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Journal Article 2012; 33(1): 34-36 PubMed PMID: 22467109 Citation  Keywords:  Arginine Vasopressin:blood, Carbidopa, Controlled Before-After Studies, Humans, Levodopa, Parkinson Disease:drug therapy,.   

OBJECTIVE: Several cases of syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis (SIAD) induced by antiparkinson agents have been reported. Our previous study demonstrated that in some patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), pergolide and pramipexole stimulate elevations of plasma arginine vasopressin (AVP) levels even at doses that are lower than the ordinary maintenance dose. Although mean plasma AVP levels are significantly higher in treated PD patients than in treatment-naïve patients, neither disease severity nor levodopa/carbidopa dosage (range, 300/30-850/85 mg) correlates with plasma AVP levels. However, the effects of levodopa/carbidopa monotherapy on plasma AVP levels in older patients remain unknown. To address this issue, a 14-day before-after study was conducted.r />r /> METHODS: Subjects in this study were consecutive treatment-naïve patients with a diagnosis of possible PD who visited our clinic from November 2008 to September 2009. Patients had no conditions that could be associated with high plasma AVP levels. Twenty-five patients were treated with levodopa/carbidopa (100/10 mg) 3 times a day. A paired t-test was used to compare plasma AVP levels before and 14 days after initiation of treatment.r />r /> RESULTS: Five patients dropped out of this study. In the remaining 20 patients (8 males and 12 females), no significant differences were observed between mean plasma AVP levels before and during treatment with levodopa/carbidopa.r />r /> CONCLUSION: Monotherapy with levodopa/carbidopa (300/30 mg/day) does not affect plasma AVP levels in older PD patients and seems less likely to cause SIAD....

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Journal Article 2012; 33(1): 26-33 PubMed PMID: 22467108 Citation  Keywords:  Adenomatous Polyposis Coli, Animals, Disease Models, Animal, Genes, APC, Germ-Line Mutation, Mice, Mutation, Phenotype,.   

OBJECTIVES: Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is an autosomal dominant disease characterized by the presence of hundreds to thousands of benign polyps in the colon. If not removed prophylactically they represent a risk of developing malignant cancer with an almost 100% penentrance. FAP is induced by germline mutation in the APC gene. Tumorigenesis launched a second somatic mutation of APC gene allele, leading to synthesis of non-functional APC protein. One of the possibilities of cancer prevention could be an alternative gene therapy using bacteria as vectors for delivery of therapeutic protein molecules.r />r /> MATERIAL AND METHODS: For this purpose mice model APC+/APC1638N with mutation in one allele murine homolog of the APC gene were used. Mice were fed orally commercial nutrition enriched with 0.5 ml PBS buffer with 5% milk containing 5×108 recombinant bacterial cells DE3plys6 bearing plasmid with cloned APC gene twice a week during 42 weeks. Afterwords mice were killed by thiopental, gastrointestinal tracts were removed, microscopically, macroscopically inspected for polyps/neoplastic lesions and immunohistochemically investigated with polyclonal rabbit antibody against APC protein.r />r /> RESULTS: We have cloned full-lenght APC gene into vector for expression in bacterial cells Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) and BL21(DE3) pLysS. Expression of the APC protein, induced by IPTG, was detected in protein extracts of three bacterial clones: DE3104-11, DE3pLys5, DE3pLys6. APC protein was identified by Western blot analysis using monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies against the APC protein. Bacteria of clone DE3pLys6 were orally administered to APC+/APC1638N mice with mutations in the APC gene. All transgenic mice without therapy developed adenomatous polyps in the gastrointestinal tract. Transgenic mice treated by oral administration of bacteria expressing functional APC protein developed polyps in 33.3%. The remaining four mice 66.7% were without polyps development.r />r /> CONCLUSION: Administration of APC gene expressing by bacteria to transgenic mice with mutation in APC gene leads to reduction in the number of mice developing polyps in the gastrointestinal tract. The effect of bacterially expressed APC protein in elimination of intestinal polyps or tumors has been monitored. These are our preliminary results and for possible confirmation of our hypotheses still more research is needed....

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Journal Article 2012; 33(1): 21-25 PubMed PMID: 22467107 Citation  Keywords:  Administration, Intranasal, Double-Blind Method, Humans, Oxytocin:administration & dosage, Saliva,.   

OBJECTIVE: This is the first study investigating whether levels of oxytocin in saliva remained elevated after intranasal oxytocin administration for the duration of an experiment (in which neurobehavioral effects of oxytocin were observed) taking more than two hours.r />r /> METHODS: Oxytocin levels were measured in saliva samples collected from 57 female participants right before (T0), approximately 1¼ h (T1), and approximately 2¼ h (T2) after intranasal administration of 16 IU of oxytocin or a placebo, using a double-blind, within-subjects design.r />r /> RESULTS: Average levels of oxytocin did not differ between conditions before use of the nasal spray, markedly increased only after oxytocin administration, and were still elevated after 2¼ h.r />r /> CONCLUSION: Salivary levels of oxytocin remained persistently elevated over the course of our experiment, i.e. for more than two hours after intranasal oxytocin administration and over a time-period in which neurobehavioral effects of oxytocin are commonly observed. This suggests that salivary concentrations may be a valuable biomarker for oxytocin, and may help to explain its effects on brain activity, information processing, and behavior....

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Journal Article 2012; 33(1): 16-20 PubMed PMID: 22467106 Citation  Keywords:  Arthritis, Rheumatoid, Biomarkers:blood, Cytokines, Humans, Periodontitis:therapy,.   

: Chronic destructive periodontitis is no longer considered to be just a local inflammatory process afflicting the periodontal tissues, but a systemic infection. Bacteria, their products and various pro-inflammatory cells and substances can penetrate into the blood stream and infect distant organs and structures. Periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis indicate several common histo-pathological correlations, as the destroyed osseous tissues and cartilages are permanently washed with inflammatory fluid full of proteolytic and osteolytic substances. Although exact causal and molecular associations between both diseases have not been explained yet, there are some common etiopathogenic correlations that can have influence on relationship between both diseases. Among these factors belong: a positive finding of common genes, genetic polymorphisms and hyper-inflammatory types of some immune competent cells and molecules, common cytokine profiles and increased concentrations of pro-inflammatory mediators in periodontal and joint structures. Periodontitis and some periodontal pathogens can influence various auto-immune reactions connected with rheumatoid arthritis (RF, anti-CCP). Possible causal associations are indicated in some studies dealing with treatment of RA, when a beneficiary effect of RA treatment led to improvement of some periodontal parameters. This relationship works both ways; the periodontal therapy had positive influence on some markers of rheumatoid arthritis. This provides sufficient theoretic evidence to perform professional and personal oral hygiene in a more active way....

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Journal Article 2012; 33(1): 3-10 PubMed PMID: 22467104 Citation  Keywords:  Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease, Humans, Phenotype, Quality of Life,.   

OBJECTIVES: Balance and motor disturbances are significant symptoms commonly associated with hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy (HMSN), also known as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT). Although CMT is a progressive neurological disease, comprehensive physiotherapeutic strategies may improve balance and motor patterns, and, therefore, enhance the quality of life (ADL).r />r /> CASE PRESENTATION: A 55-year-old HMSN patient with confirmed CMT X phenotype was evaluated for locomotor stability on a stabilometric platform. Stability tests were repeated after a 3-week, intensive in-patient rehabilitation program and the results were compared.r />r /> CONCLUSIONS: Improvements in "modified clinical testing of sensory interaction on balance", "limits of stability" and "forward lunge" tests were observed. Subjectively, the patient noted a significant improvement in both balance and gait....

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Journal Article 2012; 33(1): 1-2 PubMed PMID: 22467103 Citation  Keywords:  Adiponectin:blood, Animals, Antidepressive Agents:therapeutic use, Lithium,.   

: The effect of antidepressants and mood stabilizers on serum levels of adiponectin was investigated. Fluvoxamine (30 and 50 mg/kg/day) or lithium (40 and 60 mg/kg/day) was dissolved in distilled water and administered orally to rats every day for 4 weeks. Fluvoxamine (50 mg/kg/day) alone significantly elevated the serum level of adiponectin, but no significant difference was found between other drug-treated groups and the control group. This difference of these drugs' effectiveness on serum adiponectin might contribute to their differences of action mechanisms and therapeutic effects....

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Journal Article 2011; 32(6): 847-856 PubMed PMID: 22286802 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Amenorrhea:blood, Androgens:blood, Blood Glucose:metabolism, Female, Follicle Stimulating Hormone:blood, Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone:administration & dosage, Humans, Insulin:blood, Luteinizing Hormone:blood, Oligomenorrhea:blood, Polycystic Ovar.   

OBJECTIVE: As increased frequency of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pulses is characteristic for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), we assessed gonadotrophin response to GnRH in women with PCOS with normal and raised androgens and in regularly menstruating controls.r />r /> DESIGN, PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study involved 155 subjects: PCOS, n=121, age (mean±SD) 24.8±5.4 yrs, BMI 24.5±6.0 kg/m2, all with oligo-/amenorrhoea and PCO morphology, and 34 controls. Gonadotrophins were measured in early follicular phase after GnRH stimulation (0, 30 and 60 minutes).r />r /> RESULTS: Fifty four (41.9%) women with PCOS had androgens (testosterone, androstendione, dihydroepiandrosterone sulphate) within the reference range, and would fulfil the "Rotterdam", but not the Androgen Excess Society PCOS criteria. Baseline and stimulated LH concentrations were higher in PCOS (9.09±5.56 vs 4.83±1.71 IU/l, 35.48±31.4 vs 16.30±6.68 IU/l, 33.86±31.8 vs 13.45±5.2 IU/l, at 0, 30 and 60 min post GnRH, respectively, p<0.0001). An LH/FSH ratio in PCOS increased further after GnRH stimulation. ROC analysis revealed that LH30min/FSH30min >2.11 or LH60min/FSH60min >1.72 had 78.3% and 87.5% sensitivity and 81.7% and 81.3% specificity for diagnosis of PCOS. Both baseline and GnRH-stimulated LH and FSH concentrations were similar in women with PCOS and raised androgens and with androgens within the reference range (p=0.71 and p=0.20 for LH and FSH, respectively).r />r /> CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of their androgen status, women with PCO morphology and oligo-/amenorrhoea have higher baseline and GnRH-stimulated LH concentrations and higher GnRH-stimulated LH/FSH ratio than controls, suggestive of similar underlying mechanism accounting for menstrual irregularities. These observations support validity of PCOS diagnostic criteria based on the Rotterdam consensus....

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Journal Article 2011; 32(6): 781-789 PubMed PMID: 22286801 Citation  Keywords:  Cognitive Therapy:education, Health Personnel:education, Humans, Psychotherapy:education,.   

HYPOTHESIS: For cognitive behavioural therapy, acquisition and maintenance of psychotherapeutic and supervisory competencies is crucial.r />r /> METHODS: The PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus databases were searched for articles containing the following keywords: cognitive-behavioural therapy, competencies, therapeutic relationship, intervention, technique, training, supervision, self-reflection, empirically supported, transference, countertransference, scheme of therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy. The search was performed by repeating the words in different combinations with no language or time limitations. The articles were sorted and key articles listed in reference lists were searched. In addition, original texts by A.T. Beck, J. Beck, C. Padesky, M. Linehan, R. Leahy, J. Young, W. Kuyken and others were used. The resources were confronted with our own psychotherapeutic and supervisory experiences and only most relevant information was included in the text. Thus, the article is a review with conclusions concerned with competencies in cognitive behavioural therapy.r />r /> RESULTS: For cognitive behavioural therapy, four domains of competencies in psychotherapy are crucial - relationship, case assessment and conceptualization, self-reflection and intervention. These may be divided into foundational, specific and supervisory. The foundational competencies include recognition of empirical basis for a clinical approach, good interpersonal skills, ability to establish and maintain the therapeutic relationship, self-reflection, sensitivity to a difference and ethical behaviour. The specific competencies involve the skill of case conceptualization in terms of maladaptive beliefs and patterns of behaviour, ability to think scientifically and teach this to the patient, structure therapy and sessions, assign and check homework, etc. The supervisor's competencies include multiple responsibilities in supporting the supervisee, identification and processing of the therapist's problems with the patient, continuous development, increasing the supervisee's self-reflection, serving as an example and being as effective as possible in the role of a clinical instructor.r />r /> CONCLUSION: Both the literature and our own experiences underline the importance of competencies in cognitive behavioural therapy and supervision....

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