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Journal Article 2002; 23(3): 219-225 PubMed PMID: 12080282 Citation  Keywords:  Acute Disease:psychology, Adult, Age Factors, Birth Weight, Cognition, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Male, Models, Psychological, Neuroimmunomodulation, Predictive Value of Tests, Retrospective Studies,.   

BACKGROUND: The Barker Hypothesis suggests that an unfavourable uterine environment can have the effect of programming the body for disease later in life. Research indicates a bidirectional relationship between thought and biochemical reactions, that may be influenced by early programming. Reports suggest that 25% of variance in birthweight is a result of foetal environment and that the health and cognitive deficits do not just affect those with an officially low birthweight.r />r /> OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the influence of birthweight on cognition and minor illness in adults.r />r /> METHODS: This is a retrospective, cross sectional design with an opportunity sample of 75 adults. Participants whose birthweight ranged from 2.5 kg to 4.88 kg, completed a symptom check list and general self-efficacy scale, reporting on the previous month.r />r /> RESULTS: Analysis of variance indicates that those with higher birthweight have fewer minor illness symptom days and higher general self-efficacy. Regression analysis indicates that birthweight is significantly predictive of levels of minor illness and general self-efficacy.r />r /> CONCLUSION: From the findings of this and previous studies, it is possible to infer vertical coactions between foetal environment and immuno competence. It is suggested that birthweight is an early predictor of levels of a cognitive mediator and minor illness. Data were applied to an equilibrium model to represent the relationship in terms of Gottlieb's concept of horizontal and vertical coactions....

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Clinical Trial 2002; 23(3): 213-217 PubMed PMID: 12080281 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Body Temperature:drug effects, Circadian Rhythm:drug effects, Humans, Male, Melatonin:blood, Pineal Gland:drug effects, Pyridoxine:administration & dosage, Sleep:drug effects,.   

OBJECTIVES: To determine pineal response to pyridoxine in normal men.r />r /> MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twelve healthy men were given orally pyridoxine (100 mg) or placebo at 1700h. Serum melatonin levels were determined every 30 minutes with simultaneous measurement of core body temperature between 1700h to 0300h. Polysomnographic sleep recordings were performed between 1800h to 2000h.r />r /> RESULTS: Serum melatonin levels after both placebo and pyridoxine showed a nocturnal rise occurring at 22:10+/-1:22h and 22:24+/-1:09h, respectively. The melatonin onset, peak, mean and area under the curve (AUC) values after pyridoxine (3.2+/-1.6 pg/ml, 47.2+/-22.6 pg/ml, 31.5+/-11.0 pg/ml and 173.5+/-138.4 pg/ml x min, respectively) were similar to the values after placebo administration (4.7+/-1.6 pg/ml, 53.9+/-26.0 pg/ml, 37.2+/-2.8 pg/ml and 205.3+/-137.8 pg/ml x min, respectively). CBT revealed a significant nocturnal decline but without significant difference between pyridoxine and placebo. Sleep amount and architecture were similar after the two treatments.r />r /> CONCLUSIONS: In adult man, the oral administration of 100 mg-pyridoxine during the evening hours has no effect on melatonin secretion nor does it alter CBT or sleep quality....

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Journal Article 2002; 23(3): 209-212 PubMed PMID: 12080280 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Antibody Specificity, Chromogranin B, Chromogranins:analysis, Epidermis:chemistry, Immunohistochemistry, Leeches:chemistry, Nervous System:chemistry, Peptide Fragments:analysis,.   

: Using immunocytochemistry techniques, we demonstrated specific immunostaining with antibodies rose against fragment (547-560) and (614-626) of bovine chromogranin B (CGB) at the level of brain and the tegument of the leech Theromyzon tessulatum. The used of these antibodies on leech sections revealed immunopositive labeling in neurons and glial cells of the central nervous system (CNS), and epidermal glandular cells of the tegument. Co-localization between two antibodies rose against different fragment of bovine CGB have been demonstrated in neurons and glial cells of leech CNS like in vertebrates. Finally, the whole of the data showed for the first time the presence in leeches of CGB like derived peptides....

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Journal Article 2002; 23(3): 199-208 PubMed PMID: 12080279 Citation  Keywords:  Humans, Mental Disorders:complications, Neurodegenerative Diseases:complications, Stress, Physiological:complications,.   

OBJECTIVE: Evidence for a connection between stress and selected neurodegenerative diseases as well as mental disorders is analyzed. Does stress cause or exacerbate related pathophysiological disease processes?r />r /> METHOD: The stress phenomenon is illustrated and the impact of stress on the nervous system, neurodegenerative diseases, and mental disorders is examined. The connection between stress and the hippocampus - and its association with memory functions - is described. In particular, the pathophysiological significance of stress in Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and schizophrenia is investigated.r />r /> RESULTS: Stress plays a major role in various (patho)physiological processes associated with neurodegenerative diseases and mental disorders. In principle, stress has the potency to exert either ameliorating or detrimental effects. The specific outcome depends on multiple variables. However, the amount of stress experienced in relation to activated physiological processes that aim at successful coping and positive adjustments (i.e., stress response) most often is overwhelming - and may thus become detrimental in the long-term. Moreover, the hippocampus is sensitive to stress, and its involvement in neurodegeneration - in the course of stress-related disease processes - may account for severe clinical disabilities (e.g., memory loss).r />r /> DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Stress has a major impact upon neurodegenerative diseases and mental disorders. It plays a significant role in susceptibility, progress, and actual outcome. Also, subjective or individual differences have to be taken into account. However, stress - especially 'adequate' acute stress (stress that is not overwhelming) - may even improve performance/biological functions and be beneficial in certain cases....

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Journal Article 2002; 23(3): 193-198 PubMed PMID: 12080278 Citation  Keywords:  Analgesics, Opioid:therapeutic use, Apoptosis:drug effects, Cell Division:drug effects, Humans, Morphine:therapeutic use, Neoplasms:drug therapy,.   

: Endogenous opiate alkaloids, such as morphine, and their peptide counterparts have been implicated in a wide variety of pharmacological and physiological functions. In addition to their use in the treatment of pain, opioids, appears to be important in the growth regulation of normal and neoplastic tissue. This review will focus on the influence of endogenous and exogenous opioids on tumour growth, with emphasis on immunoregulatory and antiproliferative mechanisms....

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Journal Article 2002; 23(Suppl 1): 118-121 PubMed PMID: 12019364 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Free Radical Scavengers, Humans, Melatonin:adverse effects, Sleep Wake Disorders:drug therapy,.   

: Report of the round table conference summarizing the International Symposium on "Melatonin: Clinical Significance and Therapeutic Applications" is presented in this article. Some sleep disorders and circadian rhythm disturbances are the widely accepted indications for melatonin treatment. However, other possibilities for use of melatonin in the therapy should be also taken into account, including a co-treatment in cancer patients and free radical-related diseases. All aspects of the possible therapeutic use of melatonin as well as its safety, dosage, side effects and contraindications are discussed herein based on the round table conference and they are presented in this paper....

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Journal Article 2002; 23(Suppl 1): 111-117 PubMed PMID: 12019363 Citation  Keywords:  Adrenergic Fibers:metabolism, Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists, Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Antagonists, Adrenergic alpha-Agonists:pharmacology, Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists:pharmacology, Animals, Female, Homeostasis, In Vitro Techniques, Norepinephri.   

BACKGROUND: Norepinephrine is the main neurotransmitter controlling melatonin secretion in the mammalian pineal gland. Presynaptic autoregulation of norepinephrine release from the sympathetic nerve fibers in the pineal gland is poorly known.r />r /> METHODS: Uptake and depolarization-evoked release of (3)H-norepinephrine were investigated in vitro using pieces of the pig pineals. Specific antagonists and agonists of alpha(2)-adrenoceptors were employed for the characterization of alpha(2)-adrenoceptors involved in the autoregulation of depolarization-evoked release of norepinephrine in the pig pineal.r />r /> RESULTS: The level of neuronal uptake of norepinephrine in the pig pineal was 3.5+/-0.9 pmol/h/mg of wet tissue and represented about 77% of the total tissue radioactivity. Potassium ions at concentration of 60 mM significantly evoked tritium release. This effect was abolished in the absence of extracellular Ca(2+) and was diminished in the presence of Cd(2+). Antagonists of alpha(2)-adrenoceptors increased depolarization evoked tritium release. The order of its potency (based on pED(30)) was rauwolscine > phentolamine > BRL 44408 > WB 4101> RS 79948 = yohimbine > prazosin > imiloxan. alpha(2)-agonists decreased K(+) evoked release of tritium with the order of potency: UK14,304 > norepinephrine = guanfacine > oxymetazoline.r />r /> CONCLUSION: The processes of neuronal uptake and depolarization-evoked release of norepinephrine from the sympathetic nerve endings in the pig pineal gland have been demonstrated. The studies with the use of adrenergic antagonists and agonists indicate that the sympathetic nerve fibers in the pig pineal gland possess functional presynaptic alpha(2)-adrenoceptors, which are involved in norepinephrine release inhibition. Due to the pharmacological properties these receptors closely resemble the subtype alpha(2A)....

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Journal Article 2002; 23(Suppl 1): 104-109 PubMed PMID: 12019362 Citation  Keywords:  Alkaline Phosphatase:metabolism, Animals, Biomarkers, Bone and Bones:metabolism, Collagen:metabolism, Female, Melatonin:pharmacology, Osteoporosis:metabolism, Ovariectomy, Pineal Gland:physiology, Rats, Rats, Wistar,.   

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There have been suggestions in literature that characteristic changes of bone mass in osteoporosis may be related to the melatonin (Mel): The aim of this study was to demonstrate whether pinealectomy and Mel administration can affect postmenopausal osteoporosis processes induced in female rats by way of ovariectomy.r />r /> METHODS: The study included 198 animals; 6 remained intact (0), 96 were ovariectomized (Ox), and the remaining ones underwent a sham operation (SOx). Two weeks after surgery, the rats were divided into eight groups: 1) SOx + SPx, 2) SOx + SPx + Mel, 3) Ox + SPx, 4) Ox + SPx + Mel, 5) SOx + Px, 6) SOx + Px + Mel, 7) Ox + Px, 8) Ox + Px + Mel. Animals from the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th groups were pinealectomized (Px) while the remaining ones underwent a sham operation (SPx). Two weeks after surgery Mel (50microg/100g of bm) were administered intraperitoneally in rats in the 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th groups while the remaining animals were administered with solvent only (5% solution of ethyl alcohol in physiological saline). Rats were administered the Mel solution or the solvent daily between 5 and 6 pm during a 4-week period. At the appropriate time, i.e. prior to surgery (group 0) and after 6, 12, 18 and 24 weeks from Px or SPx (time subgroups a, b, c and d) the animals were placed separately in metabolic cages (from 6.30 until 9.30 am) in order to collect urine aliquots for HYP and Ca determinations. The blood for the assay of ALP, PICP and ICTP was collected within the next 24 hours at 8 am (rats killed by decapitation).r />r /> RESULTS: The study has shown that pinealectomy had inducing, while exogenous Mel suppressing effect upon the level of investigated markers of bone metabolism; these changes were more pronounced in ovariectomized rats. Administration of Mel only partially levelled changes of bone metabolism caused by pinealectomy. In rats with preserved pineal gland effect of Mel on bone turnover markers was less pronounced. After discontinuing administration of Mel distinct tendency to increase studied biochemical markers of bone metabolism was shown.r />r /> CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that Mel is an important modulator of experimental osteoporosis processes induced in female rats by way of ovariectomy....

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