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Journal Article 2009; 30(6): 733-738 PubMed PMID: 20038922 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Amniotic Fluid:metabolism, Biomarkers:metabolism, Chorioamnionitis:diagnosis, Female, Fetal Membranes, Premature Rupture:diagnosis, Gestational Age, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Infant, Premature, Interleukin-8:metabolism, Predictive Value of Tests, Pr.   

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether amniotic fluid levels of interleukin-8 (IL-8) are of value in the antenatal diagnosis of acute histological chorioamnionitis (HCA) in preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM).r />r /> SETTING: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Charles University, Medical School and University Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic.r />r /> METHODS: We compared amniotic fluid IL-8 levels in twenty-nine pregnant women with preterm premature rupture of membranes between 24th and 36th gestational weeks with presence and absence acute histological chorioamnionitis or/and microbial invasion in the amniotic cavity using nonparametric tests (Mann-Whitney test), given the non-normal distribution of analyte. Comparisons of proportions were performed with Shapiro-Wilk normality test.r />r /> RESULTS: Patients with HCA had a significantly higher median amniotic fluid IL-8 concentration than patients without the histological signs of chorioamnionitis (1867 pg/mL, 826-5577 versus 1045 pg/mL, 60-4133, p=0.013). Patients with MIAC had a significantly higher median amniotic fluid level than patients without invasion (1888 pg/mL, 519-5577 versus 1225 pg/mL, 60-2766, p= 0.017). Women with HCA and MIAC had a significantly higher median amniotic fluid IL-8 level than women without histological signs of chorioamnionitis and microbial invasion (3117 pg/mL, 826-5577 versus 1468 pg/mL, 394-2766, p=0.034).r />r /> CONCLUSIONS: HCA or/and MIAC are associated with a significant increase of amniotic fluid interleukin-8 levels. Amniotic fluid IL-8 seems to be a marker of intraamniotic inflammation....

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Journal Article 2009; 30(6): 677-693 PubMed PMID: 20038921 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Cardiovascular Diseases:immunology, Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic:immunology, Humans, Oxidative Stress:physiology, Reactive Nitrogen Species:metabolism, Reactive Oxygen Species:metabolism,.   

: There is evidence that disorders in inflammatory and oxidative and nitrosative (IO&NS) pathways and a lowered antioxidant status are important pathophysiological mechanisms underpinning myalgic encephalomyelitis / chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Important precipitating and perpetuating factors for ME/CFS are (amongst others) bacterial and viral infections; bacterial translocation due to an increased gut permeability; and psychological stress. Recently, Jason et al (2006) reported that the mean age of patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome dying from heart failure, i.e. 58.7 years, is significantly lower than the age of those dying from heart failure in the general US population, i.e. 83.1 years. These findings implicate that ME/CFS is a risk factor to cardio-vascular disorder. This review demonstrates that disorders in various IO&NS pathways provide explanations for the earlier mortality due to cardiovascular disorders in ME/CFS. These pathways are: a) chronic low grade inflammation with extended production of nuclear factor kappa B and COX-2 and increased levels of tumour necrosis factor alpha; b) increased O&NS with increased peroxide levels, and phospholipid oxidation including oxidative damage to phosphatidylinositol; c) decreased levels of specific antioxidants, i.e. coenzyme Q10, zinc and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate; d) bacterial translocation as a result of leaky gut; e) decreased omega-3 polyunsatutared fatty acids (PUFAs), and increased omega-6 PUFA and saturated fatty acid levels; and f) the presence of viral and bacterial infections and psychological stressors. The mechanisms whereby each of these factors may contribute towards cardio-vascular disorder in ME/CFS are discussed. ME/CFS is a multisystemic metabolic-inflammatory disorder. The aberrations in IO&NS pathways may increase the risk for cardiovascular disorders....

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Journal Article 2009; 30(5): 629-636 PubMed PMID: 20035271 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Child, Child, Preschool, Drug Resistance:physiology, Female, Humans, I-kappa B Proteins:metabolism, Male, NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha, Nephrotic Syndrome:metabolism, Receptors, Glucocorticoid:metabolism, Transcription Factor RelA:metabolism, You.   

OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study was to investigate levels of glucocorticoid receptor (GRalpha), nuclear factor kappa B (NFkappaB) p65/p50 and inhibitor of NFkappaB alpha (IkappaBalpha) in the peripheral mononuclear blood cells (PMBC) of children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS).r />r /> METHODS: The expression of GRalpha, NFkappaBp65/p50 and IkappaBalpha was determined in 59 patients (age 10.2+/-5.1) and 25 healthy controls (CO) (age 13.1+/-3.4) using Western blot analysis. Patients were labeled according to their clinical sensitivity to glucocorticoids (GCs) as responders (RE), partial responders (PR), and non-responders (NR).r />r /> RESULTS: Significantly higher expressions of GRalpha were observed in RE than in PR, NR (p<0.01) and even CO (p<0.05). Similarly, expression of NFkappaBp65 was higher in RE in comparison to PR, NR and CO (p<0.05). These differences were more emphasized in the relapse: levels of GRalpha were significantly lower in PR than in RE and CO (p<0.01). Significant differences were also observed in expression of NFkappaB: RE showed significantly higher expression of NFkappaBp65 in comparison to PR, NR and even CO (p<0.01).r />r /> CONCLUSIONS: Lower levels of both GRalpha and NFkappaBp65 are associated with poor or no response to GCs and the difference is more pronounced in patients experiencing relapse of INS....

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Journal Article 2009; 30(5): 647-651 PubMed PMID: 20035270 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Alzheimer Disease:cerebrospinal fluid, Amyloid beta-Peptides:cerebrospinal fluid, Biomarkers:cerebrospinal fluid, Cerebral Ventricles:chemistry, Child, Child, Preschool, Female, Humans, Hydrocephalus:cerebrospin.   

OBJECTIVE: Determination of various biomarkers, such as beta-amyloid, tau-protein, phosphorylated tau-protein in CSF and their sensitivity and specificity in neurodegenerative brain processes, in particular Alzheimer Dementia (AD), has been recently investigated to monitor their abnormalities in the CSF at early stages of diseases before the clinical manifestation.r />r /> DESIGN AND SETTING: In the pilot group of our patients (10 men / 5 women) who underwent a drainage neurosurgical procedure for diagnosis of hydrocephalus, CSF was obtained from the brain ventricles and the influence of a different compartment of the CSF on the level of biomarkers, tau-protein and beta-amyloid, was investigated.r />r /> RESULTS: The mean tau-protein level for all 15 patients was 812.0 pg/ml, with median value 363.7 pg/ml; while mean beta-amyloid level for all 15 patients was 526.7 pg/ml, with median value 239.5 pg/ml, respectively. The abnormal tau-protein and beta-amyloid levels were found in the subgroup of patients in whom hydrocephalus was caused by a severe pathological process, such as brain tumor. The beta-amyloid values were significantly lower also in comparison with our previously published results in patients with AD in the CSF obtained by lumbar puncture in the spinal canal.r />r /> CONCLUSIONS: CSF in the brain ventricles is theoretically more stable and the values in this CSF probably provide more reliable informations for clinical diagnostic procedure than those for the CSF obtained by lumbar puncture in the spinal canal....

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Journal Article 2009; 30(5): 582-591 PubMed PMID: 20035269 Citation  Keywords:  Anemia:drug therapy, Animals, Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating:toxicity, Bone Marrow:drug effects, Cyclophosphamide:toxicity, Humans, Leukopenia:drug therapy, Melatonin:pharmacology, Random Allocation, Rats, Rats, Wistar,.   

BACKGROUND: In the course of the last few years, various studies have researched the relations linking melatonin (MLT) with hematopoiesis and the immune-hematopoietic system. Nevertheless, to date there are numerous issues still opened and many questions are yet unanswered. Much emphasis has been recently placed on the reducing role of MLT, which has been demonstrated by many studies to mitigate the genotoxic damage inflicted by various alkylating agents. Although in vitro MLT has shown to be effective in limiting the cytological alterations provoked by chemotherapeutic drugs, some clinical studies seem to point to a somewhat lower effectiveness in countering chemotherapy-induced leukopenia and anemia.r />r /> OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity exerted by pharmacological doses of MLT in limiting leukopenia, anemia and other hemocytometric modifications in animals facing acute toxicity caused by the treatment with cyclophosphamide (CP). Moreover, we have compared the activity of MLT with well-known alpha-tocopherol/ascorbic acid antioxidant system.r />r /> RESULTS: Our results indicate that overall MLT exerts a remarkable countering activity towards leukopenia and anemia in the early phase of administration of CP.r />r /> CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest possible active involvement of MLT in hematopoiesis and erythrocyte- and leukocyte turnover. This paper summarizes the essential aspects of the available literature, researching the possible relations between MLT and immune-hematopoietic system....

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Journal Article 2009; 30(5): 592-598 PubMed PMID: 20035268 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Antidepressive Agents:metabolism, Cell Line, Tumor, GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits:metabolism, Male, Rats, Rats, Wistar,.   

OBJECTIVES: Neurochemical studies on the etiopathogenesis of depression are also focusing on the transduction system beyond receptors. Trimeric G-proteins play a crucial role in the transmembrane signalling, signal amplification and intracellular processing. Abnormalities of G-protein levels are observed in subjects with depression, G-protein modulation is considered to play a role in the antidepressant mode of action.r />r /> METHODS: We studied acute or chronic administration of antidepressants from different pharmacological groups. We used immunochemical estimation (ELISA) of the main types of G-protein alpha subunits from isolated membranes of C6 glioma cells and rat brain tissue.r />r /> RESULTS: Significant elevation of G alpha q/11 subunits after chronic administration of sertraline and significant reduction of G alpha s subunit levels following both acute and chronic administrations of sertraline were found. In contrast, no significant effects on G alpha subunit levels following acute desipramine and moclobemide administration were observed in vitro. Chronic moclobemide effect in vivo is causing significant elevation of Galpha s and Galpha i1,2 subunit levels.r />r /> CONCLUSIONS: Results show involvement of antidepressant drugs in the C6 glioma signal transduction cascades modulation in dependence on the antidepressant class. Significant influence in the cAMP system modulation is observed after administration both SSRI and MAOA inhibitors. Astrocytoma cells - C6 glioma cells also can offer a model system of the glia where modulation of cell signalization cascades can influence cell functioning and production of neurotrophic factor molecules relevant to the antidepressant treatment and depression etiopathogenesis....

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Case Reports 2009; 30(5): 558-561 PubMed PMID: 20035267 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Angioid Streaks:pathology, Diagnosis, Differential, Eye:blood supply, Female, Humans, Optic Disk Drusen:pathology, Photochemotherapy, Skin Diseases:pathology, Ultrasonography,.   

: Angioid streaks develop as a result of damage to the Bruch's membrane. They may occur as idiopatic angioid streaks or in association with pseudoxanthoma elasticum, Paget's disease and the haemoglobinopathies. Other pathologies of the fundus of eye may coexist together with angioid streaks, such as drusen of an optic disc and granular-like retina in posterior pole known as "peau d'orange". Subretinal neovascularization as well as atrophy in macula are also observed in the cases of long-lasting pathologies. The diagnosis is based mainly on clinical manifestations. Photodynamic therapy in treatment patients with secondary choroidal neovasularisation appeared to be effective....

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Journal Article 2009; 30(5): 637-642 PubMed PMID: 20035266 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Aged, Biomarkers:blood, Chronic Disease, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Neoplasms:blood, Pain:blood,.   

OBJECTIVE: The objective was a systematic study of the biochemical markers which are descriptive for the dynamics of pain processes.r />r /> MATERIALS AND METHODS: The patients who had not been systematically treated for pain prior to their participation in this study consisted of 20 non-oncological (mean age 56.5 years) and 20 oncological patients (mean age 64.8 years). Pain intensity, assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS) on a scale from 0-10, and the following biochemical parameters were measured during the initial patient workups: blood serum total protein, glucose, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, atherosclerotic indexes, triacylglyceroles, apolipoprotein A, apolipoprotein B, albumin, alpha1 globulin, alpha2 globulin, beta globulin and gamma globulin. Biochemical measurements were repeated as soon as VAS assessments fell below 5. Therapy in non-oncological patients involved administration of NSA and weak opioids; while oncological patients received NSA, medium strength and strong opioids, and antidepressants.r />r /> RESULTS: Prior to therapy, concentration of albumin in serum, HDL cholesterol, and apolipoprotein A were lower, whereas CRP and alpha1 globulin were higher in oncological patients compared to non-oncological patients. After therapy, levels of glucose and alpha1 globulin were significantly higher and levels of apolipoprotein A were lower in oncological patients compared to non-oncological patients. Irrespective of diagnosis, patients treated with antidepressants showed higher levels of gamma globulin compared to non treated patients.r />r /> CONCLUSIONS: We can conclude that observed biochemical markers in patients with malignancies are more similar to the values of patients with chronic benign pain than to the values of patients with acute pain....

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