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Letter 2005; 26(4): 327-335 PubMed PMID: 16136015 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Antipsychotic Agents:adverse effects, Depressive Disorder:drug therapy, Female, Humans, Hyperprolactinemia:blood, Male, Middle Aged, Prolactin:blood, Sulpiride:adverse effects,.   

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Journal Article 2005; 26(3): 237-241 PubMed PMID: 15990728 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, DNA:chemistry, Entropy, Evolution, Molecular, Humans, Models, Chemical, Nucleic Acid Conformation, Peptides:chemistry, Promoter Regions, Genetic, Protein Binding, Protein Conformation, Transcription Factors:chemistry,.   

PROBLEM: Gerontology observations show that ageing of organism is accompanied by the decrease of the chromatin activity and slowing down of the protein synthesis. Natural regulatory oligopeptides and their synthetic analogues take part in the activation of chromatin and normalise rate of the protein synthesis in cultured tissues. Regulatory peptides significantly enhance longevity.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this work is to find a possible molecular mechanism by which the regulatory peptides influence the part of genetic system is responsible for initiation of protein synthesis in higher organisms.

METHODS: An interdisciplinary approach was used to address the problem. The work involved not only medical scientists and biologists, but also specialists in biopolymer chemistry, and mathematicians for statistical analysis of information interaction of amino acid and nucleotide sequences.

CONCLUSIONS: The structures and metrics of peptides and the DNA double-helix cause the recognition and complementary binding of a regulatory peptide with DNA functional groups at the interface of the major groove. We have used complementary binding model to find a possible base pair sequence ATTTTC for specific binding of synthetic tetrapeptide epitalon. This base pair block and its reverse complement were found repeatedly in the promoter region of telomerase. A comparison of statistical information content of peptides and oligonucleotide sequences shows that these two classes of biopolymers are information carriers and. exchange the information to initiate the gene transcription....

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Clinical Trial 2005; 26(2): 131-135 PubMed PMID: 15855884 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Adult, Autoantibodies:analysis, Drug Combinations, Estradiol:therapeutic use, Estriol:therapeutic use, Female, Germ Cells:immunology, Hormone Replacement Therapy, Humans, Medroxyprogesterone Acetate:therapeutic use, Menstruation Disturbances:c.   

INTRODUCTION: To investigate levels of antiovarian autoantibodies in girls and young women with disturbances of menstrual cycle before and during treatment with hormonal therapy. To explain morphological changes in ovarian structure in these patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Studied group included 39 patients. 18 patients were treated for primary amenorrhoea, 21 for menstrual cycle disorders. Patients included in the study were repeatedly examined at the beginning of the study and after six months during which they were treated by estrogen and gestagen. In all patients we have tested FSH, LH and FSH/LH ratio, presence of antiovarian antibodies. Results were compared with those obtained in control women. 21 antiovarian antibodies positive patients were indicated for laparoscopic biopsy. Bioptic sample was examined using light and electron microscopy.

RESULTS: Our treatment with hormonal therapy lead to the reduction of ovarian antigens. In 85% of the cases marked decrease of antiovarian autoantibodies levels was observed, while in 28% of the cases the levels were undetectable. From morphological changes of the bioptic sample enhanced atresia of follicules at different developmental stages was frequently observed. It evoked marked reduction of follicular apparatus up to its complete disappearing.

CONCLUSION: The results of our study and mapping of the antiovarian antibodies positivity support our hypothesis that the antiovarian antibodies positivity corresponds with the clinical symptoms. Appropriate treatment with hormonal replacement therapy minimizes ovarian destruction, preserves ovarian hormonal functions and saves healthy ovarian tissue necessary for future fertility....

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Journal Article 2005; 26(1): 43-49 PubMed PMID: 15726019 Citation  Keywords:  Adrenergic alpha-Agonists:pharmacology, Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists:administration & dosage, Animals, Atmosphere Exposure Chambers, Atmospheric Pressure, Hypoxia:drug therapy, Injections, Intraventricular, Male, Median Eminence:drug effects, Norepinephri.   

OBJECTIVE: We have previously found that chronic hypoxia inhibited thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) mRNA expression in rat paraventricular nucleus (PVN). This study presented the effects of hypoxia on TRH secretion in rat hypothalamus, and the norepinephrine (NE) involvement in the modulation of TRH secretion during acute hypoxia exposure.

SETTING AND DESIGN: Hypoxia was simulated at altitudes of 5 km (10.8% O2) or 7 km (8.2% O2) in a ventilated hypobaric chamber, and control group was set at local altitude of 2.3 km (15.8% O2). The duration of hypoxia exposure was designed acutely and chronically for 0.5, 2, 24 h, 5, 10, and 30 d, respectively. TRH levels were measured by specific radioimmunoassay.

RESULTS: The results showed that hypoxia of 5 km or 7 km significantly enhanced TRH levels of the ME and PVN, and reduced serum T3 levels in most hypoxia-exposed groups. Intraventricular injection (icv) of NE (4 nmol/L) induced a decrease in TRH levels in the median eminence (ME) and PVN, and an increased serum T3 levels following hypoxia of 7 km exposure for 2 h, compared with icv saline control, indicating TRH release increased. The stimulating effect of NE on the TRH secretion was abolished by icv antagonist of adrenergic alpha2-receptor, yohimbine (40 nmol/L).

CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that acute and chronic hypoxia exposure produces an inhibition of hypothalamic TRH secretion from the ME and PVN. Central adrenergic system may play a stimulating role through alpha2-receptor in the acute hypoxia-modulating TRH release from rat hypothalamus....

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Clinical Trial 2005; 26(1): 39-42 PubMed PMID: 15726018 Citation  Keywords:  Aging:physiology, Child, Preschool, Chorionic Gonadotropin:administration & dosage, Cryptorchidism:drug therapy, Humans, Infant, Injections, Intramuscular, Male, Scrotum:pathology,.   

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of hCG therapy on retractile testis in various testicular locations and age groups.

SETTING AND DESIGN: This study comprised 123 boys whose diagnosis were retractile testis with scrotal base, high scrotal and superficial inguinal localizations with an average age of 4,2 (1-8) years.

METHODS: 123 boys with retractile testes were given a total dose of 9000 hCG and its effect on scrotal base, high scrotal and superficial inguinal located testes were evaluated after 2 weeks and 6 months of completing hCG course. The patients were evaluated in four age groups such as less than 2 years of age, between 2-4, 4-6 years and more than 6 years of age and the response rates were also noted in these age groups.

RESULTS: In unilateral cases, the response in base, high scrotal and superficial inguinal levels were found as 100%, 83,3%, 72,7% respectively where as these rates were found as 100%, 92,6%, 76,3% respectively in bilateral cases after 2 weeks of hCG therapy. The response rates in less than 2 year old group, 2-4, 4-6 and more than 6 years group were found as 0%, 80%, 78,7%, 100% respectively in unilateral cases and 33,3%, 90%, 86,9% and 83,3% respectively in bilateral cases. After 6 months, reascend was observed in 12,4% in unilateral group and 6,7% in bilateral group.

MAIN FINDINGS: 72,7-100% of retractile testes respond to hCG administration with the highest response in the age of more than six year group.

CONCLUSION: High response rates observed in retractile testes after hCG therapy in more than 2 years old age group indicate that hCG must be given as a primary treatment in retractile testes and orchiopexy for the failures. Also patients must be followed up closely for reascend cases....

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Journal Article 2005; 26(1): 25-28 PubMed PMID: 15726015 Citation  Keywords:  Aging:physiology, Animals, Animals, Newborn, Brachial Plexus:physiology, Electrophysiology, Entropy, Male, Neurons, Afferent:physiology, Pain:etiology, Rats, Rats, Wistar, Rhizotomy, Self Mutilation:etiology,.   

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to describe the development of self-mutilation after extensive dorsal rhizotomy of the brachial plexus performed during early ontogeny in rats.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN: The rhizotomy was performed in three groups of rats according to the central nervous system maturation: infant, young, and adult. After the surgery the occurrence of self-mutilation behavior was compared. Rats from the infant group and non-mutilating deafferentated rats from the adult group underwent extracellular recordings from intralaminar thalamic neurons. Interspikes intervals of the records were compared by means of chaodynamic methods.

RESULTS: In the infant group self-mutilation did not develop at all. Among the young group self-mutilation developed in 40% of rats and consisted of superficial wounds in all cases. In adult self-mutilation appeared in 80% rats and consisted of both superficial wounds (75%) and amputation (25%). In the newborn group and the deafferentated adult group without any signs of self-mutilation means of the parameters were not significantly different and were significantly lower than those of intact adult rats.

MAIN FINDINGS: 1. Self-mutilation does not develop after the rhizotomy in the infant rats. 2. Neurons behave in chaotic way in adult as well as in young animals. 3. Chaodynamic parameters do not differ between infant and adult rats without any signs of self-mutilation.

CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that development of self-mutilation behavior in rats strongly depends on the ontogenetical period of nervous system injury, and that mature nervous system is required for the development of described pathological behavior....

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Letter 2004; 25(Suppl 1): 127-132 PubMed PMID: 15735595 Citation  Keywords:  Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia:therapy, Cost of Illness, Female, Home Care Services, Humans, Infant, Low Birth Weight, Infant, Newborn, Infant, Premature, Mental Health, Mothers:psychology, Oxygen:therapeutic use, Time Factors,.   

: This study investigated the long-term influences on mothers' lives having managed an infant with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), on home oxygen. 16 mothers UK wide, whose children had been at home for over a year, formed this project, and completed a semi-structured questionnaire. All mothers displayed a high standard of literacy and were English/British by their own description with no indication of cross cultural or ethnic differences. Mothers, giving up jobs and careers to remain home, were the primary carers for their child, and experienced long term emotional distress, suffered from lowered self-esteem over many years, self-blame in some cases and grieved over many aspects of pregnancy, birth, babyhood and early childhood. The fear of infection led to these mothers keeping themselves and their children isolated, compounded for half the mothers who faced negative reactions from the community when they did go out with their child....

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Clinical Trial 2004; 25(6): 419-422 PubMed PMID: 15665803 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Anti-Anxiety Agents:administration & dosage, Antidepressive Agents:administration & dosage, Antipsychotic Agents:administration & dosage, Depression:drug therapy, Drug Therapy, Combination, Female, Humans, Hyperprolactinemia:blood, Male, Middle Age.   

OBJECTIVES: Amisulpride in antipsychotic doses can induce hyperprolactinemia. The aim of this study was to prove whether the same is true for low doses of amisulpride.

METHODOLOGY: Plasma prolactin levels were measured in 5 males and 5 females with depressive symptoms who were treated with 50 mg of amisulpride per day as an augmentation to antidepressants (n=5), benzodiazepine anxiolytics (n=8) or in monotherapy (n=1). Six of these patients were assessed prior to onset of amisulpride treatment and after 10 days of amisulpride use. Four patients had been using amisulpride for more than a month.

RESULTS: There was a significant increase of prolactin levels from mean 16+/-6 ng/ml to 113+/-65 ng/ml (median 14.5 ng/ml to median 92 ng/ml; Wilcoxon matched pair test, p=0.027). All patients had hyperprolactinemia (30-200 ng/ml). The prolactinemia was significantly higher in females (mean 160+/-50 ng/ml; median 198 ng/ml) than in males (mean 48+/-12 ng/ml; median 48 ng/ml; Mann-Whitney U test, p=0.041).

CONCLUSION: Even low doses of amisulpride used as an augmentation to antidepressant treatment, benzodiazepines or in monotherapy seem to be associated with hyperprolactinemia. The co-medication of antidepressants and benzodiazepines can potentially increase intensity of prolactinemia....

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