Search NEL Online

Journal Article 2006; 27(3): 327-332 PubMed PMID: 16816829 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation:therapeutic use, Combined Modality Therapy, Double-Blind Method, Drug Resistance, Electric Stimulation Therapy:methods, Female, Humans, Male, Neuropsychological Tests, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder:therapy, .   

BACKGROUND: The goal of our study is to assess whether transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) would facilitate the effect of antidepressant in OCD patients.

METHOD: The aim of the randomized, double-blind, sham controlled study was to compare the 2 and 4 week efficacy of the 10 sessions rTMS with sham rTMS in serotonin reuptake inhibitor resistant OCD patient. Thirty three right-handed patients were randomly assigned to either active rTMS or to sham rTMS. Active rTMS with the frequency of 1 Hz at 110% of motor threshold (MT) was administered over the left dorso-lateral prefrontal cortex. The same time schedule was used for sham administration. Thirty patients finished the study, three patients' dropped out at the beginning. Psychopathology was assessed by CGI, HAMA, Y-BOCS and BAI before the treatment, immediately after the experimental treatment, and 2 weeks after the experimental treatment by an independent reviewer.

RESULTS: Both groups improved during the study period but the treatment effect did not differ between them in any of the instruments.

CONCLUSION: Low frequency rTMS administered over the left dorso-lateral prefrontal cortex during 10 daily sessions did not differ from sham rTMS in facilitating the effect of serotonin reuptake inhibitors in OCD patients....

Read abstract  Full text PDF

Comparative Study 2006; 27(3): 315-320 PubMed PMID: 16807524 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Adult, Empathy, Exploratory Behavior:physiology, Female, Humans, Leadership, Male, Personality:physiology, Psychology, Adolescent, Reference Values, Saliva:physiology, Sex Factors, Social Dominance, Testosterone:physiology,.   

OBJECTIVES: In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that gender - dependent differences in novelty seeking, leadership, and sympathy might correlate with testosterone titre. Since several studies report that the impact of testosterone on personality traits is more visible under emotional challenging situations, we harvested saliva testosterone upon an anticipated stressor (academic examination) and under basal conditions.

SETTING AND DESIGN: 19 female and 23 male adolescents (17 to 19 years of age) completed standardized questionnaires on sensation seeking, anxiety, and social interaction. Two weeks later, they had to write an anticipated, rigorous examination in mathematics in their school. Before and after the examination, saliva had been harvested from each subject and testosterone titre has been estimated.

METHODS: Saliva testosterone was quantified using a luminescence immunoassay (LIA). Each subject completed questionnaires on sensations seeking according to Zuckerman (SSS - V), anxiety (STAI), and social interactions.

RESULTS: Both genders showed an increase in their testosterone titre shortly after examination or announcement of test scores. A Spearman correlation coefficient indicated a significant correlation between testosterone titre and sensation seeking subscales in female but not in male subjects. Analysis of social interactions revealed that peers regarded male subjects, who had high testosterone titres, as leaders but not as likeable individuals, whereas they regarded female subjects, who had high testosterone titres, not as leaders but as highly likeable individuals.

CONCLUSION: Theses findings strongly suggest that testosterone has gender specific effects on novelty seeking, dominance, and sympathy....

Read abstract  Full text PDF

Journal Article 2006; 27(1-2): 281-287 PubMed PMID: 16648811 Citation  Keywords:  Analgesics, Animals, Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation:pharmacology, Blood Glucose:metabolism, Diabetes Complications:drug therapy, Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental:blood, Female, Fluoxetine:pharmacology, Hyperalgesia:drug therapy, Male, Mice, Mice,.   

OBJECTIVES: Clinical and experimental trials have demonstrated that some of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have some suspicious effects on blood glucose levels in different directions. Especially fluoxetine and sertraline are studied in this point of view. These drugs are also used in treatment of depression and peripheral neuropathy in diabetic patients. Paroxetine and fluoxetine, members of this drug group, besides having antidepressant effects were shown to have antinociceptive effects in animals and humans. They can be used in the treatment of chronic pain as an adjuvant drug or alone. But less is known about their actions on pain in case of diabetes. The aim of this study is to investigate the antinociceptive effects of fluoxetine and paroxetine in diabetic and non-diabetic mice while monitoring their effects on blood glucose levels.

METHODS: Mice of either sex were randomly used in experiments. The antinociceptive effects of paroxetine and fluoxetine were evaluated using hot plate test both in diabetic and non-diabetic mice. The effects of these drugs on blood glucose levels were also evaluated in another group of mice both in diabetic and non-diabetic mice.

RESULTS: Fluoxetine and paroxetine showed significant antinociceptive effect at all doses and at all times tested in non-diabetic mice, but they could not successfully show this effect in diabetic mice. They also had controversial effects on blood glucose levels.

CONCLUSION: Although they showed increasing or decreasing effects on blood glucose levels in non-diabetic and diabetic mice, they showed antinociception on hot-plate test showing dissociation between blood glucose levels and analgesia....

Read abstract

Journal Article 2006; 27(1-2): 183-188 PubMed PMID: 16648806 Citation  Keywords:  Absorptiometry, Photon, Acromegaly:blood, Adult, Aged, Body Mass Index, Bone Density:physiology, Cytokines:blood, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Female, Human Growth Hormone:blood, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Sex Characteristics, Testosterone:blood,.   

OBJECTIVES: Elevated cytokines levels were observed as a marker of increased bone resorption in certain diseases. The aim was to assess serum levels of selected cytokines in acromegaly, regarding to different disease's stages, gonadal function, gender and character of BMD change.

METHODS: The study was carried out in 62 patients with acromegaly (40 women, 22 men) aged 26-75 years in various stages of the disease. The controls were 30 healthy, age- and sex-matched subjects. Serum cytokines concentration was assessed using ELISA method.

RESULTS: We have shown higher (p=0.044) concentrations of TGF-beta in male patients with active acromegaly than in cured males. When the influence of all cytokines studied on BMD using multiple regression analysis was carried out, the borderline (p=0.099) statistical significance was achieved (regression coefficient B=0.68271) according to TGF-beta and trochanter major BMD. IL-6 and TNF-alpha were higher (p=0.062, and p=0.098, respectively) in these acromegalic patients, in which gain of trochanter major BMD occurred. IL-1beta levels were lower in patients with ultradistal radius and 1/3 distal radius BMD gain (p=0.007, and p=0.009, respectively). Lower TGF-beta levels (p=0.077) were shown in patients with 1/3 distal radius gain. IL-6 levels were higher in patients with total body BMD gain (p=0.059).

CONCLUSIONS: The relations between TGF-beta and acromegaly activity in men, and trochanter major BMD in both sexes were documented. Concentrations of all cytokines studied correlated with the BMD changes in different bone sites. Noteworthy is homogeneity of the secretory character of cytokines studied according to BMD changes within particular skeleton sites....

Read abstract

Case Reports 2006; 27(1-2): 142-144 PubMed PMID: 16648805 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Anthropometry, Azoospermia:etiology, Body Height:physiology, Body Weight:physiology, Gonadal Steroid Hormones:blood, Humans, Klinefelter Syndrome:diagnostic imaging, Male, Testis:blood supply, Twins, Ultrasonography,.   

: A rare case of Klinefelter syndrome in identical twins is reported. Hormonal levels before and after hCG administration and testicular artery Doppler flow measurements are presented....

Read abstract

Letter 2006; 27(1-2): 70-72 PubMed PMID: 16648802 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Diabetes Mellitus:physiopathology, Hypothalamus:physiology, Insulin:physiology, Mice, Mice, Obese, Neuropeptide Y:physiology, Pro-Opiomelanocortin:physiology,.   

...

Read abstract

Journal Article 2006; 27(1-2): 271-276 PubMed PMID: 16648800 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Anaerobic Threshold:physiology, Complement C3:metabolism, Complement C4:metabolism, Complement System Proteins:metabolism, Exercise:physiology, Humans, Immunoglobulins:blood, Leukocyte Count, Leukocytes:physiology, Male, Nephelometry and Turbidimet.   

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of various sports disciplines on basic elements of the acquired and natural defense systems and to compare their results with that of non-sporting controls.

MATERIALS/METHODS: The study included 15 sedentary (Group 1), 15 volleyball players (Group 2) and 15 long distance running athletes (Group 3). The VO2 Max for the groups was determined by subjecting the individuals to a 20 meter Shuttle run test. Immunoglobin and complement levels were measured by the turbidometric method. Leukocyte counts were made through peripheral blood smear examination.

RESULTS: The IgA levels in sedentary living individuals was found to be lower than that in volleyball and athlete groups while that in athletes was in turn lower than that in volleyball players (p<0.05). In volleyball players the IgG level was significantly higher than both the sedentary living individuals and the athletes (p<0.05). IgM however, showed a significantly higher level in the sedentary group than in both athletes and volleyball players. The C3 levels in athletes was significantly lower than that of volleyball players and sedentary individuals (p<0.05), while the C4 levels were higher in the volleyball group (p<0.05). The leukocyte, eosinophil, and monocyte counts in the athletes were also significantly lower than those in the volleyball and sedentary groups (p<0.05). The values for the sedentary group on the other hand however, was found to be lower than those of the volleyball players (p<0.05). The neutrophil counts was lower in the sedentary group than in the volleyball group (p<0.05). The levels in the athlete group was lower than that in the volleyball group, however (p<0.05). The lymphocyte counts in volleyball players was higher than that in the sedentary group (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, changes in the immune parameters were found to be dependent on the type of physical exercise performed on regular basis. Considering the protective antibody response in those performing regular sports, moderate exercise carried out on regular basis can be said to affect positively mononuclear and polymorphonuclear phagocytic cells--the basic elements of the natural immune system....

Read abstract

Journal Article 2006; 27(1-2): 277-280 PubMed PMID: 16648799 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Carbohydrate Metabolism:physiology, Diabetes, Gestational:blood, Diet, Diabetic, Fatty Acids, Nonesterified:blood, Female, Fetal Blood:chemistry, Fetal Development:physiology, Humans, Hypoglycemic Agents:therapeutic use, Insulin:therapeutic use, Pr.   

AIM OF THE STUDY: The investigation of the influence of maternal serum free fatty acids (FFA) levels on the course of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

MATERIAL AND METHODS: On the basis of GDM diagnosis 52 diabetic and 39 non-diabetic pregnant women were recruited to the study. Treatment modalities for diabetic group included diet alone (GDM1; n-36) or a combination of insulin and diet (GDM2; n-16). Maternal serum free fatty acids were measured before treatment, after 4 weeks therapy, during delivery and in umbilical cord blood.

RESULTS: Plasma levels of FFA were higher in GDM pregnant women treated later only by diet compare with GDM patients required later insulin and non-diabetic gravidas. In GDM diet treated group plasma FFA levels progressively decreased with treatment duration. The plasma FFA levels in umbilical cord blood did not differ between the study groups. We found a positive correlation between maternal venous and umbilical cord blood concentration of free fatty acids. Maternal FFA levels positively correlated with neonatal births weight.

CONCLUSION: Elevated plasma FFA levels are associated with GDM and can influence fetal growth. Early and intensified GDM treatment may decrease the level of circulating fatty acids....

Read abstract