Search NEL Online

Journal Article 2008; 29(6): 924-928 PubMed PMID: 19112408 Citation  Keywords:  Analysis of Variance, Cell Line, Tumor, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Enzyme Activation:drug effects, Ginsenosides:pharmacology, Humans, Medicine, Traditional, Neprilysin:drug effects, Neuroblastoma, Neurons:drug effects, Neuroprotective Agents:pharma.   

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of ginsenosides Rb1 and Rg1 on Neprilysin (NEP) activity in SK-N-SH cells, and probe the underlying mechanism.

METHODS: The effects of ginsenosides Rb1 and Rg1 on NEP activity were analyzed by NEP peptidase assay. Western blot was used to determine NEP gene expression at translational level, and RT-PCR was also performed to detect NEP gene expression at transcriptional level.

RESULTS: NEP peptidase assay indicated that ginsenoside Rb1 can improve the activity of NEP, and RT-PCR and western blot results showed that the enhancement of NEP activity by ginsenoside Rb1 was due to enhancing NEP gene expression, while Rg1 did not have this effect.

CONCLUSION: Our studies showed that ginsenoside Rb1 can enhance NEP activity by upregulating NEP gene expression. Our findings might offer a pharmacological explanation for the use of ginseng in traditional medicine....

Read abstract  Full text PDF

Journal Article 2008; 29(6): 807-814 PubMed PMID: 19112406 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Central Nervous System:embryology, Female, Fetal Development, Fetus:physiology, Gestational Age, Humans, Neural Pathways:embryology, Pain:physiopathology, Pain Threshold:physiology, Perception:physiology, Pregnancy, Rats,.   

: The fetus reacts to nociceptive stimulations through different motor, autonomic, vegetative, hormonal, and metabolic changes relatively early in the gestation period. With respect to the fact that the modulatory system does not yet exist, the first reactions are purely reflexive and without connection to the type of stimulus. While the fetal nervous system is able to react through protective reflexes to potentially harmful stimuli, there is no accurate evidence concerning pain sensations in this early period. Cortical processes occur only after thalamocortical connections and pathways have been completed at the 26th gestational week. Harmful (painful) stimuli, especially in fetuses have an adverse effect on the development of humans regardless of the processes in brain. Moreover, pain activates a number of subcortical mechanisms and a wide spectrum of stress responses influence the maturation of thalamocortical pathways and other cortical activation which are very important in pain processing....

Read abstract  Full text PDF

Evaluation Studies 2008; 29(6): 1045-153 PubMed PMID: 19112404 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Adult, Analysis of Variance, Child, Cost of Illness, Cross-Cultural Comparison, Czech Republic, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1:psychology, Female, Health Status, Humans, Male, Parents:psychology, Quality of Life:psychology, Reproducibility of Resul.   

: Type 1 diabetes mellitus is a chronic health condition which affects approximately 750 thousand diabetics in the Czech Republic out of whom 3300 are children at the age of 8-18 years. The effects of illness and treatment go beyond medical control therefore evaluation of quality of life (QOL) is vital for children and adolescents with diabetes in order to examine how diabetes and its complicated and demanding treatment regimen affects their various life domains - family relationships, school, social activities, etc. Health related quality of life has been recognized as an important pediatric outcome measure in the past years and therefore health related quality of life of these children and adolescents was evaluated. The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 (PedsQL) and PedsQL 3.0 Module Diabetes were translated into the Czech language and administered to 79 children with diabetes and 79 parents. The objective of this study was to examine general and health related quality of life of children with diabetes at the age of 8-18. Results showed, that children endorse greater QOL in both general and diabetes related scales compared to their parents. Also, the concordance in reports of parents and children of QOL in children was variable. With regard to the aim of the research to determine whether QOL outcomes are predicted by duration of diabetes, results show that the duration of diabetes is a significant predictor of QOL in children. These results of QOL in children in the Czech Republic are then compared with the outcomes available from abroad....

Read abstract  Full text PDF

Journal Article 2008; 29(6): 949-952 PubMed PMID: 19112403 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Autoantibodies:blood, Embryo Transfer, Female, Fertilization in Vitro, Follicle Stimulating Hormone:blood, Humans, Infertility, Female:immunology, Ovary:immunology, Ovulation:immunology, Reproductive Techniques, Assisted, Young Adult,.   

OBJECTIVE: This study was to investigate the effects of antiovarian antibodies (AOA) on ovarian responsiveness in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF/ET).

METHODS: 233 infertility women younger than 36 years undergone IVF/ET because of single salpingemphraxis were attended in the study, whose fast blood was taken to detect serum AOA by ELISA. Among them there were 35 women with serum AOA positive composed the study group and the other with serum AOA negative composed the control. Ovarian volume, antral follicle number, basal FSH, gonadotropin dosage and recollected oocytes were compared between the 2 groups.

RESULT(S): There's no difference in ovarian volume between serum AOA positive group with negative group, P>0.05. The number of antral follicles was less and basal FSH was higher in AOA positive group than in control, P<0.05; what's more, the ampoules of gonadotrophin consumed in AOA positive group exceed significantly in control, and less recollected oocytes in AOA positive group than in control, P<0.01. Of the 233 infertility women, the serum AOA positive rate was 73.08% in the women who got less than 5 recollected oocytes, significantly higher than the other women in the study, P<0.01.

CONCLUSION(S): The existing of anti-ovarian antibodies had suppressive effects on the ovarian responsiveness in ovarian stimulation in IVF/ET cycle and on ovarian function. AOA should be detected before IVF/ET to evaluate ovarian responsiveness and further treatment seems necessary....

Read abstract  Full text PDF

Case Reports 2008; 29(6): 1021-105 PubMed PMID: 19112402 Citation  Keywords:  Abdomen:microbiology, Cross Infection:complications, Enterocolitis, Necrotizing:etiology, Fatal Outcome, Female, Humans, Infant, Low Birth Weight, Infant, Newborn, Infant, Premature, Intensive Care, Neonatal, Male, Mucormycosis:complications,.   

BACKGROUND: The nosocomial occurrence of mycotic infections negatively affects results of the neonatal care in newborns in the sense of their increased mortality and morbidity.

AIM: The communication presented here is focused on an analysis of predisposing factors and clinical patterns of infections induced with mucormycosis strains. The authors provided an analysis of six case reports concerning newborns that died in association with nosocomial infections, where mucormycosis strains were microbiologically and microscopically detected in autopsy.

RESULTS: The newborns in the group considered died due to general metabolic breakdown induced by peritonitis based on the large intestine perforation - enterocolitis. The predisposing factors include low birth-weight, asphyxia after the delivery, catheterization of umbilical veins and v. cava inferior and introduction of the endotracheal ventilation. Nosocomial nature of the infection propagation is suggested by a delayed onset of manifestations after the delivery.

CONCLUSION: The authors point out the possibility of the origination of nosocomial infection induced with mucormycotic strains. Thus, they recommend adhering to a strict anti-epidemic regimen at neonatal departments with a particular emphasis put on consequent prohibiting of the storage and use of food at the departments. They emphasize the fact that the most frequent clinical pattern induced with mucormycotic strains in newborns with low birth-weight is necrotizing enterocolitis. They also stress the fact that the final diagnosis of the infection is most typically established based on the histological examination only....

Read abstract  Full text PDF

Journal Article 2008; 29(6): 852-856 PubMed PMID: 19112398 Citation  Keywords:  Contraception:methods, Endometrial Hyperplasia:etiology, Female, Genital Diseases, Female:etiology, Genital Neoplasms, Female:immunology, Humans, Immunosuppression, Immunosuppressive Agents:adverse effects, Menstruation Disturbances:chemically induced, Or.   

: Organ transplantation has become universally accepted treatment of end-stage organ failure. The main problem focuses on preventing the graft from rejection with the use of immunosuppressive agents. High incidence of infection is the most frequent adverse effect of immunosuppressive therapy. Symptoms of inflammation are often reduced in immunosuppressed patients. All invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures should be associated with the increase in dose of steroids and prophylactic antibiotics. Ovarian and menstrual function is usually restored in transplanted women. Function of the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary axis in transplanted women is believed to be normal. Most common abnormal uterine bleeding in graft recipient are: prolonged and profuse menstruation and inter-menstrual bleeding or spotting. Among the underlying diseases are lesions of the uterus (fibroids, endometrial or cervical polyps), infections of sex organs or hormonal disturbances. Higher rate of endometrial hyperplasia (without atypia) is reported in renal graft recipients. Organ transplantation results in the restored fertility thus effective family planning method is necessary in women of reproductive age who do not want to conceive. Vaginal diaphragms are not advised and intrauterine device are contradicted. Observational studies indicate for safety and high rate of acceptance of oral and transdermal hormonal contraception in transplanted women. Over ten-year experiences of HRT administration in graft recipient have proved the benefits of the therapy. Patients after organ transplantation have three to four-fold increased incidence of malignancy compared with general population. All transplant women must undergo regular gynecological screening for premalignant and malignant lesions of sex organs and breast....

Read abstract  Full text PDF

Case Reports 2008; 29(6): 871-873 PubMed PMID: 19112397 Citation  Keywords:  Abscess:complications, Anti-Bacterial Agents:therapeutic use, Cesarean Section, Female, Humans, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Complications, Infectious:drug therapy, Pregnancy Outcome, Treatment Outcome, Uterine Diseases:complications, Uterus:abnormalities, Young .   

: A 20 year old primigravida with a double uterus was admitted with a viable fetus in the right uterus and pus oozing from the left one. Management consisted of a regimen of intravenous antibiotics and intravaginal antibiotic tablets. Tocolysis was used to arrest imminent preterm labor. In the course of pregnancy IUGR was diagnosed. At 38 weeks of pregnancy a SGA baby boy of 2,440 g was delivered by cesarean section. The mother and the baby were discharged from the hospital in good general condition....

Read abstract  Full text PDF

Journal Article 2008; 29(6): 831-836 PubMed PMID: 19112396 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Adolescent Development, Age of Onset, Brain:growth & development, Child, Child Development, Critical Period (Psychology), Humans, Neuronal Plasticity:physiology, Neuropsychology, Schizophrenia:physiopathology, Schizophrenic Psychology,.   

: Schizophrenia is a disorder characterized by delay in neurodevelopment and by a central disorder of recognition (i.e. with generalized cognitive deficit). Connectivity impairments in the areas of the social brain and cerebellum are the "messenger" of abnormal CNS development in schizophrenia. Processes of neuronal reorganization in cortical and subcortical structures, aberrant forms of pruning, sprouting, and myelinization may play a major role in the pathogenesis of a schizophrenic breakdown. Models of neuroplasticity during adolescence can be connected with models of neurodevelopmental vulnerability and models of neurotoxicity to form an integrated approach in order to better understand premorbid adjustment, onset, and course of schizophrenia. The loss of plasticity and aberrant myelinization lead to a deterioration in cognitive functions, social dysfunction and, in individuals with specific genetic vulnerability, to expression of schizophrenia. This article discusses brain development in relation to the diagnosis of schizophrenia and the basic symptoms of childhood schizophrenia (with early and very early onset) and of adolescent schizophrenia....

Read abstract  Full text PDF