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Journal Article 2007; 28(6): 807-810 PubMed PMID: 18063948 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Adult, Area Under Curve, Blood Glucose:metabolism, Body Mass Index, Chi-Square Distribution, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2:blood, Energy Metabolism:physiology, Fasting:blood, Female, Glucose Tolerance Test, Homeostasis:physiology, Humans, Insulin:.   

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical and metabolic characteristics of large-scale Chinese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

DESIGN: Retrospective study.

SETTING: Hospital-based IVF center.

PATIENT(S): Patients with PCOS.

METHODS: In the present study, one thousand and forty PCOS patients were selected from women who visited the Reproductive Medicine Center at Shandong Provincial Hospital Shandong University between January 2002 and December 2006. All the patients had been performed a 75 g OGTT. Clinical characteristics, serum hormonal levels, glucose levels, insulin levels and lipid profiles were reviewed.

INTERVENTIONS: An oral glucose tolerance test and insulin release test were performed for each woman. After overnight fasting, blood samples were collected to determine fasting blood glucose, blood glucose and insulin (30 min, 60 min, 120 min, 180 min) after digesting 75 g glucose, luteotrophic hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone (T), prolactin (PRL), estradiol (E2), and blood lipid levels.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Height, weight, waistline, hip circumference, F-G grade for hirsutism, gonadal hormone results, blood lipid level, blood glucose tolerance, each-moment insulin level, and family history were determined.

RESULTS: (i) The presence of oligomenorrhea was 62.6% while amenorrhea was 19.71%. Menstrual disorder of all the adult patients could be traced back to their adolescent menarche. There were 450 obesity cases of which 259 patients were central obesity. The incidence of acanthosis nigricans was 15.19%, 65.19% with obesity. (ii) Cholesterol (4.8 +/- 0.98 vs 4.61 +/- 0.86) and LDL (3.80 +/- 6.92 vs 2.88 +/- 1.01) were both significantly higher in the obesity patients than the non obesity patients. (iii) 173 patients were diagnosed as diabetes mellitus (DM), 179 IGT, 27 IFG and 9 (IFG and IGT). Those women with plasma glucose values abnormality of 0, 30 min, 60 min, 120 min, 180 min were 19 cases 0.98% (19/173), 74 cases 42.77% (74/173), 110 cases 63.58% (110/173), 42 cases 24.28% (42/173) and 12 cases 6.94% (12/173) respectively. Ten (10/173) patients would have been undetected if fasting plasma glucose levels were not evaluated, while omission of 30 min, 60 min, 120 min, or 180 min plasma glucose levels would have resulted in 16 cases (16/173), 50 cases (50/173), 28 cases (28/173) and 1 case (1/173) being missed respectively. If we took three times blood samples to evaluate plasma glucose levels, 39 cases (39/173) (0 min + 30 min +60 min), 102 cases (0 min + 30 min + 120 min), 21 cases (0 min + 30 min + 180 min), 34 cases (0 min + 60 min + 120 min), 45 cases (0 min + 60 min + 180 min), 123 cases (0 min + 120 min + 180 min) would be missed. Compared AUC of plasma glucose and insulin in 5 times with 3 times (0 min + 30 min + 60 min), the differences were statistically significant. Body mass index (BMI) was positively correlated with HOMA-IR (r = 0.29987 (P<0.01) as well as WHR (r = 0.12441, P<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS: (i) The prevalence rate of obesity was higher in PCOS. The state of obesity had a positive relation with insulin resistance. (ii) The prevalence rate of lipid profiles abnormality in obesity group was higher than in non-obesity. (iii) OGTT was the essential examination for all the PCOS patients....

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Comparative Study 2007; 28(6): 765-774 PubMed PMID: 18063946 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Analysis of Variance, Chi-Square Distribution, Child, Child, Preschool, Circadian Rhythm:physiology, Female, Growth Disorders:blood, Human Growth Hormone:deficiency, Humans, Hypopituitarism:blood, Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System:abnormalities, .   

OBJECTIVES: Prolactin (Prl) secretion in children manifests circadian rhythm. The aim of the study was to assess circadian Prl pattern in children with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) and congenital organic disorders in the hypothalamic-pituitary region (HPR).

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The analysis comprised 47 children (aged: 11.05+/-3.5 years) with GHD, divided (based on MRI) into subgroups: NORM (no disturbances in HPR); HP (pituitary hypoplasia) and PSIS (pituitary stalk interruption syndrome). The profile of circadian Prl secretion was determined, based on Prl measurements in serum every 3 hours during 24 hours. The macroscopic analysis of circadian Prl rhythm in particular groups was performed. The comparison group consists of 41 children (aged: 11.45+/-3.20 years) with idiopathic short stature (ISS).

RESULTS: In GHD-HP, diurnal and nocturnal Prl concentrations were low but with the dispersion between them and with normal rhythm in most of cases. In GHD-PSIS, diurnal and nocturnal Prl concentrations were on the same level and the rhythm was not observed in most of cases. No significant differences were found in Prl secretions and Prl rhythm between GHD-NORM and ISS. The rhythm of Prl secretion was disturbed in: 72.7% of children with GHD-PSIS, 23.5% - with GHD-HP, 10.5% with GHD-NORM and 7.3% with ISS, only.

CONCLUSIONS: Congenital organic lesions of HPR are associated with quantitative disorders and changes of the circadian pattern of Prl secretion. In children with GHD without organic lesions of HPR, the circadian rhythm of Prl secretion was not different from that with ISS....

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Comparative Study 2007; 28(6): 889-894 PubMed PMID: 18063943 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation:therapeutic use, Cyclohexanols:therapeutic use, Depressive Disorder:psychology, Electroconvulsive Therapy:psychology, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Patient Satisfaction, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales.   

BACKGROUND: The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of electroconvulsive (ECT) and venlafaxine therapy from the patient's point of view.

METHODS: We used a retrospective chart review from 22 inpatients who underwent ECT and 22 patients treated with venlafaxine due to resistant unipolar or bipolar depression. We used bilateral ECT in a median of 8 (IQR 7-9.7) sessions and venlafaxine therapy with a median daily dosage of 225 mg (IQR 150-225 mg) for a median of 4 (IQR 4-5) weeks. The main outcome was change in a self-evaluation scale - Short Form of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-SF). The response was defined as the decreasing of the BDI-SF score by >or=50%, remission as decreasing of BDI-SF score
RESULTS: We did not find significant differences between sex, age and BDI-SF before therapy in both groups. The reduction of BDI-SF score was significantly higher in the ECT group than in venlafaxine group (p=0.025). Significantly more patients treated with ECT reached response than patients treated with venlafaxine (68% vs. 23%; <0.01). The remission rate after ECT was not significantly higher than venlafaxine therapy (27% vs. 5%; p=0.094). The number needed to treat (NNT) of ECT for BDI-SF response was 3 (CI95% 1.4 to 5.2) and NNT for BDI-SF remission was 5 (CI95% 2.3 to 45.8).

DISCUSSION: After the median of 3 failed antidepressant trials, ECT was more effective than venlafaxine in the short term therapy in some parametres according to our patients. We suggest that the fact that mental state was evaluated by patients themselves is an important pro-argument in the discussion about ECT....

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Comparative Study 2007; 28(6): 789-800 PubMed PMID: 18063942 Citation  Keywords:  3-Iodobenzylguanidine, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine:classification, Diagnostic Imaging:instrumentation, Female, Humans, Indium Radioisotopes, Intestinal Neoplasms:diagnosis, Iodine Radioisotopes, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Ma.   

AIM: The aim of the study was to review the current diagnostic approach, based on the experience of one center performed during a 4-year period, according to WHO criteria of GEP - NET.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group comprised case records of 134 patients with confirmed GEP-NET carcinomas (WHO groups 2-4). All patients were subjected to clinical, biochemical and imaging examinations performed as routine clinical work-up. The imaging techniques consisted of anatomical (CT, EUS) and functional approaches (SRS, mIBG and FDG PET).

RESULTS: The clinical classification considered the primary origin of the tumor as follows: 49% - foregut tumors, 44% - midgut, and 7% of tumors of unknown origin. Group of patients with WHO 2 consisted of 98 (73%) subjects. Considering those with foregut tumors EUS followed by CT and SRS were used in each case. SRS and CT imaging was used to assess the extent of the tumor. Patients with midgut tumors had CT and SRS as routine diagnostic imaging examinations. Considering the above-mentioned patients, CT and SRS were used to localize the primary tumor, and assess tumor extent. Overall sensitivity of CT considering the active disease amounted to 96%, while specificity - 75%. Sensitivity of SRS was 97%, while specificity- 85%. WHO 3-29 patients, 17 foregut and 9 midgut tumors, and 3 of unknown origin. Diagnostic imaging examinations consisted of CT. Standard SRS (sst2) was negative in most cases. The aggressive behaviour of this type of tumors was detected by means of FDG-PET. Sensitivity of CT amounted to 100%, and that of SRS - 44%. Specificity of CT amounted to 67% and that of SRS - 100%. WHO 4-7 patients, including 4 foregut and 3 midgut neoplasms. The imaging approach consisted of CT/MR and in 5 cases FDG-PET. Sensitivity of CT amounted to 100%. Only one patient presented with a SRS positive study. FDG-PET sensitivity amounted to 100%.

CONCLUSION: Diagnostic imaging of GEP-NET, consider anatomical and functional techniques, which should be read together. The diagnostic value of CT and SRS were similar in case of WHO 2, while in case of WHO 3 CT had a higher diagnostic accuracy. FDG-PET seems to be a very attractive imaging functional modality in case of patients with WHO 3 and WHO 4....

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Journal Article 2007; 28(6): 846-853 PubMed PMID: 18063939 Citation  Keywords:  Analysis of Variance, Animals, Chronic Disease, Circadian Rhythm:physiology, Corticosterone:blood, Disease Models, Animal, Exploratory Behavior:physiology, Male, Mice, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Motor Activity, Oxytocin:blood, Photoperiod, Stress, Physiological:.   

: Experiments were performed in C57BL/6J male mice to determine 1) light/dark effects of acute and chronic shaker stress on open field behavioral patterns and 2) light/dark effects of chronic stress on plasma corticosterone and oxytocin. Shaker stress was applied acutely (15 min) or chronically (3 or 7 days). Mice were tested in the open field in the light or dark phase of the circadian cycle. For the endocrine study, mice were exposed to 3 days of intermittent shaker stress and sacrificed after the last stress event (09:00 or 19:00 h). Acute or chronic shaker stress had no significant effects on intensity of motor activity and rearing of mice tested under either light condition. Mice tested in the dark phase had higher motor activity and exhibited lower anxiety-like behavior as expressed by central zone activities and had higher emotionality as expressed by increased defecation. Chronic stress increased corticosterone with a greater absolute increase in the dark period. However, the percentage stress-induced increase was not different between the day and night periods. The oxytocin response to stress was observed only during the light phase with no change seen at dark phase. These results show that there is a marked difference in the light/dark pituitary stress response with no alteration in stress induced behavioral changes. They also suggest that there are circadian interactions in the endocrine stress axis that are without consequences for open field behavior....

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Journal Article 2007; 28(6): 822-825 PubMed PMID: 18063938 Citation  Keywords:  Adaptation, Physiological, Age Factors, Analysis of Variance, Blood Flow Velocity:physiology, Female, Hemodynamics, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Intestines:blood supply, Male, Mesenteric Artery, Superior:diagnostic imaging, Reference Values, Regional Blood Fl.   

OBJECTIVES: After birth, the newborn intestinal circulation undergoes physiological changes. The purpose of this work was to characterize the changes in mesenteric blood flow velocity occuring during the first three days of life in healthy term infants.

METHODS: 30 healthy term newborns were studied repeatedly at the age of 2, 24 and 70 hours. Blood flow velocity in superior mesenteric artery (SMA) was measured by Doppler ultrasound, peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV) and time-averaged mean velocity (TAV) were recorded at each time point. Resistance index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) were calculated.

RESULTS: SMA EDV increased from 2 h [-5.2+/-6.8 cm/s (mean +/- SD)] to 24 h (12.9+/-3.8 cm/s, p<0.001) with further insignificant increase to 70 h (14.9+/-4.7 cm/s). At 2 h of age the mean EDV was negative in 23 of 30 cases (76.7%). PSV did not change between 2 h (58.0+/-21.8 cm/s) and 24 h (58.5+/-15.0 cm/s) but it increased to 70 h (79.6+/-17.7 cm/s). TAV showed a significant increase with time. RI decreased from 2 h (1.09+/-0.11) to 24 h (0.78+/-0.06, p<0.001) with further insignificant increase to 70 h (0.81+/-0.06).

CONCLUSIONS: The blood flow velocity in SMA increases during the early neonatal period in term infants. The most remarkable changes occur within the first 24 hours of life. At 2 h of age a reversed blood flow is present in majority of infants....

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Journal Article 2007; 28(6): 854-860 PubMed PMID: 18063937 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Antipsychotic Agents:pharmacology, Clozapine:pharmacology, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Glucose:pharmacology, In Vitro Techniques, Insulin:secretion, Islets of Langerhans:drug effects, Male, Rats, Rats, Wistar, Statistics, Nonparametric,.   

OBJECTIVES: Treatment with the atypical antipsychotic clozapine is frequently associated with metabolic side-effects such as weight gain, lipid abnormalities and diabetes mellitus. Since insulin is a hormone that is involved in both the regulation of body weight, as well as in lipid metabolism and glucose regulation, an effect of clozapine on insulin secretion and/or on insulin action - at least in part - might explain its capability to induce these side-effects. The aim of this study was therefore to examine the influence of clozapine on insulin release in vitro.

METHODS: The effect of clozapine in three different concentrations, 10(-6), 10(-5) and 10(-4) M, was investigated on both basal (i.e. 3.3 mM glucose) and glucose-stimulated (i.e. 16.7 mM glucose) insulin release, using isolated rat islets of Langerhans.

RESULTS: The presence of clozapine in the concentrations of 10(-6), 10(-5) and 10(4 )M significantly increased basal insulin release compared to the control after 4 h (but not after 1 h) of incubation. As regards the glucose-stimulated insulin release, the presence of clozapine in the concentrations of 10(-5) and 10(-4) M, but not in that of 10(-6) M, significantly inhibited the glucose-stimulated insulin release compared to the control after both 1 and 4 h of incubation.

CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that the atypical antipsychotic clozapine exerts dual effects on insulin release in vitro, through stimulating basal insulin release and inhibiting glucose-stimulated insulin release. Both these effects of clozapine on insulin release may contribute to its disadvantage inducing metabolic side-effects....

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Journal Article 2007; 28(6): 815-821 PubMed PMID: 18063936 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Adult, Analysis of Variance, Courtship, Female, Genetic Load, Humans, Love, Male, Personality:genetics, Polymorphism, Genetic, Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A:genetics, Receptors, Dopamine D2:genetics, Receptors, Dopamine D4:genetics, Serotonin Pl.   

OBJECTIVES: It has been hypothesized that cerebral neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin could play a role in human romantic bonding. However, no data on the genetic basis of human romantic love are currently available. To address this issue, we looked for associations between markers in neurotransmitter genes (the serotonin transporter gene, 5-HTT; the serotonin receptor 2A, 5HT2A; the dopamine D2 receptor gene, DRD2; and the dopamine D4 receptor gene, DRD4) and the six styles of love as conceptualized by Lee (Eros, Ludus, Storge, Pragma, Mania and Agape).

DESIGN: A total of 350 healthy young adults (165 males and 185 females, mean age: 24.1+/-3.9 years, range 18-32 years) filled the 24-item Love Attitudes Scale (LAS) and were genotyped for the following six polymorphic markers: the serotonin transporter-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR), the 5HT2A T102C and C516T polymorphisms, the DRD2 TaqI A and TaqI B variants, and the DRD4 exon 3 VNTR polymorphism.

RESULTS: Statistical analysis revealed a significant association between the DRD2 TaqI A genotypes and "Eros" (a loving style characterized by a tendency to develop intense emotional experiences based on the physical attraction to the partner), as well as between the C516T 5HT2A polymorphism and "Mania" (a possessive and dependent romantic attachment, characterized by self-defeating emotions). These associations were present in both sexes and remained significant even after adjustment for potential confounders.

CONCLUSIONS: Our data provide the first evidence of a possible genetic loading on human loving styles....

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