregnant women. Of the 15 patients with pregestational IDDM the DNA of HPV was detected in four (26.7%) of the patients. The DNA of HPV types 6 and 11 was found in three (20%) patients. The DNA of HPV type 16 was detected in one pregnant patient in the study group (6.67%). Of the 30 control patients, HPV DNA was detected in eight (26%). In two (6.6%), infection with oncogenic and non-oncogenic types of HPV was diagnosed. The DNA of HPV types 6 and 11 was found in six (20%) subjects. Of the 30 control patients, the DNA of HPV type 16 was detected in four (13.3%). The transmission of HPV from HPV-positive mother to fetus was found in 50% of cases.

CONCLUSIONS: (i) There was a similar level of occurrence of HPV infections in pregnant women with IDDM when compare with normal pregnancy. (ii) High percentage of HPV transmission from mother to neonate was determined. (iii) The cesarean section probably does not protect the neonate from HPV infection. (iv) There is a suggestion that fetus may be affected by HPV infection during intrauterine life....

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Journal Article 2005; 26(6): 789-794 PubMed PMID: 16380674 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Case-Control Studies, Female, Genetic Predisposition to Disease:epidemiology, Genetics, Population, Humans, Integrin alpha2:genetics, Integrin beta3:genetics, Labor, Obstetric:blood, Polymorphism, Genetic, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Complications, Hemato.   

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of the GP Ia and GP IIIa polymorphisms in the group of women in labor, and to assess the risk of thrombosis associated with their occurrence.

DESIGN AND SETTINGS: 245 women in labor hospitalized between 1.01.2001 and 31.12.2003 r. were enrolled in the study. Patients were qualified for the study if detailed physical exam and past medical history excluded existence of known risk factors predisposing to thrombosis. Study group was composed of 72 women in childbirth, which at some point during current pregnancy or in early labor were diagnosed with thrombosis, and control group included 173 women in labor randomly picked from the group of patients with uncomplicated pregnancies. Polymorphic regions of platelets glycoprotein were detected using genotyping methods based on polymerase chain reactions (PCR).

RESULTS: 1.72% of patients were found to have thrombosis. The thrombosis was located in the venous system in 97.2% of cases. Arteries were affected in two patients (2.7%). Prevalence of individual platelets glycoprotein mutations did not differ between controls and study group. In both groups platelets glycoprotein polymorphisms moderately pro-thrombotic A1/A2 and C/T dominated, and the least numerous were strongly pro-thrombotic A2/A2 and T/T.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results did not show the causative relationship between the existence of platelets GP IIIa/GP Ia mutations and venous system thrombosis in the women in labor. Probably presence of pro-thrombotic mutations of platelets glycoprotein in this group of patients does not represent the increased risk of thrombosis....

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Comparative Study 2005; 26(6): 739-744 PubMed PMID: 16380673 Citation  Keywords:  Analysis of Variance, Animals, Arthritis, Experimental:chemically induced, Arthritis, Rheumatoid:enzymology, Chemokine CCL5:genetics, Collagen, Cytokines:genetics, Disease Models, Animal, Down-Regulation, Female, Interleukin-1:genetics, Interleukin-6:gene.   

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects and mechanisms of beta-endorphin (beta-END) preventing collagen induced arthritis (CIA) by neuroimmuno-regulating pathway.

METHODS: Female wistar (Ws) rats were used in this study. CIA was induced by Native bovine type II collagen emulsified with complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). Beta-END was administered i.p. to CIA rats every other day from the 14th day (secondary immunization) to the 35th day after primary immunization. Clinical assessments were performed by two independent, blinded examiners every other day. Pathological and radiological observations were taken on the 35th day after the primary immunization. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), interleukin-6 (IL-6), regulated upon activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), inducible NO syntheses (iNOS), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 mRNA expression of synovium tissues of CIA rats was estimated by quantitative RT-PCR. The frequency of spleen Th1 and Th2 cells were assessed by fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS) assay.

RESULTS: Clinical manifestation of rats with CIA were significantly abrogated or ameliorated by treatment with beta-END. Beta-END treatment in vivo could down-regulate mRNA expression of several pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines and MMPs in CIA synovial, and polarize Th1/Th2 balance to Th2.

CONCLUSION: Beta-END alleviates CIA through both depressing Th1 responses and down-regulating proinflammatory and other rheumatic factors, suggesting beta-END is a promising anti-inflammatory and anti-rheumatic agent in treating CIA....

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Journal Article 2005; 26(5): 439-446 PubMed PMID: 16264412 Citation  Keywords:  Autistic Disorder:chemically induced, Autoimmune Diseases:chemically induced, Chelating Agents:therapeutic use, Child, Humans, Inflammation:chemically induced, Mercury:analysis, Mercury Poisoning:epidemiology,.   

: The causes of autism and neurodevelopmental disorders are unknown. Genetic and environmental risk factors seem to be involved. Because of an observed increase in autism in the last decades, which parallels cumulative mercury exposure, it was proposed that autism may be in part caused by mercury. We review the evidence for this proposal. Several epidemiological studies failed to find a correlation between mercury exposure through thimerosal, a preservative used in vaccines, and the risk of autism. Recently, it was found that autistic children had a higher mercury exposure during pregnancy due to maternal dental amalgam and thimerosal-containing immunoglobulin shots. It was hypothesized that children with autism have a decreased detoxification capacity due to genetic polymorphism. In vitro, mercury and thimerosal in levels found several days after vaccination inhibit methionine synthetase (MS) by 50%. Normal function of MS is crucial in biochemical steps necessary for brain development, attention and production of glutathione, an important antioxidative and detoxifying agent. Repetitive doses of thimerosal leads to neurobehavioral deteriorations in autoimmune susceptible mice, increased oxidative stress and decreased intracellular levels of glutathione in vitro. Subsequently, autistic children have significantly decreased level of reduced glutathione. Promising treatments of autism involve detoxification of mercury, and supplementation of deficient metabolites....

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Case Reports 2005; 26(5): 499-502 PubMed PMID: 16264411 Citation  Keywords:  Adrenal Insufficiency:complications, Adrenocorticotropic Hormone:deficiency, Adult, Autonomic Nervous System:physiopathology, Chromosomes, Human, Pair 12:genetics, Conjunctival Diseases:complications, Electroencephalography, Epilepsy:genetics, Hormone Rep.   

: Allgrove syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disease with achalasia, alacrima, adrenocortical insufficiency, autonomic neuropathy and other neurological disturbances. A case of two brothers with Addison s disease from early childhood is presented. The younger brother with Addison disease died at the age of 5. The older brother was treated for adrenocortical insufficiency from the age 3, and then treated for achalasia and epilepsy from the age of 5. The patient is currently 26 years old and suffers from achalasia and adrenocortical insufficiency. He also suffers from alacrima, autonomic neuropathy, epilepsy and other damages of the central and peripheral nervous system. The clinical picture is typical for Allgrove or 4A syndrome, and the diagnosis was confirmed by means of molecular analysis of a new AAAS gene mutation....

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Journal Article 2005; 26(5): 617-623 PubMed PMID: 16264392 Citation  Keywords:  Cholesterol:blood, Coronary Disease:epidemiology, Diabetes Mellitus:epidemiology, Disease, Endorphins:physiology, Exercise:physiology, Health, Humans, Hyperlipidemias:epidemiology, Hypertension:epidemiology, Mental Health, Osteoarthritis:epidemiology, Ost.   

: It is known for a long time that exercise increases physical adequacy, has beneficial effects on the general health condition as well as a playing preventing role against various disease states. To decrease the risk of disease and maintain good health, the natural defense system of the organism needs to be strengthened. It is thought that in addition to increasing the body's resistance to disease through the strengthening of the immune system, decreases the convalescence time, increases work efficiency and improves the sportive performance of the individual all which would contribute positively to the national economy. The positive effects of regular exercising of aerobic nature such as strengthening of the immune system, protection against diseases as well as its positive effects on quality of life will help to emphasize the importance of physical exercise and improve the general view of sports by society....

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Journal Article 2005; 26(Suppl 1): 9-25 PubMed PMID: 16361986 Citation  Keywords:  Acute Disease, Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation:therapeutic use, Antimanic Agents:therapeutic use, Antipsychotic Agents:therapeutic use, Bipolar Disorder:drug therapy, Double-Blind Method, Drug Therapy, Combination, Humans, Randomized Controlled T.   

: The DSM-IV criteria for mania require: a distinct period that represents a break from pre-morbid functioning, a duration of at least one week, elevated or irritable mood, at least three to four classical manic signs and symptoms and the absence of any physical factors. Although not specifically mentioned in the ICD-10 or the DSM-IV definitions, delusional, hallucinatory, even first-rank, psychotic experiences can occur in mania. Acute mania can be subdivided into classical pure mania, mania with mood-congruent or mood-incongruent psychosis, mixed state and rapid-cycling mania. One quarter to two thirds of all manic episodes are associated with delusions, while 13% to 40% are associated with hallucinations. Mixed episode is a complex syndrome which is difficult to diagnose, has the most prolonged duration of bipolar episodes and more frequent psychotic profile than pure mania with high suicidality and poor response to drugs. Mixed state mania has been well known since Kreapelin and listed in classification systems with criteria that include both a manic and a major depressive episode nearly every day for at least a one-week period. On the other hand, mixed-like episodes that are clearly caused by somatic antidepressant treatment (e.g., medication, electro-convulsive therapy or light therapy) should not contribute toward a diagnosis of Bipolar I Disorder. Although, theoretically, mania is supposed to be resolved within 1-3 months even without treatment, psychiatric hospitalization is very common in especially severe cases due to functional impairment. Current treatments for mania aim to control the agitation, impulsivity, aggression and psychotic symptoms and to help patients regain their pre-morbid functionality. However, the clinical management of mania is challenging as most patients show syndromal remission but incomplete functional recovery after the first episode of mania....

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