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Journal Article 2011; 32(6): 836-840 PubMed PMID: 22286788 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Female, Humans, Impulsive Behavior:metabolism, Loneliness, Neuropsychological Tests, Saliva:chemistry, Testosterone:metabolism,.   

OBJECTIVE: Adolescence is characterized by increases in loneliness, impulsiveness and circulating testosterone levels. We investigated the relationship between these characteristics in adolescent females.

METHODS: For this purpose, we measured impulsivity and loneliness by means of a Go/No-go task and the UCLA loneliness scale, respectively. Testosterone levels in saliva were measured by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA).

RESULTS: The results showed that testosterone and loneliness have a positive relevance to impulsivity in adolescent females, whereas there was no relationship between loneliness and testosterone levels.

CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that testosterone and loneliness modulate impulsivity via distinctive pathways....

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Journal Article 2011; 32(6): 763-768 PubMed PMID: 22286787 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Dehydration:physiopathology, Glucose Transport Proteins, Facilitative:metabolism, Glutamic Acid:metabolism, Male, Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus:metabolism, Rats, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Sodium:metabolism, Synaptosomes:metabolism, Water Depri.   

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to identify and characterize Na+-dependent, high affinity glutamate transporter (GLUT) activity in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and to compare GLUT activity in PVN of euhydrated versus water-deprived rats.

METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were deprived of water for two days before sacrifice. Control rats received water ad libitum. After sacrifice, PVN and cerebrum were removed and synaptosomes were prepared using standard techniques. Glutamate uptake was measured using [3H]-glutamate as substrate, physiological buffer, approximately 100 µg of synaptosomal tissue per assay and a Brandel cell harvester.

RESULTS: Glutamate uptake was saturable in PVN synaptosomes from euhydrated, control rats with a Vmax of 541 ± 22 pmol/min-mg protein (SEM) and Km of 17.6 ± 3.8 µM (SEM). In contrast, Vmax of glutamate uptake was 808 ± 58 pmol/min-mg protein in PVN of rats deprived of water for 2 days. This was significantly higher than controls (p<0.001). Km was 21.2 ± 7.3 µM and not significantly different from controls (NS).

CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that water deprivation of rats results in significantly higher synaptosomal glutamate uptake in PVN. Although the exact mechanism is unknown, increased transcription of the GLUT gene and/or increased cell surface expression of GLUT may contribute to the observed increase of glutamate uptake in dehydrated rats. Increased glutamate uptake may serve to restrict dehydration-induced activation of PVN efferent pathways specifically involved in release of neurohypophysial hormones and activation of sympathetic outflow that operate to maintain body fluid balance and cardiovascular function....

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Journal Article 2011; 32(6): 790-798 PubMed PMID: 22286786 Citation  Keywords:  Anxiety Disorders:metabolism, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity:metabolism, Child, Circadian Rhythm:physiology, Humans, Melatonin:metabolism, Saliva:chemistry,.   

BACKGROUND: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and anxiety disorders are the most frequent psychiatric disorders in children. Changes in rhythms of symptoms during the day may be influenced by genetic, biological and psychological factors. Some changes of melatonin rhythm may hypothetically change the activity of ADHD by changing arousal or in anxiety children by changing their emotional state. In our present study we identify one group of ADHD children combine type without comorbids, one group of anxiety children and a control group. Most changes of melatonin daily rhythm are supposed in the anxiety group, especially in sleeping time, and more prominent change in the ADHD group with prominent hyperactivity and conduct disorder symptoms.

METHODS: Thirty-four ADHD and forty-three control children and eleven anxiety children, all 6-12 years old, participated in the study. The saliva specimens were collected in four different sessions during the school year, around the time of the spring and autumn equinox, when the natural light lasted 11.2 h ± 0.9 h.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: In our study more symptoms of conduct disorder elevated positive or negative correlations between psychopathology and saliva level of melatonin in ADHD and anxiety samples. We hypothesize that co-morbidity of ADHD or anxiety with impulsivity and conduct disorders might have elevated correlations between psychopathology of ADHD or anxiety and plasma melatonin level....

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Journal Article 2011; 32(6): 857-864 PubMed PMID: 22286784 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Body Mass Index, Estradiol:blood, Female, Human Growth Hormone:blood, Humans, Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3:blood, Insulin-Like Growth Factor I:metabolism, Young Adult,.   

OBJECTIVE: To compare the influence of low and normal endogenous estradiol concentration on circulating hGH, IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels as well as on mutual correlations of these parameters.

PATIENTS: 45 women (age 30.7 ± 9.0 years, BMI 25.7 ± 8.0) divided into group A - 15 hypoestrogenic women and group B - 30 normoestrogenic controls. Neither of the women was menopausal nor hyperprolactinemic.

METHODS: Blood sample was taken at the standard conditions prior to the initiation of hormonal supplementation therapy in group A and at the day 3-5 of menstrual cycle in group B. Serum hGH, IGF-I, IGFBP-3, insulin, testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) dihydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) and LH as well as prolactin (PRL), FSH and estradiol levels were measured by standard RIA kits.

RESULTS: Mean IGF-1, LH, FSH, testosterone and estradiol and PRL plasma levels were lower in group A compared to group B. There were no significant differences in mean SHBG, insulin and DHEAS levels. There were also no differences in mean: age, body mass, BMI as well as percentage of each BMI range between groups. Regardless the estradiol level the IGF-I/age link was found in both groups. A IGF-I/IGFBP-3 relation was found in both groups. IGF-I/estradiol link was seen only in group A. In group B hGH/SHBG link was found, in group A this relation was indirect. A link between hGH and testosterone levels was found only in group B. SHBG was related in group B to IGFBP-3, testosterone and to DHEAS. Insulin/IGFBP-3 link was seen in group B. The stepwise multiple regression revealed DHEAS and LH as predictors of IGF-I level in group A, while in group B none of the parameters predicted IGF-I level. The results of the same analysis in case of hGH are as follows: in group A hGH level was predicted by estradiol and SHBG. In group B none of factors predicted hGH levels.

CONCLUSION: Estradiol plasma level is correlated to circulating IGF-I, albeit the relation seems to be biphasic....

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Case Reports 2011; 32(6): 748-750 PubMed PMID: 22286782 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Anorexia Nervosa:epidemiology, Blindness:epidemiology, Body Image, Comorbidity, Female, Humans, Psychotherapy,.   

: Eating disorders represent significant psychopathological spectrum, particularly in adolescent girls. One of the risk factors associated with eating disorders is a strong emphasis of western visual-oriented culture on physical appearance and slimness. However, sensory handicap leading to disability to see one's own body and bodies of others does not mean that eating disorder cannot develop in blind people. The authors believe that body image is a mental construct that is not dependent on sensory perception only. They present the case of an adolescent patient, blind from early childhood, who shows symptoms of mental anorexia, depression, suicidal behavior and self-harming....

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Journal Article 2011; 32(6): 841-846 PubMed PMID: 22286781 Citation  Keywords:  Adrenergic Agents:pharmacology, Animals, Arachidonic Acids:pharmacology, Behavior, Animal:drug effects, Locomotion:drug effects, Male, Mesencephalon:cytology, Methamphetamine:pharmacology, Mice, Neurons:drug effects, RNA, Messenger:metabolism, Random Allo.   

OBJECTIVES: Since among others also our previous studies suggested an interaction between the endocannabinoid system and methamphetamine brain mechanisms we focused on possible changes in relative expression of cannabinoid CB1 receptor mRNA in mesencephalon from mice sensitized by repeated treatments to methamphetamine stimulatory effects and cross-sensitized by cannabinoid CB1 receptor agonist methanandamide pre-treatment.

METHODS: The Open Field Test was used to measure changes in terms of behavioural sensitization or cross-sensitization to drug effects on locomotion in male mice treated repeatedly with either methamphetamine or methamphetamine after pre-treatment with methanandamide. After each measurement one third of animals were sacrificed and the brain was stored. RNA was isolated from the midbrain and used for reverse transcription and subsequent real-time PCR.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The evaluation of behavioural drug effects showed both development of sensitization to methamphetamine stimulatory effects after repeated treatment and cross-sensitization to them by pre-treatment with cannabinoid receptor CB1 agonist methanandamide. Real-time PCR analyses revealed an increase in CB1 receptor mRNA expression after the first dose of methanandamide followed by decrease after the combined treatment with methamphetamine challenge dose. Our findings suggest that particularly repeated pre-treatment with CB1 agonist methanandamide can elicit increase in the mRNA expression level at least in the mouse mesencephalon neurons associated with cross-sensitization to methamphetamine stimulatory effects....

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Case Reports 2011; 32(Suppl 1): 5-7 PubMed PMID: 22167223 Citation  Keywords:  Brain:growth & development, Cardiovascular System:diagnostic imaging, Cerebral Veins:abnormalities, Echoencephalography, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations:diagnosis,.   

OBJECTIVES: Asphyxia of the newborn has a varied etiology. Clinical consequences have a broad spectrum of presentations. Arteriovenous malformation associated with an aneurysm of the Galen vein can be the cause of focal ischemic changes in the nervous parenchyma.

RESULTS: The authors report a case of a term newborn (birth weight 4, 000 grams, Apgar score 7/9). Physical investigation confirmed the presence of a continuous murmur in the area of the anterior fontanelle. Ultrasonic investigation of the brain detected a huge arteriovenous malformation of the Galen vein. Ultrasonic investigation of the heart excluded structural anomaly, but confirmed a huge retrograde flow in the aorta descendens, opened ductus arterious with suspected formation of coarctation of the aorta and dilatation of the vena cava superior.

CONCLUSION: Congenital anomaly of the Galen vein has a negative influence on prenatal and postnatal development of the brain of a newborn. In the case of our patient, it led to rapid severe asphyxiated changes of the brain parenchyma. Diagnosis and management were established, yet endovascular therapy was not indicated in the early neonatal period....

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Journal Article 2011; 32(Suppl 1): 15-24 PubMed PMID: 22167222 Citation  Keywords:  Alanine Transaminase:blood, Albumins:analysis, Animals, Antioxidants:metabolism, Carps:blood, Ceruloplasmin:metabolism, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Drug Evaluation, Preclinical, Environmental Monitoring, Herbicides:pharmacology, Metabolome, Oxidatio.   

OBJECTIVES: Effects of the herbicide formulation Click 500 SC (terbuthylazine 500 g/l) on common carp Cyprinus carpio were assessed through biometric, biochemical, haematological and antioxidant indices, induction of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes and histological examination of selected tissues.

DESIGN: The fish were exposed to the formulation with terbuthylazine concentrations of 380 ng/l (environmental concentration); 60 µg/l and 550 µg/l for up to 91 days. Haematological indices were assessed using unified methods of haematological examination in fish. Biochemical indices in plasma were measured by biochemical analyzer, ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) and ceruloplasmin activity were determined spectrophotometrically. Concentration of total cytochrome P450, glutathione-S-transferase activity and glutathione content were assessed spectrophotometrically in liver. Activity of liver ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity was measured spectrofluorimetrically. Histopathological examination of liver, skin, gills, spleen, cranial and caudal kidney was performed by light microscopy.

RESULTS: An increase (p<0.05) was observed in hepatosomatic index and condition factor in fish from the environmental concentration. A decrease (p<0.05) in haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) was found in fish treated with terbuthylazine of 550 µg/l. There was a decline in mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) (p<0.05) in terbuthylazine of 60 µg/l and 550 µg/l. Triglycerides (TAG) (p<0.01) were elevated in all pesticide-treated groups. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (p<0.01) and phosphorus (p<0.05) decreased in fish exposed to terbuthylazine of 60 µg/l and 550 µg/l, while albumin (p<0.01) rised in the same groups. An elevation in natrium (p<0.05) in terbuthylazine of 550 µg/l and a rise in protein (p<0.01) in the concentrations of 380 ng/l and 550 µg/l were observed. Correlations between several indices were significant. Ceruloplasmin activity and FRAP were augmented (p<0.01) in the highest concentration tested. Examined xenobiotic detoxification systems were not significantly affected by the exposure. Non-specific histopathological changes were found in the gills and skin of the test fish.

CONCLUSION: The fish treated with terbuthylazine developed a disorder in several haematological and plasma biochemical indices. The levels of markers of oxidative stress increased in response to the exposure. Examined systems involved in detoxification of xenobiotics did not reflect long-term contact with the herbicide. Detected histological lesions were non-specific. The environmental concentration of terbuthylazin affected biometric indices of the test fish....

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