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Journal Article 2015; 36(1): 31-40 PubMed PMID: 25789594 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Aged, Double-Blind Method, Female, Folic Acid:metabolism, Healthy Volunteers, Homocysteine:metabolism, Humans, Lipid Peroxidation:drug effects, Male, Middle Aged, Neuroprotective Agents:administration & dosage, Pyridoxine:metabolism, Superoxide Dis.   

OBJECTIVES: Neurotoxic metabolites and oxidative and nitrosative stress reactions play a crucial role in the pathways leading to neuronal cell death and neurodegeneration. The bioavailability of the many antioxidant ingredients a vitamin and trace element composition was investigated, to reveal the neuroprotective (preventive) potential of the composition.r />r /> METHODS: We recruited 159 healthy volunteers, assigned them randomly and double blind to a placebo and verum group. Physicians excluded volunteers with severe chronic diseases or interfeering medications. 142 participants finished the six month trial. Laboratory parameters were determined 1) before participation, and 2) after three and 3) six months. We confirmed the bioavailability of ingredients, and determined metabolic parameters associated with the integrity of the blood brain barrier, mitochondrial deficiency (Q 10), neurodegeneration (homocystein), and antioxidative capacity (e.g. lipidperoxidation), and superoxiddismutase activity.r />r /> RESULTS: Starting from baseleine, after three months neuroprotective ingredients increased within their physiological borders, folic acid (p<0.003), pyridoxin (p<0.001), cobalamin (p=0.001), and the fat soluble vitamin tocopherol (p<0.001). In parallel, homocytein decreased after 3 and 6 months (p<0.001, and p<0.025, respectively). Other paramters like zinc reacted slower, significant changes were observed only after 6 months.r />r /> CONCLUSION: The observed metabolic changes and alteration of the oxidative status after 3 and six month of regular intake underlines the compositions' potential to ameliorate neurodegenerative processes. We conclude that the subsitution of vitamins and trace-elements with natural source in a proper manner may be effective for neuroprotection in healthy population....

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Journal Article 2015; 36(1): 15-23 PubMed PMID: 25789593 Citation  Keywords:  Endometriosis:complications, Female, Humans, Stress, Psychological:complications,.   

: Endometriosis is a model of a benign gynecologic disease associated with two major symptoms: pain and infertility. When becomes chronic, severe psychological and neuroendocrine changes may occur. The high levels of perceived stress caused by symptoms cause a neuroendocrine disequilibrium thus contributing to the progression of the disease. Elevated stress levels alter hormonal secretions, mood and behavior, sexual disorders and appetite custom. Inflammatory comorbidities may be associated with elevated stress in endometriotic patients (inflammatory bowel disease, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue) and even autoimmune diseases (thyroid disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis). Neurogenic mechanisms are described in endometriotic lesions and they affect peripheral and central nervous system of these patients increasing pain sensitivity and stress reactivity. In conclusion, endometriosis is a disease which affects reproductive and neuroendocrine functions with a great impact on women's health and quality of life....

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Case Reports 2015; 36(1): 96-99 PubMed PMID: 25789592 Citation  Keywords:  Aged, Exercise Therapy:methods, Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic:physiopathology, Humans, Male, Physical Exertion:physiology,.   

: A Graded Exercise Therapy (GET) - Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) Running Anomaly. Imagine you have been disabled with ME/CFS's cluster of symptoms for 19 years. Yet, this morning you just ran an easy 10K with no flare up of your exercise intolerance symptoms during the run or post-exertional malaise after the run. Then later in the day you go browsing for books and after 30 minutes or so your exercise intolerance and post-exertional malaise symptoms flare up. You experience a wave of exhaustion, achy muscles and additional cognitive fog, all of which carry into the next day. To me, this is a confusing anomaly that needs an explanation....

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Case Reports 2015; 36(1): 24-27 PubMed PMID: 25789591 Citation  Keywords:  Chelation Therapy:methods, Humans, Iron:metabolism, Iron Chelating Agents:therapeutic use, Male, Middle Aged, Parkinson Disease:drug therapy, Treatment Outcome,.   

: In this case presentation, a man with a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease was treated with Chelation Therapy against iron without iron serum level correlation. The patient, who suffered from motor and non-motor symptoms of the disease, showed an improved condition after the Therapy. This clinical test was evaluated with UPDRS III score. The rationale and the limits of the Therapy are discussed. This case suggests that iron-dependent oxidative stress could represent a promising therapy for this dramatic disease; the necessity to deeply study the iron metabolism in neuro-degeneration appears really significant....

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Journal Article 2015; 36(1): 67-71 PubMed PMID: 25789590 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Endothelium, Vascular:physiopathology, Female, Humans, Hyperemia:physiopathology, Male, Manometry, Middle Aged, Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting:physiopathology, Risk Factors, Sex Factors, Vascular Diseases:physiopathology,.   

OBJECTIVE: Large epidemiological studies suggest higher risk of vascular events in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Chronic inflammatory response and oxidative stress, key-players in a process of atherogenesis, are also suspected to play a role in pathophysiology of MS. Prospective studies elucidating risk of atherosclerosis in MS patients are currently missing. The aim of the study was to assess endothelial function in patients with MS and in healthy controls.r />r /> METHODS: We enrolled 46 patients with diagnosis of relapsing-remitting MS and age-matched population of 31 healthy subjects. Endothelial function was assessed using peripheral arterial tonometry and expressed as reperfusion hyperemia index (RHI).r />r /> RESULTS: RHI in MS population was significantly lower than in controls (1.77 vs 2.30; p=0.001), even though control population seemed to have higher burden of known vascular risk factors (significantly higher portion of male sex and significantly higher body mass index; p ≤ 0.001 for both parameters). The presence of MS was the only significant independent variable associated with the RHI (beta=0.396, p<0.001) in multiple linear regression model.r />r /> CONCLUSION: Results of our study suggest significant impairment of endothelial function in MS population compared to age matched control population with low burden of vascular risk factors....

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Journal Article 2015; 36(1): 84-90 PubMed PMID: 25789589 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Estradiol:blood, Female, Follicle Stimulating Hormone:blood, Humans, Hydrocortisone:blood, Light, Luteinizing Hormone:blood, Melatonin:secretion, Menstrual Cycle:blood, Progesterone:blood, Prolactin:blood, Young Adult,.   

OBJECTIVE: Light is known to stimulate reproductive function in women. We here investigated the immediate effect of light on reproductive hormones, addressing the role of blue-sensitive (~480 nm) melanopsin-based photoreception mediating the non-visual effects of light.r />r /> METHODS: Sixteen healthy women attended the Institute at ~07:25 (shortly after waking; sunglasses worn) twice in 2-3 days in April-May, within days 4-10 of their menstrual cycle. During one session, a broad-spectrum white-appearing light with a superimposed peak at 469 nm was presented against 5-10 lux background; during the other session, short-spectrum red light peaked at 651 nm with similar irradiance level (~7.0 W/m², corresponds to ~1200 lux) was used. Venous blood was taken at 0, 22 and 44 minutes of light exposure to measure concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinising hormone (LH), prolactin, estradiol, progesterone and cortisol, and saliva was sampled to measure melatonin as a recognised indicator of the spectral-specific action of light.r />r /> RESULTS: Melatonin values, as expected, were lower with white vs. red light (p=0.014), with the greatest difference at 22 minutes. Of the other hormones, only FSH concentrations differed significantly: they were mildly higher at white vs. red light (again, at 22 minutes; p=0.030; statistical analysis adjusted for menstrual cycle day and posture change [pre-sampling time seated]).r />r /> CONCLUSION: Moderately bright blue-enhanced white light, compared to matched-by-irradiance red light, transiently (within 22 minutes) and mildly stimulated morning secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone in women in mid-to-late follicular phase of their menstrual cycle suggesting a direct functional link between the light and reproductive system....

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Journal Article 2015; 36(1): 48-52 PubMed PMID: 25789588 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Child, Comorbidity, Female, Goiter:classification, Humans, Iodine:deficiency, Male, Middle Aged, Pakistan:epidemiology, Retrospective Studies, Thyroid Neoplasms:epidemiology, Thyroidectomy:statistics & numerical data, Thyroiditis:.   

OBJECTIVES: To identify the histopathological patterns of goiter in thyroidectomy specimens and their frequency in relation to age and gender of the patients.r />r /> METHODOLOGY: We present a retrospective data of 624 thyroidectomy specimens diagnosed over a period of six year (2007-2012) at the Department of Pathology, Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.r />r /> RESULTS: A total of 624 consecutive thyroidectomy specimens were selected. Patient's age ranges from 11-89 years, 541 females and 83 males. There were 512 (82%) non-neoplastic lesions, which includes; 475 (76.1%) multi-nodular goiter (MNG), 16 (2.6%) Hashimoto thyroiditis, 11 (1.8%) colloid goiter, 4 (0.6%) toxic goiter, 2 (0.3%) chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, 2 (0.3%) tuberculous thyroiditis and 2 (0.3%) miscellaneous. From 112 (18%) neoplastic lesions, 43 (6.9%) were adenomas (41 females and 2 males) and 69 (11.0%) were carcinomas (58 females and 11 males). Peak age for thyroid malignancy was 3rd to 4th decades. The histological subtypes of thyroid carcinomas includes, 35 (5.6%) follicular variant of papillary carcinoma (FVPC), 15 (2.5%) well-differentiated tumor of uncertain malignant potential (WDT-UMP), 6 (1%) medullary carcinomas, 6 (1%) papillary carcinomas, 3 (0.5%) anaplastic carcinomas, 2 (0.3%) follicular carcinomas and 2 (0.3%) other carcinomas. Twenty-nine (4.6%) neoplastic lesions were associated with MNG, includes; 2 (3.5%) follicular adenomas, 3 (0.5%) WDT-UMP and 4 (0.6%) FVPC.r />r /> CONCLUSIONS: MNG is common and FVPC is the common thyroid cancer seen in females. The overall frequency of thyroid cancer is 11%. Follicular adenoma and FVPC appears to be associated with long standing MNG of iodine deficiency....

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Journal Article 2015; 36(1): 72-79 PubMed PMID: 25789587 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Autonomic Nervous System:physiopathology, Colitis, Ulcerative:physiopathology, Crohn Disease:physiopathology, Female, Heart Rate:physiology, Humans, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases:physiopathology, Male,.   

OBJECTIVE: Heart rate variability (HRV) oscillations are used in the detection of autonomic instabilities in various clinical disorders.r />r /> METHODS: We compared the HRV as a possible marker of chronic distress in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with HRV frequencies in the healthy controls. Participants were 29 children with IBD (19 Crohn's disease and 10 ulcerative colitis), 25 children were in remission and 4 presented mild disease activity. They were compared with the control group of 35 healthy children of the same age (13-16 years-old).r />r /> RESULTS: In HRV assessment, adolescents with IBD had significantly lower levels of the spectral activity in an LF band in all three positions; lower levels of VLF in both supine positions; and the ratio of the spectral activity at LF/HF was significantly lower in the second post (standing).r />r /> CONCLUSION: These results indicate children with IBD have less adaptability to stress....

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