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Journal Article 2013; 34(Suppl 2): 5-10 PubMed PMID: 24362086 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Arthropods:drug effects, Environmental Monitoring:methods, Palladium:toxicity, Platinum:analysis, Reproduction:drug effects, Rhodium:toxicity, Soil:chemistry, Soil Pollutants:analysis,.   

OBJECTIVES: Trace concentrations of the platinum group elements (PGE; Pt, Pd and Rh) are nowadays an irreplaceable part of environmental analysis and assessment. These rare elements are used as effective substances in automotive catalysts to reduce pollution by emissions originating from fuel combustion. Due to their harmful potential, it is necessary to monitor their content and behaviour in different samples. Effect assessment using ecotoxicological bioassays with organisms at different trophic levels can provide valuable pieces of information on the risk of chemical substances in the ecosystem.

DESIGN: The experiments were carried out as described in the OECD Guideline 232 [CSN ISO 11267 - Soil quality - Inhibition of reproduction of Collembola (Folsomia candida) by soil pollutants]. The reproductive effects of palladium (PdCl2) and rhodium (RhCl3) were examined. Concentrations of PGE tested were as follows: 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 µmol.L-1. The EC50 (medium effective concentration) was determined after 28 days of exposure. Inhibition of reproduction of PGE-exposed collembolans was compared against controls.

RESULTS: Values of 28dEC50 of PdCl2 and RhCl3 amounted to 21.0 µmol.L-1 and 266.22 µmol.L-1, respectively. We can confirm that the relative order of toxicities is Pd (II) > Pt(IV) > Rh(III).

CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to use Folsomia candida as an indicator species to assess the risk of soil contamination by palladium and rhodium. However, more toxicity data for various species are needed to evaluate the environmental risks of PGEs in soils....

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Case Reports 2013; 34(5): 343-346 PubMed PMID: 23922039 Citation  Keywords:  Aged, Anticoagulants:adverse effects, Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy:complications, Cerebral Hemorrhage:chemically induced, Hematoma:complications, Humans, Male,.   

: The incidence of anticoagulant treatment (AT)-related intracerebral hemorrhage (AT-ICH) is increasing in consequence of the increased incidence of ischemic stroke due to an aging population. AT-ICH is associated with a risk of ongoing bleeding, death, or disability. Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), a common pathological finding among the elderly that is associated with macro- and microscopic hematoma development, might increase the risk of ICH. We report a rare case of contralateral delayed hematoma in the context of CAA secondary to acute ICH after AT for intracerebral ischemic stroke....

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Clinical Trial 2013; 34(3): 217-221 PubMed PMID: 23685420 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Aged, Ambulatory Surgical Procedures:methods, Anesthesia, General:methods, Anesthesia, Spinal:methods, Consciousness Monitors, Female, Hemorrhoids:surgery, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Operative Time, Pain, Postoperative:prevention & control, Patient.   

OBJECTIVES: The gradual advancement of one-day surgery and conjoint ambulatory anaesthesia results from possibilities to execute mini-invasive surgeries. Such surgeries offer great benefits to the patient due to faster reconvalescence and less pain as well as faster return to normal life. The HAL-RAR method for haemorrhoid surgery, introduced as early as in 1995 by Dr. Morigan in Japan.

DESIGN AND SETTING: The goal of our study including 137 patients was research of effects of the spinal and general anaesthesia while monitoring the Bispectral Index (BIS) during the surgery. We focused mainly on the need of postoperative analgesia and possibility to discharge patient to home care after the surgery with the above mentioned type of anaesthesia. BIS helped us to monitor the sufficiency of anaesthesia and anaesthetics dosage regulation that was reflected in earlier awakening and faster reconvalescence, as well as saving anaesthetics.

RESULTS: The length of surgery was not affected by the particular type of anaesthetic procedures (25.7 minutes for the general anaesthesia and 30.2 minutes for the spinal anaesthesia). The need for postoperative analgesia was necessary for the period of 240.0 minutes after the completion of surgery for the general anaesthesia and 313.0 minutes for the spinal anaesthesia after the administration of anaesthetics intrathecally.

CONCLUSIONS: BIS is a processed EEG parameter measuring the hypnotic effect of hypnotics and sedatives in brain. BIS helps to reduce the use of anaesthetics during anaesthesia. Our results are promising and we continue in the study, monitoring also other possible parameters....

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Journal Article 2013; 34(3): 207-211 PubMed PMID: 23685418 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Cohort Studies, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Galactorrhea:diagnosis, Humans, Hyperprolactinemia:diagnosis, Middle Aged, Pituitary Gland, Anterior:physiology, Pituitary Neoplasms:diagnosis, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Outcome, Prolactin:blood, Prolactinoma:d.   

OBJECTIVES: To determine the frequency of macroprolactinemia in a cohort of hyperprolactinemic women, describing 1) the association of macroprolactinemia with clinical variables and morphological changes in the pituitary gland and 2) clinical status and prolactin levels after 10 years of follow-up.

DESIGN: Blood samples were obtained from 32 patients for hormonal assessment. Treatment with cabergoline or bromocriptine was interrupted 3 months before the determination of serum prolactin and macroprolactin. Macroprolactin was measured using the polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation method. Computed tomography was performed in all patients.

RESULTS: The frequency of macroprolactinemia was 28.1%. In 19 patients prolactin remained elevated (persistent hyperprolactinemia). In 13, prolactin returned to normal (former hyperprolactinemia). Nine patients with PEG recovery between 40 and 50%, and the only two macroprolactinemic patients with previous hyperprolactinemia were excluded from the analysis of clinical outcomes. Only one of seven macroprolactinemic patients had an abnormal pituitary image (empty sella). None had galactorrhea.

MAIN FINDINGS: Classic symptoms of hyperprolactinemia and abnormal imaging findings are not common in patients in whom macroprolactin is the predominant form of PRL.

CONCLUSIONS: Women with hyperprolactinemia, especially if asymptomatic, should be routinely screened for macroprolactinemia. Macroprolactinemia remains stable in the long term....

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Journal Article 2013; 34(2): 143-153 PubMed PMID: 23645312 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Circadian Rhythm:physiology, Male, Photoperiod, Pineal Gland:metabolism, Pituitary Gland:metabolism, Rats, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Seasons, Testis:metabolism, Testosterone:metabolism,.   

BACKGROUND: Photoperiodic changes mediate certain physiological or pathological alterations in organisms. Solstices represent either the longest or shortest photoperiod of a year.

OBJECTIVES: Intact and pinealectomized rats were used to investigate the potential changes of reproductive hormones in the hypothalamus-pituitary-testis (HPT) axis including GnRH, FSH, LH, testosterone and melatonin, and their receptors at summer solstice (SS) and winter solstices (WS).

METHODS: The levels of reproductive hormones in HPT axis and the binding characteristics of their receptors were examined using radioimmunoassay and radioreceptor assay techniques, respectively.

RESULTS: The results indicate that in the intact male rat, GnRH, LH and testosterone are higher at the SS than at the WS. However, FSH exhibited no significant seasonal changes. In the testis, Bmax and Kd of LH receptors are higher at the WS than at the SS while those of FSH receptors are higher at the SS than at the WS. In addition, the melatonin in HPT axis appeared significant differences between WS and SS. Bmax and Kd of melatonin receptors in the hypothalamus and pituitary also showed higher at the WS than at the SS. Moreover, reproductive hormone production lost their seasonal rhythms after pinealectomy.

CONCLUSION: The most important discovery in this study is that we first reported that pinealectomy had profound effects on the binding characteristics of melatonin with its subtype receptors. Especially at the hypothalamus, the dominated melatonin receptors shifted from MT1 to MT2 after pinealectomy at the two solstices....

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Journal Article 2013; 34(1): 27-37 PubMed PMID: 23524621 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Circadian Rhythm:genetics, Female, Genotype, Humans, Hydrocortisone:secretion, Life Change Events, Male, Middle Aged, Period Circadian Proteins:genetics, Police, Polymorphism, Genetic, Salivary Glands:secretion, Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm:ge.   

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated whether measures of waking or diurnal cortisol secretion, or self-reported psychological disturbances differed among police officers with a Period3 (PER3) clock gene length polymorphism.

METHODS: The cortisol awakening response was characterized via the area under the salivary cortisol curve with respect to the increase (AUCI) or total waking cortisol (AUCG). Diurnal cortisol measures included the slope of diurnal cortisol and the diurnal AUCG. Psychological disturbances were characterized using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, Impact of Events Scale, and Life Events Scale.

RESULTS: Officers with a 4/5 or 5/5 genotype had higher awakening AUCG and greater diurnal cortisol AUCG levels compared to officers with the 4/4 genotype. Among those working more afternoon or night shifts, waking AUCI and AUCG were greater among officers with a 4/5 or 5/5 genotype compared to the 4/4 referents.

CONCLUSION: Cortisol secretion was modified among police officers with different PER3 VNTR clock gene variants....

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Journal Article 2001; 22(1): 53-73 PubMed PMID: 11393163 Citation  Keywords:  Adrenal Glands:physiology, Animals, Biological Clocks, Blood Pressure:physiology, Chronobiology Disorders:physiopathology, Chronobiology Phenomena, Chronotherapy, Circadian Rhythm:physiology, Drug Administration Schedule, Genomics, Homeostasis, Humans, Pi.   

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Journal Article 2012; 33(7): 684-688 PubMed PMID: 23391876 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Aged, Cardiovascular Diseases:epidemiology, Circadian Rhythm:physiology, Cohort Studies, Comorbidity, Disorders of Excessive Somnolence:epidemiology, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Polysomnography, REM Sleep Behavior Disorder:epidemiology, Rest.   

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a condition leading to excessive daytime sleepiness. The aim of the study was a) to study course of daytime sleepiness in patients with OSA and b) to find the most important nocturnal polysomnography parameters influencing daytime sleepiness in OSA.

METHODS: The cohort consisted of forty-five patients (6 women, 39 men) diagnosed with OSA. All patients underwent polysomnography, Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) and rated subjectively their daytime tendency to sleep with the Epworth Sleepiness Scale.

RESULTS: Sleep latency was significantly longer at 15:00 and at 17:00 hours compared to previous tests. A significant negative correlation was found between the mean of the MSLT sleep latency and a number of awakenings, the apnoea/hypopnoea index and oxygen desaturation index values.

CONCLUSIONS: The study showed the sleep latency prolongation at 15:00 and 17:00 hours respectively and confirmed connection of excessive daytime sleepiness to fragmentation of nocturnal sleep and OSA severity....

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