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Journal Article 2006; 27(4): 439-444 PubMed PMID: 16891992 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Choice Behavior:physiology, Decision Making:physiology, Economics, Humans, Impulsive Behavior:metabolism, Male, Nonlinear Dynamics, Risk-Taking, Saliva:metabolism, Surveys and Questionnaires, Testosterone:metabolism, Time Factors,.   

OBJECTIVES: Although impulsivity has been associated with androgens (e.g., testosterone), little is known regarding the relationship between testosterone levels and impulsivity in intertemporal choice (delay discounting). This study was aimed to examine the relationship between delay discounting of gains and losses and testosterone levels, which is of interest in neuroendocrinology and neuroeconomics.

METHODS: We assessed degrees to which delayed monetary gains and losses were discounted (hyperbolic discounting rate) in healty male students (age: 22.4+/-2.67). Participants' salivary testosterone levels were also assessed by utilizing liquid chromatography/mass spectroscopy (LC/MS) method.

RESULTS: Non-linear curve fitting analysis showed an inverted-U relationship between delay discounting of gains and salivary testosterone levels; while no relationship between salivary testosterone levels and delay discounting of losses was observed.

CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that (i) testosterone may enhance delay discounting rate of gains in non-impulsive subjects, (ii) testosterone may have an opposite (reducing) effect on delay discounting rate of gains in impulsive subjects, and (iii) testosterone is unrelated to subject's sensitivity to future bad outcomes. Implications for evaluating the effects of testosterone treatment and anti-androgenic therapy on impulsive behavior often observed in psychiatrics (e.g., pathological gambling, credit card debt, substance misuse, and needle-sharing) are discussed....

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Controlled Clinical Trial 2006; 27(4): 513-515 PubMed PMID: 16891991 Citation  Keywords:  Aged, Analgesics:administration & dosage, Bone Density Conservation Agents:administration & dosage, Diphosphonates:administration & dosage, Female, Humans, Infusions, Intravenous, Male, Middle Aged, Osteitis Deformans:complications, Pain:drug therapy, Pai.   

INTRODUCTION: Although an analgesic effect is an essential component of the mode of action of bisphosphonates, its physiological mechanisms are still unclear. Beta-endorphin release plays an important role in the analgesic effect of both calcitonin and raloxifene. As patients with Paget's disease receive large doses of bisphosphonates within relatively short time periods, we examined whether repeated pamidronate infusion therapy would cause measurable change in beta-endorphin levels

MATERIALS & METHODS: Visual analog scale (VAS) scores of pain intensity, beta-endorphin levels, and alkaline phosphatase activity of 11 patients with Paget's disease (7 with the mono- and 4 with the polyostotic form) were determined at baseline, as well as after 3 and 6 infusions (on Days 6 and 12 of treatment, respectively). Eleven untreated patients with Paget's disease (7 with the mono- and 4 with the polyostotic form) served as controls.

RESULTS: It was established that in the course of pamidronate infusion therapy BE levels remained constant, whereas the values in serum alkaline phosphatase and pain intensity scores were significantly reduced.

CONCLUSIONS: Although high-dose pamidronate therapy does mitigate pain substantially (as demonstrated by the reduction of VAS scores), its analgesic action is probably unrelated to the enhancement of beta-endorphin release....

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Clinical Trial 2006; 27(4): 523-528 PubMed PMID: 16891990 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Female, Humans, Hysteroscopy:methods, Infertility, Female:diagnostic imaging, Leiomyoma:diagnostic imaging, Polyps:diagnostic imaging, Predictive Value of Tests, Sensitivity and Specificity, Sodium Chloride, Ultrasonography:methods, Uterine Neoplas.   

OBJECTIVES: The preliminary study was performed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of saline infusion sonohysterography (SIS) in the detection of intrauterine pathologies in infertile women The SIS findings were compared to the results of two widely used procedures: transvaginal sonography (TVS) and hysteroscopy (HS).

MATERIAL AND METHODS: 68 infertile women, aged 27-42 were enrolled in the study. TVS, SIS and diagnostic HS were consecutively performed in every patient. The results of each method were compared. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive values for TVS and SIS were obtained.

RESULTS: Intrauterine pathologies were diagnosed in 25% of patients. TVS detected 6 (37.5%) and SIS revealed 11 (87.5%) of 13 intrauterine pathologies finally visualized at diagnostic hysteroscopy. TVS failed to visualize three submucous myomas, one endometrial polyp and two cases of septate uteri. All three cases of intrauterine synechiae were not detected with this method One submucous myoma and one endometrial polyp were not identified with SIS. The study group was, however, too limited to show statistically significant differences in diagnostic accuracy among TVS, SIS and HS.

CONCLUSIONS: Saline infusion sonohysterography is simple, sensitive and inexpensive diagnostic method. The procedure is not time-consuming, causes minimal discomfort to the patient and may be performed without anesthesia in office settings. The method may be recommended for the diagnosis of intrauterine pathologies in infertile women....

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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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Comparative Study 2006; 27(4): 493-500 PubMed PMID: 16891987 Citation  Keywords:  Adiponectin:blood, Adipose Tissue:metabolism, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging:metabolism, Blood Pressure, Body Mass Index, Cholesterol, HDL:blood, Cholesterol, LDL:blood, Energy Metabolism:physiology, Female, Humans, Insulin:metabolism, Insulin Resi.   

OBJECTIVES: Adipose tissue secretes proteins which regulate energy metabolism and insulin sensitivity. Adiponectin possesses anti-diabetic, anti-atherogenic and insulin-sensitizing properties. To assess the prognostic factors in prolonged survival and the potential protective role of adiponectin in aging, we examined the release of adiponectin in relation to the metabolic status of centenarians, compared with young, early elderly and obese subjects.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was carried out on 122 women: 22 centenarians aged 100-102 yrs, 45 younger women aged 20-43 yrs, 19 early elderly women aged 64-67 yrs, and 36 obese women aged 26-54 yrs. Anthropometric data, clinical features and blood samples were obtained. Plasma adiponectin and insulin concentrations were measured by RIA methods. Fasting plasma glucose levels, lipid profile and creatinine concentrations were determined using routine laboratory procedures.

RESULTS: In centenarians we found that adiponectin concentrations were significantly increased, compared with young, early elderly and obese women. Insulin concentrations were lower than those in young and obese subjects. HOMA-IR was significantly lower than in obese women. Positive correlations were found between adiponectin and HDL, and negative correlations between adiponectin and HOMA-IR, total cholesterol, LDL, triglycerides, blood pressure and BMI.

CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that adiponectin may play a protective role that contributes to longevity....

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Journal Article 2006; 27(4): 401-413 PubMed PMID: 16807526 Citation  Keywords:  Child, Preschool, Developmental Disabilities:chemically induced, Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine:adverse effects, Haemophilus Vaccines:adverse effects, Humans, Nervous System Diseases:chemically induced, Thimerosal:adverse effects, United States:epid.   

BACKGROUND: Thimerosal is an ethylmercury-containing compound (49.6% mercury by weight) used as at the preservative level in vaccines (0.005% to 0.01%).

METHODS: Statistical modeling in a meta-analysis epidemiological assessment of the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) for neurodevelopment disorders (NDs) reported following Diphtheria-Tetanus-whole-cell-Pertussis (DTP) vaccines in comparison to Diphtheria-Tetanus-whole-cell-Pertussis-Haemophilus Influenzae Type b (DTPH) vaccines (administered: 1994-1997) and following Thimerosal-containing Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular-Pertussis (DTaP), vaccines in comparison to Thimerosal-free DTaP vaccines (administered: 1997-2000), was undertaken.

RESULTS: Significantly increased adjusted (sex, age, vaccine type, vaccine manufacturer) risks of autism, speech disorders, mental retardation, personality disorders, thinking abnormalities, ataxia, and NDs in general, with minimal systematic error or confounding, were associated with TCV exposure.

CONCLUSION: It is clear from the results of the present epidemiological study and other recently published data associating mercury exposure with childhood NDs, additional ND research should be undertaken in the context of evaluating mercury-associated exposures, especially from Thimerosal-containing vaccines....

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Clinical Trial 2006; 27(3): 307-313 PubMed PMID: 16816836 Citation  Keywords:  Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation:blood, Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic:blood, Erythrocyte Membrane:drug effects, Female, Humans, Male, Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors:blood, Plasma:metabolism, Reference Values, Structure-Activity Relationship.   

OBJECTIVE: The distribution of different antidepressants between plasma and red blood cells (RBCs) or between water and erythrocyte membranes (ghosts) has not been sufficiently compared so far.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Distribution of seven antidepressants (amitriptyline, nortriptyline, imipramine, desipramine, didesmethylimipramine, dothiepin, and citalopram) was measured in vitro in small volumes of blood or erythrocyte membrane suspension using radiolabeled drugs. Blood samples were taken from healthy subjects.

RESULTS: The distribution of antidepressants between plasma and RBCs is strongly affected by temperature; however, it does not depend on the antidepressant concentration in the range of their therapeutic concentrations. The data analysis proved that the ratio of RBCs to plasma volume concentrations is the suitable parameter characterizing antidepressant distribution in whole blood. Significantly higher ratios of RBCs to plasma concentrations were found for demethylated metabolites of tricyclic antidepressants and in the case of citalopram. Citalopram showed the highest accumulation in intact RBCs and at the same time the lowest binding to isolated membranes. The binding of drugs to isolated erythrocyte membranes was much higher than in whole blood.

CONCLUSION: The concentration ratio of antidepressant in RBCs and in plasma is sensitive not only to the binding properties of plasma proteins and cell membranes, but also to changes in drug molecule, both in aminopropyl chain and in aromatic rings. This ratio is to a large extent characteristic of a particular antidepressant....

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Journal Article 2006; 27(3): 345-349 PubMed PMID: 16816835 Citation  Keywords:  Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Female, Humans, Immunohistochemistry, Male, Middle Aged, RNA, Messenger:analysis, Receptor, Endothelin A:genetics, Receptor, Endothelin B:genetics, Reference Values, Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction, Tissue Distribu.   

OBJECTIVES: Endothelin is a potent peptide mediator that is synthesized by a number of cells. Previous studies have revealed the occurrence of endothelin in nerve cell bodies of some peripheral ganglia. Endothelin mediates its effects via two distinct receptor subtypes ETA and ETB. The present study was designed to investigate the presence of these two receptors in the human trigeminal ganglion.

METHODS: Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to show the presence of mRNA encoding ETA and ETB receptors in the human trigeminal ganglion. To localize the protein immunocytochemistry with antibodies against the endothelin receptors was used.

RESULTS: Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis revealed mRNA for both receptor subtypes in the human trigeminal ganglion. Immunocytochemistry revealed numerous cell bodies containing the ETA and the ETB receptor proteins.

CONCLUSIONS: The expression of ETA and ETB receptors in the human trigeminal ganglion suggests a role for endothelin in autonomic and sensory neural transmission....

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