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Clinical Trial 2004; 25(4): 292-296 PubMed PMID: 15361820 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Feedback, Physiological:physiology, Female, Humans, Hyperthyroidism:physiopathology, Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System:physiology, Hypothyroidism:physiopathology, Male, Middle Aged, Reference Values, Regression Analysis, Severity of Illness Index, Thy.   

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis in patients with subclinical thyroid dysfunction recently reported to have either symptoms or organ involvements with potential morbidity, in order to better differentiate these patients with respect to controls.

PATIENTS: Sixtythree patients with subclinical hyperthyroidism (HyperT), 178 normal subjects (EuT) and 106 patients with subclinical hypothyroidism (HypoT) were enrolled; the groups presented normal thyroid hormone (FT4, FT3) levels and, respectively, reduced (HyperT), normal (EuT) and increased (HypoT) TSH levels. The negative feedback was simultaneously evaluated by multiple linear regression.

RESULTS: The mean TSH, FT4 and FT3 levels were significantly different in the three groups. The negative correlation between thyroid hormones (FT4 and FT3) and TSH secretion was significant (p<0.001 in HyperT; p<0.01 in EuT; p<0.000001 in HypoT group). FT4 mostly contributed to the negative correlation with TSH. The normal ranges of TSH values was accurately defined on the basis of the regression equation in the EuT group, due to the combining influence of both thyroid hormones (FT3 and FT4). No patient of the HyperT or HypoT group fell inside the range of estimated values of the normal group.

CONCLUSIONS: The HPT axis in patients with subclinical hyper- and hypo-thyroidism is significantly modified with respect to normal subjects. The status of the axis, as evaluated by the relationship between the three hormones (FT4, FT3, TSH) together considered, is characteristic of the normal or pathologic condition. A reliable method based on the regression analysis is proposed to correctly evaluate the status of the HPT axis....

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Clinical Trial 2004; 25(4): 262-266 PubMed PMID: 15361814 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Biomarkers:blood, Blood Pressure, C-Reactive Protein:analysis, Coronary Disease:blood, Female, Homocysteine:blood, Humans, Hyperlipidemias:blood, Hypothyroidism:blood, Middle Aged, Reference Values, Risk Factors, Severity of Illness Index, Statisti.   

OBJECTIVES: Overt hypothyroidism (OH) is associated with premature atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease (CHD). Recently, C-reactive protein (CRP) and total homocysteine (tHct) emerged as additional independent cardiovascular risk factors. Subclinical hypothyroidism (SH), affecting as many as 15% of middle-aged women is not known to be associated with risk for CHD.

DESIGN AND MEASUREMENTS: We measured CRP and tHct levels as well as conventional cardiovascular risk markers in 44 middle-aged women with newly diagnose SH. Results were compared with those obtained in 10 patients with OH and 19 euthyroid controls.

RESULTS: In SH, tHct and CRP levels were not as augmented as compared to controls. Their mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure values were increased vs. controls (p<0.04;p<0.01, respectively). Mean values of total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), triglycerides, TC/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C were not different in patients with SH compared to controls. Individual analysis revealed that the percentage of patients with SH having hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, elevated TC/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C ratios were higher than the percentage in controls. CRP positively correlated with BMI(r=0.29,p<0.02), and tHct positively correlated with age (r=0.24, p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that subclinical hypothyroidism in middle-aged women is associated with hypertension and dyslipidemia. CRP and tHct do not appear to contribute to the increased risk for CHD in these patients....

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Journal Article 2004; 25(3): 207-210 PubMed PMID: 15349087 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Concanavalin A:pharmacology, Depression:immunology, Depressive Disorder:immunology, Female, Humans, Lymphocyte Activation:drug effects, Male, Middle Aged, Mitogens:pharmacology, Phytohemagglutinins:pharmacology, Reference Values, T-Lymphocytes:drug.   

BACKGROUND: The biological basis of treatment resistance in depression still remains unclear. Some studies suggest that there exists a relationship between a disturbance in the immune system and depression.

AIMS: To investigate the immune status of patients with treatment resistant depression, we compared the in-vitro lymphocytic responses to three different mitogens in 10 drug-free patients with treatment resistant depression and 10 normal controls matched for age and sex.

RESULTS: We observed a marked increase in the lymphocyte mitogenic activity to mitogens of T lymphocytes.

DISCUSSION: This activation of lymphocyte function may be indicative of a pathological stimulation in cell-mediated immunity in patients with treatment resistant depression....

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Comparative Study 2004; 25(3): 176-177 PubMed PMID: 15349081 Citation  Keywords:  Alzheimer Disease:blood, Cognition:physiology, Humans, Nervous System:physiopathology, Reference Values, Vitamin B 12:blood,.   

: In this contribution we investigated the correlation between plasma vitamin B12 levels and cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease. We could demonstrate a significant inverse correlation when the MMSE scores of those patients with the lowest 10% Vitamin B12 plasma levels (<184 ng/ml) were compared with the upper 10% Vitamin B12 plasma levels (>598 ng/ml): p=0.008, Spearman-Rho= -0.36. MMSE in the upper percentile of plasma B12 levels was 20.0 +/- 4.6 and in the lower percentile 15.7 +/- 6.1, resulting in a difference of 4.3 MMSE points. We conclude, that vitamin B12 deficiency could aggravate or accelerate the course of Alzheimer disease as vitamin B12 possesses neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties....

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Clinical Trial 2004; 25(1-2): 75-77 PubMed PMID: 15159687 Citation  Keywords:  Adaptation, Physiological, Adolescent, Adult, Altitude, Atmospheric Pressure, Fasting:blood, Humans, Jordan, Luteinizing Hormone:blood, Male, Reference Values, Religion, Testosterone:blood,.   

OBJECTIVES: To study a possible effect of Ramadan fasting on luteinizing hormone and testosterone in people of the Jordan Valley.

METHODS: A comparative study (n=40) of serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone (T) between people living in the Jordan Valley (JV), n=20, 360 meters below sea level, and those living in Ramtha City (RC), n=20, 600 meters above sea level, was conducted in December, 1998. A similar study (n=40) was also done during January 1999 in fasting people during the month of Ramadan.

RESULTS: Serum levels of LH in non-fasting people of the JV were statistically similar to those in people of RC. There was also no difference in serum levels of T between non-fasting people of the JV and those in RC. Serum levels of LH in fasting people of the JV were statistically indifferent from those fasting in RC. Serum T levels in fasting people of the JV, on the other hand, were higher than those in fasting people of RC (76+/-18.3 ng/ml compared to 62.7+/-24.2 ng/ml).

CONCLUSIONS: It is probably the environmental factors such as the higher barometric pressure of the JV compared to that at above sea level that play a role in higher serum levels of T in people of the JV. Other factors, such as genetic background and/or the cultural and nutritional characteristics of the people of the JV, may also contribute to this difference in serum T levels....

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Journal Article 2003; 24(1-2): 28-32 PubMed PMID: 12743528 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Coloring Agents, Female, Fetus:anatomy & histology, Gestational Age, Humans, Portal Vein:anatomy & histology, Pregnancy, Reference Values, Umbilical Veins:anatomy & histology,.   

OBJECTIVES: The morphology of region umbilical vein, umbilical sinus and ductus venosus of human fetuses have been investigated.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: 26 human fetuses between 20 and 40 weeks' gestation were examined by morphological methods. The umbilical vein, DV and the portal vein were obtained after termination of gestation. Tissue samples have been fixed in phormaldehyde solution (pH 7,2) and were embedded in paraffin. The paraffin sections (5-7 micro k) were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, silver impregnation by Bilchovski, orcein, pikrofuchsin. Measurement of the angle between ductus venosus and the portal vein was obtained with alidade.

RESULTS: Anatomical scheme of the region of umbilical vein, umbilical sinus and DV indicating two different patterns. The first: DV has situated into line with umbilical vein (22 cases). The second: umbilical vein has rotated before umbilical sinus, forming the turn in right (4 cases). The double-layer wall of ductus venosus (DV) contained the elastic, collagen and argyrophilic fibers. Around isthmus region of DV vasa vasorum and nervi vasorum have been found. The specific anatomical finding of the ductal isthmus was an accumulation of smooth muscle cells as intimal pillow, which were protruded into the vascular lumen. The double-layer wall of portal sinus (intima and adventitia) have been as the internal elastic membrane. The smooth muscle cells have been revealed in the walls, were not formed the tunica media at term 20-40 weeks of gestation. By the contrast the umbilical vein showed multiple, circularly running smooth muscle bundles. In this study, the ductal thickness was consistently bigger in the inlet than in the outlet. The tunica adventitia was greatest in the junction with the portal sinus and the inferior vena cava compared with the part arranged in the liver parenchyma. The wall thickness of the portal sinus and of the umbilical vein was significantly higher than of the duclal wall.

CONCLUSION: The vascular muscle-elastic cells of intimal hyperplasia ("intimal pillow") in wall of DV, probably, executes the role of the fortification of resistant behaviours of vessel wall in connection with DV and portal sinus with high hemodynamics load in this area. The maximum thickness of adventicia in the field of joints also witnesses an hemodynamic in favour of particularities. The angle between DV and left branches of portal vein in dominate cases was sharp and right that reflects the general regularity of architectonics of the vascular riverbed....

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Journal Article 2001; 22(5): 356-358 PubMed PMID: 11600878 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Adult, Anorexia Nervosa:blood, Body Mass Index, Bulimia:blood, Female, Galanin:blood, Humans, Leptin:blood, Neuropeptide Y:blood, Reference Values,.   

OBJECTIVES: It has been reported that leptin and neuropeptide Y (NPY) play a role in the control of appetite and in the regulation of hormonal secretion.

METHODS: Plasma leptin, neuropeptide Y (NPY) and galanin concentrations were estimated in 13 women with bulimia nervosa (BN) 19 women with anorexia nervosa (AN) and in 19 healthy women of the control group (CG).

RESULTS: Plasma leptin concentration in BN was significantly higher than that in AN and it was lower as compared with the control group, despite the same BMI (body mass index) in both the groups. Plasma leptin level in AN was significantly lower as compared with the controls. Plasma galanin concentrations in AN and BN did not differ significantly from the control group. Plasma NPY concentration in AN was lower than that in the control group. However, plasma NPY level in BN was significantly higher as compared with AN and with the control group (CG). The observed increase of NPY in BN was independent of BMI because BMI in bulimia nervosa was normal.

CONCLUSIONS: The data may suggest that other factors than body weight changes may be involved in the modulation of leptin and NPY release in BN. The pathological behaviour of patients with bulimia nervosa may result from disturbed NPY release which is the strongest orexigenic factor....

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Journal Article 2001; 22(4): 248-250 PubMed PMID: 11524631 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Contraceptives, Oral:pharmacology, Female, Humans, Hyperandrogenism:complications, Incidence, Italy, Menstruation Disturbances:complications, Multiple Sclerosis:complications, Reference Values,.   

: A mild prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) is present in females (2:1). To elucidate the pathogenetic role of sex steroids on the disease, we studied 76 women affected by MS, compared to 50 healthy women (mean age +/- SD, 34.9 +/- 0.9 vs. 33.4 +/- 1.7 years). The menarche was at mean age of 12.3 +/- 0.2 vs. 12.4 +/- 0.2. Interval between menses was 28.0 +/- 0.3 vs 27.8 +/- 0.3 days, with duration of menstrual flow of 5.0 +/- 0.2 vs. 5.0 +/- 0.2 days. Oligo- or amenorrhea was present in 20% of patients and in 16% of controls. Oral contraceptives were assumed by 21% of patients and 34% of controls (n.s.). Premenstrual symptoms were found in 43% of patients and in 46% of controls (n.s.). The incidence of hyperandrogenism (greasy skin, acne and hirsutism), evaluated by a specific questionnaire, was higher and statistically significant in MS patients than in controls (28% vs. 10%, p<0.05). Further studies, including a complete clinical and laboratory evaluation of gonadal function, are necessary in order to clarify whether hyperandrogenism may influence MS disease activity....

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