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Comparative Study 2008; 29(6): 889-894 PubMed PMID: 19125151 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Body Height, Child, Circadian Rhythm, Female, Growth Disorders:blood, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Periodicity, Prolactin:blood, Reproducibility of Results,.   

OBJECTIVES: In normal conditions, prolactin (Prl) secretion manifests a circadian pattern. So far, there have only been but few studies, concerning intrasubject variability and repeatability of the circadian Prl secretion pattern, based on pulse analysis. It seems, that macroscopic analysis based on measurement of Prl concentration at nine time points every 3 hours during 24 hours is an appropriate method to assess Prl profile for clinical purposes. The aim of the study was to assess the repeatability of that circadian Prl secretion pattern in a group of short children without hormonal disorders.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The analysis comprised the results of two circadian Prl profiles, performed from 2 to 14 months in 23 prepubertal children (16 boys) with idiopathic short stature, aged: 10.3+/-2.4 yrs.

RESULTS: There were no statistical differences between Prl concentrations at the same time points in the two consecutive profiles, but the comparison of Prl concentrations at 8:00 gave results which were close to the border of statistical significance (p=0.055), what indicated low repeatability of measurement results at that particular time point. There were no statistical differences between the values of particular parameters in macroscopic profile analysis in the first and in the second test.

CONCLUSION: Circadian Prl profile, based on nine Prl concentration measurements, taken every 3 hours during one day, is characterized by high repeatability of the results and low intrasubject variability in children, despite the results of Prl concentration at 08:00 o'clock....

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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....

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Comparative Study 2008; 29(6): 953-957 PubMed PMID: 19112399 Citation  Keywords:  Analgesics:administration & dosage, Analysis of Variance, Animals, Anticonvulsants:administration & dosage, Disease Models, Animal, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Male, Morphine:administration & dosage, Pain, Postoperative:prevention & control, Piracet.   

OBJECTIVES: Preemptive versus therapeutic effects of levetiracetam were investigated in a model of postoperative incisional pain in rats.

METHODS: Levetiracetam (250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg intraperitoneal (i.p.) or morphine (5 mg/kg i.p.) was administered either 1 h before (preemptive administration) or 1 h after (therapeutic administration) incisional surgery to the hind paw of rats. The effects of levetiracetam were evaluated based on thermal hyperalgesia measured by the plantar test.

RESULTS: All preoperatively treated levetiracetam groups showed a significant, dose dependent, increase in paw withdrawal latency. However, post-incisional administration of levetiracetam produced no antihyperalgesic effect at any dose or at any time. In contrast, post-incisional administration of morphine reduced thermal hyperalgesia, while preemptive administration of morphine did not produce any significant antihyperalgesic effects.

CONCLUSION: The present results suggest that levetiracetam might possess preemptive analgesic activity....

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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....

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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....

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Case Reports 2008; 29(6): 877-878 PubMed PMID: 19112394 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Antidepressive Agents:therapeutic use, Asperger Syndrome:complications, Child, Child Development Disorders, Pervasive:complications, Depressive Disorder, Major:complications, Female, Humans, Sensation Disorders:complications, Serotonin Uptake Inhib.   

: It is a case report of improvement of tactile defensiveness after taking sertraline in a woman with major depressive disorder and Asperger's syndrome....

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Journal Article 2008; 29(6): 1026-132 PubMed PMID: 19112383 Citation  Keywords:  Analysis of Variance, Animals, Antioxidants:metabolism, Free Radical Scavengers:metabolism, Macrophages, Peritoneal:drug effects, Male, Oxidative Stress:drug effects, Phagocytosis:drug effects, Rats, Rats, Wistar, Superoxides:metabolism, Tryptophan:metabo.   

OBJECTIVES: Since the tryptophan-derived metabolites serotonin and melatonin have been shown to possess reinforcing and/or antioxidant properties in the immune system, this investigation was aimed at determining the possible effect of a 7-day administration of tryptophan (125 mg/kg b.w.), the precursor of both the neurotransmitter and the indole, on the phagocytosis and free radical scavenging of peritoneal macrophages from adult male Wistar rats.

METHODS: Phagocytosis was measured by the latex-bead phagocytosis index (PI), i.e., the number of latex beads ingested by 100 macrophages, the phagocytosis percentage (PP), i.e., the percentage of cells that had phagocytosed at least one latex bead, and the phagocytosis efficiency (PE), i.e., the ratio PI:PP which indicates how effectively the phagocytes ingested the particles. Oxidative metabolism was measured by the nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction test.

RESULTS: In control conditions, PI, PP, and PE significantly increased during the dark period, while the superoxide anion levels underwent a significant reduction. Tryptophan treatment significantly raised the phagocytosis parameters in a general fashion, as well as decreasing the oxidative metabolism with respect to the control values. Also, there was a significant rise in the MESORs of the PI and PE (of around 16% and 12%, respectively), the MESOR of the percentage of NBT reduction was significantly reduced (19%).

CONCLUSION: Orally administered tryptophan enhanced the phagocytic response and detoxification of superoxide anion radicals derived from this immune function in the peritoneal macrophages of rats, very probably through its conversion to the immunoregulatory molecules, serotonin and melatonin....

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Journal Article 2008; 29(Suppl 1): 93-104 PubMed PMID: 19029875 Citation  Keywords:  Clinical Trials as Topic, Ginkgo biloba:chemistry, Herbal Medicine, Humans, Hypericum:chemistry, Kava:chemistry, Mental Disorders:drug therapy, Phytotherapy, Plant Preparations:therapeutic use, Valerian:chemistry,.   

: Herbal drug treatment has been known for centuries as a part of traditional medicine. Nowadays, it is still considered a useful and natural way to treat several medical conditions, including mental disturbances. The most frequently treated mental conditions include mood disorders (mainly depression), anxiety disorders, somatoform disorders, age-related cognitive decline, and sometimes psychotic disorders. Some herbal formulations, such as St. John's wort, have been analyzed in clinical trials to estimate their real value. The use of other herbal medicines, such as Kava-kava, valerian, and Ginkgo biloba is discussed....

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