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Journal Article 2010; 31(3): 348-352 PubMed PMID: 20588238 Citation  Keywords:  Action Potentials:drug effects, Animals, Antioxidants:therapeutic use, Brain Ischemia:prevention & control, Female, Hippocampus:drug effects, In Vitro Techniques, Indoles:therapeutic use, Lactation, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular:drug .   

OBJECTIVE: Damage to the developing brain may be caused by maternal environment, nutritional deficiencies, failure of protective mechanisms, etc. Further, the developing brain may be damaged by intrauterine ischemia or by ischemia in newborns complicated by perinatal asphyxia. There is an effort to find agents with neuroprotective effect on the developing brain. The aim was to study the effect of the new pyridoindole antioxidant SMe1EC2 on the resistance of offspring hippocampus exposed to ischemia in vitro after treatment of mothers.r />r /> MATERIALS AND METHODS: The electrically evoked responses were determined by extracellular recording from offspring hippocampal slices. The effect of oral treatment of rats with SMe1EC2 over 18 consecutive days, from day 15 of gestation to day 10 post partum (PP) was analyzed in the model of ischemia in vitro measured on the hippocampus of 21-day-old pups, with focus on neuronal function recovery in reoxygenation.r />r /> RESULTS: Increased recovery of neuronal response was found at the end of 20-min reoxygenation in offspring hippocampal slices exposed to 10-min hypoxia/hypoglycemia from rats whose mothers were treated with the dose of 50 and 250 mg/kg of SMe1EC2, compared to control offspring slices (mothers received vehicle over the same time).r />r /> CONCLUSIONS: The increased offspring hippocampus resistance to hypoxia/hypoglycemia due to 18-day maternal treatment with SMe1EC2 might have been obtained via the transplacental way as well as in the neonatal period via breast milk, skin and saliva. The manifested neuroprotective effect of SMe1EC2 on the developing brain might find exploitation during risk pregnancy and delivery....

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Comparative Study 2010; 31(3): 363-369 PubMed PMID: 20588237 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Antioxidants:pharmacology, Bromates:adverse effects, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, In Vitro Techniques, Indoles:pharmacology, Kidney:drug effects, Lipid Peroxidation:drug effects, Liver:drug effects, Lung:drug effects, Melatonin:pharmacology,.   

OBJECTIVE: Potassium bromate (KBrO3) is a prooxidant and carcinogen. Melatonin is a highly effective antioxidant. Indole-3-propionic acid (IPA; indole substance) and propylothiouracil (PTU; antithyroid drug) reveal some antioxidative effects. The aim of the study was to evaluate KBrO3-induced lipid peroxidation (LPO) in vitro in tissues collected from control or melatonin-treated rats, and to compare potential preventive effects of melatonin, IPA and PTU.r />r /> MATERIALS AND METHODS: Kidney, liver and lung homogenates from either control or melatonin-pretreated rats (0.0645 mmol/kg b.w., i.p., twice daily, 10 days) were incubated in the presence of KBrO3 (0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0, 10.0 mM). Then, control lung homogenates were incubated with KBrO3 (10.0 mM) together with melatonin (0.01, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 5.0, 7.5 mM), or with IPA or with PTU. LPO products (malondialdehyde+4-hydroxyalkenals) were measured spectrophotometrically.r />r /> RESULTS: Melatonin injections prevented KBrO3-induced LPO in lung homogenates. Melatonin, IPA and PTU, used in vitro, reduced KBrO3-induced LPO in control lungs. Unexpectedly, KBrO3 caused a concentration-dependent decrease in LPO in liver and kidney homogenates from control but not from melatonin-treated rats.r />r /> CONCLUSIONS: Potassium bromate-induced LPO in the rat lung homogenates suggests that the lung may be the target for this carcinogen. An exposure of organisms to melatonin decreases tissue sensitivity to KBrO3-induced damage, possibly by restoring the oxidative balance....

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Journal Article 2010; 31(3): 319-324 PubMed PMID: 20588236 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Antioxidants:metabolism, Circadian Rhythm, Female, Fetal Blood:metabolism, Gestational Age, Humans, Hydroxyl Radical:blood, Infant, Newborn, Male, Oxidative Stress:physiology, Parturition:blood, Placenta:physiology, Pregnancy,.   

BACKGROUND: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) may cause peroxydation of lipids, proteins and deoxyribonucleic acids with subsequent cell damage. The hydroxyl radical (OH*) represents a measure of global oxidative stress. Hydroxyl radicals are short-lived; they form an important part of radical chemistry nonetheless. The measure of total antioxidant system (TAS) can give useful information about the extent of defence capable of counteracting the oxidative damage. Pregnancy is an important condition that favors oxidative stress in the fetus. Clinical studies indicate a protective mechanism against O2 toxicity in the human feto-placental unit.r />r /> AIM: This study reports the OH* and TAS concentrations in mother and fetus at birth to evaluate the role of the placenta against fetal oxidative stress.r />r /> METHODS: Blood samples were collected at delivery from 45 healthy women at term and from their newborns. The maternal and neonatal OH* and TAS concentrations were compared by paired Student t-test.r />r /> RESULTS: OH* was higher in maternal blood than in cord blood (573.75+/- 170.0 UCarr/l vs 40.08+/-33.37 UCarr/l) (p<0.01); TAS concentrations did not differ between the two groups (1.11+/-0.09 mmol/l vs 1.17+/-0.12 mmol/l). Multiple regression analyses: maternal and neonatal OH* decreases with maternal age; only maternal TAS and OH* are related to gestational age in a nonlinear fashion. Female infants showed higher values of maternal and neonatal TAS as compared to male infants.r />r /> CONCLUSION: TA protective role of the placenta against oxidative damage is in keeping with a large enough gradient of ROS (between mother and fetus) and the passage of TAS from mother to fetus....

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Journal Article 2010; 31(3): 359-362 PubMed PMID: 20588235 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Dopamine:physiology, Female, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Haloperidol:pharmacology, Humans, Huntingtin Protein, Huntington Disease:blood, Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System:drug effects, Male, Middle Aged, Nerve Tissue Proteins:genetics, Nuclear .   

OBJECTIVES: In addition to neuronal loss in striatum and cerebral cortex that characterizes Huntington's disease (HD), hypothalamic atrophy has also been found only in certain areas, probably not including dopaminergic functions.r />r /> METHODS: We assessed the reactivity of the hypothalamus-pituitary dopaminergic system by measuring the acute prolactin (PRL) responses to 5 mg i.m. haloperidol in male and female HD patients and in female subjects with expanded CAG repeats in the Huntington gene before disease onset, as well as in a group of healthy males.r />r /> RESULTS: The responses of the male patients were similar to those of a group of male healthy volunteers. Females gave higher PRL responses, with no differences in the response patterns of female patients and females at risk for HD. PRL elevations were not related to severity of illness, or to presence of dementia, depression, or psychotic features.r />r /> CONCLUSIONS: The results implicate a normal dopaminergic input from hypothalamus to pituitary and preserved pituitary dopamine receptors, indicating that hypothalamic atrophy in HD does not affect mechanisms involved in PRL secretion by haloperidol....

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Case Reports 2010; 31(3): 297-300 PubMed PMID: 20588234 Citation  Keywords:  Antihypertensive Agents:therapeutic use, Child, Female, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Nephrotic Syndrome:complications, Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome:complications,.   

OBJECTIVE: Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES) is a rare complication of nephrotic syndrome in children. This clinical condition is caused by localized brain angioedema mostly in parieto-occipital region and results in dramatic and acute features as sudden loss of consciousness, epileptic paroxysms, strong headache or visual disturbances. Uncontrolled hypertension often participates in PRES development.r />r /> CASE: We present the case of a 5-year-old girl treated for relapse of nephrotic syndrome.r />r /> RESULTS: At the time of edema regression and weight reduction, a sudden loss of consciousness and worsening of hypertension occurred. Brain MRI demonstrated extended multifocal changes strongly suspicious of encephalitis. After exclusion of herpetic encephalitis, the clinical picture was classified as PRES. Successful antihypertensive treatment led to general improvement of the girl's health within 48 hours and resolution of MRI brain hyperintensities occurred within the next three months.r />r /> CONCLUSIONS: The aim of our case report is to us remind of possible development of PRES at the time of edema regression in nephrotic syndrome....

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Journal Article 2010; 31(3): 390-398 PubMed PMID: 20588233 Citation  Keywords:  Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Blood-Brain Barrier:physiology, Brain Injuries:cerebrospinal fluid, Cell Line, Tumor, Cellular Apoptosis Susceptibility Protein:cerebrospinal fluid, Cerebral Hemorrhage:cerebrospinal fluid, Humans, Interferon-gamma:antagonists & i.   

OBJECTIVE: The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a specialized structure that separates blood vessels from the central nervous system (CNS) and restricts the entry of biomolecules and cells into the brain. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) produced by interferon-gamma-activated microglia (brain macrophages) is essential for disrupting the glia limitans of BBB, which is critical for lymphocytes penetration into brain capillaries in various CNS disorders. The cellular apoptosis susceptibility (CSE1L/CAS) protein has been shown to regulate MMP-2 secretion.r />r /> METHODS: We examined if CSE1L played a role in regulating the progression of intracerebral brain hemorrhage disorders.r />r /> RESULTS: CSE1L was detected by immunoblotting in cerebrospinal fluids (CSFs) of patients with intracerebral hemorrhage brain disorders, including stroke and neurotrauma. Interferon-gamma treatment induced CSE1L expression and increased the secretions of CSE1L and MMP-2 by U937 macrophages. Moreover, tranfection of U937 macrophages with siRNA that targeted CSE1L inhibited interferon-gamma-induced CSE1L and MMP-2 secretion by U937 macrophages. The numbers of lymphocytes in CSF were correlated with the levels of CSE1L and MMP-2 in patients' CSF.r />r /> CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that CSE1L plays a role in regulating MMP-2-mediated BBB breakdown and it may be a target for control of BBB permeability in intracerebral brain hemorrhage disorders....

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Journal Article 2010; 31(3): 375-383 PubMed PMID: 20588232 Citation  Keywords:  Ascites:metabolism, Cyst Fluid:metabolism, Cytokines:blood, Diagnosis, Differential, Female, Humans, Middle Aged, Ovarian Neoplasms:blood,.   

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the profiles of interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in serum and the tumor microenvironment (cyst fluid, ascites) in women with ovarian cancer or benign ovarian tumors to find the differences in their immunological status. We also estimated serum cytokines as biomarkers to distinguish preoperatively between malignant or benign character of tumors.r />r /> DESIGN: Prospective study.r />r /> SETTING: Tertiary referral hospital.r />r /> POPULATION: 51 women with epithelial ovarian cancer, 26 with benign ovarian tumors of epithelial origin and 21 healthy controls.r />r /> METHODS: The levels of cytokines were measured using ELISA sets.r />r /> RESULTS: We did not found differences in the levels of IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and IL-2 in all fluids isolated from patients with malignant or benign tumors. Women with advanced cancer had significantly higher serum IL-6, IL-10 and TGF-beta1 levels than women with early stages or benign tumors. Moreover, women with very advanced cancer in whom the optimal cytoreduction was disabled had the highest serum levels of IL-10, TGF-beta1 and IL-8. The concentrations of IL-6 and IL-8 were higher in ascites of cancer patients than in ascites of women with benign tumors. The areas under curves constructed for the selected cutoff serum cytokines levels (AUC-ROC) showed good predictive values for IL-6 (0.87), IL-10 (0.836) and IL-8 (0.797).r />r /> CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate on intensified inflammatory process in women with ovarian cancer (accompanied by their immunosuppression). Preoperative analysis of serum IL-6, IL-10 and IL-8 may improve the differential diagnosis of ovarian tumors....

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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.r />r /> 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.r />r /> 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.r />r /> 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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