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Comparative Study 2005; 26(6): 795-798 PubMed PMID: 16380688 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Antioxidants:metabolism, Brain:enzymology, Glutathione:metabolism, Hyperthyroidism:metabolism, Lipid Peroxidation:physiology, Liver:enzymology, Male, Malondialdehyde:metabolism, Myocardium:enzymology, Pineal Gland:physiology, Rats, Rats, Sprague-.   

OBJECTIVE: Thyroid hormones regulate energy metabolism and act on the mitochondria, which is an important source of free radicals in the cell. Reactive oxygen types play a significant role in physiological mechanisms, but in excessive amounts they can cause oxidative damage in molecules. The aim of the present study was to determine levels of lipid peroxidation caused by induced hyperthyroidism in cerebral, hepatic and cardiac tissues of pinealectomized rats.r />r /> METHODS: Experimental animals used in the study were allocated to three groups as general control group, hyperthyroidism-sham pinealectomy group and hyperthyroidism-pinealectomy group. GSH and MDA levels in cerebral, hepatic and cardiac tissues were evaluated at the end of the 3-week study period.r />r /> RESULTS: It was found that MDA levels in cerebral, hepatic and cardiac tissues were the highest in hyperthyroidism and pinealectomy group and that these values were higher in hyperthyroidism-sham pinealectomy group than in the control group (p<0.001). It was seen that tissue GSH levels significantly increased in hyperthyroidism-sham pinealectomy group (p<0.001) and that the increase in hyperthyroidism and pinealectomy group was higher than the increase in the control group only (p<0.001).r />r /> CONCLUSION: Results of our study show that MDA and GSH levels in cerebral, hepatic and cardiac tissues increased due to hyperthyroidism and that the increase in MDA levels became more evident and GSH levels were significantly suppressed after pinealectomy....

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Comparative Study 2005; 26(6): 806-810 PubMed PMID: 16380687 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Glutathione:metabolism, Hyperthyroidism:chemically induced, Kidney:metabolism, Lipid Peroxidation, Male, Malondialdehyde:metabolism, Melatonin:metabolism, Oxidative Stress:physiology, Rats, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Testis:metabolism, Thyroxine,.   

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed at determining how 3-week intraperitoneal melatonin administration affected oxidative stress caused by experimental hyperthyroidism.r />r /> MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted on 30 male rats of Sprague-Dawley species. The experimental animals were divided to 3 groups (control, hyperthyroidism and hyperthyroidism+melatonin). The supplementation was continued for 3 weeks after which the animals were sacrificed and tissue malondyaldehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels were determined.r />r /> RESULTS: MDA levels in kidney and testis tissues in hyperthyroidism group were higher than those in control and hyperthyroidism+melatonin administered groups (p<0.001) and levels in hyperthyroidism+melatonin administered group were higher than those in the control group (p<0.001). The highest GSH levels were obtained in hyperthyroidism+melatonin-administered group (p<0.001) and GSH levels in hyperthyroidism group were higher than those in the control group (p<0.001).r />r /> CONCLUSION: Results of the study demonstrate that hyperthyroidism induced by 3-week L-thyroxine administration increased oxidative stress in kidney and testis tissues and that although melatonin administration inhibited this stress to a certain extent, it could not bring the stress down to the level in controls....

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Comparative Study 2005; 26(6): 729-732 PubMed PMID: 16380686 Citation  Keywords:  Age Factors, Animals, Animals, Newborn, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Organ Size:drug effects, Rats, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators:pharmacology, Sexual Behavior, Animal:drug effects, Tamoxifen:pharmacology, Testis:cytology, Te.   

OBJECTIVE: In this study we examined the possibility that demasculinization produced by the neonatal administration of tamoxifen is accompanied by a decline in plasma levels of testosterone during adulthood.r />r /> METHODS: Wistar male rats received either a treatment with 12.5 microg/kg of tamoxifen during the first eight days of age or a treatment with 100 microg/kg of tamoxifen for five days. Each treatment had their respective control group. During adulthood their masculine sexual behavior was analyzed. At 8 months of age, males were killed by decapitation, trunk blood was collected and peripheral glands were dissected and weighed. Testosterone levels were measured by HPLC. Histological analysis of peripheral glands was performed.r />r /> RESULTS: Both neonatal tamoxifen treatments significantly decreased male sexual behavior when compared to control values. In addition, both treatments also showed a significant decrease in testicular weight when compared to control groups, as well as a decrease in seminal vesicle weight. In the microscopic analysis, a significant decrease in the diameter of the seminiferous tubules was observed, especially in the animals treated with 100 microg/kg of tamoxifen. However, no differences were observed between tamoxifen treated and control animals concerning plasma levels of testosterone.r />r /> CONCLUSION: The present results indicate that behavioral manifestations and changes in peripheral reproductive organs that accompanied demasculinization are not due to a deficit in testosterone secretion....

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Clinical Trial 2005; 26(6): 771-774 PubMed PMID: 16380685 Citation  Keywords:  Adaptation, Psychological, Adolescent, Adult, Analysis of Variance, Cultural Evolution, Female, Hierarchy, Social, Homosexuality, Humans, Male, Psychological Theory, Reproduction, Sex Factors, Sexual Behavior:psychology, Social Behavior,.   

OBJECTIVES: The alliance theory holds that homosexual behavior in humans may have evolved because it reinforced same-sex alliances which contributed to survival and reproduction. The present study was designed to test this evolutionary hypothesis in view of the strongly negative perception of homosexual behavior. It was predicted that targets who engaged in homosexual behavior would be perceived as likely to achieve greater social status and reproductive opportunities when the behavior reinforced an alliance that led to increased social opportunities.r />r /> METHODS: Three hundred sixteen men and women read scenarios in which a target engaged in homosexual behavior and then answered questions about the target's future social status and reproductive opportunities as measured by number of sexual partners. The data were analyzed in two 3 (social outcome: positive vs. neutral vs. negative) x 2 (gender of target) x 2 (gender of participant) analyses of variance.r />r /> RESULTS: The results supported the predictions and demonstrated that targets were perceived as likely to have the greatest social status and reproductive opportunities in the positive outcome condition.r />r /> CONCLUSION: The alliance theory of homosexual behavior may have heuristic value for the evolutionary study of homosexual behavior and its perception....

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Clinical Trial, Phase I 2005; 26(6): 685-689 PubMed PMID: 16380684 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Antipsychotic Agents:therapeutic use, Benzodiazepines:therapeutic use, Brain Mapping, Cerebrovascular Circulation:drug effects, Cysteine:analogs & derivatives, Frontal Lobe:blood supply, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Organotechnetium Compounds, Psychi.   

OBJECTIVES: Altered regional cerebral blood flow (r-CBF) is mentioned as one of possible etiological factors or as a consequence of schizophrenia. Perfusion scintigraphic brain studies with SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography) and PET (Positron Emission Tomography) can detect areas of the brain with altered perfusion during the disease. Conflicting data exist on follow-up after treatment. The aim of our study was to evaluate r-CBF in acute first-episode schizophrenia and early effect of antipsychotic drugs on r-CBF.r />r /> DESIGN AND SETTING: Clinical criteria for schizophrenia were met according to International Classification of Diseases-10th Edition (ICD-10). Psychic status and severity of the disease in each patient were evaluated with psychiatric interview, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Clinical Global Impression (CGI) on the same day as the scintigraphic study. Brain perfusion SPECT was performed 20 minutes after 99mTc-ECD application. R-CBF was measured in 9 first-episode schizophrenic male patients 2-7 (median 6) days after the beginning of antipsychotic treatment and 8-15 (median 9) weeks later. Semiquantitative analysis of r-CBF was performed with cerebellum as the reference region. R-CBF was evaluated for 12 regions in each study.r />r /> RESULTS: Decrease in perfusion in comparison to cerebellum was detected in left (90%) and right (93%) frontal lobes. Increase in perfusion between the first (t1) and the second (t2) investigation was significant (p<0.05) for both frontal regions (left 94%, right 97%). Significant decrease in PANSS (p<0.05) and CGI (p<0.001) scores was noted and correlated well with the increase of r-CBF.r />r /> CONCLUSIONS: Our findings implicate that patients with first-episode schizophrenia have significant left hypoperfusion relative to the right in dorsolateral frontal lobes. Increased blood flow was observed bilaterally in dorsolateral frontal lobes after 10 weeks of antipsychotic medication. Significant amelioration of r-CBF correlated with clinical improvement....

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Clinical Trial 2005; 26(6): 667-674 PubMed PMID: 16380683 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Agoraphobia:complications, Alprazolam:therapeutic use, Anti-Anxiety Agents:therapeutic use, Cognitive Therapy, Combined Modality Therapy, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Panic Disorder:complications, Paroxetine:therapeutic use.   

UNLABELLED: Most clinicians tend to believe that the occurrence of the anxiety disorder in comorbidity with a personality disorder often leads to longer treatment, worsens the prognosis, and thus increasing treatment costs. The study is designed to compare the short-term effectiveness of combination of cognitive behavioral therapy and pharmacotherapy in patient suffering with panic disorder with and without personality disorder.r />r /> METHOD: We compare the efficacy of 6th week therapeutic program and 6th week follow up in patients suffering with panic disorder and/or agoraphobia and comorbid personality disorder (29 patients) and panic disorder and/or agoraphobia without comorbid personality disorder (31 patients). Diagnosis was done according to the ICD-10 research diagnostic criteria confirmed with MINI and support with psychological methods: IPDE, MCMI-III and TCI. Patients were treated with CBT and psychopharmacs. They were regularly assessed in week 0, 2, 4, 6 and 12 by an independent reviewer on the CGI (Clinical Global Improvement) for severity and change, PDSS (Panic Disorder Severity Scale), HAMA (Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale), SDS (Sheehan Disability Scale), HDRS (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale), and in self-assessments BAI (Beck Anxiety Inventory) and BDI (Beck Depression Inventory).r />r /> RESULTS: A combination of CBT and pharmacotherapy proved to be the effective treatment of patients suffering with panic disorder and/or agoraphobia with or without comorbid personality disorder. The 12th week treatment efficacy in the patients with panic disorder without personality disorder had been showed significantly better compared with the group with panic disorder comorbid with personality disorder in CGI and specific inventory for panic disorder--PDSS. Also the scores in depression inventories HDRS and BDI showed significantly higher decrease during the treatment comparing with group without personality disorder. But the treatment effect between groups did not differ in objective anxiety scale HAMA, and subjective anxiety scale BAI....

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Clinical Trial 2005; 26(6): 691-695 PubMed PMID: 16380682 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Affect, Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging:psychology, Anxiety:diagnosis, Cognition Disorders:complications, Depressive Disorder, Major:complications, Female, Humans, Hypochondriasis:diagnosis, Male, Mental Status Schedule, Middle Aged, Se.   

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical manifestation of depressive disorder in elderly, and younger adults.r />r /> METHODS: To compare the clinical manifestation of depressive disorder, we evaluate 46 elderly (33 female, and 13 male, mean age 71.1) and 60 younger adults (40 female, and 20 male, mean age 44.5 years). All patients suffering from depressive disorders according to ICD-10. For evaluation and comparison of depressive symptomatology we used the HAM-D-17. The results analysed by the SPSS.r />r /> RESULTS: The clinical manifestation of depression is different in the elderly. Elderly depressed patients compared with their younger counterparts, scored significantly less in Depressed mood, but significantly higher in Work and activities, Retardation, Somatic symptoms-general, Hypochondriasis, Insomnia-middle, Insomnia-late, Anxiety-somatic, and Somatic symptoms-gastrointestinal. On the other hand, younger patients scored significantly higher in Feelings of guilt, and Genital symptoms.r />r /> CONCLUSIONS: Clinical presentation of depressive disorder is different in the elderly, depressed mood is often absent or masked. Anxiety, somatization, and hypochondriasis are more often present in the elderly depressed patients than in younger patients. The elderly people are also more likely than their younger counterparts to complain of insomnia....

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Journal Article 2005; 26(6): 835-838 PubMed PMID: 16380681 Citation  Keywords:  Age Distribution, Child, Child, Preschool, Cough:chemically induced, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Fever:chemically induced, Hospitals, Teaching:statistics & numerical data, Humans, Incidence, Infant, Jordan:epidemiology, Kerosene:poisoning, Male, Pati.   

PURPOSE: Poisoning due to drugs is influenced to a large extent by the population's socioeconomic and cultural status. The purpose of our study was to determine and present the pattern of poisoning with kerosene in Princess Rahmat hospital, Irbid, Jordan, and to assess the effects of variables such as age, season, sex and agent on poisoning frequency in Princess Rahmat hospital, northern Jordan.r />r /> METHODS: This retrospective cross-sectional study was performed on 122 cases of poisoning with kerosene who were hospitalized in Princess Rahmat hospital, northern Jordan, during a six-year period from 1996 to 2001. The data collected include: age, sex, seasonal variation, material ingested, symptomatic or not on admission, time and place of ingestion, history of similar problem among the patient or his siblings, whether vomiting was induced by the parent before seeking medical help or not and the outcome regarding mortality and morbidity. Chi-square and values were considered for the statistical analysis.r />r /> RESULTS: In a 6-year prospective study of kerosene poisoning in children admitted to the Rahmat Hospital, between January 1996 and December 2001, a total of 122 children (under 11 years of age). Among the children 48 (39.3%) were girls and 74 (60.6%) were boys. Majority (80.1%) were below 2 years. The largest group of patients was admitted during the summer months. The most commonly observed symptoms were cough (67.2%), tachypnea (56.5%), fever (54.1%), and vomiting (27.8%). About one third of the patients showed signs of central nervous system (CNS) impairment, including drowsiness, restlessness, stupor, and convulsions.r />r /> CONCLUSIONS: 1) There is a higher risk of kerosene poisoning during the hot months of the year; 2) the respiratory system is the main target organ affected; 3) pneumonia is in most cases interstitial and bilateral; 4) vomiting after hydrocarbon ingestion is related to the rate of development of pneumonia; 5) symptoms of CNS impairment were correlated with hypoxemia, pneumonia, and fever; and 6) CNS toxicity may occur without hypoxemia, concurrent pulmonary pathology, or other pathology....

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