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Journal Article 2010; 31(4): 517-523 PubMed PMID: 20802456 Citation  Keywords:  Analysis of Variance, Animals, Ferrous Compounds:pharmacology, Growth Hormone:pharmacology, Insulin-Like Growth Factor I:pharmacology, Lipid Peroxidation:drug effects, Liver:drug effects, Malondialdehyde:metabolism, Rats, Swine, Thyroid Gland:drug effects.   

OBJECTIVES: Growth hormone (GH) and its tissue mediator, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), are involved in oxidative processes, lipid peroxidation (LPO) included. Bivalent iron (Fe2+) is frequently used to experimentally induce oxidative damage to macromolecules (Fe2++H2O2+H+→Fe3++•OH+H2O). The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of GH and/or IGF-I on the iron-induced LPO in the rat liver and porcine thyroid homogenates.r />r /> METHODS: Rat liver and porcine thyroid homogenates were incubated in presence of GH (100; 10; 1.0; 0.1; 0.01; 0.001; 0.0001 µg/ml) or IGF-I (1000; 100; 10; 1.0; 0.1; 0.01; 0.001; 0.0001 µg/ml) or GH (100 µg/ml)+IGF-I, or FeSO4+H2O2 plus GH and/or IGF-I. The level of LPO was expressed as concentrations of malondialdehyde+4-hydroxyalkenals (MDA+4-HDA) per mg of protein.r />r /> RESULTS: GH and/or IGF-I did not change the basal level of oxidative damage to lipids. In the rat liver homogenates, GH did not affect the iron-induced LPO, whereas IGF-I--in the lowest two concentrations--enhanced the process. In porcine thyroid homogenates, GH--in its two lowest concentrations--prevented, whereas in other concentrations, it enhanced the iron-induced LPO. IGF-I, in all used concentrations, enhanced the iron-induced LPO.r />r /> CONCLUSION: GH and/or IGF-I may reveal prooxidative effects. This fact does not support their application in the treatment of disorders associated with increased oxidative damage....

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Journal Article 2010; 31(4): 553-558 PubMed PMID: 20802455 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Chi-Square Distribution, Child, Child, Preschool, Dwarfism, Pituitary:immunology, Female, Human Growth Hormone:immunology, Humans, Immunoglobulin A:immunology, Immunoglobulin M:immunology, Leukocytes:immunology, Male, Recombinant Proteins:immu.   

OBJECTIVE: This study aims at assessing how recombinant human growth hormone treatment of children and young people suffering from isolated growth hormone deficiency affects some selected parameters of the immune system: a percentage of lymphocytes, granulocytes, monocytes, concentrations of A, G, and M immunoglobulins, a percentage of T lymphocytes divided into subpopulations CD4 and CD8, a percentage of NK and B lymphocytes, and phagocytic activity of granulocytes and monocytes.r />r /> MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study comprised 30 children and young people aged 4.2-18 years with isolated growth hormone deficiency both prior to and 6 months after rhGH (recombinant human growth hormone) treatment with a dose of 0.093 IU/kg every 24 hr. The control group comprised 25 healthy children with normal height in the respective age bracket. Labelling was conducted by flow cytometry FACS manufactured by Becton-Dickinson using both labelled antibodies and PHAGOTEST® commercial kit (Orpegen). Concentrations of A, G and M immunoglobulins in blood serum were assessed by means of immunoturbidimetric method using COBAS (manufactured by Roche).r />r /> RESULTS: The lowest percentage of active granulocytes in PHAGOTEST® was found in a group examined prior to treatment compared to the control group. The percentage increased after 6 months of rhGH treatment to values comparable with the control group. Although mean concentrations of IgM and IgA after 6 months of treatment with rhGH significantly decreased in comparison with those determined prior to treatment, they still remained within the baseline norm. No significant differences in the phagocytic activity of monocytes, IgG concentration, % of NK lymphocytes, T lymphocytes divided into CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes, B lymphocytes and CD4/CD8 lymphocytic index were found. None of the patients exhibited any clinical symptoms of immune disorders.r />r /> CONCLUSION: rhGH treatment of patients with isolated growth hormone deficiency can have positive influence on the phagocytic activity of scavenger cells, mainly granulocytes, which in children with isolated growth hormone deficiency seems to be lower than in their health peers. Growth hormone treatment of children with isolated growth hormone deficiency does not significantly affect the activity of the immune system expressed by the phagocytic activity of monocytes, the percentage of B, T and NK lymphocytes and IgG concentration in blood serum....

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Journal Article 2010; 31(4): 507-511 PubMed PMID: 20802454 Citation  Keywords:  Acetaminophen:pharmacology, Amidohydrolases:antagonists & inhibitors, Analgesics, Non-Narcotic:pharmacology, Animals, Benzamides:pharmacology, Carbamates:pharmacology, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Drug Interactions, Linear Models, Male, Mice, Pain Me.   

OBJECTIVES: Paracetamol is converted to an active metabolite AM404 via fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH). The aim of the present study was to ascertain whether a FAAH inhibitor URB597 antagonizes paracetamol analgesic activity (and to asses by this way the role of FAAH in analgesic activity of paracetamol).r />r /> METHODS: The interaction between a FAAH inhibitor URB597 and paracetamol was investigated in the writhing test in mice using an isobolographic analysis.r />r /> RESULTS: URB597 or paracetamol alone and in combinations produced dose-dependent antinociceptive effects. ED50 values were estimated for the individual drugs and an isobologram was constructed. The observed ED50 value for the URB57-paracetamol combination was 0.097 (0.062-0.247) mg/kg. This value did not differ significantly from the theoretical additive ED50 value for the URB597-paracetamol combination which was 0.108 (0.059-0.198) mg/kg. Thus, inhibition of FAAH by URB597 was not followed by the lack of analgesic activity in paracetamol.r />r /> CONCLUSION: The present results suggest that the analgesic activity of paracetamol is not dependent solely on FAAH metabolic conversion to AM404 and that paracetamol exerts analgesic activity also by additional mechanisms....

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Journal Article 2010; 31(4): 474-476 PubMed PMID: 20802453 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Carcinoma:genetics, Endometrial Neoplasms:genetics, Female, Humans, Middle Aged, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Polymorphism, Genetic, Tumor Suppressor Protein p53:genetics,.   

OBJECTIVE: The incidence of carcinoma of endometrium in younger patients has increased tendency. Experimental data support that mutation of tumor suppressor gene TP53 plays an important role in endometrial carcinogenesisr />r /> MATERIAL AND METHODS: Exons 2-11 of the gene TP53 into tissues of endometrial carcinoma and precancerous lesions were analyzed by DNA sequencing and restriction analysis.r />r /> RESULTS: A polymorphism CCC/CGC at codon 72 was identified in exon 4 of TP53 gene of all precancerous lesions and carcinomas of endometrium.r />r /> CONCLUSION: Our results also suggest presence of endometrial glandular dysplasia or serous histological type of endometrial carcinoma into examined samples. Given the course and prognosis of serous endometrial carcinoma, it is necessary and useful to identify this type of cancer in the mixed types of endometrial carcinomas. DNA analysis has potential to make diagnostic process more specific and affect to adjuvant therapy and survival of patients....

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Journal Article 2010; 31(4): 512-516 PubMed PMID: 20802452 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Benzhydryl Compounds, Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid, Female, Follicle Stimulating Hormone:blood, Glutamic Acid:metabolism, Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone:metabolism, Hypothalamus:drug effects, Luteinizing Hormone:blood, Male, Phenols:pharm.   

OBJECTIVES: The aim of present paper was to study the probable role of glutamic acid (GLU) as a mediator of bisphenol A (BPA) effect at the hypothalamic level and its effects on the reproductive axis of prepubertal male rats.r />r /> METHODS: Mated Wistar rats were treated with either 0.1% ethanol (control group, n=10) or BPA (BPA group, n=10) in their drinking water until their offspring were weaned at the age of 21 days. The estimated average dose of exposure to dams was approximately 2.5 mg/kg body weight/day of BPA. At the prepubertal stage (35 days of age), the male rats were sacrificed and Gn-RH and glutamic acid (GLU) release, an amino acid involved in Gn-RH secretion, were measured in hypothalamic samples containing medio basal and anterior preoptic area (MBH-APOA), by RIA and HPLC respectively. LH, FSH serum levels were measured by RIA and testosterone by EQLIA.r />r /> RESULTS: Gn-RH and GLU release decreased significantly in animals exposed to BPA (p<0.001, p<0.01). LH, FSH and testosterone serum levels were also decreased by treatment (p<0.0001).r />r /> CONCLUSION: Present results provide evidence that BPA may act at the hypothalamic level to decrease GLU release which in turn may modify Gn-RH secretion altering the normal function of the axis....

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Journal Article 2010; 31(4): 559-567 PubMed PMID: 20802451 Citation  Keywords:  Adipose Tissue:metabolism, Adolescent, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1:metabolism, Female, Glucose:metabolism, Glycerol:metabolism, Humans, Lactic Acid:metabolism, Male, Microdialysis, Statistics, Nonparametric, Young Adult,.   

OBJECTIVE: The study was undertaken to assess the interstitial, adipose tissue concentrations of glucose, lactate and glycerol in teenagers with diabetes type 1 who suffered from the disease for a minimum of 5 years, in whom it was impossible to reach a satisfactory level of metabolic control of the disease.r />r /> METHODS: Using microdialysis technique interstitial concentrations of glucose lactate and glycerol was measured in adipose tissue during 24-48 hours. Nineteen teenagers with poorly controlled type 1 diabetes (HbA1c 8.9±2.85%) were compared with six adolescent control subjects.r />r /> RESULTS: A statistically significant differences in concentration values of interstitial glucose between the investigated and control groups were found (10.4 vs. 4.26 mmol/l p=0.001). The values of interstitial concentrations of lactates did not significantly differ in the two groups (2.96 vs. 2.54 mmol/l NS). The average daily glycerol concentrations in the investigated group were statistically significantly lower than those in the control group (258.26 vs. 397.88 µmol/l, p=0.019). No such difference was detected in average night concentrations of glycerol (157.78 vs. 361.4 µmol/l, NS).r />r /> CONCLUSIONS: Authors conclude that microdialysis is the only one minimal invasive method for investigating adipose tissue metabolism in vivo and provides a novel opportunity for glucose and lipids metabolism monitoring in adolescents with diabetes type 1. In our observations interstitial glycerol concentrations, measured in abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue as an index of lipolysis, were not significantly influenced by hyperglycemia in diabetic adolescents....

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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): 568-572 PubMed PMID: 20802449 Citation  Keywords:  Adiponectin:blood, Blood Glucose, Diabetes, Gestational:blood, Female, Fetal Development, Fetal Weight, Humans, Insulin:blood, Insulin Resistance, Leptin:blood, Pregnancy,.   

OBJECTIVE: Maternal insulin sensitivity have strong correlation with fetal growth. The dysregulation of adiponectin and leptin is found in insulin resistance. The aim of this study was to determine whether there is an association between ultrasound fetal biometry and the maternal plasma cytokines and insulin concentrations at the beginning of gestational diabetes treatment.r />r /> METHODS: 121 women with gestational diabetes diagnosed between 26th and 30th weeks, were included to the study. Plasma levels of adiponectin, leptin, insulin and glucose were quantified with the measurements and percentiles of the biparietal diameter, head circumference and abdominal circumference , estimated fetal weight and the actual birthweight.r />r /> RESULTS: Associations between both of the adipokines and fetal biometry measurements were not evident. There were also no differences in their serum concentrations between groups of women with and without accelerated fetal growth . Adiponectin negatively correlated with pre-pregnancy BMI (r=-0.366, p=0.01). Leptin positively correlated with pre - pregnancy BMI (r=0.42, p=0.002), fasting insulin (r=0.51, p=0.0006) and HOMA-IR (r=0.43, p=0.005). No association was found between adiponectin, leptin, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR and neonatal birth weight or birth weight percentile.r />r /> CONCLUSION: The results of this study imply that adiponectin, leptin and insulin maternal plasma concentrations in the third trimester do not have influence on fetal growth in gestational diabetes....

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