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Journal Article 2001; 22(1): 39-44 PubMed PMID: 11335878 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Aged, Antiviral Agents:adverse effects, Comorbidity, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Hepatitis C, Chronic:drug therapy, Humans, Incidence, Interferon-alpha:adverse effects, Male, Middle Aged, Prevalence, Retrospective Studies, Risk Factors, Sex Distribu.   

OBJECTIVES: To clarify the relationship between interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) therapy and autoimmune thyroiditis in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, we investigated a selected number of patients without basal thyroid dysfunctions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: 130 patients (average age: 20-70), with chronic HCV infection and without basal clinical and laboratory signs of autoimmune thyroiditis were divided into two groups: IFN-alpha treated (A) and untreated (B) patients. Group A received IFN-alpha (three million U.I./3 times a week) for six months; group B was followed for the same period. Thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin autoantibodies were measured by radioimmunoassay; thyroid function was measured by radioimmunoassay (free thyroxine and triiodothyronine) and immunoradiometric assay (thyroid stimulating hormone).

RESULTS: After a 6-month period, thyroid autoantibodies positivity was documented in 21.1% of group A and in 10.3% of group B patients, both statistically relevant (p<0.001 and p<0.011, respectively). The comparison between the two groups was not statistically relevant (p=0.142).

CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed a prevalence of de novo thyroid autoimmunity in chronic HCV patients treated with IFN-alpha, confirming previous data in literature. The lack of a significant difference between treated and untreated patients strongly suggests that the anti-thyroid autoimmune response is linked to the HCV infection itself. Moreover, IFN-alpha therapy probably does not represent a risk factor in renewing the autoimmune processes of the thyroid gland. Thyroid function and autoantibodies must be systematically monitored in patients with HCV infection, especially in female and IFN-alpha treated population, not only to verify the possible thyroid abnormalities but also to rule out concomitant autoimmune diseases....

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Journal Article 2001; 22(1): 33-37 PubMed PMID: 11335877 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Adult, Animals, Chick Embryo, Complement System Proteins:metabolism, Embryo, Mammalian:abnormalities, Factor Analysis, Statistical, Female, Gestational Age, Humans, Maternal-Fetal Exchange, Models, Biological, Pregnancy:blood, Progesterone:blo.   

OBJECTIVE: In this paper the relation between progesterone levels and embryotoxic effect of serum complement was studied.

DESIGN: The aim of this study was to validate hypothesis that progesterone is strong inhibitor of complement embryotoxic action.

SETTING: We used chick embryo like an experimental model for evidence of our hypothesis. We treated chick embryos by sera acquired from healthy pregnant woman with physiologically elevated levels of progesterone and normal complement activity. We investigated embryotoxicity of these sera.

RESULT: We noticed a significant decrease of sera embryotoxicity inversely related to serum levels of progesterone. The main finding: The embryotoxicity of sera is reversally dependent on progesterone level.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings bring a new knowledge to the role of progesterone and complement system mainly in initial stages of pregnancy and in some cases of spontaneous abortions....

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Journal Article 2001; 22(1): 19-26 PubMed PMID: 11335875 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Apoptosis, Basement Membrane:ultrastructure, Cell Movement, Cerebral Cortex:injuries, Cytoplasm:ultrastructure, Endothelium, Vascular:ultrastructure, Intercellular Junctions:ultrastructure, Macrophages:ultrastructure, Necrosis, Phagocytosis, Rats.   

OBJECTIVES: The effect of the traumatic injury of the cerebral cortex on the ultrastructure of the cerebrovascular junction was studied in rats. The aim of the present study is to describe the ultrastructural alterations in the cerebrovascular junction in rat cerebral cortex after traumatic injury. We were particularly interested in the alterations in endothelium, pericytes and the differentiated population of cerebral macrophages.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The observations were conducted four days (group I-five animals) and seven days (group II-five animals) after induction of cortical trauma. Traumatic injury was induced in the fronto-temporal region of cerebral cortex in general anesthesia with 20 mg/kg ketamine hydrochloride.

RESULTS: In the first group we found the features of damage of the blood-brain barrier and migration of the morphological blood components to the perivascular space. The trauma caused necrosis and apoptosis within brain tissue. An important observation was the presence of numerous brain macrophages that participated in phagocytosis of damaged cellular elements. Additionally, we found an increase in the connective tissue ground substance around brain capillaries. In the second experimental group we noted an increased number of pericytes (1-3) near capillary walls. In some instances, the basement membrane surrounding the pericytes was interrupted and these cells were also located beyond the rim of the vessel wall. Some pericytes showed numerous phagolysosomes indicating that these cells belonged to perivascular macrophages. Moreover, we observed a population of phagocytes residing in close contact with neurons. These cells were different from the typical perivascular macrophages.

CONCLUSIONS: These observations indicate that the traumatic injury of the brain results in mobilization of a heterogeneous population of brain macrophages. This study indicates that different subpopulations of macrophages emerge in the region of traumatic brain damage, and that the morphology and dynamics of these phagocytes changes and depends on the time elapsed after the initial traumatic incident....

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Journal Article 2001; 22(1): 9-18 PubMed PMID: 11335874 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging:drug effects, Animals, Antioxidants:metabolism, Catalase:drug effects, Drosophila melanogaster, Free Radicals:metabolism, Humans, Lipid Peroxidation:drug effects, Melatonin:metabolism, Middle Aged, Oxidation-Reduction.   

OBJECTIVES: The review on our own data on the effect of the pineal peptide preparation Epithalamin on free radical processes in rodents and humans is presented in this paper.

RESULTS: The activity of Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) was found decreased in the brain of aged rats (30 months old) by 46.8% as compared to young animals. Concentration of Schiff's bases in the brain also went down with age (by 13.6%), while the level of dien conjugates (DC) and protein peroxidation (PPO) remained unchanged. General antioxidation activity (AOA) in the brain also remained stable with age. The liver of aged rats showed significant increase of Schiff's bases (by 27.1%) and PPO products (by 109.2%) and considerable decrease of SOD activity. The level of DC and general AOA in the liver remained unchanged with age. Considerable elevation of protein and lipid peroxidation products contents was registered in the blood serum of aged rats. At the same time, general AOA and SOD activity remarkably decreased. The results obtained evidence from both significant age-related alterations in the activity of free radical processes in animal organism and organic peculiarities of their dynamics. Application of peptide drug epithalamin suppressed significantly the intensity of peroxide chemoluminescence in the blood serum (2.8-fold) and lipid peroxide oxidation (LPO) expressed in the considerably decreased DC contents (4,1-fold). The contents of Schiff's bases showed only a tendency towards decrease (by 14.4%, p > 0.05) and PPO level remained unchanged. Epithalamin administration was followed by considerable (by 36.6%, p < 0.01) increase of general AOA and increased SOD activity (by 19.7%) in males. Epithalamin decreased significantly the contents of conjugated hydroperoxides and ketodienes in tissues of D.melanogaster females, increased catalase activity in drosophila males and females, and increased SOD activity in males of D.melanogaster by 41%. Humans reveal significant age-related decrease of antioxidation defence indices.

CONCLUSION: Epithalamin administration to patients with age-related pathology eliminates imbalance in prooxidation and antioxidation systems....

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Journal Article 2018; 39(3): 189-195 PubMed PMID: 30431744 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Cervical Vertebrae, Female, Humans, Male, Maximal Respiratory Pressures, Middle Aged, Muscle Strength:physiology, Posture, Respiratory Function Tests, Respiratory Muscles:physiopathology, Retrospective Studies, Severity of Illness Index, Sitting Po.   

OBJECTIVES: In the subjects with high cervical spinal cord injury (SCI), The difference of respiratory muscle strength and pulmonary function according to supine and sitting position were investigated whether there are changes in the tendency. METHODS: Twenty-three subjects with high cervical SCI and 23 subjects with low cervical and thoracic SCI were evaluated. The reference neurological level of injury for dividing the groups was fifth cervical vertebrae (C5). SCI severity was classified as motor-complete SCI. The supine and sitting forced vital capacity (FVC), percent of the predicted FVC (FVC%), maximal expiratory pressure (MEP), maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), MEP / MIP ratio, and peak cough flow (PCF) were compared. RESULTS: The significantly higher FVC, FVC% in the low cervical and thoracic SCI group was identified in the supine position than the sitting position. The same tendency was observed in the high cervical SCI group. In the comparison of respiratory muscle strength, higher values of supine MEP and MIP were found only in the high cervical SCI group. PCF is more positively correlated with MIP than with MEP in all groups. CONCLUSION: We found that the supine position is more advantageous for the strong breathing and larger lung capacity in patients with high cervical SCI. The positive correlation between PCF and MIP in the patients with high cervical SCI was also confirmed. These results may be used to establish a pulmonary rehabilitation strategy for patients with high cervical SCI....

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Journal Article 2018; 39(3): 172-178 PubMed PMID: 30431742 Citation  Keywords:  Adipose Tissue:metabolism, Anorexia Nervosa:metabolism, Appetite, Bulimia Nervosa:metabolism, Ghrelin:metabolism, Glucuronidase:metabolism, Gonads:metabolism, Human Growth Hormone:metabolism, Humans, Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System:metabolism, Insulin-Like.   

: Endocrine dysfunctions in eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa) result from disturbed regulation of hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal, hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal, hypothalamo-pituitary-thyroid and hypothalamo-pituitary-GH-IGF1 axes as well as of altered peripheral endocrine metabolism. Some peptides of hypothalamic origin, as well as those secreted by the adipose tissue and gastrointestinal tract including pancreatic hormones, are involved in the control of appetite and satiety. These peptides play also an important role in the mechanism of hormonal secretion. Altered activity of these biologically active substances may lead to the disturbances in the regulation of energy and hormonal homeostasis....

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Journal Article 2018; 39(3): 219-225 PubMed PMID: 30431736 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Adult, Body Mass Index, Estradiol:blood, Female, Humans, Menstruation Disturbances:blood, Obesity:blood, Oligomenorrhea:blood, Overweight:blood, Risk Factors, Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin:metabolism, Testosterone:blood, Vitamin D:analogs & der.   

INTRODUCTION: Vitamin D (VD) plays a crucial role in calcium metabolism as well as immunological and endocrine homeostasis. Previous studies revealed strong inverse correlation between VD levels and insulin resistance, parathyroid dysfunctions and autoimmune thyroid disease. Insufficient evidence concerns its dependency of ovarian hormones. Malfunctioning of the ovaries results in menstrual disorders that are one of the most common endocrine impairments in young women of reproductive age. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was aimed to evaluate the correlation between 25(OH)D serum concentration and estradiol, testosterone as well as body mass index (BMI) in women with oligomenorrhea. 134 women of reproductive age with oligomenorrhea were eligible for the study. 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], estradiol, testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) were measured using chemiluminescence immunoassay. Free androgen index (FAI) and body mass index (BMI) were calculated. RESULTS: Critical 25(OH)D deficiency (<10 ng/ml) was found in 13.4% of women, the risk of deficiency (<30 mg/dl) was diagnosed in 69.4%, while sufficient level of VD (>30 mg/ml) in 17.2% of them. Significant negative correlation was detected between 25(OH)D and estradiol serum concentrations (r=-0.2; p=0.049), as well as BMI levels (r=-0.22; p=0.01). However, no significant correlation was found between 25(OH)D and testosterone (r=-017; p=0.055), SHBG (r=0.08; p=0.4) and FAI (r=-0.1; p=0.24). CONCLUSIONS: Thorough assessment of vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency is required among patients with menstrual disorders, especially those overweighed and obese. Early screening and VD supplementation in women with estrogen-dependent disorders may become a part of routine management in order to optimize endocrine health....

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Journal Article 2018; 39(4): 331-341 PubMed PMID: 30531709 Citation  Keywords:  Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Anxiety Disorders:psychology, Cross-Sectional Studies, Depressive Disorder:psychology, Female, Humans, Male, Mental Disorders:psychology, Middle Aged, Neurotic Disorders:psychology, Outpatients, Psychotic Disorders:psycho.   

BACKGROUND: Much attention has been paid to psychological factors influencing characteristics, severity, and course of mental disorders. The objective of our investigation was to examine the interrelations among quality of life (QoL), self-stigma, and coping strategies, demographics and severity of the disorder in neurotic spectrum disorders, schizophrenia, and depressive spectrum disorders. METHODS: A total of 343 clinically stable Czech outpatients with different mental disorders (153 with neurotic spectrum disorders; 81 with depression, and 109 with schizophrenia spectrum disorders) were included. The patients were examined by their outpatient psychiatrists during regular psychiatric checkup and completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Quality of Life Satisfaction and the Enjoyment Questionnaire (Q-LES-Q), the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (ISMI), the Stress Coping Style Questionnaire (SVF-78), and the Clinical Global Impression scale (CGI). RESULTS: The study demonstrates that the self-stigma and coping strategies are significant factors linked to the QoL in all diagnostic groups of patients. Patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders had lower scores in QoL compared to the other two groups. The patients with depression or neurotic spectrum disorders had a lesser degree of self-stigma than the patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The severity of the illness significantly correlated with the QoL, self-stigma, and coping strategies. CONCLUSIONS: The investigation confirmed the connection between the quality of life, self-stigma, coping strategies, and the severity of the illness, in outpatients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, depressive, and neurotic spectrum disorders. A further longitudinal study would be useful to determine the causative relationships of these variables....

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