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Comparative Study 2007; 28(6): 801-806 PubMed PMID: 18063945 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Age Factors, Aging:physiology, Anthropometry, Biomarkers, Blood Pressure:physiology, Body Mass Index, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Paraplegia:physiopathology, Reference Values, Vision Tests, Vision, Ocular:physiology, Vital Capacity:physiology,.   

: The actual level of the true aging of an organism is characterized by its biological age. By the means of measuring the function ability of its physiological systems, it is possible to evaluate the biological age and use it as an indicator of premature aging. Inclusion of the biological age screening among the basic health precautions should offer yet another viewpoint on how to objectively measure the changes in an organism corresponding to aging. The article presents a comparison of age dependency of selected biomarkers between groups of healthy men and paraplegics. The measurement of the battery of biomarkers was run in a group of 25 healthy male adults between 36 and 54 years of age. The second group was formed by 20 paraplegics - men between 33 and 50 years of age. In spite of small size of the groups, significant differences were found in 4 of 6 biomarkers....

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Journal Article 2007; 28(6): 723-726 PubMed PMID: 18063944 Citation  Keywords:  Consciousness:physiology, Cortical Synchronization:psychology, Dissociative Disorders:complications, Humans, Perception:physiology, Perceptual Disorders:complications, Schizophrenia:complications, Schizophrenic Psychology,.   

: At this time is thought that binding of synchronized and distributed activity is crucial for the mechanism of consciousness. There are suggestive findings that disturbances in this feature binding produce disintegration of consciousness in schizophrenia. It leads to disturbances in reflection of the self and dissociated psychic fragments may be experienced as parts of the external world. Disturbances in the feature binding that lead to disintegration in neural communication among some parts of the brain thus seem to be a neurophysiological counterpart of psychological dissociative processes related to stress response and cognitive, affective and neuroendocrine dysregulation....

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Comparative Study 2007; 28(6): 889-894 PubMed PMID: 18063943 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation:therapeutic use, Cyclohexanols:therapeutic use, Depressive Disorder:psychology, Electroconvulsive Therapy:psychology, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Patient Satisfaction, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales.   

BACKGROUND: The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of electroconvulsive (ECT) and venlafaxine therapy from the patient's point of view.r />r /> METHODS: We used a retrospective chart review from 22 inpatients who underwent ECT and 22 patients treated with venlafaxine due to resistant unipolar or bipolar depression. We used bilateral ECT in a median of 8 (IQR 7-9.7) sessions and venlafaxine therapy with a median daily dosage of 225 mg (IQR 150-225 mg) for a median of 4 (IQR 4-5) weeks. The main outcome was change in a self-evaluation scale - Short Form of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-SF). The response was defined as the decreasing of the BDI-SF score by >or=50%, remission as decreasing of BDI-SF score r=4.r />r /> RESULTS: We did not find significant differences between sex, age and BDI-SF before therapy in both groups. The reduction of BDI-SF score was significantly higher in the ECT group than in venlafaxine group (p=0.025). Significantly more patients treated with ECT reached response than patients treated with venlafaxine (68% vs. 23%; <0.01). The remission rate after ECT was not significantly higher than venlafaxine therapy (27% vs. 5%; p=0.094). The number needed to treat (NNT) of ECT for BDI-SF response was 3 (CI95% 1.4 to 5.2) and NNT for BDI-SF remission was 5 (CI95% 2.3 to 45.8).r />r /> DISCUSSION: After the median of 3 failed antidepressant trials, ECT was more effective than venlafaxine in the short term therapy in some parametres according to our patients. We suggest that the fact that mental state was evaluated by patients themselves is an important pro-argument in the discussion about ECT....

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Comparative Study 2007; 28(6): 789-800 PubMed PMID: 18063942 Citation  Keywords:  3-Iodobenzylguanidine, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine:classification, Diagnostic Imaging:instrumentation, Female, Humans, Indium Radioisotopes, Intestinal Neoplasms:diagnosis, Iodine Radioisotopes, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Ma.   

AIM: The aim of the study was to review the current diagnostic approach, based on the experience of one center performed during a 4-year period, according to WHO criteria of GEP - NET.r />r /> MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group comprised case records of 134 patients with confirmed GEP-NET carcinomas (WHO groups 2-4). All patients were subjected to clinical, biochemical and imaging examinations performed as routine clinical work-up. The imaging techniques consisted of anatomical (CT, EUS) and functional approaches (SRS, mIBG and FDG PET).r />r /> RESULTS: The clinical classification considered the primary origin of the tumor as follows: 49% - foregut tumors, 44% - midgut, and 7% of tumors of unknown origin. Group of patients with WHO 2 consisted of 98 (73%) subjects. Considering those with foregut tumors EUS followed by CT and SRS were used in each case. SRS and CT imaging was used to assess the extent of the tumor. Patients with midgut tumors had CT and SRS as routine diagnostic imaging examinations. Considering the above-mentioned patients, CT and SRS were used to localize the primary tumor, and assess tumor extent. Overall sensitivity of CT considering the active disease amounted to 96%, while specificity - 75%. Sensitivity of SRS was 97%, while specificity- 85%. WHO 3-29 patients, 17 foregut and 9 midgut tumors, and 3 of unknown origin. Diagnostic imaging examinations consisted of CT. Standard SRS (sst2) was negative in most cases. The aggressive behaviour of this type of tumors was detected by means of FDG-PET. Sensitivity of CT amounted to 100%, and that of SRS - 44%. Specificity of CT amounted to 67% and that of SRS - 100%. WHO 4-7 patients, including 4 foregut and 3 midgut neoplasms. The imaging approach consisted of CT/MR and in 5 cases FDG-PET. Sensitivity of CT amounted to 100%. Only one patient presented with a SRS positive study. FDG-PET sensitivity amounted to 100%.r />r /> CONCLUSION: Diagnostic imaging of GEP-NET, consider anatomical and functional techniques, which should be read together. The diagnostic value of CT and SRS were similar in case of WHO 2, while in case of WHO 3 CT had a higher diagnostic accuracy. FDG-PET seems to be a very attractive imaging functional modality in case of patients with WHO 3 and WHO 4....

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Clinical Trial 2007; 28(6): 881-888 PubMed PMID: 18063941 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Antipsychotic Agents:adverse effects, Benzodiazepines:adverse effects, Dibenzothiazepines:adverse effects, Dibenzothiepins:adverse effects, Female, Humans, Hyperprolactinemia:blood, Middle Aged, Prolactin:blood,.   

OBJECTIVES: The main objective was to evaluate the effect of five second-generation antipsychotics (amisulpride, quetiapine, olanzapine, risperidone, and zotepine) on prolactinaemia during 6 week therapy in 433 female in-patients with mainly schizophrenic disorders. Secondary objectives included identification of dynamics of change in serum prolactin levels and correlations of changes of prolactinaemia with some demographic and clinical parameters.r />r /> METHODS: The trial was a prospective, open-label, single-center one with a flexible dosing of SGAs. The therapeutic effect of SGAs was assessed by a change of scores of CGI-S and CGI-I scales from a baseline to the endpoint. Blood samples were taken in the morning under fasting condition.r />r /> RESULTS: Amisulpride and risperidone increased prolactinaemia significantly in 100% of patients, as early as after week 1 of the therapy. Quetiapine and zotepine relatively reduced prolactinaemia significantly, as early as from week 1 of the quetiapine treatment. Olanzapine led to a transient mild prolactin elevation. The much lower prevalence of hyperprolactinaemia over 2 000 mIU/l differentiates olanzapine from amisulpride and risperidone. Prolactin elevation did not correlate with age, menopausal condition, therapeutic efficacy, antipsychotic daily dose, serum levels of lipids and glucose. There was significant correlation with first vs. subsequent psychotic episodes, weight, EPS and serum levels of thyroid hormones.r />r /> CONCLUSION: Amisulpride and risperidone had marked and early prolactin elevating effects, requiring, therefore, more frequent monitoring of prolactinaemia and associated undesirable effects and risks than olanzapine, quetiapine and zotepine....

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Comparative Study 2007; 28(6): 868-874 PubMed PMID: 18063940 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Case-Control Studies, Cerebrum:physiopathology, Depressive Disorder:complications, Dissociative Disorders:complications, Electroencephalography, Epilepsy, Complex Partial:complications, Female, Functional Laterality:physiology, Galvanic Skin Respon.   

OBJECTIVES: Recent evidence indicates frequent EEG abnormalities in dissociated patients. This evidence is in agreement with findings that in certain psychiatric patients, psychosensory symptoms of epileptogenic nature, the so-called complex partial seizure-like symptoms occur. With respect to these findings, a hypothesis examined in this study states that increased level of experienced traumatic stress and dissociation in pathological conditions such as schizophrenia or depression relates to increased score of complex partial seizure-like symptoms. Also is suggested that the complex partial seizure-like symptoms might be related to unilateral hemispheric electrophysiological dysfunction, stress and dissociation.r />r /> PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: Psychometric assessment of dissociation, stress and measurement of right-left asymmetry of bilateral EDA in patients with schizophrenia (N=34) and depression (N=41) in comparison to healthy controls (N=36).r />r /> RESULTS: Results indicate that increased traumatic stress and dissociation in both groups of patients significantly relate to increased level of complex partial seizure-like symptoms, and may cause the right-left EDA asymmetry.r />r /> CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest relationship between left-hemispheric asymmetry and sympathetic over-activation in schizophrenia, and between right-hemispheric asymmetry with sympathetic under-activation in depression....

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Journal Article 2007; 28(6): 846-853 PubMed PMID: 18063939 Citation  Keywords:  Analysis of Variance, Animals, Chronic Disease, Circadian Rhythm:physiology, Corticosterone:blood, Disease Models, Animal, Exploratory Behavior:physiology, Male, Mice, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Motor Activity, Oxytocin:blood, Photoperiod, Stress, Physiological:.   

: Experiments were performed in C57BL/6J male mice to determine 1) light/dark effects of acute and chronic shaker stress on open field behavioral patterns and 2) light/dark effects of chronic stress on plasma corticosterone and oxytocin. Shaker stress was applied acutely (15 min) or chronically (3 or 7 days). Mice were tested in the open field in the light or dark phase of the circadian cycle. For the endocrine study, mice were exposed to 3 days of intermittent shaker stress and sacrificed after the last stress event (09:00 or 19:00 h). Acute or chronic shaker stress had no significant effects on intensity of motor activity and rearing of mice tested under either light condition. Mice tested in the dark phase had higher motor activity and exhibited lower anxiety-like behavior as expressed by central zone activities and had higher emotionality as expressed by increased defecation. Chronic stress increased corticosterone with a greater absolute increase in the dark period. However, the percentage stress-induced increase was not different between the day and night periods. The oxytocin response to stress was observed only during the light phase with no change seen at dark phase. These results show that there is a marked difference in the light/dark pituitary stress response with no alteration in stress induced behavioral changes. They also suggest that there are circadian interactions in the endocrine stress axis that are without consequences for open field behavior....

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Journal Article 2007; 28(6): 822-825 PubMed PMID: 18063938 Citation  Keywords:  Adaptation, Physiological, Age Factors, Analysis of Variance, Blood Flow Velocity:physiology, Female, Hemodynamics, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Intestines:blood supply, Male, Mesenteric Artery, Superior:diagnostic imaging, Reference Values, Regional Blood Fl.   

OBJECTIVES: After birth, the newborn intestinal circulation undergoes physiological changes. The purpose of this work was to characterize the changes in mesenteric blood flow velocity occuring during the first three days of life in healthy term infants.r />r /> METHODS: 30 healthy term newborns were studied repeatedly at the age of 2, 24 and 70 hours. Blood flow velocity in superior mesenteric artery (SMA) was measured by Doppler ultrasound, peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV) and time-averaged mean velocity (TAV) were recorded at each time point. Resistance index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) were calculated.r />r /> RESULTS: SMA EDV increased from 2 h [-5.2+/-6.8 cm/s (mean +/- SD)] to 24 h (12.9+/-3.8 cm/s, p<0.001) with further insignificant increase to 70 h (14.9+/-4.7 cm/s). At 2 h of age the mean EDV was negative in 23 of 30 cases (76.7%). PSV did not change between 2 h (58.0+/-21.8 cm/s) and 24 h (58.5+/-15.0 cm/s) but it increased to 70 h (79.6+/-17.7 cm/s). TAV showed a significant increase with time. RI decreased from 2 h (1.09+/-0.11) to 24 h (0.78+/-0.06, p<0.001) with further insignificant increase to 70 h (0.81+/-0.06).r />r /> CONCLUSIONS: The blood flow velocity in SMA increases during the early neonatal period in term infants. The most remarkable changes occur within the first 24 hours of life. At 2 h of age a reversed blood flow is present in majority of infants....

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