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Journal Article 2007; 28(4): 360-366 PubMed PMID: 17693960 Citation  Keywords:  Bottle Feeding, Chronotherapy, Circadian Rhythm:physiology, Dietary Carbohydrates:administration & dosage, Double-Blind Method, Feeding Behavior:physiology, Humans, Infant, Infant Formula:administration & dosage, Infant, Newborn, Prospective Studies, Slee.   

UNLABELLED: Some 30% of pre-weaning infants present problems of sleep during the night, especially those who are bottle-fed. The solution is for them to be breast-fed for as long as possible, or, if this is not possible, for the formula milk to reproduce breast-milk's natural circadian variations in the concentrations of tryptophan and those nucleotides which have a beneficial effect in consolidating the circadian sleep-wake cycle.r />r /> OBJECTIVE: To study in pre-weaning infants the effect on nocturnal sleep of the administration of formula milk dissociated into its day/night components.r />r /> MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study was carried out on 30 pre-weaning infants of 4-20 weeks in age who preferentially showed sleep problems. The day dissociated formula, administered from 06:00-18:00, had lower levels of tryptophan and carbohydrates, and higher levels of proteins together with cytosine-5P, guanosine-5P, and inosine-5P. The night dissociated formula, administered from 18:00-06:00, had lower levels of proteins and medium-chain triglycerides, higher levels of tryptophan and carbohydrates, together with adenosine-5P and uridine-5P. In a random, double-blind, design, three one-week diets were administered: Diet A (Control): normal initiation milk; Diet B: 06:00-18:00 normal initiation milk, 18:00-06:00 dissociated night formula; and Diet C: day/night formulas with the schedule given above. The sleep patterns were analyzed by means of actimeters (Actiwatch). Statistical analysis consisted of an ANOVA with a Scheffe F-test, taking a value of p<0.05 to be statistically significant.r />r /> RESULTS: The children receiving the week of Diet C (with the day/night formulas in synchrony with the environment) showed increased hours of actual sleep (7.68 +/- 0.54 h vs. 6.77 +/- 0.12 h for the Diet A control) and improved sleep latency (0.44 +/- 0.04 h vs. 0.60 +/- 0.08 h for the Diet A control). The same children receiving the Diet B in another different week showed an improvement in sleep efficiency (76.43 +/- 3.4% vs. the Diet A control 69.86 +/- 0.94%) and sleep latency (0.45 +/- 0.04 h vs. the Diet A control 0.60 +/- 0.08h) The parents also reported, in response to follow-up questions, an improvement in the sleep of their infants during the Diet C week.r />r /> CONCLUSION: Day/night infant formula milks designed according to the principles of chrononutrition help to consolidate the sleep/wake rhythm in bottle-fed infants....

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Journal Article 2007; 28(4): 470-472 PubMed PMID: 17627273 Citation  Keywords:  Administration, Oral, Albinism:genetics, Alloxan, Animals, Ballota, Blood Glucose:metabolism, Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental:blood, Female, Hypoglycemic Agents:administration & dosage, Insulin:blood, Male, Plant Extracts:administration & dosage, Rats, Ra.   

: The hypoglycemic effect of Ballota nigra extract on albino rats was investigated. Alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus was accompanied by several fold increases in plasma glucose. Administration of aqueous extract of B. nigra extract significantly reduced glucose in both healthy and diabetic rats. These results suggest that B. nigra possess hypoglycemic effects in rats and therefore, can be useful for the treatment of diabetes mellitus....

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Journal Article 2007; 28(4): 473-476 PubMed PMID: 17627272 Citation  Keywords:  Administration, Oral, Alanine Transaminase:blood, Albinism:genetics, Animals, Aspartate Aminotransferases:blood, Ballota, Bilirubin:blood, Blood Glucose:metabolism, Cholesterol:blood, Creatine Kinase:blood, Female, Insulin:blood, Male, Plant Extracts:admi.   

: Ingestion of aqueous 70% ethanol extract of Ballota nigra (400 mg/kg body weight for 7 days) by albino rats (n=10) was investigated to study its effects on glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), troponin I (TnI), serum creatine kinase (CK), total protein, total bilirubin and blood urea. Ballota nigra extract caused a significant decrease in blood glucose, total serum cholesterol and CK levels. Blood levels of TnI, AST, ALT, triglycerides, total bilirubin, total protein and blood urea were unchanged. The hypoglycemic effect of Ballota nigra extract on albino rats was further investigated by conducting a glucose tolerance test intraperitoneally (IPGTT). Healthy rats that were fasting for 18 hours followed by administration of a dose of 400 mg/kg body weight of the crude extract of Ballota nigra, orally. A significant decrease in blood glucose levels (after 15, 30, and 45 minutes) with a significant increase in serum insulin level (after 15 and 30 minute) was noted. These results suggest that, the crude extract of Ballota nigra have hypoglycemic, insulin-releasing and cholesterol lowering effects in rats....

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Journal Article 2007; 28(3): 326-332 PubMed PMID: 17627271 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Contraceptive Agents, Female:pharmacology, Drug Implants, Estradiol:analysis, Feces:chemistry, Female, Immunoenzyme Techniques, Levonorgestrel:administration & dosage, Macaca, Perineum:pathology, Progesterone:analysis,.   

OBJECTIVE: Administered levonorgestrel enables contraception under normal cyclicity of the ovaries and does not suppress the development of cyclic perineal swellings. This study investigated the influence of levonorgestrel on fecal gonadal steroid excretion rates and the expression of perineal swelling size.r />r /> SETTINGS: Two groups of Barbary macaque females were observed: Twenty-four implanted individuals under semifree conditions and five non-implanted individuals under caged conditions. Eight of the implanted females had large expressions of the perinea and sixteen reduced. The non-implanted group had no perineal swellings.r />r /> METHODS: To determine the individual steroid excretion rates and exzymeimmunoassay for decal samples was established.r />r /> RESULTS: Estradiol excretion rates did not differ in distinctively swollen implanted females, but were increased when compared to non-implanted individuals (df=2; p=0.0002). Implanted females with large perineal swellings had lower progesterone concentrations in the feces compared to individuals with reduced swellings and did not differ from the non-swollen group (df=2; p=0.054). Females with large perineal swellings showed a higher calculated estradiol to progesterone ratio index than the other groups (df=2; p=0.0005). Non-implanted individuals showed increased testosterone excretion rates (df.=2; p=0.0001).r />r /> MAIN FINDINGS: The results indicate a positive relationship between the perineal swelling size and levonorgestrel implantation.r />r /> CONCLUSION: The ratio of fecal estradiol and progesterone titers can be judged as an endocrine indicator for the expression rate of perineal swelling size....

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Journal Article 2007; 28(3): 321-325 PubMed PMID: 17627270 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation:toxicity, Female, Fertility:drug effects, Fluoxetine:toxicity, Male, Rats, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Sperm Count, Testis:drug effects,.   

: The effects of long-term ingestion of fluoxetine on fertility were investigated in Sprague-Dawley male rats. Adult male rats were exposed to fluoxetine at a concentration of 200 mg/kg for 60 days. Long-term ingestion of fluoxetine for 60 days caused a great decrease in spermatogenesis in seminiferous tubules of the testes. Sperm motility and density were also significantly reduced in cauda epididymides and testes of the treated group. The weights of reproductive organs (testes, epididymides, ventral prostrate and seminal vesicle) were decreased considerably. The hormonal assay also showed significant decrease in testosterone levels and FSH levels. Testicular cell population dynamics also demonstrated a decrease in the number of both primary and secondary spermatocystes and spermatids in the treatment group. The number of female rats impregnated by male rats on long-term fluoxetine diet had decreased. The number of implantations and the number of viable fetuses were also notably decreased in female rats impregnated by male rats ingested fluoxetine. Fluoxetine caused a slight decrease in body weight, when initial and final body weights were compared in the experimental groups. Levels of ALT and AST were found to be significantly increased in the treated group when compared to the control. Histometery of reproductive organs confirmed these results. In conclusion, these results confirm that the long-term fluoxetine ingestion produce adverse effects on fertility and reproductive system in adult male rat. Thus, it would be of great interest to investigate the impact via long -term treatment with fluoxetine in male human fertility....

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Journal Article 2007; 28(3): 315-320 PubMed PMID: 17627269 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Child, Female, Humans, Low Back Pain:physiopathology, Lumbar Vertebrae, Male, Muscle Strength, Muscle Strength Dynamometer, Neck Pain:physiopathology, Palpation,.   

OBJECTIVE: Despite the ever ongoing development in the examination procedures, it is still impossible to exactly diagnose a large percentage of patients with vertebral and back (low-back and neck) pains. This is due to an insufficiently clear connection between symptoms, pathological changes and results from the imaging techniques. Besides a morphological and neurological examination, a grave diagnostic attention should be given to a possible muscular dysfunction. A simple electromechanical device called muscle dynamometer (MD01) has been constructed for the purpose of enabling to effortlessly, objectively and precisely examine the muscle power-output in the lumbar spine area and reveal a possible, often found and therapeutically treated, dysfunction of the deep stabilizing spine system (DSSS).r />r /> METHODS: The six-week-rehabilitation-course, aimed at correcting the body posture and strengthening the DSSS muscles, during which two groups of healthy adolescents (girls and boys, aged 12-16) have been obtained.r />r /> RESULTS: The statistically significant change (p<0.001) between the values of input and output measurements of the condition of DSSS.r />r /> CONCLUSIONS: The effectiveness of therapeutical training is confirmed and the objectification of the condition of the DSSS muscles by means of the muscle dynamometer (MD01) is verified....

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Journal Article 2007; 28(3): 311-314 PubMed PMID: 17627268 Citation  Keywords:  Blood Pressure, Creatinine:blood, Female, Homocysteine:blood, Humans, Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced:blood, Lipofuscin:blood, Oxidative Stress, Peptides:blood, Pregnancy,.   

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study were to assess the levels of lipofuscin (parameter of oxidative stress), homocysteine (as a marker of vascular injury) and tissue specific antigen - TPS - (as a marker of cell proliferation) in relation to arterial pressure of pregnant woman.r />r /> STUDY DESIGN: Healthy pregnant women (n=18), women with mild 140/90=< RR<160/100 (n=19), and severe 160/100=<RR (n=23) gestational hypertension were enrolled. Lipofuscin has been determined by fluorescence spectroscopy, homocysteine by MEIA commercial kit from Abbott IMx, TPS by EIA method using kit from BEKI.r />r /> RESULTS: Mean duration of gestation was 34+/-5 weeks, and there were no differences between groups. Serum lipofuscin levels in mild form of pregnancy-induced hypertension were decreased comparing to normal pregnancy. Homocysteine levels were decreased and TPS levels increased in both mild and severe gestational hypertension.r />r /> CONCLUSION: Our results suggest overestimation of the role of oxidative stress and hyperhomocysteinemia in gestational hypertension....

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Journal Article 2007; 28(3): 305-310 PubMed PMID: 17627267 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Female, Fertility:drug effects, Male, Peganum, Plant Extracts:pharmacology, Rats, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Spermatogenesis:drug effects, Spermatozoa:drug effects, Testis:drug effects,.   

BACKGROUND: The Peganum harmala is currently used by the Jordanian populations systemically for its antispasmodic, diuretic, sedative and analgesic effects and externally for its antirheumatic effect.r />r /> OBJECTIVE: To study effects of Peganum harmala on the reproductive system and fertility using adult male albino rats.r />r /> MATERIAL & METHOD: A total of 20 rats were involved in this study and were divided into two groups. Group (A) a vehicle-treated control and group (B) a treated group with aqueous extract of Peganum harmala at a dose of 300 mg/kg body weight for 60 days.r />r /> RESULTS: This dose induces a significant decrease in the weight of reproductive organs (p<0.01) when compared to controls. The sperm motility and density in cauda epidydimides and testicular ducts were significantly decreased (p<0.01). Furthermore treatments have remarkably altered the histoarchitecture of testes. Spermatogenesis was inhibited at both primary and secondary spermatocyte stages. Epididymides showed reduced number of spermatozoa. Lumen of vas deferentia were devoid of sperms. The secretary activities of seminal vesicle and ventricular prostate were also reduced. Spermatocytes parameters were altered which included a significant decrease count (p<0.001). In addition counts of developing spermatocytes in treated rats showed a decrease in number of spermatocytes and spermatids (p<0.001) when compared to controls. Serum hormonal assay indicated a decrease in Testosterone and Follicular Stimulating Hormone (FSH) levels in treated rats. A decreased in number female rats impregnated by males receiving treatment was observed and demonstrated by a decrease in the implantation sites and viable fetuses number (p<0.01).r />r /> CONCLUSION: The aqueous extracts of Peganum harmala might have adverse effects on the processes of spermatogenesis due to direct or indirect effects on somniferous tubules and or the pituitary testicular axis....

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