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Journal Article 2007; 28(5): 671-674 PubMed PMID: 17984938 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Aromatase:metabolism, Cholestenone 5 alpha-Reductase:metabolism, Female, Hypothalamus, Middle:embryology, Immobilization, Pregnancy, Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects, Preoptic Area:embryology, Rats, Rats, Wistar, Sex Characteristics, Stress, Psy.   

OBJECTIVES: Prenatal stress results in demasculinization and feminization of sexual behavior in adult male rats. Earlier the preventive effect of testosterone replacement of an androgen deficiency in male fetuses during exposure to stress has been demonstrated. Nevertheless the neuroendocrine mechanisms underlying hormonal protection of the brain sexual differentiation are not clear.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Time-mated rats were undergone to 1 h strict immobilization during days 15 to 21 of gestation. Another group of stressed dams was injected with testosterone propionate on the 17th, 19th and 21st gestational days subcutaneously (5 mg/kg b.w.) 30 min prior to restraining. Aromatase and 5alpha-reductase activities were determined in the preoptic area and medial basal hypothalamus of 10-day old offspring.

RESULTS: Aromatase activity in the preoptic area declined in affected with prenatal stress males and reached the normal female level. It completely restored in prenatally stressed males under influence of prenatal testosterone replacement. 5alpha-reductase activity decreased in the preoptic area of prenatally stressed females. In those pretreated with testosterone propionate, 5alpha-reductase activity was significantly elevated above normal level.

CONCLUSIONS: The data obtained demonstrate a preservation of aromatase activity in the preoptic area of males resulted from testosterone replacement. Presumably testosterone exerts its protective effect on the male sexual behavior by prevention of neurochemical feminization of the brain preoptic area and, perhaps, due to some other mechanisms....

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Comparative Study 2007; 28(5): 621-628 PubMed PMID: 17984937 Citation  Keywords:  Acromegaly:blood, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Bone Density:physiology, Bone Resorption:blood, Estradiol:blood, Female, Follicle Stimulating Hormone:blood, Human Growth Hormone:blood, Humans, Hypogonadism:blood, Insulin-Like Growth Factor I:analysis, L.   

OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study was to evaluate bone metabolism and bone mineral density (BMD), and to indicate the main determinants of these parameters in a large group of patients with active acromegaly.

METHODS: A group of 121 active acromegalics, aged 23-80 years, from a single endocrinological center was studied. Serum GH, IGF-I, LH, FSH, PRL, estradiol/testosterone, osteocalcin (OC), type I collagen carboxyterminal telopeptide (ICTP) as well as BMD by DXA at spine L2-L4, femoral neck, Ward's triangle and trochanter were measured.

RESULTS: Serum OC and ICTP concentrations were elevated (mean+/-SEM: 31.7+/-2.2 microg/L, p<0.001; 7.3+/-0.5 microg/L, p<0.001, respectively), and positively correlated with each other, as well as with IGF-I. BMD (Z-scores) was increased at L2-L4, femoral neck and trochanter (0.35+/-0.15, p=0.016; 0.60+/-0.11, p<0.001 and 0.59+/-0.13, p<0.001; respectively). The main determinants of Z-scores and ICTP were gonadal status and gender, while of OC was IGF-I. Eugonadal acromegalics had higher than normal serum OC and ICTP, as well as Z-scores at all measured sites. Hypogonadal patients (2/3 of the population) had significantly higher serum ICTP concentrations and lower BMD at all sites, when compared to eugonadal acromegalics. Thirty five percent of hypogonadal subjects had T-score<-1. Men had significantly higher serum ICTP and lower Z-scores than women.

CONCLUSIONS: (i) In active acromegaly, enhanced IGF-I-dependent bone turnover and increased BMD is observed. (ii) In hypogonadal acromegalics, high bone resorption decreases BMD and may lead to osteoporosis. (iii) There is a smaller increase in bone resorption and greater increase in BMD in women with acromegaly than in men....

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Evaluation Studies 2007; 28(5): 686-692 PubMed PMID: 17984935 Citation  Keywords:  Adenocarcinoma:metabolism, Adenomatous Polyps:classification, Adult, Aged, Biomarkers, Tumor:analysis, Blood Protein Electrophoresis:methods, Cell Transformation, Neoplastic:metabolism, Colonic Neoplasms:metabolism, Colonic Polyps:classification, Colonosc.   

BACKGROUND: Adenomas have the highest potential or clinical value from among colonic polyps of developing into adenocarcinoma. The aims of this paper are: to establish criteria to identify the high risk group of patients in a group of patients with colonic polyps, to work out a simple scheme for follow-up care after endoscopic polypectomy, and to establish indications for surgery. The usefulness of determination of electrophoresis of serum proteins has been specially analysed to detect early development of malignant growths in patients with colonic polyps regarding alfa-1/alfa-2 and alfa/beta. 67 cases - 21 women, 46 men were tested. Follow-up endoscopy with the electrophoresis was performed after 6 weeks, 6 and 12 months after polypectomy. 97 polyps were resected with endoscopy in 67 patients. 38 patients (39.17%), those constituting the high risk group, were selected. Included were all polyps with grade II and III of cellular differentiation.

CONCLUSIONS: 1) alfa-1/alfa-2 and alfa/beta is a helpful test in identifying the high risk group among patients with colonic polyps and it can be used as a screening test, 2) the determination of beta-2-macroglobuline is not useful in the diagnosis of this group of patients, 3) the electrophoresis of proteins should be the first test to perform on patients with colonic polyps. The relation of electrophoresis to endoscopic polypectomy aids evaluations of patients specially predisposed to malignant....

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Journal Article 2007; 28(5): 629-632 PubMed PMID: 17984934 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Amino Acid Substitution, China, Female, Fibrillin-1, Fibrillins, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Humans, Latent TGF-beta Binding Proteins:metabolism, Male, Marfan Syndrome:genetics, Microfilament Proteins:genetics, Middle Aged, Mutation, Missens.   

: In order to further understand the role of fibrillin-1 (FBN1, OMIM 134797) perturbations in the pathogenesis of Marfan syndrome (MFS, OMIM 154700) we studied a Han Chinese family in which MFS was segregating. In the Chinese family with 5 affected members, mutation screening for FBN1 was performed using direct sequencing. A novel non-synonymous mutation in the transforming growth factor beta binding protein-like (TB) domain of the FBN1 gene was found. The missense mutation c.3022T>C (C1008R) located in exon 24. This mutation was present in the proband and in two other affected family members, but in neither unaffected family members nor unrelated control subjects. The novel non-synonymous mutation, c.3022T>C (C1008R) in the TB domain of FBN1 gene, may be involved in the pathogenesis of MFS in a Han Chinese family....

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Journal Article 2007; 28(5): 535-540 PubMed PMID: 17984933 Citation  Keywords:  Antiparasitic Agents:pharmacology, Antipsychotic Agents:pharmacology, Delusions:complications, Dopamine:metabolism, Dopamine Agents:pharmacology, Energy Metabolism, Humans, Insulin Resistance, Parasitic Diseases:complications, Psychological Theory, Schizo.   

: Recent meta-analyses have provided a comprehensive overview of studies investigating Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in schizophrenic patients, thus attempting to clarify the potential role these infections might play in causing schizophrenia. Issues for further research have been suggested. Associations and theories that may enrich the current level of knowledge with regard to this significant subject deserve attention. Anti-parasitic agents as well as antipsychotics are effective in treating parasitosis. Both classes of drugs have been shown to exert dopaminergic activity. Parasites and human organisms have a long history of mutual contact. The effect of parasitosis on the host and the host's response to infection are undoubtedly the product of a long evolutionary process. The neurochemical background of delusions of parasitosis is potentially similar to ancient evolutionary traces of altered neurotransmission and neuropeptide gene expression caused by parasites; these include fungal and viral infections. This is very unique in medicine if a class of drugs is effective in the treatment of an illness but also cures the delusion of the same disorder as well. Furthermore, metabolic disturbances such as hyperglycemia and insulin resistance were reported several decades before the antipsychotic era. Toxoplasmosis may also be linked to insulin resistance. Schizophrenia research can benefit from understanding this evolutionary link. New chemical entities that are liable to alter neurochemical changes related to the brain's perception of the risk of predation secondary to parasites may result in new approaches for the treatment of psychosis. These findings suggest that further research is needed to clarify this evolutionary link between parasite infection and delusions of parasitosis. We believe this model may well open up new avenues of research in the discovery of drugs to counteract schizophrenia....

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Clinical Trial 2007; 28(5): 633-638 PubMed PMID: 17984932 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Aged, Antidepressive Agents:therapeutic use, Cerebrovascular Circulation:drug effects, Combined Modality Therapy, Depressive Disorder, Major:therapy, Female, Functional Laterality, Gyrus Cinguli:blood supply, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Pilot Projec.   

OBJECTIVES: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a brain stimulation technique which has received increasing attention as an antidepressant treatment. However available studies are characterized by a substantial variability in response. We hypothesized that individual patients' characteristics might contribute to such heterogeneity. Therefore we investigated whether either alterations of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) or clinical characteristics may predict antidepressant response to rTMS.

DESIGN: 24 patients with major depression and stable medication received high frequency (10 Hz) rTMS over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) for two weeks as add-on treatment. ECD-Single photon emission computed tomographay (SPECT) imaging was performed 1 to 2 days before rTMS.

SETTING: Tertial referral center

RESULTS: After two weeks of rTMS a mean reduction of 30% of the initial Hamilton Depression Rating Score (HAMD) was observed. Using a multivariate regression model with simultaneous evaluation of the relative impact of a-priori chosen potential factors influencing treatment outcome, two variables, the pretreatment anterior cingulate rCBF and the former response to antidepressant agents proved significant. High pretreatment anterior cingulate activity and low treatment resistance to pharmacologic therapy were positive predictors for treatment response to rTMS.

CONCLUSIONS: Pretreatment anterior cingulate activity seems to be a useful prognostic marker of rTMS treatment response, which is in line with other treatment strategies, like sleep deprivation, electroconvulsive therapy or antidepressant medication....

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Journal Article 2007; 28(5): 699-703 PubMed PMID: 17984931 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Adult, Factor V:genetics, Female, Gene Frequency, Humans, Jordan, Male, Middle Aged, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide:genetics, Prothrombin:genetics, Reference Values, Venous Thromboembolism:genetics,.   

: Factor V Leiden and prothrombin G20210A are related genetic risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE). Analysis for both mutations is increasingly being performed on patients exhibiting hypercoagulability. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of factor V Leiden (FVL), prothrombin-G20210A (PT-G20210A) polymorphisms and their coexistence among apparently healthy Jordanians. One thousand apparently healthy individuals from representative regions of Jordan with no previous history of VTE participated in this study. The mean age of participants was 28.5+/-6.4 years (age range 18-45 years). Two hundred and eighteen subjects were APC resistant with an APC-R mean of 85.52+/-15.35 seconds; the non-resistant subjects had an APC-R mean of 159.90+/-26.96 seconds. A multiplex polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) for the simultaneous detection of FVL and prothrombin G20210A was used to analyze the 218 DNA samples that were APC-R resistant. Both mutations generate HindIII RFLPs and the prothrombin amplicon contains an invariant HindIII recognition sites. The multiplex PCR-RFLP of Factor V for those 218-samples was: 41 wild-type, 169 heterozygous mutant, and eight homozygous mutant individuals. For prothrombin G20210A, the multiplex PCR-RFLP identified 215 wild-type and three heterozygous mutant individuals. Factor V positive individuals (n=50) had a mean F-V activity of 78.04%+/-25.81. F-V activity among wild type (n=41), F-V Leiden heterozygous (n=169) and F-V Leiden homozygous (n=8) were 92.93%+/-16.17, 87.02%+/-15.21 and 96.14%+/-12.32, respectively. Factor II positive subjects (n=47) had a mean factor II activity of 127.96%+/-21.37. F-II activity among carriers (heterozygous, n=3) and non-carriers (normal, n=215) of PT-G20210A mutation were 107.67%+/-9.29 and 105.00%+/-17.79, respectively. The prevalence of FVL was 21.8% and there is a little likelihood of the co-inheritance of the FVL and PT-G20210A among healthy young adults, since only few cases were found to be carriers for the two alleles....

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Journal Article 2007; 28(5): 662-665 PubMed PMID: 17984929 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Adult, Altruism, Amylases:metabolism, Decision Making:physiology, Games, Experimental, Humans, Male, Reference Values, Reward, Saliva:metabolism, Self Concept, Social Perception,.   

OBJECTIVE: Little is known regarding the relationship between social evaluation-induced neuroendocrine responses and generosity in game-theoretic situations. Previous studies demonstrated that reputation formation plays a pivotal role in prosocial behavior. This study aimed to examine the relationships between a social evaluation-induced salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) response and generosity in the dictator game. The relationship is potentially important in neuroeconomics of altruism and game theory.

METHODS: We assessed sAA and allocated money in the dictator game in male students with and without social evaluation. RESULTS Social evaluation-responders allocated significantly more money than controls; while there was no significant correlation between social evaluation-induced sAA elevation and the allocated money.

CONCLUSIONS: Social evaluation significantly increases generosity in the dictator game, and individual differences in trait characteristics such as altruism and reward sensitivity may be important determinants of generosity in the dictator game task....

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