Search NEL Online

Journal Article 2009; 30(2): 237-244 PubMed PMID: 19675517 Citation  Keywords:  Analysis of Variance, Blood Pressure, Bulimia Nervosa:physiopathology, Cold Temperature, Dietary Sucrose:administration & dosage, Eating:physiology, Female, Heart Rate, Humans, Pain:physiopathology, Pain Threshold, Perception:physiology, Rest:physiology, .   

OBJECTIVES: To investigate if the increased pain threshold in women with bulimia nervosa (BN) may be due to chronic stress-induced analgesia.

METHODS: We measured thermal pain threshold latency, blood pressure and heart rate in 21 women with BN and 21 healthy women (HW) under six consecutive conditions: rest I, mental arithmetic task, rest II, eating sweet food, rest III, cold-pressor test.

RESULTS: Thermal pain threshold latency was longer in BN than in HW in all six conditions. It increased during mental arithmetic test and remained increased during the rest of the experiment in both groups. In the BN group, the increase of pain threshold during mental arithmetic was positively correlated with illness duration. The differential modulation of pain threshold by stress in BN and HW could not be explained by autonomic system reactivity. In HW, the pain threshold increased more during eating and blood pressure increased more during mental stress; in BN, the pain threshold was highest in the mental stress condition and blood pressure was most increased during eating. During the cold pressor test, women with BN showed smaller blood pressure increase and tolerated the cold for shorter time than HW.

CONCLUSION: The observed marked modulation of pain threshold by experimental stress suggests that stress-induced analgesia is unlikely to account for baseline pain insensitivity in BN. Increased pain threshold in BN is a stable yet incompletely understood phenomenon, which may be related to the predisposition to or maintenance of the disorder....

Read abstract  Full text PDF

Case Reports 2008; 29(6): 867-870 PubMed PMID: 19112415 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Brain Neoplasms:complications, Central Nervous System Neoplasms:complications, Humans, Lymphoma, B-Cell:complications, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting:complications,.   

: We present the patient with the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS), relapsing-remitting form with long lasting remission. Unexpectedly, this patient presented dramatical clinical deterioration and revealed clinical symptoms such as bradypsychia, cognitive symptoms, central vestibulare syndrome, spastic quadruparesis. Clinical findings suggested secondary progressive MS, but MRI called in question this diagnosis. The MRI appearance suggested, that MS had been complicated by a different brain pathological lesion, and the brain biopsy was indicated. A histological examination confirmed primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL). This case exemplifies important aspects of clinical neurology. A re-evaluation of the diagnosis of MS should always be performed in a patient when new symptoms are presented that are unusual or could be due to other pathological processes. MRI offers the highly sensitive way to detect the coexistence of MS and other brain disease. Primary goal of imaging modalities is differential diagnosis between demyelinating diseases, such as MS and other brain lesions. Advanced focus demand contrast- enhancing and mass- effect lesions. It is important to realize, that contrast-enhancement and brain edema may be mitigated by treatment with corticosteroids. In some cases a brain biopsy is needed....

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

Journal Article 2008; 29(6): 879-883 PubMed PMID: 19112395 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Analysis of Variance, Anorexia Nervosa:classification, Atrophy:pathology, Brain:pathology, Cushing Syndrome:complications, Female, Humans, Hypogonadism:complications, Hypovolemia:complications, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Nutritional Status:ph.   

OBJECTIVES: In patients with anorexia nervosa (AN), computer tomography (CT) scanning and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MR) are usually applied to visualise trophic changes of the brain, resulting from considerable malnutrition or general cachexia of the organism. The goal of the study was an evaluation attempt of the degree of trophic changes in the central nervous system (CNS) of girls with AN, following CT scanning of the brain, together with an analysis of selected clinical and diagnostic parameters, related to the trophic changes in question.

PATIENTS & METHODS: The study involved fifty-five (55) female patients with AN. Following CT of the brain - scanning of the cortical sulci - four (4) groups of the patients were identified. The following classification of lesions was applied: Group I - width of cortical sulci < 1.5 mm - standard; Group II - the presence of cortical sulci of width < 1.5 mm and 1.5-3 mm; Group III - width of cortical sulci 1.5-3 mm; Group IV - the presence of cortical sulci of width at 1.5-3 mm and > 3 mm. We did not observe any patient with AN in whom the width of all the cortical sulci was bigger than 3 mm (Group V). In all the groups, clinical parameters, as well as routine laboratory tests and selected hormonal tests, were analysed.

RESULTS: In the performed CT scanning of the head in patients with AN, trophic changes in the CNS (as evaluated by the width of cortical sulci) were revealed in 67.3% of the patients. Among the studied groups, statistically significant differences were found for: body weight loss (BWL), the percent of BWL (BWL%), the BWL to disease duration ratio (BWL/time) and BWL%/time, serum concentrations of potassium, calcium, glucose, total protein and urea, as well as serum concentrations of LH, E2, cortisol, FT3 and FT4. The most pronounced disturbances were observed in Group IV, while the least ones - in Group I.

CONCLUSIONS: In CT scanning of the head, trophic changes in the CNS were observed in girls with AN, measured by the width of cortical sulci. The higher severity of trophic changes in the CNS was associated with higher BWL/time ratio, higher hypercortisolemia, more enhanced hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism, disorders in the peripheral metabolism of the thyroid hormones and with the obtained values of routine laboratory tests, indicating some tendency towards hypovolemia....

Read abstract  Full text PDF

Journal Article 2008; 29(5): 759-762 PubMed PMID: 18987577 Citation  Keywords:  Acetylcholinesterase:metabolism, Animals, Biosensing Techniques, Butyrylcholinesterase:metabolism, Cholinesterase Inhibitors:pharmacology, Methacholine Chloride:pharmacology, Muscarinic Agonists:pharmacology, Oximes, Parasympathetic Nervous System:drug ef.   

OBJECTIVES: The current standard treatment of organophosphate poisoning consists of an administration of anticholinergic drugs and cholinesterase reactivators (oximes). Oximes can react - except their reactivating effect on cholinesterases - directly with cholinoreceptors. HI-6 is an oxime that may have an inhibitory effect on the muscarinic receptors, too.

METHODS: In our work, we have investigated an influence of HI-6 on the acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and on the muscarinic receptors in vitro. The study was conducted using biosensor technique and on the rat bladder using in vitro test (tissue bath; methacholine as muscarinic agonist). IC50 for BChE from human serum was determined to be 1.01x10-6 M and for human erythrocytes AChE 3.31x10-6 M, respectively.

CONCLUSION: We assume that the demonstrated contractile response can be attributed to the inhibition of the AChE at the lower concentration and to a predominant inhibition of muscarinic receptor at higher concentration of compound tested....

Read abstract  Full text PDF

Journal Article 2008; 29(4): 421-427 PubMed PMID: 18766154 Citation  Keywords:  Anorexia Nervosa:blood, Body Weight, Female, Hormones:blood, Humans, Retrospective Studies, Weight Loss,.   

OBJECTIVES: Body weight loss in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) is accompanied by a number of hormonal and metabolic disorders. The scope and intensity of these disorders may have a considerable influence on the prognosis in this disease. The goal of the study was an evaluation of selected diagnostic examinations in comparison with clinical data of female patients with AN.

PATIENTS & METHODS: Retrospective studies involved eighty-seven (87) patients with AN. On therapy commencement, routine laboratory tests (full blood cell count, serum concentrations of sodium, potassium, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, total calcium, phosphates, total protein and the urea) and hormonal tests (TSH, TSH, FT4, FT3, E2, T, cortisol measured at 8(00), 17(00) and 24(00), LH and FSH in stimulation test with GnRH) were performed in each patient. Correlations were determined between clinical data and the measured hormone concentrations.

RESULTS: In the studied girls, the mean values of routine laboratory tests, performed at the beginning of the therapy, were within the normal ranges (except hypernatremia). The mean concentrations of LH, FSH and FT4 were below reference values; the mean concentration of cortisol considerably exceeded the standard range. Statistically significant relations were demonstrated between BMI values and the concentrations of LH, E2 and cortisol.

CONCLUSIONS: Body weigh loss is not significantly reflected by abnormal results of routinely performed laboratory tests. Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and hypercortisolemia are the most characteristic hormonal symptoms in girls with AN....

Read abstract  Full text PDF

Journal Article 2008; 29(3): 320-327 PubMed PMID: 18580852 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Attention:drug effects, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity:epidemiology, Biomarkers, Central Nervous System Stimulants:therapeutic use, Child, Czech Republic:epidemiology, Discrimination (Psychology):physiology, Form Perception:phys.   

OBJECTIVES: The objective was to make a contribution to deepening the knowledge of the etiopathogenesis of ADHD.

DESIGN: In an association study design, an analysis of polymorphisms of selected genes was conducted in 119 hyperkinetic boys and a control group of boys, aged 7-13. Furthermore several psychologically determined subgroups were identified. A connection between psychological functions (endophenotypes) and genes were looked for.

RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference found in allelic and genotype frequencies of the TaqI A polymorphism of the DRD2 gene. The frequency of the allele A1 in hyperkinetic boys and the control subjects was 0.26 and 0.15, respectively (p<0.003). A statistically significant occurrence of atypical genotypes (8/10, 7/10 and 10/11) of the DAT1 gene was also found in hyperkinetic boys and a connection between the M235 polymorphism of the angiotensinogene gene and the positive family history of psychiatric illness was found in probands (p=0.031). Significant correlations between the results of some neuropsychological tests and genes for neuro-/immunomodulators (IL-6, TNF-alpha) and the gene for the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were found.

CONCLUSION: The study showed a statistically significant prevalence of A1 allele of the DRD gene in the hyperkinetic group. We also found a significantly higher incidence of atypical DAT genotypes in the hyperkinetic group. Furthermore we found significant connections with particular gene polymorphisms which may hypothetically represent a neurodevelopmental risk factor in the etiopathogenesis of the disorder (IL-2, IL-6, TNF-alpha, BDNF). We further found a connection of the M235 polymorphism of the AGT (angiotensinogene) gene to positive family history of psychiatric illness (p=0.031). As for cognitive characteristics, we identified three subtypes with different cognitive performance profiles. This finding shows interindividual variability of cognitive style in the group of hyperkinetic boys....

Read abstract  Full text PDF

Journal Article 2008; 29(1): 91-99 PubMed PMID: 18283264 Citation  Keywords:  Aging:genetics, Animals, Antioxidants:adverse effects, Disease Models, Animal, Heredodegenerative Disorders, Nervous System:pathology, Hippocampus:drug effects, Injections, Subcutaneous, Male, Maze Learning:drug effects, Melatonin:administration & dosage,.   

OBJECTIVES: A purpose of this study is to compare the differential effects of melatonin on hippocampal neurodegeneration in accelerated senescence prone mouse-8 (SAMP8) which is initiated treatment at different age.

METHODS: The 4-months old SAMP8 mice were injected subcutaneously with melatonin (1 mg/kg/day) for 4 months. Similar treatments were performed in the 7-months old mice. When the animals were complete 11-months old, a series of tests were performed. Y maze test and Eight-arm radial maze task were used to assess cognitive performance. Hippocampal pyramidal cells were estimated by Nissl's staining. By using Gomori's methenamine silver methods, the methenamine silver staining granules (MSSG) were observed in area CA1 of hippocampus. A computer-assisted morphometric study was carried out on the ultrastructure of perikaryal CA1 pyramidal cell mitochondria. The volume density (Vv), surface density (Sv), numerical density (Nv) and mean volume (V) of the mitochondria were calculated.

RESULTS: Melatonin treatment obviously reduced the deposition of MSSG and elevated hippocampal pyramidal cell number while improving the learning and memory deficits of SAMP8. The mice initiated treatment from 4-months old exhibited a greater response to melatonin supplementation than 7-months old mice. It also decreased mean volume (V) and significantly elevated the Sv and Nv of the mitochondria in hippocampal CA1 region. However, 7-months old mice showed little effects on it.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the protective effects of melatonin on hippocampal neurodegeneration of SAMP8 are age dependent....

Read abstract  Full text PDF