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Journal Article 2012; 33(1): 67-75 PubMed PMID: 22467115 Citation  Keywords:  Anisotropy, Diffusion Tensor Imaging, Humans, Multiple Sclerosis, Physical Therapy Modalities, Pilot Projects,.   

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to confirm the immunoregulatory and anti-inflammatory changes in the immunologic profile after two months of the facilitation physiotherapy in patients with multiple sclerosis; and to determine whether the changes in the immunologic profile correlate with the changes in dehydroepiandrosterone, the brain microstructure and clinical functions.

DESIGN & SETTING: A group of 12 patients with multiple sclerosis was examined twice: at the beginning and 2 months later after the patients had undergone the facilitation therapy. Standardized tests evaluating chosen clinical functions (balance, righting, equilibrium and protective reactions, tremor, dysdiadochokinesis, dysmetry, fine hand function and walking), immune parameters (parameters of the humoral and cellular immunity), dehydroepiandrosterone and diffusion tensor imaging (the fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity) were measured. The patients underwent the facilitation physiotherapy in two sessions lasting two hours each week for two months.

RESULTS: All clinical and diffusion tensor imaging parameters significantly improved following the therapy. Without the correction for multiple comparisons, there were significant changes in the IgG, IgG1 subclasses, in the numbers of Neutrophils and Lymphocytes, the T cells (CD3+) absolute number, the T cytotoxic subpopulation (CD3+CD8+) absolute number, B cells (CD19+) and the Natural killer cells. In addition, there was a significant correlation between the changes in the clinical functions and the changes in IgG1 (r=0.67), and between the changes in the mean diffusivity and the changes in CD3+CD8+ absolute (r=-0.61). The changes in the immune parameters and the mentioned correlations were not significant in view of the number of comparisons and thus necessitate further validation. No changes in the dehydroepiandrosterone concentration after the therapy were confirmed.

CONCLUSION: The study suggests new possibilities of physiotherapy to influence the psycho-neuro-endocrine-immune response in patients with multiple sclerosis....

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Journal Article 2011; 32(4): 496-501 PubMed PMID: 21876499 Citation  Keywords:  Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Atherosclerosis:epidemiology, Cholesterol:blood, Cholesterol, HDL:blood, Cholesterol, LDL:blood, Cholesterol, VLDL:blood, Female, Humans, Hyperlipidemias:epidemiology, Lipoproteins:blood, Male, Middle Aged, Pilot Projects, Risk As.   

OBJECTIVE: In the subjects, who survived a stroke, an atherogenic lipoprotein profile phenotype B, was identified and a predominance of atherogenic lipoproteins of the lipoprotein families, VLDL and LDL, in the lipoprotein spectrum, was confirmed. The higher total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low HDL concentrations were accompanied by high serum levels of small dense LDL - strong atherogenic subfractions of the LDL family. High LDL2 also contributes to the creation of the atherogenic lipoprotein profile. Conversely, decreased serum concentration of LDL1 suggests, that the LDL1 subfraction does not contribute to the creation of an atherogenic lipoprotein profile of specific individuals, i.e., those who survived a stroke.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A quantitative analysis of serum lipoproteins in a group of stroke patients, and in a group of healthy normolipidemic volunteers, without signs of clinically manifested impairment of the cardiovascular system, was performed. For the analysis of plasma lipoproteins, an innovative electrophoresis method was used, on polyacrylamide gel (PAG) - the Lipoprint LDL system, (Quantimetrix corp., CA, USA). With regard to lipids, total cholesterol and triglycerides in serum were analyzed with an enzymatic CHOD PAP method (Roche Diagnostics, FRG). A new parameter, the score for anti-atherogenic risk (SAAR), was calculated as the ratio between non-atherogenic to atherogenic serum lipoproteins in examined subjects.

RESULTS: An atherogenic lipoprotein profile phenotyp B was identified in the individuals who survived a stroke. There were increased concentrations of total cholesterol, triglycerides (p<0.001), and atherogenic lipoproteins: VLDL (p<0.001), total LDL, LDL2 (p<0.0001) and LDL3-7 (p<0.01), in the group of stroke patients, compared to the control group. The LDL1 subfraction, like HDL, was decreased and did not contribute to the formation of the atherogenic lipoprotein spectrum in stroke-surviving individuals. Therefore, it can be assumed that the LDL1 subfraction is not an atherogenic part of the LDL family, which was usually considered to be an atherogenic lipoprotein part of the lipoprotein spectrum. Decreased SAAR values - score of anti-atherogenic risk, was confirmed in the stroke surviving individuals, compared to the controls, with high statistical significance (p<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS: The advantages of this new method include: (i) Identification of an atherogenic and a non-atherogenic lipoprotein profile, in the serum of examined individuals. (ii) Identification of an atherogenic normopidemic lipoprotein profile; phenotype B in subjects who survived a stroke. (iii) Introduction of new risk measure, the score for anti-atherogenic risk (SAAR), to estimate the atherogenic risk of examined individuals. (iv) Declaration of an atherogenic lipoprotein profile is definitive when small dense LDL are present in serum. It is valid for hyperlipidemia and for normolipidemia as well. (v) Selection of optimal therapeutic measures, including removal of atherogenic lipoproteins, as a part of a complex therapeutic approach, and the secondary prevention of a relapsing ischemic cerebral-vascular event....

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Journal Article 2011; 32(3): 279-285 PubMed PMID: 21712772 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Anxiety:psychology, Cognition:physiology, Data Interpretation, Statistical, Depression:psychology, Female, Humans, Hypothyroidism:blood, Male, Memory, Short-Term:drug effects, Neuropsychological Tests, Pilot Projects, Psychomotor Performance:physio.   

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our pilot study was to explore the relationship between serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels during overt hypothyroidism (OH) and hypothyroid-related neuropsychological symptoms. We hypothesized that TSH level may reflect the degree of 'brain hypothyroidism' such that an inverse correlation may exist between serum TSH and cognitive function in patients experiencing overt hypothyroidism (OH), and sought to explore this hypothesis.

METHODS: Eleven thyroidectomized patients underwent neuropsychological and thyroid function testing while overtly hypothyroid, and again following thyroid hormone replacement. Their test performance was compared with that of eleven healthy controls at a similarly separated two points in time, and the change over time for the patient group and the controls was likewise assessed and compared. The patients' neuropsychological test scores were then correlated with their serum TSH levels while hypothyroid.

RESULTS: The patients' performance while hypothyroid was worse than that of the controls in only one neurocognitive measure--Working Memory Index. The subjects improved similarly or to a greater degree than the controls, when the subjects were thyroid hormone replaced, on all but one neurocognitive measure - Thurstone Word Fluency. TSH level during hypothyroidism was inversely proportional to the patients' performance on these same two measures, but no others.

CONCLUSION: Serum TSH level during hypothyroidism was inversely proportional to performance on the only two neurocognitive measures evidencing an adverse effect from hypothyroidism in our cohort. This suggests that serum TSH level may reflect the severity of 'brain hypothyroidism' during the overt stage of this condition....

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Case Reports 2010; 31(3): 290-296 PubMed PMID: 20588231 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Anorexia Nervosa:complications, Anxiety:complications, Chronic Disease, Depression:complications, Female, Humans, Menstruation Disturbances:complications, Middle Aged, Phototherapy:methods, Pilot Projects, Sleep-Wake Transition Disorders:complicati.   

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of bright light therapy on the sleep-wake rhythm, the menstrual cycle, mood, and key eating pathology symptoms in chronic anorexia nervosa.

METHODS: Five chronic anorectic women (mean duration of illness: 15.3 years) received 5 daily sessions of 30 minutes bright light therapy (10,000 LUX). Participants completed a diagnostic interview and questionnaires at pre-test, post-test and at a three month follow-up.

RESULTS: At follow up there was a slight improvement on core eating pathology, a fair decrease of depressive symptoms and an clinically important improvement on global distress.

CONCLUSIONS: Bright light therapy has on short term a positive effect on the physiological and psychological well being of chronic anorectic women. However, at follow-up the effects were partly lost. It is recommended to enhance the exposure period and repeat the treatment after 3 months....

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Journal Article 2010; 31(1): 73-86 PubMed PMID: 20150883 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Brain Mapping, Cerebral Cortex:physiopathology, Dystonic Disorders:therapy, Female, Handwriting, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Middle Aged, Models, Biological, Pilot Projects, Placebos, Radiation, Somatosensory Cortex:physiopathology, T.   

: Since the somatosensory system is believed to be affected in focal dystonia, we focused on the modulation of the primary somatosensory cortex (SI) induced by repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in order to improve symptoms of writer's cramp. Patients with writer's cramp (N=9 in the pilot study and N=11 in the advanced study) were treated with 30-minute 1 Hz real- or sham-rTMS of the SI cortex every day for 5 days. Before and after rTMS, 1.5 T fMRI was examined during simple hand movements. While in the pilot study the rTMS coil was navigated over the SI cortex with a maximum of blood oxygenation-level dependent (BOLD) signal induced by passive movement, patients in the advanced study had the coil above the postcentral sulcus. After real-rTMS, 4 pilot study patients and 10 advanced study patients experienced subjective and objective improvement in writing, while only minimal changes were observed after sham-rTMS. Patients involved in the active movement task exhibited a rTMS-induced BOLD signal increase bilaterally in the SI cortex, posterior parietal cortex and in the supplementary motor area (P<0.001 corrected). After sham-rTMS, no BOLD signal changes were observed. In conclusion, 1 Hz rTMS of the SI cortex can improve writer's cramp while increasing the cortical activity in both hemispheres. Handwriting improved in most patients, as well as the subjective benefit, and lasted for 2-3 weeks. The beneficial effects of rTMS paralleled the functional reorganization in the SI cortex and connected areas, reflecting the impact of somatosensory system on active motion control....

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Journal Article 2003; 24(5): 325-328 PubMed PMID: 14647005 Citation  Keywords:  Aldosterone:urine, Blood Pressure:genetics, Genetic Markers, Humans, Hypertension, Renal:genetics, Insulin:genetics, Middle Aged, Minisatellite Repeats, Phenotype, Pilot Projects, Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length, Potassium:urine, Quantitative Tr.   

BACKGROUND: Blood pressure regulation is a complex process influenced by numerous environmental and genetic factors. Consequently, there's no cookie-cutter approach for the elucidation of of the genetic mechanism involved. One of the goals of molecular geneticists in the field of hypertension is to unravel the genetic architecture of blood pressure regulation.

METHODS: With the aim of identifying quantitative trait loci participating in the control of blood pressure, we carried out a pilot study on a sample population of middle-aged, U.S. Caucasians (44 subjects). The design of the study was to search for associations between clinical variables of blood pressure regulation pertaining to the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (systolic and diastolic blood pressures, urinary excretion of sodium, potassium and aldosterone, plasma renin activity) and a genetic marker at a candidate gene locus - the human insulin gene (INS) RESULTS: We observed significant associations between a variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) marker (visualized as a biallelic, class I/class III marker system) localized at the 5' end of the human INS gene, and plasma renin activity and urinary sodium, potassium and aldosterone.

CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that between 6 and 10 QTLs with comparable effects could be involved in blood pressure regulation via the rennin angiotensin system....

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Clinical Trial 2002; 23(4): 303-308 PubMed PMID: 12195231 Citation  Keywords:  Arsenic:analysis, Autistic Disorder:complications, Child, Child, Preschool, Female, Fursultiamin:administration & dosage, Hair:chemistry, Humans, Lead:analysis, Male, Pilot Projects, Severity of Illness Index, Thiamine Deficiency:complications,.   

OBJECTIVES: In a Pilot Study, the clinical and biochemical effects of thiamine tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide (TTFD) on autistic spectrum children were investigated.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Ten children were studied. Diagnosis was confirmed through the use of form E2, a computer assessed symptom score. For practical reasons, TTFD was administered twice daily for two months in the form of rectal suppositories, each containing 50 mg of TTFD. Symptomatic responses were determined through the use of the computer assessed Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) forms. The erythrocyte transketolase (TKA) and thiamine pyrophosphate effect (TPPE), were measured at outset and on completion of the study to document intracellular thiamine deficiency. Urines from patients were examined at outset, after 30 days and after 60 days of treatment and the concentrations of SH-reactive metals, total protein, sulfate, sulfite, thiosulfate and thiocyanate were determined. The concentrations of metals in hair were also determined.

RESULTS: At the beginning of the study thiamine deficiency was observed in 3 out of the 10 patients. Out of 10 patients, 6 had initial urine samples containing arsenic in greater concentration than healthy controls. Traces of mercury were seen in urines from all of these autistic children. Following administration of TTFD an increase in cadmium was seen in 2 children and in lead in one child. Nickel was increased in the urine of one patient during treatment. Sulfur metabolites in urine did not differ from those measured in healthy children.

CONCLUSIONS: Thiamine tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide appears to have a beneficial clinical effect on some autistic children, since 8 of the 10 children improved clinically. We obtained evidence of an association of this increasingly occurring disease with presence of urinary SH-reactive metals, arsenic in particular....

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Clinical Trial 2002; 23(Suppl 1): 17-19 PubMed PMID: 12019346 Citation  Keywords:  Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Antioxidants:pharmacology, Blood Cell Count, Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate:blood, Estradiol:blood, Female, Humans, Hydrocortisone:blood, Melatonin:pharmacology, Pilot Projects, Sleep:drug effects, Sleep Wake Disorders:drug therap.   

OBJECTIVES: The role of melatonin is aging is still under debate. Therefore, an open pilot study on the effects of melatonin administration on some sleep parameters, routine hematological and biochemical parameters, and concentrations of hormones was performed in elderly women.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study was performed on 14 women (volunteers), aged from 64 to 80 years (mean age 71+/-4.6 years). Melatonin (2 mg daily at 19:00 h) was administered during 6 months. Before and after melatonin treatment the peripheral venous blood samples were taken in the morning (approx. at 08:00 h) after the overnight fast. The total blood count, glucose, total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides were estimated by routine laboratory methods. The serum concentrations of the following hormones were determined: 17-beta-estradiol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), cortisol, and somatomedin C (IGF-I). Additionally, before and after 6 months of melatonin therapy the investigated subjects answered to a questionnaire dealing with sleep parameters and self-estimation of general health status.

RESULTS: In 35.7% of investigated subjects an improvement in general sleep quality and in such sleep parameters as sleep initiation, sleep latency, number of awakenings episodes, wake time after sleep onset, was observed. A significant decrease of estradiol concentrations was observed after 6 months of the melatonin treatment in comparison to initial levels. IGF-I was found to be slightly but significantly increased after the 6 months melatonin therapy. Cortisol levels did not change significantly, during the melatonin treatment. DHEAS concentrations increased after melatonin therapy. Moreover, a tendency towards a higher DHEAS/cortisol ratio was found after 6 months of treatment. Melatonin treatment did not influence significantly either the parameters of total blood count or glucose and serum lipids levels.

CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of this preliminary open study it seems that melatonin administration may be beneficial for elderly subjects....

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