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Case Reports 2010; 31(5): 597-601 PubMed PMID: 21173743 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Anti-Bacterial Agents:therapeutic use, Biopsy, Brain Abscess:drug therapy, Diagnosis, Differential, Female, Headache:etiology, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Neurosurgical Procedures, Pituitary Diseases:complications, Sphenoid Bone:surgery, Tr.   

OBJECTIVES: Pituitary abscess is rare disease and the correct diagnosis is difficult because there are non-specific symptoms and it is often radiologically indistinguishable from other pituitary lesions.

CASE PRESENTATION: We present one case of pituitary abscess that constitute 0.15% of all pituitary adenomas operated in our department in the 20 years. A 49-year-old woman presented with a history of 10 months bifrontal headache. The MRI showed cystic intra and suprasellar mass with ring enhancement after contrast injection. During transsphenoidal surgery, copious yellowish pus was found. Antibiotic therapy was performed. Histological study of the cyst wall confirmed the diagnosis of pituitary abscess.

CONCLUSION: Pituitary abscess should be considered in the differential diagnosis of all other cyst mass in patients with diabetes insipidus....

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Journal Article 2010; 31(Suppl 1): 1-42 PubMed PMID: 20881933 Citation  Keywords:  Antineoplastic Agents:therapeutic use, Antioxidants:therapeutic use, Drug Synergism, Humans, Melatonin:therapeutic use, Neoplasms:drug therapy, Retrospective Studies, Vitamins:therapeutic use,.   

AIMS: the aim of the Di Bella Method (DBM) is to try to overcome the high toxicity level and the limited efficacy of the current medical treatments for cancer.

METHOD: using Melatonin, Retinoids, and vitamins E, D3, and C, components of the extracellular matrix, the DBM reinforces those means that Physiology considers essential for life. Acting together, these differentiating molecules also have an antiangiogenic and antiproliferative effect. Cabergoline and/or Bromocriptin negatively regulate Prolactin, the ubiquitary mitogenic hormone. This effect is reinforced by Somatostatin and/or its analogues by negatively regulating highly mitogenic molecules such as GH and GH-dependent growth factors.

RESULTS: the preliminary results are reported of a retrospective observational study on 553 patients treated with the DBM. These data show that the DBM achieved an evident improvement in the quality of life and a considerable increase in the mean survival rates for every disease and stage with respect to the data available in the literature relative to chemotherapy and/or monoclonal antibodies. The result was achieved without any of the known significant toxic effects of chemotherapy and (albeit to a lesser extent with respect to chemotherapy) of monoclonal antibodies. The invalidating causes which removed all scientific credibility from the DBM experiments carried out in Italy in 1998 are also reported.

CONCLUSIONS: I considered it of use to inform the scientific community of the rationale, the mechanism of action, the scientific basis and clinical findings of the DBM in order to encourage interest in the prospects opened up by the DBM through innovative formulations of the vitamins and Melatonin and the use of biological molecules with a high degree of antitumoural efficacy and low toxicity such as Somatostatin and its analogues....

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Journal Article 2010; 31(4): 425-437 PubMed PMID: 20802450 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Clinical Trials as Topic, Depressive Disorder:therapy, Electromagnetic Fields, Humans, Magnetic Field Therapy:adverse effects, Treatment Outcome,.   

: Since 1999, attempts have been made in the application of a new technique called magnetic seizure therapy (MST) or magnetic convulsion therapy (MCT) in the treatment of depressive disorder--as an alternative to electroconvulsive treatment. The technique of rapid rate transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is used to evoke intentional and repeated magnetoconvulsive seizures, though it requires the use of stimulation parameters practically inaccessible in commercially available rTMS magnetic stimulators. Magnetic convulsion therapy has been tested on monkeys as well as humans. A decisive majority of studies carried out both on animals and humans addressed the issue of safety of the MST method and confirmed that the side-effects (mostly of a cognitive nature) which occurred after magnetic seizures were weaker than those observed after electroconvulsive seizures. An analysis of available sources, however, does not confirm any proven antidepressant action of the MST technique. No experimental investigations have been carried out on animal models of depression. Clinical effectiveness had been confirmed in merely a few (perhaps three) patients with depression. The authors submit the results of the hitherto conducted studies on MST to critical analysis, particularly in the aspect of their antidepressant efficacy....

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Journal Article 2010; 31(4): 438-445 PubMed PMID: 20802444 Citation  Keywords:  Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity:etiology, Brain:metabolism, Catecholamines:metabolism, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, Nerve Net:metabolism,.   

: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a most common psychiatric disorder in the childhood. The exact pathomechanisms related to ADHD core symptoms--hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention--are still unclear. The developmental dysfunction of cortical-striatal-thalamic-cortical network combined with the dysregulation of catecholamine neurotransmitters could be responsible for symptoms of the disorder. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy is a method which allows a partial view on molecular mechanisms of biochemical and metabolic processes in human brain by in vivo measurement. We address the hypothesis of a potential pathomechanisms associated with ADHD symptoms which is based on the studies concerning magnetic resonance spectroscopy method and ADHD....

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Journal Article 2010; 31(4): 530-537 PubMed PMID: 20802438 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Axons:pathology, Microscopy, Electron, Nerve Regeneration:physiology, Optic Nerve:pathology, Optic Nerve Injuries:pathology, Rats,.   

OBJECTIVE: The present work was aimed at studying the ultra structural changes of the proximal (retinal) stump of the intracranially transected optic nerve of the rat for any possible regenerative ability.

METHODS: Specimens were collected one (1 wpo) and four weeks(4 wpo) after the transection and the cross sections of the stumps were studied by electron microscopy by dividing them into three zones, (1) the central zone, (2) the intermediate zone, and (3) the peripheral zone.

RESULTS: The present results showed evident morphological changes in these zones both in the 1 wpo and 4 wpo groups. The signs of degeneration were more marked in the central zone than in the peripheral zone and they were more prominent in the 1 wpo group than in the 4 wpo group. The most prominent sign of the degeneration was loss or lack of the healthy myelinated axons. The main evidence of the regenerative ability was the reappearance of the apparently healthy myelinated axonal profiles, with a parallel decrease of the non myelinated ones. This regenerative feature was more prominent peripherally and might be an indication that ischemia was the cause of optic nerve degeneration.

CONCLUSIONS: The present work revealed a clear morphological evidence of the regenerative capability of the intracranially transected optic nerve though it is considered as a part of the CNS....

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Journal Article 2010; 31(3): 313-318 PubMed PMID: 20588243 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Antioxidants:pharmacology, Blood Glucose:drug effects, Body Weight:drug effects, Carbolines:pharmacology, Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental:drug therapy, Glycosylation End Products, Advanced:metabolism, Kidney:drug effects, Male, Oxidative Stress:d.   

OBJECTIVES: Recent basic research and clinical data have provided new insights into the role of glycoxidative and nitrosative stresses (both oxidative stress) in diabetic complications, such as diabetic nephropathy, suggesting a different and innovative approach to antioxidant therapy. In streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat kidney, the present study investigated the effects of the synthetic pyridoindole antioxidant stobadine (STB) on renal total antioxidant potential (AOP) and protein oxidation parameters such as protein carbonyl content (PCC), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs) and nitrotyrosine (NT), a marker specific for protein modification by peroxynitrite.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Wistar Albino rats were divided into two groups: normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Each group of the animals was further divided into two groups: untreated and treated with stobadine (24.7 mg/kg) during 16 weeks daily by oral gavage.

RESULTS: The renal tissue AOP and the levels of AOPPs, PCC and NT were increased in diabetic rats compared with the untreated control animals. Furthermore, stobadine treatment significantly decreased protein carbonylation and AOPPs but not NT.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that STB is an antioxidant factor which can improve glycoxidative stress markers in kidney, while it has no effect on protein nitrosylation....

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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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Comparative Study 2010; 31(3): 330-335 PubMed PMID: 20588229 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Adult, Circadian Rhythm:physiology, Energy Transfer, Humans, Melatonin:blood, Photic Stimulation:instrumentation, Phototherapy:instrumentation,.   

OBJECTIVE: Practicability remains a problem in light therapy of biological rhythm disorders. We report here the effect on melatonin secretion of a device consisting of a prototype of eyeglasses including light emitting diodes (LED) in lenses (Somnavue).

METHODS: Light (1,200 lx) was administered in a randomised crossover design to ten healthy subjects with Somnavue for 1 or 2 hours, Lumino (a helmet which administers light) for 1 hour, and placebo, beginning at 01:00 h. Plasma melatonin concentrations were evaluated between 20:00-05:00 h.

RESULTS: Multiple comparisons showed differences between placebo and Somnavue administered for one or two hours (p<0.01 and p<0.05 respectively) and Lumino and placebo (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, Somnavue was able to suppress melatonin. The development of such a device could increase adherence with light treatment in SAD or circadian rhythm sleep disorders....

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