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Journal Article 2015; 36(2): 153-160 PubMed PMID: 26071585 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Adult, Executive Function:physiology, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Male, Psychotic Disorders:physiopathology, Remission Induction, Schizophrenia:physiopathology, Young Adult,.   

OBJECTIVE: Cognitive functions are important determinants of outcome in schizophrenia. Psychiatric hospitalization and intensive treatment in the early-onset psychosis may reduce the severity of psychotic symptoms and improve cognitive functions. It is not clear if after discharge improvement or further deterioration of cognition is observed. The aim of the current study is the evaluation of executive functioning in early onset schizophrenia (EOS) across stages of illness.r />r /> METHODS: Two groups of EOS patients: hospitalized subjects with first episode (FES, n=16) at the introduction of pharmacotherapy (T1) and after mean 7 weeks (T2) and stable outpatients group (SO, n=24) were assessed with the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. Matched healthy (n=32) controls were assessed with WCST.r />r /> RESULTS: All patients performed significantly worse in WCST than healthy controls. Subjects in acute psychotic episode (FES T1) presented more pronounced executive impairment and psychopathological symptoms than after the resolution of psychotic symptoms (FES T2). No differences in executive function between FES T2 and SO group were observed. In all assessments perseverative errors correlated with negative symptoms.r />r /> CONCLUSION: Cognitive impairment is present at the onset of EOS and persists in attenuated but stable form after the resolution of psychotic symptoms....

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Journal Article 2015; 36(2): 148-152 PubMed PMID: 26071584 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor:blood, Female, Homeodomain Proteins:blood, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Multiple Sclerosis:blood, Nerve Tissue Proteins:blood, Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide:blood, Young Adult,.   

OBJECTIVE: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system (CNS) characterized by coexisting processes of inflammation, demyelination, axonal neurodegeneration and gliosis. Autoimmune processes play a pivotal role in the disease. The immune system may be modulated by neurotrophins and neurotrophin factors. Aim of the study was to assess plasma levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), activity-dependent neurotrophin protein (ADNP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in treatment-naïve humans with newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis. We also elucidated the potential influence of selected inflammatory agents on peripheral concentration of BDNF and ADNP.r />r /> MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study population comprised of 31 untreated patients with MS and 36 controls from a single hospital centre. Assessment of BDNF and ADNP was performed with use of ELISA methods. VIP was measured with RIA. Selected cytokine levels (IL 6, IL 10, and TNF α) were evaluated with ELISA tests. Statistical analyses were performed.r />r /> RESULTS: We failed to find any significant differences between ADNP, BDNF, VIP, CRP levels and concentration of cytokines between individuals with MS and the controls. No correlation was observed between ADNP, BDNF and VIP as the first parameter and CRP, IL 6, IL 10, TNFα levels and the Expanded Disability Status Scale score in MS.r />r /> CONCLUSIONS: Newly diagnosed, treatment-naïve patients with MS have comparable levels of plasma BDNF, ADNP and VIP to those of healthy controls....

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Journal Article 2015; 36(2): 143-147 PubMed PMID: 26071583 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Brain:metabolism, Environment, Male, Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide:metabolism, Radioimmunoassay, Rats, Rats, Wistar,.   

OBJECTIVE: Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a pleiotropic and multifunctional neuropeptide, widely distributed throughout the body. It is involved in the regulation of various physiological and pathophysiological processes. Numerous studies have shown that PACAP is involved in the development of the central nervous system and has neuroprotective effects. Environmental enrichment is also protective in various injuries, partially through involvement of trophic factors. The interaction between PACAP levels in the brain and environmental effects has not been studied yet. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether environmental enrichment influences PACAP levels of different brain areas in rats.r />r /> METHODS: Wistar rats were exposed to enriched environment in adulthood for 3 weeks. PACAP27- and PACAP38-like immunoreactivities were measured with a specific and sensitive radioimmunoassay in homogenates of different brain areas: brainstem, cerebellum, diencephalon and telencephalon.r />r /> RESULTS: We found that levels of both PACAP27- and PACAP38-like immunoreactivities showed significant increases in most brain areas after a 3-week-long exposure to enriched conditions. Thus, similarly to several other CNS injuries, enriched environment induced elevation in PACAP levels.r />r /> CONCLUSION: As PACAP has strong neuroprotective effects, the elevation observed after exposure to enriched environment is suggested to play a role in the protective effects of such an environment as part of the endogenous neuroprotective machinery in adult rats....

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Journal Article 2015; 36(2): 136-142 PubMed PMID: 26071582 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Alternative Splicing:genetics, Female, Growth Hormone-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma:genetics, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Pituitary Neoplasms:genetics, Placental Lactogen:genetics,.   

OBJECTIVES: Somatotroph adenomas secrete supraphysiological amounts of GH, causing acromegaly. We have previously shown epithelial splicing regulator 1 (ESRP1) to play a role in epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) progression in these adenomas and account for poor treatment response. We evaluated if the mRNA levels of the GH/CSH gene cluster in somatotroph adenomas are associated with an epithelial phenotype and response to SA treatment.r />r /> METHODS: We investigated the associations between ESRP1 and the growth hormone/chorionic somatomammotropin (GH/CSH) gene cluster by RNA sequencing (RNAseq). CSH2 isoform 3 mRNA was further evaluated in 65 somatotroph adenomas and associations with disease severity and treatment response.r />r /> RESULTS: mRNA for all genes in the GH/CSH cluster were expressed, however, only chorionic somatomammotropin 2/placental lactogen 2 (CSH2) displayed an alternative splicing pattern. CSH2 isoform 3 was associated with a dense granulation pattern and an epithelial phenotype with high levels of ESRP1 and E-cadherin expression. Further, CSH2 isoform 3 was associated with reduced serum GH and IGF-I levels after somatostatin analog treatment.r />r /> CONCLUSIONS: Attenuated CSH2 isoform 3 was associated with mesenchymal phenotype and a blunted clinical response to somatostatin analog treatment in patients with acromegaly....

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Case Reports 2015; 36(2): 133-135 PubMed PMID: 26071581 Citation  Keywords:  Adenocarcinoma:pathology, Aged, Carcinoma, Large Cell:pathology, Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine:pathology, Cecal Neoplasms:pathology, Female, Humans, Ileal Neoplasms:pathology,.   

: Neuroendocrine tumors are unique and rare tumors originating from neuroendocrine cells. Large cell neuroendocrine tumors have been found in almost every organ such as gastrointestinal tract, bronchopulmonary, pancreas, uterine cervix, urinary bladder and salivary gland, but primary sites in gastrointestinal tract and lung are the most frequent. These neoplasms show neuroendocrine differentiation in organizational structure, which requires further confirmation with immunohistochemistry or electron microscope. In immunohistochemistry staining, pure neuroendocrine areas are diffusely stained positive for synaptophysin (Syn), chromogranin (CgA) and CD56.At least two neuroendocrine markers (Syn, CgA or CD56) must be diffusely stained positive to establish a diagnosis for large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma. We studied a rare case of large cell neuroendocrine tumor that was originated from the ileocecal junction and showed CgA, Syn and CD56 triple-negative. The tumor, however, showed typical morphologic and immunohistochemical features of neuroendocrine differentiation; it also exhibited well differentiation and a significant peritumoral lymphoid reaction. Furthermore, we also found the intracytoplasmic neurosecretory granules through the electron micrograph examination....

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Case Reports 2015; 36(2): 127-132 PubMed PMID: 26071580 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols:administration & dosage, Drug Administration Schedule, Glioblastoma:drug therapy, Humans, Male, Neoplasm Grading, Neoplasm Recurrence, Local, Supratentorial Neoplasms:drug therapy,.   

: In a 41 year old man, with Glioblastoma Multiforme (Grade IV - WHO 2007) and loco-regional recurrence, treated conventionally with surgery, radio-therapy and Temolozomide, a complete objective response was subsequently achieved by means of the well-tolerated concomitant administration of Somatostatin + slow-release Octreotide, Melatonin, Retinoids solubilized in Vitamin E, Vit D3, Vit C, D2 R agonists, and Temolozomide. In addition to the positive and previously unreported therapeutic finding, this result allowed the patient to avoid further surgical trauma and the correlated risks, achieving an excellent quality of life and working capacity....

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Case Reports 2015; 36(2): 124-126 PubMed PMID: 26071579 Citation  Keywords:  Central Nervous System Neoplasms:diagnosis, Demyelinating Diseases:diagnosis, Fatal Outcome, Female, Humans, Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin:diagnosis, Middle Aged,.   

: We report a case of histopathologically-confirmed primary central nervous system lymphoma who was initially diagnosed as demyelinating encephalopathy. A 58-year-old woman was admitted with confusion and left hemiparesis. Head MR showed abnormal flaky hypointense T1 and hyperintense T2 signals at right thalamus, splenium of corpus callosum, bilateral cerebral peduncle, pons, medulla oblongata, basal ganglia and right corona radiata. Her mental status improved a little and she was discharged from hospital after neuroprotective treatment. 10 days after her discharge, her confusion appeared again with hallucination and unsteady walking. Pathological examination revealed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (WHO classification: DLBCL). The patient continued to deteriorate after the surgery and died 10 days later....

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Case Reports 2015; 36(2): 119-123 PubMed PMID: 26071578 Citation  Keywords:  Adrenal Insufficiency:chemically induced, Adult, Female, Hashimoto Disease:chemically induced, Human Growth Hormone:adverse effects, Humans, Polyendocrinopathies, Autoimmune:chemically induced, Turner Syndrome:drug therapy, Young Adult,.   

: Autoimmune polyglandular syndrome is a constellation of signs and symptoms of simultaneous insufficiencies of several endocrine glands. Autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 2 (APS 2) may be diagnosed when the adrenocortical insufficiency is associated with an autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's thyroiditis or Graves' disease), and/or insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Turner syndrome is the most common chromosomal disorder in females, caused by complete or partial X chromosome monosomy. We present the case of a 20-year-old woman with Turner syndrome, in whom APS 2 (Hashimoto's thyroiditis and adrenocortical insufficiency) has been diagnosed after introduction of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) therapy. In Turner syndrome, examination of the patient must regularly be conducted in order to diagnose a possible onset of autoimmune diseases; respective treatment must be applied as soon as the diagnosis is established. In particular, therapy of rhGH, used for short stature treatment, may be a trigger factor of adrenal insufficiency. The cortisol level in blood should be assessed before rhGH administration and carefully monitored during the therapy, especially in case of autoimmune thyroid disease coexistence....

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