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Journal Article 2007; 28(Suppl 4): 10-11 PubMed PMID: 18030255 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Aged, Alcohol Drinking:epidemiology, Beer, Biomarkers:blood, Cross-Sectional Studies, Europe:epidemiology, Female, Humans, Inflammation:blood, Male, Middle Aged, Wine,.   

: Anti-inflammatory effects of moderate alcohol consumption have been proposed to explain why moderate alcohol intake lowers coronary heart disease risk. The relationship between overall alcohol, beer or wine consumption and markers of systemic inflammation in three different geographical areas in Europe, was investigated....

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Journal Article 2007; 28(Suppl 4): 18-19 PubMed PMID: 18030252 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Alcoholism:complications, Community-Acquired Infections:epidemiology, Health Surveys, Humans, Male, Meningitis, Bacterial:complications, Meningitis, Pneumococcal:complications, Risk Factors, Slovakia:epidemiology, Treatment Outcome,.   

: Etiology, risk factors, treatment and outcome of 21 cases of bacterial meningitis diagnosed in excessive alcohol consumers within 5 years of national community acquired meningitis survey in Slovakia is reported....

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Journal Article 2007; 28(5): 604-609 PubMed PMID: 17994006 Citation  Keywords:  Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity:drug therapy, Basal Ganglia:abnormalities, Case-Control Studies, Caudate Nucleus:abnormalities, Central Nervous System Stimulants:therapeutic use, Child, Female, Functional Laterality, Humans, Male, Methylphen.   

: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neuropsychiatry disorder with several key symptoms, such as inattentiveness, impulsivity and hyperactivity. Neuropsychiatry studies have implicated the frontostriatal circuit in the pathological physiology of the disorder. Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we examined the basal ganglia in 13 ADHD patients and eight unaffected comparison children. The volume of caudate, putamen and globus pallidus was measured. In the ADHD patients, we detected an increased left > right asymmetry of the basal ganglia. This reversal of asymmetry in the globus pallidus and caudate nucleus were statistically significant. These finding provide further evidence of morphological brain abnormalities in ADHD....

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Journal Article 2007; 28(5): 565-573 PubMed PMID: 17984958 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Adult, Age Factors, Androstenedione:blood, Autistic Disorder:blood, Case-Control Studies, Child, Dehydroepiandrosterone:blood, Female, Follicle Stimulating Hormone:blood, Hormones:therapeutic use, Humans, Leuprolide:therapeutic use, Male, Matc.   

: Impairments in social relatedness and communication, repetitive behaviors, abnormal movement patterns, and sensory dysfunction characterize autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Seventy consecutive patients with an ASD diagnosis (DSM-IV criteria, >/= 6 years-old) who presented to the Genetic Centers of America for outpatient genetic/developmental evaluations from 2005-2007 were examined. Patients were evaluated using CLIA-approved Laboratory Cooperation of America (LabCorp) testing for: serum testosterone, serum free testosterone, % free testosterone, serum/plasma dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), androstendione, and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Morning blood samples collected following an overnight fast, compared to the pertinent reference means, showed significantly increased relative mean levels for: serum testosterone (158%), serum free testosterone (214%), percent free testosterone (121%), DHEA (192%), and androstenedione (173%). By contrast, compared to the pertinent reference mean, the relative mean level of FSH (51%) was significantly decreased. Additionally, at least one of the androgen attributes examined exceeded its recognized laboratory age- and sex-specific reference range in 81.4% (57 of 70) of the patients examined. With respect to their age- and sex-specific reference ranges, females had significantly higher overall mean relative testosterone and relative free testosterone levels than males. Increased androgens in patients diagnosed with ASDs may involve cyclical interactions between the androgen and the transsulfuration pathways, particularly following mercury exposure. A review of therapies that have significantly improved clinical outcomes in ASD patients indicates they share commonality in helping lower androgens. Thus, androgens should be routinely clinically measured in patients with an ASD diagnosis and appropriate androgen-lowering therapies considered for those who have significantly elevated levels....

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Journal Article 2007; 28(5): 547-548 PubMed PMID: 17984957 Citation  Keywords:  Child, Preschool, Diagnosis, Differential, Hernia, Inguinal:diagnosis, Humans, Hypospadias:complications, Male, Ovotesticular Disorders of Sex Development:complications, Sex Determination Analysis, Treatment Outcome,.   

: This study examined the differential diagnosis of inguinoscrotal masses and true hermaphroditism as well as incarcerated inguinal hernia in the differential diagnosis of abnormal inguinoscrotal masses. Inguinoscrotal masses are a rare presentation of true hermaphroditism. A child with an inguinoscrotal mass of the right groin and penoscrotal hypospadias was diagnosed. Our case suggested that abnormal inguinoscrotal masses occur in true hermaphroditism as well as incarcerated inguinal hernia. These congenital anomalies should be considered in the differential diagnosis of inguinoscrotal masses of the groin....

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Case Reports 2007; 28(5): 560-564 PubMed PMID: 17984954 Citation  Keywords:  Adenoma:pathology, Adult, Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal:therapeutic use, Choristoma:pathology, Growth Hormone-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma:pathology, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, Male, Peptides, Cyclic:therapeutic .   

: MR spectroscopy (MRS) of hormonally active pituitary adenomas has not been published in literature. We report MR imaging and spectroscopy findings in a 41-year-old man with extrapituitary growth hormone-secreting adenoma. Application of the single voxel proton MRS, SE 135 technique, with voxel size 11x11x11 mm, revealed the elevated choline peak (resonance at 3.2 ppm) in the paramedial aspect of the tumor, while no metabolic activity in the mentioned region was noted using the same method 11 months after Lanreotide treatment. Elevation of choline peak in functional pituitary adenomas could represent an active marker of cellular proliferation, compatible with increased hormonal activity....

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Journal Article 2007; 28(5): 713-716 PubMed PMID: 17984953 Citation  Keywords:  Blood Flow Velocity, Female, Fetal Heart:physiology, Fetus:blood supply, Gestational Age, Humans, Pregnancy, Reference Values, Regional Blood Flow, Ultrasonography, Doppler, Pulsed, Ultrasonography, Prenatal:methods, Umbilical Veins:diagnostic imaging, Ve.   

UNLABELLED: The ductus venosus is the very important part of fetal venous circulation. It plays a central role in return of venous blood from the placenta. This unique shunt carries well-oxygenated blood from the umbilical vein through the inferior atrial inlet on its way across the foramen ovale. Using Doppler ultrasound, it is possible to assess the blood flow in fetal vessels including ductus venosus. It is observed, in animal and human studies, that the typical waveform for blood flow in ductus venosus in early pregnancy can be different depending on numerous conditions e.g. fetal karyotype. This study is performed to assess the physiologic parameters of blood flow in ductus venosus in uncomplicated early pregnancy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: 404 women were examined between 11+0 and 13+6 weeks (+ days) of gestation by ultrasound. Fetal crown-rump length (CRL) was measured to assess the gestational age. The assessment of risk of fetal abnormalities was based on nuchal translucency (NT) measurement. The ductus venosus blood flow with color and spectral Doppler was obtained in all patients. The following features were assessed: pulsatility index (PI), and direction of flow (positive/negative) during atrial contraction (wave A). All cases were followed up to 22 weeks of gestation when the control scan was performed.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: 30 cases were excluded from the uncomplicated group due to: high risk of fetal abnormalities, fetal loss, confirmed fetal abnormalities and utero-placental pathology. 374 women were considered as uncomplicated pregnancy. In both uncomplicated and complicated groups the mean values for pulsatility index (PI) were established. The mean PI value in uncomplicated pregnancies was: 0.91 (SD +/- 0.32). No significant differences between groups were noticed. In 370 cases of uncomplicated pregnancy the A wave direction was positive but in 1.1% of cases the reverse flow in atrial contraction was observed....

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Journal Article 2007; 28(5): 580-584 PubMed PMID: 17984952 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, China, Chromosome Aberrations, Chromosomes, Human, X, Cohort Studies, Cytogenetic Analysis, Decision Trees, Estrogens:blood, Female, Humans, Infertility, Female:blood, Primary Ovarian Insufficiency:blood, Progesterone:blood, Reproductive Techniques.   

OBJECTIVE: Infertility is one of important issues in patients with premature ovarian failure (POF) during their reproductive life. This study would analyze the features of infertility women with POF.

PATIENTS: 138 Chinese infertility women with POF were accrued from the women who visited the Reproductive Medical Center in Shandong Provincal Hospital of Shandong University between May 2003 and November 2006.

METHOD: This study analyzed the clinical, etiology features and karyotype of 138 patients, then evaluates the effect of the therapy.

RESULTS: It showed that most patients' physical situation were suitable for assisted reproductive therapy. The infertility women with POF had high rate of abnormal karyotype (11/65, 16.92%) and lower severe autoimmune disorders rate (2/138,1.45%). Some of them demonstrated family aggregation. FSH was dropped apparently after estrogen-progesterone therapy (p<0.05). The spontaneous pregnancy incidence of the women was 2.17% (3/138).

CONCLUSION: The infertility women with POF were suitable for assisted reproductive therapy and donor oocyte could be an alternate way. Their high chromosomal abnormality rate showed the importance of genetic screening. And estrogen-progesterone therapy was beneficial for improving their endocrine environment....

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