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Journal Article 2011; 32(3): 264-273 PubMed PMID: 21712776 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Age Factors, Analysis of Variance, Biomarkers, Depressive Disorder:genetics, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Female, Humans, Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase:genetics, Kynurenic Acid:metabolism, Male, Psychiatric Status R.   

BACKGROUND: Reduced plasma tryptophan occurs in depression and somatization. Induction of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) with consequent synthesis of tryptophan catabolites (TRYCATs) and lowered tryptophan are associated with the onset of depression in the puerperium and during interferon-alpha treatment. Depression is accompanied by lowered kynurenic acid, a neuroprotectant, or increased kynurenine, a neurotoxic TRYCAT.r />r /> AIMS AND METHODS: To examine plasma tryptophan; kynurenine; kynurenic acid; the kynurenine / tryptophan (KY/TRP) ratio, indicating IDO activity; and the kynurenine / kynurenic acid (KY/KA) ratio, indicating kynurenine aminotransferase (KAT) activity, in somatization; depression; somatization + depression; and controls. Illness severity is measured by the Somatic Symptom Index (SSI), the Screening for Somatoform Symptoms (SOMS), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).r />r /> RESULTS: Tryptophan is significantly lower in patients than in controls and lower in somatization than in depression. KY/TRP is significantly increased in somatization. Kynurenic acid is significantly lower in patients than in controls, and lower in somatization than in depression. KY/KA is significantly higher in somatization and somatization + depression than in depression and controls. There are significant correlations between the severity of somatization, but not depression, and KY/TRP and KY/KA (positive) and tryptophan (negative). Kynurenine and kynurenic acid are significantly correlated in controls, somatization + depression, and depression, but not in somatization.r />r /> CONCLUSIONS: Somatization is characterized by increased IDO activity and disorders in KAT activity and an increased neurotoxic potential. The TRYCAT pathway may play a role in the pathophysiology of somatizing and "psychosomatic" symptoms through effects on pain, gut motility, the autonomic nervous system, peripheral NMDA receptors, etc. Even more, biological disorders, such as aberrations in the TRYCAT pathway, which are considered to be a hallmark for depression, are in fact attributable to somatization rather than to depression per se. Future research in depression on the TRYCAT pathway should always control for the possible effects of somatization....

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Case Reports 2011; 32(3): 242-245 PubMed PMID: 21712775 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic:complications, Aortic Coarctation:complications, Autopsy, Blood Transfusion, Cardiac Tamponade:complications, Cause of Death, Cholecystectomy, Cysts:complications, Fatal Outcome, Female, Gallbladder Neoplasms:complications.   

: The authors present cases on rare but serious complications in pregnancy and puerperium concerning women with cystic aorta medionecrosis, gallbladder carcinoma and Hodgkin lymphoma. They describe the prognosis of pregnant women and their newborns with oncological and non-oncological malignancies while stressing an individual approach....

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Journal Article 2011; 32(3): 313-316 PubMed PMID: 21712774 Citation  Keywords:  Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases:biosynthesis, Amyloid beta-Peptides:biosynthesis, Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor:biosynthesis, Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases:biosynthesis, Cell Line, Cells, Cultured, DNA:biosynthesis, Humans, Luciferases:genetics, RNA,.   

OBJECTIVE: The effect of SUMO on the promoter activity and mRNA expression of BACE gene was investigated to find the connection between sumoylation and APP processing.r />r /> METHODS: The BACE promoter activity was measured by reporter gene analysis and BACE mRNA level was investigated using real-time RT-PCR method.r />r /> RESULTS: BACE gene promoter activity was inhibited by the over-expression of SUMO proteins and was blocked by disrupting the SP1 site. Endogenous BACE mRNA level was also negatively regulated by the induction of SUMO proteins. Using a specific inhitor of SP1, BACE promoter activity was coordinately inhibited.r />r /> CONCLUSIONS: SUMO negatively regulates the BACE expression and SP1 is involved in the process....

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Journal Article 2011; 32(3): 246-252 PubMed PMID: 21712773 Citation  Keywords:  Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor:genetics, Cell Line, Cells, Cultured, Down-Regulation, Gene Expression Profiling, Gene Silencing, Genome, Human:genetics, Histones:genetics, Humans, Microarray Analysis, Nerve Tissue Proteins:genetics, Neurons:drug effect.   

OBJECTIVE: The regulator of G-protein signaling (RGS) molecules represent a class of proteins that modulate the signaling activity of G-protein coupled receptors. Regulator of G-protein signaling 4 (RGS4) is of particular interest in schizophrenia due to reported downregulation of RGS4 transcripts in schizophrenia as well as a connection between RGS4 and a number of receptors implicated in schizophrenia. The mechanism of RGS4 involvement in the pathophysiology of this illness is not clear.r />r /> METHODS: To elucidate thise role of RGS4 in pathophysiology of schizophrenia, we silenced RGS4 using siRNAs in human neuroblastoma cell lines and we studied the effects of differential RGS4 expression by microarray.r />r /> RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The cell lines with downregulated expression of RGS4 showed 67 genes with changed expression (30 underexpressed and 37 overexpressed). We have detected three subgroups of genes which might be implicated in schizophrenia pathophysiology: histone genes, which suggest epigenetic mechanisms of the disease; genes for transcription factors associated with other genes relevant to schizophrenia pathology (BDNF and DISCI1) and a heterogeneous group containing genes for G-proteins (GPR50 and GPR64) and calcium binding proteins....

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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.r />r /> 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.r />r /> 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.r />r /> 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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Journal Article 2011; 32(3): 253-258 PubMed PMID: 21712771 Citation  Keywords:  Adrenal Glands:metabolism, Animals, Blotting, Western, Brain Chemistry:genetics, COS Cells, Cell Line, Cell Membrane:metabolism, Cercopithecus aethiops, Cloning, Molecular, DNA, Complementary:genetics, Immunohistochemistry, Mice, Mice, Inbred CBA, Mice, I.   

OBJECTIVE: Vesicular monoamine transporter 1 (VMAT-1) mRNA and protein were examined (1) to determine whether adult mouse brain expresses full-length VMAT-1 mRNA that can be translated to functional transporter protein and (2) to compare immunoreactive VMAT-1 proteins in brain and adrenal.r />r /> METHODS: VMAT-1 mRNA was detected in mouse brain with RT-PCR. The cDNA was sequenced, cloned into an expression vector, transfected into COS-1 cells, and cell protein was assayed for VMAT-1 activity. Immunoreactive proteins were examined on western blots probed with four different antibodies to VMAT-1.r />r /> RESULTS: Sequencing confirmed identity of the entire coding sequences of VMAT-1 cDNA from mouse medulla oblongata/pons and adrenal to a Gen-Bank reference sequence. Transfection of the brain cDNA into COS-1 cells resulted in transporter activity that was blocked by the VMAT inhibitor reserpine and a proton ionophore, but not by tetrabenazine, which has a high affinity for VMAT-2. Antibodies to either the C- or N- terminus of VMAT-1 detected two proteins (73 and 55 kD) in transfected COS-1 cells. The C-terminal antibodies detected both proteins in extracts of mouse medulla/pons, cortex, hypothalamus, and cerebellum but only the 73 kD protein and higher molecular weight immunoreactive proteins in mouse adrenal and rat PC12 cells, which are positive controls for rodent VMAT-1.r />r /> CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that a functional VMAT-1 mRNA coding sequence is expressed in mouse brain and suggest processing of VMAT-1 protein differs in mouse adrenal and brain....

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Journal Article 2011; 32(3): 334-339 PubMed PMID: 21670728 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Aspirin:pharmacology, Cesarean Section, Drug Resistance, Female, Fetal Distress:epidemiology, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Infant, Small for Gestational Age, Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic:blood, Obstetric Labor, Premature:epidemiology, Parity, Platelet.   

OBJECTIVE: Verify that resistance to aspirin may have an impact on pregnancy and neonatal outcome.r />r /> METHODS: We enrolled 43 pregnant women, aged 30.7 ± 4.0 years regularly taking 75 mg of aspirin daily and 32 (aged 30.8 ± 4 years) pregnant women not receiving aspirin who served as control group. Laboratory tests were performed at 18 to 22 weeks of gestation, 28 to 32 weeks of gestation and 16 to 32 weeks after delivery. Resistance to aspirin was defined as urinary 11-dehydrothromboxane B2 (u11-dTXB2) concentrations in the highest quartile and additionally, as the resistance index (RI) calculated for each woman, defined as the difference between u11-dTXB2 concentration of each woman treated with aspirin and the median value at the same time point measured in the control group.r />r /> RESULTS: Women taking aspirin in the highest quartile of u11-dTXB2 delivered prematurely (35.8±3.4 vs 38.1±1.7 weeks, p=0.02). Delivery of small for gestational age (SGA) newborns (p=0.003) as well as fetal distress (p=0.014) and preeclampsia (p=0.003) occured more frequently in aspirin-resistant women. Resistance to aspirin based on the RI value was also associated with higher prevalence of preeclampsia (p=0.02) and SGA newborns delivery (p=0.01). The two groups resistant to ASA designed on the basis of both (RI and u11-dTXB2 urine levels) methods compared with ASA sensitive group differed in frequency of SLE prevalence.r />r /> CONCLUSION: Aspirin resistance may be associated with increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes including preeclampsia, premature delivery and delivery of SGA newborns....

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Journal Article 2011; 32(3): 340-344 PubMed PMID: 21670727 Citation  Keywords:  Administration, Cutaneous, Cell Adhesion Molecules:blood, Cholesterol:blood, Climacteric, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Dydrogesterone:administration & dosage, Endothelial Cells:drug effects, Estradiol:administration & dosage, Estrogen Replacement The.   

OBJECTIVE: In current literature, the immune-inflammatory theory of atherosclerosis is widely discussed. The role of how adhesion molecules contribute to the development of atheromatic plaques is especially underlined.r />r /> MATERIAL AND METHODS: 120 females in menopausal age were included in the study between 2004 and 2009. All the women were of menopausal age (51±3 years), from southern Poland, with FSH levels above 30 mIU/ml, and complaining of menopausal symptoms that disturbed normal daily activity. The study was conducted over a 6 month period. Three groups of 40 randomized patients were selected. The control group consisted of 40 volunteers, who were also from southern Poland, in good health, without menopausal symptoms, or menstrual periods in the last 6 months. Control subjects were match according to age and weight, with FSH levels above 25 mIU/ml and normal TSH and prolactin values. All patients, in the treatment and control groups were seronegative for Chlamydia pneumonia throughout the duration of the study.r />r /> RESULTS: After 6 months, hormonal therapy was found to significantly reduce levels of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 in all treated groups compared to the control group and the results were statistically significant. Alternatively, in the latter group, we observed increased levels of the investigated adhesion molecules (group I: 37.5 µg/24h transdermal estradiol + dydrogesteron; group II 50 µg/24h transdermal estradiol + medroxyprogesteron; group III 1mg of oral estradiol + noretisteron sICAM-1 and control group; using paired Wilcoxon test).r />r /> CONCLUSION: All of the investigated estrogen therapy schemas have a favorable impact on the blood levels of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 in postmenopausal women without cardiovascular risk factors, reducing their concentration....

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