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Association between perceived happiness levels and peripheral circulating pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in middle-aged adults in Japan.

Matsunaga M, Isowa T, Yamakawa K, Tsuboi H, Kawanishi Y, Kaneko H, Kasugai K, Yoneda M, Ohira H.
Comparative Study 2011; 32(4): 458-463 PubMed PMID: 21876513 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Female, Happiness, Health Status, Humans, Immune Tolerance:physiology, Inflammation:blood, Interferon-gamma:blood, Japan, Male, Neuroimmunomodulation, Quality of Life, Social Behavior, Touch, Young Adult,.   

OBJECTIVES: The idea that perceived happiness may be associated with health and well-being is a recent topic of focus. However, the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the positive effects of happiness on psychological and physiological wellness remain obscure. In this study, we attempted to clarify the association between systemic inflammation and happiness.

METHODS: We recruited 160 healthy volunteers for experiment 1 and compared peripheral inflammatory markers, namely the concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the serum, between perceived high-happiness and low-happiness groups. Subsequently, we recruited 7 romantic couples for experiment 2 and investigated changes in peripheral pro-inflammatory cytokine levels after the evocation of happiness, which was induced by warm physical contact with the partner.

RESULTS: We found that circulating levels of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), which can affect brain functions and induce depressive symptoms, were lower in the high-happiness group than in the low-happiness group. A negative correlation between the levels of perceived happiness and IFN-γ concentrations was also observed. Furthermore, we also found that experimentally induced happiness could reduce peripheral IFN-γ levels.

CONCLUSIONS: These results revealed an association between the perception of happiness and systemic inflammation. Increased happiness may suppress the peripheral circulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines....

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Awakening responses and diurnal fluctuations of salivary cortisol, DHEA-S and α-amylase in healthy male subjects.

Ghiciuc C, Cozma-Dima C, Pasquali V, Renzi P, Simeoni S, Lupusoru C, Patacchioli F.
Journal Article 2011; 32(4): 475-480 PubMed PMID: 21876512 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Biomarkers:metabolism, Circadian Rhythm:physiology, Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate:metabolism, Humans, Hydrocortisone:metabolism, Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System:physiology, Male, Pituitary-Adrenal System:physiology, Reference Values, Saliva:metabol.   

OBJECTIVES: Because the cortisol awakening response (CAR) has received increasing attention as a useful index of adrenocortical activity, the primary objective of this study was to investigate the presence of an awakening response for various salivary biomarkers of adrenocortical activity, including dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate (DHEA-S), which acts as a cortisol antagonist, and α-amylase, which is a predictor of circulating catecholamine activity. Salivary biological indicators are considered to be valuable markers of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis diurnal activity.

METHODS: In an attempt to overcome problems associated with non-adherence to the requested sampling protocol, only young, healthy males with a physiological CAR value (defined as a 50% increase in salivary cortisol within 30 min after waking) were included in the study (67 out of 102 who initially enrolled met this criterion).

RESULTS: Our results suggested that, as is already known for cortisol, DHEA-S and α-amylase have significant awakening responses. In addition, daily profile of salivary cortisol, α-amylase and DHEA-S fluctuations were analysed. Significant correlations were found between salivary cortisol, DHEA-S and α-amylase levels. The results showed that cortisol and DHEA-S concentrations were inversely correlated with α-amylase levels.

CONCLUSION: This correlation confirmed the distinctiveness of the two regulatory systems: salivary cortisol and DHEA-S concentrations reflect the activity of the HPA axis, whereas α-amylase activity is more closely related to sympathetic activity. In addition, the present study emphasizes the potential value of saliva collection (which is both easy and stress-free) in monitoring changes of adrenal function, confirming that multiple sampling (especially within 1 h after awakening) is necessary to reliably characterise biomarker activity when investigating neuroendocrine changes under various conditions....

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Ephedrine enhances the antinociceptive effect of dexmedetomidine in mice.

Sezer Z, Sezer G, Tekol Y.
Journal Article 2011; 32(4): 552-556 PubMed PMID: 21876510 Citation  Keywords:  Adrenergic Agents:pharmacology, Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists:pharmacology, Animals, Dexmedetomidine:pharmacology, Drug Synergism, Drug Therapy, Combination, Ephedrine:pharmacology, Female, Male, Mice, Motor Activity:drug effects, Nociceptors:drug .   

OBJECTIVES: Dexmedetomidine, a highly selective alpha-2-adrenoceptor agonist, was recently introduced into clinical practice for its sedative and analgesic properties. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the psychostimulant drug ephedrine has any effect on dexmedetomidine-induced antinociception and locomotor inhibitor activity in mice in acute application.

METHODS: In both sexes of swiss albino mice; antinociception was assessed with hot-plate test and the locomotor, exploratory activities were assessed with holed open field test. The animals were received; saline + saline, ephedrine (10 mg/kg) + saline, saline + dexmedetomidine (15 μg/kg) and ephedrine (10 mg/kg) + dexmedetomidine (15 μg/kg), intraperitoneally, 30 min before hot plate or holed open field tests.

RESULTS: In the hot plate test in mice, co-administration of 15 μg/kg dexmedetomidine with 10 mg/kg ephedrine intraperitoneally not only enhanced, but also prolonged the duration of antinociception induced by dexmedetomidine. At the same time, the locomotor inhibitory effect of dexmedetomidine was counteracted by ephedrine.

CONCLUSION: We concluded that the combined administration of dexmedetomidine with ephedrine may have beneficial effects in the treatment of pain without causing sedation, which limits the use of dexmedetomidine as an analgesic in humans....

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Expression of vascular endothelial growth factors VEGF- C and D, VEGFR-3, and comparison of lymphatic vessels density labeled with D2-40 antibodies as a prognostic factors in vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) and invasive vulvar cancer.

Jach R, Dyduch G, Radon-Pokracka M, Przybylska P, Mika M, Dulinska-Litewka J, Zajac K, Huras H, Streb J, Stangel-Wojcikiewicz K, Dziadek O, Galarowicz B.
Comparative Study 2011; 32(4): 530-539 PubMed PMID: 21876509 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Aged, Antibodies:pharmacology, Biomarkers, Tumor:metabolism, Biopsy, Carcinoma in Situ:metabolism, Disease-Free Survival, Female, Humans, Lymphatic Vessels:immunology, Middle Aged, Neoplasm Invasiveness, Neoplasm Recurrence, Local:metabolism, Predi.   

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the immunohistochemical expression of vascular endothelial growth factors VEGF-C and D, as well as the expression of VEGFR-3 in VIN and vulvar invasive cancer and to compare the density of lymphatic marker D2-40 antibody in both groups, and to compare them with different clinicopathologic features.

MATERIALS & METHODS: The study was performed using tissue material and clinical data from 100 women diagnosed with VIN and 100 women diagnosed with invasive vulvar cancer.

RESULTS: No significant differences were found in the expression of VEGF-C and -D or VEGFR-3 between those patients with VIN and those with invasive vulvar cancers. Weak expression of VEGF-C was confirmed only in two cases of the analyzed series; in all cases, expression of VEGF-D and VEGFR-3 was observed. The strongest expression of VEGF-D and VEGFR-3 was observed in the group of invasive cancers. The highest density of lymphatic vessels per 2 mm was observed in VIN. In the cancer group, small lymphatic vessels with a narrow oval lumen were observed. Moreover, in two cases of vulvar cancer, the presence of intratumoral lymphatic vessels was observed.

CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that lymphangiogenesis begins at the preinvasive stage of vulvar carcinogenesis and suggests the important role of VEGF-C, VEGF-D, VEGFR-3 and LV (D2-40) as prognostic factors in the process of carcinogenesis in the vulvar area....

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Glucocorticoid receptor polymorphism is associated with lithium response in bipolar patients.

Szczepankiewicz A, Rybakowski J, Suwalska A, Hauser J.
Journal Article 2011; 32(4): 545-551 PubMed PMID: 21876507 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Aged, Antimanic Agents:therapeutic use, Bipolar Disorder:drug therapy, Drug Resistance:genetics, Female, Gene Frequency, Genotype, Humans, Linkage Disequilibrium, Lithium Carbonate:therapeutic use, Male, Middle Aged, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide.   

OBJECTIVES: Glucocorticoid receptor has been considered in the pathogenesis of bipolar disorder as it is an important regulator of the circadian rhythm and HPA negative feedback. As glucocorticoid receptor may be possibly related to lithium action we aimed to investigate variation in the GR gene in association with response to lithium treatment in Polish population of bipolar patients.

METHODS: We analyzed 115 bipolar patients treated with lithium carbonate for 5-27 years. Thirty patients were identified as excellent lithium responders (ER), 58 patients as partial responders (PR), and 27 patients were non-responders. Genotypes of eight analyzed polymorphisms of GR gene (rs10052957, rs6196, rs6198, rs6191, rs258813, rs33388, rs6195, rs41423247) were established by TaqMan SNP Genotyping Assays. Statistical analysis was done with Statistica version 9.0. Linkage disequilibrium analysis was performed in Haploview v. 4.1.

RESULTS: We have found significant differences in allele frequencies for BclI polymorphism between patients with different lithium response with C allele associated with excellent lithium response. For the other GR polymorphisms any significant association with different lithium response was found. We observed a strong linkage disequilibrium of five GR polymorphisms (rs6198, rs6191, rs6196, rs258813, rs33388), with TAAGA haplotype more prevalent in the group of partial- and non-responders to lithium.

CONCLUSION: The GR gene variation seems to be involved in the response to lithium treatment in our group of bipolar patients....

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Hormonal regulators of food intake and weight gain in Parkinson's disease after subthalamic nucleus stimulation.

Novakova L, Haluzik M, Jech R, Urgosik D, Ruzicka F, Ruzicka E.
Journal Article 2011; 32(4): 437-441 PubMed PMID: 21876505 Citation  Keywords:  Adiponectin:blood, Adult, Aged, Deep Brain Stimulation:methods, Eating:physiology, Female, Ghrelin:blood, Hormones:blood, Humans, Hydrocortisone:blood, Hypothalamus:physiology, Insulin:blood, Leptin:blood, Male, Middle Aged, Parkinson Disease:metabolism, .   

OBJECTIVES: Weight gain has been reported in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) treated with deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN-DBS). To evaluate the influence of STN-DBS on weight changes, we studied food-related hormones.

DESIGN: Anthropometric parameters and food-related hormones (leptin, adiponectin, resistin, ghrelin, cortisol, insulin, and thyroid stimulating hormone) were measured in 27 patients with STN-DBS during a 12 month period following electrode implantation.

RESULTS: Besides marked motor improvements on STN-DBS, PD patients significantly gained weight. The mean weight gain at 12 months was 5.2±(SD)5.8 kg. A significant decrease in cortisol levels compared to baseline appeared at month 2 and persisted at 12 months (p<0.01, corrected), with no significant changes in other hormones tested.

CONCLUSIONS: Changes in peripheral food-related hormones do not appear to cause weight gain in PD patients. Direct effects of STN-DBS on hypothalamic catabolic/anabolic peptide balance remain hypothetical and necessitate further elucidation....

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Immunotherapy of cervical cancer as a biological dissipative structure.

Klimek R, Klimek M, Jasiczek D.
Journal Article 2011; 32(4): 380-388 PubMed PMID: 21876504 Citation  Keywords:  Female, Humans, Immune System:physiology, Immunotherapy:trends, Infection:immunology, Precancerous Conditions:immunology, Uterine Cervical Neoplasms:immunology,.   

: Cervical cancer can be not only prevented, but also effectively treated. Decreased efficiency of biochemical, neurohormonal and/or immunological mechanisms leads to infectious states which, irrespective of their bacterial, viral or parasitic aetiology, are only the necessary, but not the sufficient causes of neogenesis. The cause of cancer is the natural and common phenomenon of the self-organization of systems, endangered by ending of their existence, into more efficient time-space structures at the expense of their surrounding. Infected cells or infectiously changed tissues in their final phase of existence are often recognized as a precancerous state, but their genome does not differ from other organism cells, and that is why the carcinogenesis can still be prevented by direct fighting of pathogenic microorganisms, and indirectly by strengthening the body by neurohormonal therapy or vaccine immunopotentialization. Primary prophylaxis of neoplasms requires that not only the dissipathogenic state of cells be prevented, but also their tissue surrounding be normalized to head off the risk of the self-organization of neoplastic forms of life, differing in their genetic identity from the surrounding cells. Lactovaginal immunopotentialization complements the conservative and operative methods of oncological treatment, as well as has prophylactic application in women with the history of miscarriages, premature deliveries, lack of or significantly shortened lactation, neurohormonal menstruating disorders, chronic and recurrent inflammations of the reproductive organs, long-term hormonal contraception and hormone replacement therapy during menopause, or only deficiency of Lactobacillus vaginalis, as indicators of risk of cervical cancer....

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