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Journal Article 2008; 29(4): 399-404 PubMed PMID: 18766164 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Decision Making:physiology, Economics, Humans, Mathematics, Models, Neurological, Physical Phenomena, Physics, Receptors, Neurotransmitter:metabolism, Risk, Risk-Taking,.   

: Decision under risk and uncertainty has been attracting attention in neuroeconomics and neuroendocrinology of decision-making. This paper demonstrated that the neurotransmitter receptor theory-based value (utility) function can account for human and animal risk-taking behavior. The theory predicts that (i) when dopaminergic neuronal response is efficiently coupled to the formation of ligand-receptor complex, subjects are risk-aversive (irrespective of their satisfaction level) and (ii) when the coupling is inefficient, subjects are risk-seeking at low satisfaction levels, consistent with risk-sensitive foraging theory in ecology. It is further suggested that some anomalies in decision under risk are due to inefficiency of the coupling between dopamine receptor activation and neuronal response. Future directions in the application of the model to studies in neuroeconomics of addiction and neuroendocrine modulation of risk-taking behavior are discussed....

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Journal Article 2008; 29(4): 507-511 PubMed PMID: 18766150 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Behavior, Animal:physiology, Chickens, Female, Learning:physiology, Mothers, Neuropsychological Tests, Odorants, Placebos, Social Isolation, Stress, Psychological,.   

: A synthetic analogue of a mother-hen odour named MHUSA (Mother Hen Uropygial Secretion Analogue) reduces stress-related behaviour in the chicken. We hypothesize that MHUSA may have an attractant effect on chicks. In order to test this, 30 chicks were individually exposed to MHUSA, placebo or neutral when self isolated in a straight shuttle box. The location of the chicks within the test chamber was recorded with 360 consecutive scan-sampled images. During the first three minutes immediately after introduction to the test area chicks spent more time in the neutral zone (p<0.05). However, taking the results from the total observation period, chicks spent more time in the MHUSA and placebo zones combined than in the neutral zone (p=0.07). They were more often observed in the MHUSA zone compared to the placebo zone (p<0.05). These results suggest that during the first three minutes in the shuttle, individuals were adapting to their new environment. After this period, chicks directed themselves towards specific local stimuli, as they tried to reach their group or something that resembled it. After a stressor was introduced, we observed a return to the same situation as during the first three minutes of the test, with chicks returning to the neutral zone, suggesting that the chick had its confidence in the environment. Three main conclusions may be drawn. Firstly, MHUSA has an attractant effect on naïve chicks. Secondly, it appears to play a role in the reaction of chicks faced with a stressful event, and finally, the reaction to MHUSA seems innate and does not require previous experience....

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Journal Article 2008; 29(4): 447-450 PubMed PMID: 18766145 Citation  Keywords:  Chorioamnionitis:pathology, Female, Fetal Membranes, Premature Rupture:pathology, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Infant, Newborn, Diseases:pathology, Inflammation:pathology, Perinatal Mortality, Placenta:pathology, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Complications, Infectious.   

BACKGROUND: PROM and pPROM and early onset neonatal sepsis negatively affect the neonatal perinatal mortality and morbidity.

OBJECTIVES: The target of the work was to evaluate the relationship between chorioamnionitis, funisitis and PROM, pPROM and the risk of early onset neonatal sepsis.

METHODS: We examined 152 samples of the placenta and umbilical cord, histologically and microbiologically, in 53 women without PROM, 52 women with PROM and 47 women with pPROM.

RESULTS: We demonstrated a statistically significant relationship of chorioamnionitis and funisitis to the risk of early-onset neonatal sepsis. We demonstrated no relationship between pathological findings in the placenta and PROM or pPROM.

CONCLUSIONS: The histological findings of an amniotic-type placentitis can particularly be used for supporting or possibly excluding the diagnosis of early onset neonatal sepsis....

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Journal Article 2008; 29(3): 328-333 PubMed PMID: 18580853 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Blood Pressure:physiology, Diabetes, Gestational:blood, Diet, Diabetic, Female, Glucose Tolerance Test, Heart Rate:physiology, Homeostasis:physiology, Humans, Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced:physiopathology, Insulin:blood, Insulin Resistance, Lipid.   

OBJECTIVE: It is suggested that gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is the earliest phase of DM. Nowadays DM is treated as a part of insulin resistance syndrome--patients with DM tend to be obese, dyslipidemic and hypertensive. It is postulated that similar abnormalities are found in GDM patients.

METHODS: The study was conducted among 81 women with GDM and 41 healthy controls. After diagnosis or negative screening for GDM the women underwent 24-hour blood pressure monitoring and measurements of plasma lipids, insulin concentrations and insulin resistance (expressed by HOMA score). The incidence of gestational hypertension and blood pressure until delivery was also analyzed.

RESULTS: 17 (21%) of GDM women and only 1 glucose tolerant control developed pregnancy induced hypertension. GDM women had significantly higher arterial pressure during the daytime and nighttime (accordingly 112.1/69.4 mmHg vs. 105.4/64.8 mmHg and 101.5/62.4 mmHg vs. 93.0/58.8 mmHg), although the average BP was within normal range. Heart rate was also faster in GDM group. Compared with healthy pregnant women, GDM patients had higher serum TG concentrations (247,9 vs 205 mg%; p<0,01), fasting insulin (66 vs 42,5 pmol/l; p<0,001) and insulin resistance (HOMA 2,15 vs 1,13; p<0,001). No correlation was found between blood pressure and insulin concentrations and insulin resistance among healthy and GDM women.

CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that symptoms of insulin resistance are present in GDM women. They are characterized by higher arterial blood pressure, heart rate, serum triglycerides, insulin and increased insulin resistance....

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Journal Article 2008; 29(3): 366-372 PubMed PMID: 18580848 Citation  Keywords:  Acetyltransferases:metabolism, Animals, Blotting, Western, Dihydroalprenolol:pharmacology, Drugs, Chinese Herbal:pharmacology, Male, Melatonin:biosynthesis, Pineal Gland:drug effects, Plant Extracts:pharmacology, RNA, Messenger:biosynthesis, Radioimmunoas.   

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to investigate if the aqueous extract of the Chinese medicine Danggui-Shaoyao-San (DSS) can increase the plasma level of melatonin and enhance the function of the pineal gland of naturally aged rats.

METHODS: The rats were treated with DSS at doses of 3ml or same volume of distilled water by oral administration at 11 p.m. for three weeks. The plasma level of melatonin were measured by radioimmunoassay. The function of pineal gland were measured through three parameters: pineal beta adrenergic receptor binding investigated by [3H]DHA binding; pineal expression of NAT mRNA detected by real-time RT-PCR; phosphorylation of CREB (P-CREB) and total level of CREB (T-CREB) measured by western blot analysis.

RESULTS: DSS significantly increased melatonin level at night after oral administration for 3 weeks. By measurement of pineal [3H]DHA binding, it was found DSS improved the beta-adrenergic receptors binding in pineals. The stimulatory effect of DSS on the expression of NAT mRNA in the old rat pineal gland has been demonstrated in this study. Western blot analysis showed that DSS significantly increased phosphorylation of CREB.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that a downstream pathway for DSS induction of melatonin synthesis in the rat pineal gland acts via cyclic AMP-dependent cascade and transcription mechanism....

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Comparative Study 2008; 29(2): 205-221 PubMed PMID: 18404134 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Cytokines:blood, Enterococcus faecalis:isolation & purification, Female, Fetal Membranes, Premature Rupture:blood, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Lactobacillus:isolation & purification, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Complications, Infectious:blood, Risk Factors, .   

BACKGROUND: Infections are among the most frequent causes of premature delivery and premature discharges of amniotic fluid. The vaginal ecosystem significantly contributes to the development of these conditions. Premature rupture of membranes (PROM) and preterm premature rupture of membranes (pPROM) are associated with an increased risk of intra-amniotic infection. The intra-amniotic infection negatively affects perinatal morbidity and mortality of newborns.

OBJECTIVES: Finding of relationship of vaginal microflora to PROM, pPROM and the risk of early-onset neonatal sepsis.

METHODS: A prospective study was implemented in 152 women with singleton gestations with PROM (n=52) and pPROM (n=47); the control group included 53 women with physiologic pregnancy and delivery at normal term without PROM. In all the women, aerobic cultivations from the vagina and cervix for Chlamydia trachomatis were provided before initiation of antibiotic treatment, the microbial picture of vagina was examined, and the cultivation examination of urine was carried out. The placenta was subjected to histopathologic examination. For the diagnosis of early-onset sepsis, we used concentrations of cytokines IL-6, IL-8, TNF-alpha, and the adhesion molecule, ICAM-1, from the venous umbilical blood taken immediately after delivery and cutting of the umbilical cord. Demonstrated early neonatal sepsis served as a further criterion.

RESULTS: The most frequent bacteriologic findings throughout the group were coagulase-negative Staphylococci, Ureaplasma, Candida albicans, and Streptococcus viridans. Women with a diagnosis of urinary tract infection or diabetes mellitus were excluded from the study. We found no statistically significant relationship between a specific bacterial strain and PROM and pPROM. We found a statistically significant association between the risk for intra-amniotic infection and the finding of S. viridans (p<0.001). There was also a statistically significant relationship between the microbiologic picture of the vagina VI and infection risk (p<0.002).

CONCLUSIONS: Based on results of the present study, it is clear that the use of cultivation and microscopic findings in the vagina and cervix for the timely diagnosis of the risk of early-onset neonatal sepsis is restricted....

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Journal Article 2008; 29(2): 246-251 PubMed PMID: 18404133 Citation  Keywords:  Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity:genetics, Case-Control Studies, Child, DNA Mutational Analysis, Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins:genetics, Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase:genetics, Female, Gene Frequency, Genetic Predisposition to Disea.   

BACKGROUND: Pharmacological approach is the most effective way of treatment of ADHD and its early application prevents from the progress of secondary disorders. The study on present neurotransmitter systems in pathology of ADHD can be helpful in selecting appropriate drug, since there are used various substances with different mechanisms of functioning in treatment of the hyperkinetic syndrome.

METHOD: Within our study there were selected the genes of dopaminergic (DRD2, DRD3, DAT1), noradrenergic (DBH) and serotoninergic (5-HTT) systems. With the use of molecular-genetic methods based on association strategy "case-control" there were analysed genes including 11 polymorphisms. The presence of risk alleles was examined in comparison of the sample of 100 ADHD children to a control group of another 100 subjects, who were checked by child psychiatrists and examined with the Conners test in order to exclude eventual cases with ADHD symptoms.

RESULTS: Our research suggests the association of some genes with ADHD. It could be concluded: 1) the risk of ADHD is significantly increased in the presence of one risk allele in genes DRD2 (O.R.=7,5), 5-HTT (O.R.=2,7) and DAT1 (O.R.=1,6). 2) The risk of ADHD is significantly increased at homozygotes for risk alleles in genes DRD2 (O.R.=54,8), 5-HTT (O.R.=6,7) and DAT1 (O.R.=6,6). For polymorphisms G444A and C1603T in DBH, which were detected by univariant analysis, haplotype analysis was performed and resulted in conclusion that: 3) the risk of ADHD is significantly increased in the presence of allele DBH +444A as well as in the presence of allele DBH +1603T (O.R.=15)....

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Journal Article 2008; 29(1): 17-28 PubMed PMID: 18283265 Citation  Keywords:  Antidepressive Agents:pharmacology, Biomarkers:blood, Depression:blood, Humans, Predictive Value of Tests, Signal Transduction:drug effects,.   

: The biological attributes of affective disorders and factors which are able to predict a response to treatment with antidepressants have not been identified sufficiently. A number of biochemical variables in peripheral blood constituents have been tested for this purpose, as a consequence of the lack of availability of human brain tissue. At first, the biological attributes of mental disorders were sought at the level of concentrations of neurotransmitters and their metabolites or precursors. Later on, attention shifted to receptor systems. Since the 1990s, intracellular processes influenced by an illness or its treatment with psychopharmaceuticals have been at the forefront of interest. Interest in biological predictors of treatment with antidepressants has reappeared in recent years, thanks to new laboratory techniques which make it possible to monitor cellular processes associated with the transmission of nerve signals in the brain. These processes can also be studied in plasma and blood elements, especially lymphocytes and platelets. The selection of the qualities to which attention is paid can be derived from today's most widely discussed biochemical hypotheses of affective disorders, especially the monoamine hypothesis and the molecular and cellular theory of depression. Mitochondrial enzymes can also play an important role in the pathophysiology of depression and the effects of antidepressants. In this paper, we sum up the cellular, neurochemical, neuroendocrine, genetic, and neuroimmunological qualities which can be measured in peripheral blood and which appear to be indicators of affective disorders, or parameters which make it possible to predict therapeutic responses to antidepressant administration....

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