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Clinical Trial 2006; 27(5): 679-682 PubMed PMID: 17159814 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Adult, Body Mass Index, Cholesterol:blood, Contraception:adverse effects, Contraceptives, Oral, Combined:adverse effects, Creatinine:blood, Ethinyl Estradiol:administration & dosage, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Kidney Transplantation,.   

AIM: To assess safety of combined low-dose oral contraceptives in women after renal transplantation.r />r /> MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty six female renal graft-recipients, aged from 18 to 44 (mean 31 years), who used combined low-dose oral contraceptives after renal transplantation for at least 18 months were enrolled in the study. All patients had stable graft function with mean serum creatinine of 1.3 mg/dl. In 58% of women effective contraception was the mean indication for the therapy, in the remaining group pills were indicated additionally for the development of ovarian cysts and excessive menstrual bleedings. Ethinyl estradiol dose was 20 mug in 73% of cases and 30-35 microg in the remaining group.r />r /> RESULTS: No case of pregnancy was observed. Contraceptive therapy was discontinued in two cases: for profound vein thrombosis in one and deterioration of liver function in the other case. No side effects of contraceptives were observed in the remaining group of patients within at least 18-month observational period. No case of ovarian cyst was reported. Oral contraceptives were not found to influence body mass index (BMI), mean blood pressure, serum creatinine and biochemical parameters (AST, ALT, total bilirubin, glucose and cholesterol).r />r /> CONCLUSIONS: Despite the presence of relative contraindications for hormonal drugs (arterial hypertension and deteriorated liver function) in female renal recipients, administration of combined low-dose contraceptive pill should be taken into account as highly effective contraceptive method, that additionally regulates menstrual bleeding patterns, protects from ovarian cysts development and improves life quality of the patient....

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Journal Article 2006; 27(5): 609-613 PubMed PMID: 17159813 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Aged, Carcinoma:genetics, Cell Adhesion Molecules:genetics, DNA Methylation, Female, GPI-Linked Proteins, Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic, Humans, Middle Aged, Ovarian Neoplasms:genetics, Promoter Regions, Genetic, RNA, Messenger:metabolism,.   

OBJECTIVE: The expression profile of the OPMCL gene was studied to find out if there was any evidence of a CpG island methylator phenotype and if there was an association of CpG island methylation with the gene downregulation in women with ovarian cancer.r />r /> MATERIAL AND METHODS: Expression of OPCML in 43 ovarian cancer tumor samples and in 4 normal ovaries was determined by RT-PCR. Methylation status of OPCML promoter region was studied with methylation-specific PCR (MSP) method. Possible associations with selected clinicopathologic variables: FIGO stage, histological grade, patient's age and menopausal status were tested.r />r /> RESULTS: In all normal ovarian samples OPCML mRNA was present, but it was not detectable in 24 of 43 ovarian cancer cases. We have not found the relationship between age and menopausal status with the presence of RTPCR product of OPCML. Hypermethylation of OPCML was not correlated to FIGO stage, however, in 80% of cases with methylated OPCML early clinical stage was also present. Tumor grading and histological type had no significant influence on the presence of hypermethylation of OPCML gene. In 20 of 43 cases of ovarian cancer methylated product of MSP amplification was present. In a group of OPCMLmRNA-negative tumors there were 75% of cases with hypermethylated exon of OPCML and the correlation between these variables was statistically significant (chi2 =17.7; p=0,00003). No promoter hypermethylation of the studied gene was found in normal ovaries.r />r /> CONCLUSIONS: Reduced OPCMPL gene expression in ovarian cancer in comparison to normal ovaries could be related to the hypermethylation of promoter region. This epigenetic alteration may be the reason of gene silencing and the loss of suppressor function....

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Biography 2006; 27(5): 557-561 PubMed PMID: 16892006 Citation  Keywords:  Europe, History, 19th Century, History, 20th Century, Pharmacology, Clinical:history,.   

: Emil Starkenstein (1884-1942), professor of pharmacology at the German Medical Faculty of Charles University in Prague, was not only an experimental pharmacologist, but also the pioneer of clinical pharmacology. During the World War I (1914-1918) he took advantage of his knowledge of experimental pharmacology for the new approaches to the treatment of bacillary dysentery, cholera and of epidemic typhus fever. In 1918 he published the article "Clinical Pharmacology--Theory and Praxis at the Patient's Bedside", in which he defined the main task of clinical pharmacology as the implementation and verification of experimental pharmacology achievements in clinical therapy. During the period 1921-1933, his scientific interests involved namely analgesic combinations, seasickness therapy and pharmacology of iron. He published more than 240 scientific articles and three textbooks. Emil Starkenstein died on November 6, 1942 as a victim of Holocaust. Starkenstein s collection of more than 20,000 reprints of scientific studies, which has been deposited recently in the Archives of Charles University in Prague is very valuable....

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Journal Article 2006; 27(4): 535-537 PubMed PMID: 17136019 Citation  Keywords:  Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Alzheimer Disease:complications, Cognition Disorders:etiology, Depression:etiology, Female, Humans, Hypothyroidism:complications, Male, Middle Aged, Thyroxine:blood,.   

: The role of thyroid function in Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been subject to a number of studies during the last years. We investigated the possible relationship between plasma levels of the biologically active free form of thyroxin (fT4) and cognitive function in 227 outpatients with mild to moderate Alzheimer s disease (AD) in a cross-sectional study design. A significant negative correlation was found between plasma fT4-levels and Mini-Mental state examination (MMSE) score (Spearman Rho = -0.14, p=0.04). When the lowest quartile of fT4-levels (<15.1 pmol/l) was compared to the highest quartile (>19.0 pmol/l), statistically significant lower mean MMSE-scores were seen in the group with the highest fT4-levels (p<0.05, ANOVA). The mean difference between the 1st and the 4th quartile of fT4 was 2.6 MMSE-score points. No correlations were found between plasma total T4-levels, plasma total T3-levels, plasma TSH-levels and the MMSE score (p>0.05). When fT4 quartile groups were compared for depression measured in the Geriatric Depression Score (GDS 15), a slightly higher score was seen in the 1s and 2nd compared to the 3rd and 4th quartile groups without reaching statistical significance (1st quartile of fT4: GDS 5.2 +/- 3.8; 2nd: 5.3 +/- 4.0; 3rd: 4.4 +/- 3.4; 4th: 4.5 +/- 3.8) pointing to a reverse correlation of fT4 levels and depressive mood. This study leads to the conclusion that high levels of plasma fT4 might result in a worsening of cognitive impairment and a positive effect on depressive mood in AD....

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Clinical Trial 2006; 27(4): 433-437 PubMed PMID: 16892008 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Anxiety:physiopathology, Depression:physiopathology, Dexamethasone, Feedback, Physiological:drug effects, Follow-Up Studies, Glucocorticoids, Humans, Hydrocortisone:blood, Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System:physiology, Immunosuppression, Male, Pituitar.   

OBJECTIVES: Higher rates of dexamethasone test (DST) nonsuppression in schizophrenia have been attributed to depressive symptoms, suicidality and negative symptoms. No study concerning first-episode schizophrenia has yet been published.r />r /> DESIGN: In patients hospitalised for the first time with first-episode schizophrenia the DST has been performed before, at the end of the acute treatment and after one year. At the same time the clinical evaluation with PANSS was performed. A cortisol value >5 microgram/dl in either of the postdexamethasone samples indicated nonsuppression of cortisol.r />r /> RESULTS: A total of 56 males were included. 18% of pts were DST nonsuppressors at medication-free baseline, 5% and 16% after acute treatment and after one year respectively. After 1 year 42/56 of patients fulfilled the criteria of remission. The rate of nonsuppression was 21.4%, 5% and 16.4% in remitters and 7%, 7% and 14.3% in nonremitters. Significant differences in the whole group were found between postdexamethasone cortisolemia at discharge on the one hand and on admission and at the one-year follow-up on the other. Significant correlations were observed between postdexamethasone cortisolemia and negative symptoms at the end of acute treatment.r />r /> MAIN FINDINGS: In first-episode schizophrenia the short-term treatment led to a decrease in cortisolemia and rates of nonsuppression and an increase at a one-year follow-up.r />r /> CONCLUSIONS: Rates of DST nonsuppression in schizophrenia including first-episode schizophrenia are influenced by the stage of illness and medication status. The impairment of feedback regulation of cortisol secretion may be related to different biopathogenetic mechanisms depending on the phase of the illness....

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Journal Article 2006; 27(4): 487-492 PubMed PMID: 16892005 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Coumestrol:pharmacology, Follicle Stimulating Hormone:blood, Hormones:blood, Luteinizing Hormone:blood, Male, Organ Size:drug effects, Phytoestrogens:pharmacology, Rats, Rats, Wistar, Spermatogenesis:drug effects, Testis:drug effects, Testosteron.   

INTRODUCTION: Phytoestrogens are a wide variety of chemical compounds, mainly isoflavonoids, from a vegetable source. Their name makes reference to their ability to induce estrogenic responses in mammals. Coumestrol is a phytoestrogen that can be found in high concentrations in the dietary elements of cattle. Some endocrine alterations have been reported for cows and ewes after ingestion of vegetables with high concentrations of coumestrol. However, these studies have been made mainly in females.r />r /> OBJECTIVE: To analyze some features of the masculine endocrine response in rats after several doses of the phytoestrogen coumestrol.r />r /> DESIGN: Adult male rats were injected with several doses of coumestrol. Plasma gonadotrophins (LH/FSH) and testosterone levels were assessed. In addition, morphology of the testicles was analyzed.r />r /> SETTING: Experiments were done in the facilities of the neurosciences area at the University.r />r /> RESULTS: No significant changes were observed in gonadotrophin levels after the administration of coumestrol. Testosterone levels showed a significant decrease with the higher doses. Morphological analysis showed an inhibitory effect on spermatogenesis expressed mainly in the right testicle. Testicular volume decreased and the tubular area increased significantly after coumestrol treatment.r />r /> CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the endocrine effect of coumestrol is mainly expressed in peripheral targets in male rats. In addition, the possible mediation of estrogen beta receptors is discussed....

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Case Reports 2006; 27(4): 547-548 PubMed PMID: 16892004 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Brain Neoplasms:complications, Calcitriol:blood, Calcium:blood, Glioblastoma:complications, Humans, Hypercalcemia:blood, Male, Parathyroid Glands:physiology,.   

: Hypercalcemia is commonly associated with cancer, occurring in around 10-20% of cancer patients. Hypercalcemia is usually related to solid and non-solid malignancies specifically breast cancer, lung cancer and multiple myeloma. Hypercalcemia has been reported to occur in association with astrocytomas, and uncommonly in gliomas. We report a case of a previously healthy man presenting with glioblastoma multiforme . He was found to have persistently elevated serum calcium and calcitriol with normal parathyroid function. This is the first reported case of hypercalcemia associated with glioblastoma multiforme....

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Journal Article 2006; 27(4): 517-522 PubMed PMID: 16892003 Citation  Keywords:  Adenocarcinoma:metabolism, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Antibody Specificity, Cell Nucleus:metabolism, Cytoplasm:metabolism, Humans, Immunohistochemistry, Male, Middle Aged, Prognosis, Prostate:metabolism, Prostatic Hyperplasia:metabolism, Prostatic Neoplasms.   

BACKGROUND: Ubiquitin is a low molecular weight protein which has been detected in a variety of normal and cancerous tissues. It is involved in many regulatory processes including protein proteolysis. It has been implicated in tumor pathogenesis. The role of ubiquitin in human prostate gland is investigated in this study.r />r /> METHODS: In this study, we utilized immunohistochemistry technique to localize ubiquitin in human prostate gland and correlate it with different pathological conditions of the prostate.r />r /> RESULTS: Ubiquitin was localized in normal, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostatic adenocarcinoma with variations in the distribution and intensity. In BPH, ubiquitin immunoreactivity was localized mainly in the nuclei while in the adenocarcinoma was localized mainly in the cytoplasm.r />r /> CONCLUSION: The presence of ubiquitin mainly in the nuclei and in the cytoplasm of BPH and prostatic adenocarcinoma, respectively, may suggest a role of ubiquitin in the development of the above mentioned conditions. Ubiquitin could be used as a potential marker for the diagnosis and prognosis of pathological conditions of the prostate....

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