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Journal Article 2011; 32(1): 44-50 PubMed PMID: 21407158 Citation  Keywords:  Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity:epidemiology, Female, Fetal Blood:metabolism, Fetal Diseases:epidemiology, Humans, Lead:pharmacokinetics, Lead Poisoning:epidemiology, Microscopy, Electron, Transmission, Phagocytosis:physiology, Placenta:meta.   

OBJECTIVE: This work is aiming at broadening knowledge about placenta and giving evidence that lead penetrates through transplacental barrier. We have intended to find further possible reasons of the rise of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and to suggest ways of preventing development of this syndrome.

METHODS: For revealing presence of lead in placenta and umbilical cord blood we used histochemical methods, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis of element composition and infrared spectroscopy.

RESULTS: We are presenting new findings that emphasize importance of Hofbauer cells. These cells have high phagocyting activity and form filter regulating entering lead into umbilical cord blood and thus influence possibility of the ADHD rise. We found positivity on lipids in placenta. Importance of this finding consists in the fact that lead is lipophilic metal and tissue containing lipid is available path for the transport of lead. We explained why just striatum is affected with toxic action of lead in case of ADHD syndrome. We have also shown that more blood elements circulate in umbilical cord blood than in a common circulation.

CONCLUSIONS: High number of patients with the ADHD syndrome inspired us to suggest establishment of centers where these children would be registered. Staff of specialists consisting of psychologist, physician and physicist (responsible for application of methods of early diagnosis) will take care of the development of their health conditions and further treatment....

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Journal Article 2011; 32(1): 34-38 PubMed PMID: 21407157 Citation  Keywords:  Female, Humans, Periodontitis:physiopathology, Pre-Eclampsia:physiopathology, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Complications, Infectious:physiopathology, Premature Birth:physiopathology,.   

: Periodontitis is today considered to be a serious disease of periodontal tissues, one caused in most cases by bacterial infection which stimulates proteolysis and osteolysis of the tissues. Typical for the disease is formation of periodontal pockets and a chronic destructive inflammation which impacts on the whole organism. Periodontopathic bacteria colonized in a subgingival biofilm cannot be removed by common oral hygiene. Overproduction of bacteria and other pro-inflammatory mediators can increase the total pro-inflammatory state of the organism in pregnant women. Increased levels of some pro-inflammatory cytokines (PGE2) and cells in fetoplacental space can lead to premature rupture of membranes and subsequent delivery of immature babies. An increasing number of studies in this field provide evidence that good professional care and personal oral hygiene can bring benefits through a decreased prevalence of preterm low birth weight infants (PLBWI) in women suffering periodontitis, although definitive conclusions have not yet been reached. Future mothers with periodontitis can run not only an increased risk of PLWBI but often also suffer pre-eclampsia - a state called acute atherosis - which can be ethiopathogenetically associated with high concentrations of various pro-inflammatory mediators. An increased production of female hormones during pregnancy contributes to the development of gingivitis and periodontitis because vascular permeability and possible tissue edema are both increased....

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Journal Article 2010; 31(6): 747-753 PubMed PMID: 21196923 Citation  Keywords:  Anisotropy, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity:diagnosis, Case-Control Studies, Child, Cognition, Diffusion Tensor Imaging, Executive Function, Female, Frontal Lobe:pathology, Functional Laterality, Humans, Male, Neuropsychological Tests,.   

UNLABELLED: Abnormalities of frontal white matter (WM) have been found in some children with ADHD. The purpose of this study was to explore the changes in WM in child patients with ADHD by DTI, which detects changes in WM microstructure based on properties of diffusion. We also expect to investigate the relationship between the changes in WM and executive function in child patients with ADHD. DTI was performed on 24 patients with ADHD and 20 healthy controls. A series of neuropsychological tests and a structural interview were conducted to assess the cognitive functions and clinical data of the ADHD patients and controls. Firstly, child patients with ADHD have higher fractional anisotropy (FA) values in WM in the right frontal region. Secondly, FA in right frontal WM is positively correlated with scores in the Stroop test.

CONCLUSIONS: Increased FA of right frontal WM implies a higher degree of myelination and lower degree of neural branching in WM, contributing to the neurological deficits of ADHD....

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Journal Article 2010; 31(6): 754-760 PubMed PMID: 21196922 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Adult, Analysis of Variance, Antidepressive Agents:therapeutic use, Body Mass Index, Body Weight:drug effects, Combined Modality Therapy, Feeding and Eating Disorders:diagnosis, Female, Humans, Inpatients, Male, Personality Inventory, Precisio.   

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study is to determine how a comprehensive approach comprising a combination of a particular psychotherapeutic programme and antidepressant treatment influences the signs and symptoms of eating disorders.

METHODS: Inpatients entering a particular 6-week programme were assessed using body mass index (BMI), Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI), Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) and psychological symptoms using Symptom Checklist (SCL-90).

RESULTS: In the whole group (n=84) the mean BMI remained stable (17.9, 17.8). There was a significant effect of TIME in the repeated measures ANOVA with most of dependent variables. The "TREATMENT" had no effect (antidepressants, no antidepressants) and there was no significant interaction between "TREATMENT" and "TIME". Post-hoc analysis revealed significant differences between baseline and end-point values of all but two EDI, all EAT items and some SCL dimensions in the antidepressant-treated group.

CONCLUSIONS: The comprehensive and individualized approach is able to achieve weight stabilization, and improvement in attitudes, pathological eating behaviour and psychopathology....

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Journal Article 2010; 31(6): 792-795 PubMed PMID: 21196917 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Cerebral Cortex:drug effects, Disease Models, Animal, Disease Susceptibility, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Electrodes, Implanted, Electrophysiology, Evoked Potentials, Hippocampus:drug effects, Injections, Intraperitoneal, Motor Cortex:patho.   

OBJECTIVES: Nicotine is a widely used drug of abuse exerting number of effects on the central nervous system. The study was aimed at the effects of nicotine in various doses on the excitability of cerebral cortex and - by using the methods of histochemistry - to identify possible signs of neuronal degeneration after nicotine administration.

METHODS: Cortical afterdischarges were elicited by repeated stimulation of the right sensorimotor cortex. The duration of evoked ADs was monitored in animals treated with nicotine (0.75 or 1.0mg/kg) and in animals treated with saline. Methods of histochemistry (Fluoro-Jade B and bis-benzimide) were used to detect possible neuronal degeneration in hippocampus or in cerebral cortex.

RESULTS: No Fluoro-Jade B positive cells were found in hippocampi of control animals, or animals treated with nicotine. ADs length was significantly influenced by administration of nicotine.

CONCLUSION: Nicotine in 0.75 or 1.0 mg/kg dose leads to the decrease in ADs duration, influences the seizure susceptibility, and doesn't cause any detectable neuronal damage....

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Journal Article 2010; 31(6): 738-742 PubMed PMID: 21196916 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Circadian Clocks:physiology, Circadian Rhythm:physiology, Cricetinae, Male, Photoperiod, Reproduction:physiology, Seasons, Time Factors,.   

OBJECTIVES AND DESIGN: In European hamsters a circannual clock drives the seasonal changes in the reproductive state. Its resetting by photoperiod is clearly phase dependent. In mid subjective winter a 1-month pulse of long photoperiod (LP) advances the onset of the reproductive phase of animals maintained in constant short photoperiod (SP) by up to 1.5 months. The present study investigated whether shorter pulses, i.e. 8, 4 or 2 days LP-pulses are still effective to phase shift the circannual rhythm.

MAIN FINDINGS: All pulses induced gonadal development after a similar time relative to the offset of the pulse and earlier than in the control group. Thus, they all shared a similar effectiveness.

CONCLUSIONS: In European hamsters a very brief LP-pulse can phase shift the reproductive rhythm but its strength is not determined by its duration at least not in the tested range....

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Journal Article 2010; 31(6): 771-774 PubMed PMID: 21196913 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Age Factors, Aged, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Personality, Personality Inventory, Saliva:enzymology, Salivary alpha-Amylases:metabolism, Surveys and Questionnaires,.   

OBJECTIVES: Salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) has been utilized as a non-invasive measure of sympathoadrenal medullary (SAM) activation. Little is known regarding the relationship between personality inventories and baseline sAA. This study was designed to examine the relationships between the scores of big five inventory (BFI) factors, age, and sAA in adults (aged twenty to seventy years old).

METHODS: We assessed 97 participants' BFI scores and sAA. The correlations between the BFI factor scores and sAA were examined.

RESULTS: We observed (1) a positive correlation between Neuroticism and sAA, and a negative correlation between Agreeableness and sAA and (2) a positive correlation between age and sAA. These correlations between BFI scores and sAA remained significant after controlling for age. After controlling for age, all BFI factors except Conscientiousness were related to sAA.

CONCLUSIONS: Subjects with high Neuroticism and low Extraversion, Agreeableness and Openness may have high sAA. sAA has been demonstrated to be useful for examining the relationship between adrenergic activity and personality, in a non-invasive manner....

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Journal Article 2010; 31(6): 775-781 PubMed PMID: 21196911 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Aged, Depression:psychology, Female, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Humans, Hyperthyroidism:psychology, Informed Consent:statistics & numerical data, Iodine Radioisotopes:therapeutic use, Male, Middle Aged, Patients:psychology, Poland, Surv.   

OBJECTIVES: Many patients with a chronic disease are dissatisfied with the information they are given. A brief questionnaire completed by patients would assist health professionals to identify areas of information needed to be provided, tailored to the patient's mental condition.

AIM: The aim of our study was to assess how often thyroid patients report being adequately informed about iodine treatment in connection with their real need thereof, emotional state and acceptance of the disease.

METHODS: One hundred outpatients who had presented subclinical hyperthyroidism "[19 men (19%), 81 women (81%); mean (SD±) age 53±14,range 18-77 yr ] treated with radioiodine (RAI) responded to an Experimental Questionnaire, 54 of them answered to AIS, HADS-M and Beck Inventory measuring their acceptance of the illness and depressive symptoms, 37 of them answered the Patient Request Form (PRF).

RESULTS: The obtained results indicated that about 50% of patients treated with 131I therapy did not receive suitable information about their treatment. Neither written information prepared by the specialist, nor verbal information given by physicians were adequate for specific problems of study group. The examined patients presented with a comparable intensity of three distinct types of requests: for explanation and reassurance, for emotional support, and for investigation and treatment. The acceptance of their disease was mediocre for most of the study group.

CONCLUSION: We conclude that the reported lack of satisfaction with medical information in study group was associated with depressive symptoms influencing cognitive efficiency, patients' great need of emotional and cognitive support, influencing the acceptance of their disease, and social prejudice to radioiodine (as a method of treatment), worrying them additionally. All thyroid patients even these with subclinical symptoms of hyperthyroidism should be treated with specific attention by physicians, especially during information process....

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