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Journal Article 2001; 22(1): 53-73 PubMed PMID: 11393163 Citation  Keywords:  Adrenal Glands:physiology, Animals, Biological Clocks, Blood Pressure:physiology, Chronobiology Disorders:physiopathology, Chronobiology Phenomena, Chronotherapy, Circadian Rhythm:physiology, Drug Administration Schedule, Genomics, Homeostasis, Humans, Pi.   

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Journal Article 2013; 34(8): 780-786 PubMed PMID: 24522026 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Blood Proteins:metabolism, Cognition Disorders:metabolism, Depressive Disorder:metabolism, Female, Humans, Male, Memory:physiology, Middle Aged, Neuropsychological Tests, Oxidative Stress:physiology, Recurrence, Severity of Illness Index, Stroop Te.   

BACKGROUND: Depressive disorders are multifactorial diseases in which cognitive impairments are one of typical features. Thiol protein groups (TPGs) are elements of chemical structure of compounds having antioxidative properties (glutathione peroxidase, metallothioneins) and their oxidation reflects the lost of compensatory capacity of antioxidative mechanisms. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of TPGs in patients with recurrent depressive disorder (rDD) and to define relationship between plasma levels of TPGs and the cognitive performance.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study comprised 76 subjects: patients with rDD (n=43) and healthy subjects (comparison group, CG - n=33). Cognitive function assessment was based on the following 4 tests: the Trail Making Test (TMT), the Stroop Test, Verbal Fluency Test (VFT) and Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT).

RESULTS: The level of TPGs was higher in patients with rDD. In rDD group, the elevated concentration of TPGs in plasma was associated with a decrease in efficiency of declarative-memory, working memory and verbal fluency. The higher was the concentration of plasma TPGs, the greater was the severity of depressive symptoms measured by 21-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), before and after pharmacotherapy. In CG group, the elevated TPGs levels were associated with worse cognitive test performance (AVLT and VFT tests).

CONCLUSIONS: 1) Our study confirms previous results showing increased TPGs level in depression. 2) Our data suggest relation between increased plasma TPGs level in depression and cognitive impairment. 3) The elevated levels of plasma TPGs are related to impairment of the short-term and delayed declarative memory, verbal fluency and working memory....

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Journal Article 2013; 34(8): 756-762 PubMed PMID: 24522025 Citation  Keywords:  Female, Fertility:physiology, Humans, Infertility, Female:drug therapy, Infertility, Male:drug therapy, Male, Pregnancy, Vitamin D:physiology, Vitamin D Deficiency:drug therapy,.   

:&nbsp;Vitamin D is currently in the scope of research in many fields of medicine. Despite that its influence on health remains uncertain. This paper presents the review of the publications concerning the role of calciferol in reproduction processes and its significance in infertility therapy covering topics of polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis infertility, myoma infertility, male infertility, premature ovary failure and in vitro fertilization techniques. The results of latest research articles in those fields has been discussed and summarized. The deficiency of vitamin defined as the concentration of 25-hydroxycalciferol <20 ng/ml is frequently noted in patients of fertility clinics. Serum vitamin D concentration in healthy women is higher comparing to PCOS patients. The supplementation with vitamin D should be applied in the schemes of PCOS treatment both due to an improved insulin resistance and the results of infertility treatment. The explanation of vitamin D activity mechanism in patients with PCOS requires further research. Vitamin D have direct effect on AMH production, and thus increase longer maintenance of ovarian reserve in the patients with its higher concentration. The occurrence of uterine myomas in the group with vitamin D deficiency was evaluated as much higher comparing to controls. On the other hand it is supposed that high concentration of calciferol may be related to an impaired elimination of endometrial cells passing to peritoneal cavity via ovarian reflux causing endometriosis. In male infertility both low (<20 ng/ml) and high (>50 ng/ml) concentration of vitamin D in serum negatively affects spermatozoa number per ml of semen, their progressive movement and morphology. Significant differences as a response on ovulation stimulation, number and quality of embryos depending on vitamin D concentration were not observed in none of the analyzed papers concerning the role of vitamin D in in vitro fertilization (IVF). Better results in patients without calciferol insufficiency are explained by reports about high concentration of vitamin D and its metabolites in human in decidua collected in the 1st trimester of pregnancy which suggests its contribution in proper implantation and local immunological preference of the embryo. It is accepted that the treatment requires vitamin D concentration below 20 ng/ml (up to 50 nmol/l), especially in obese women, these with insulin resistance and small ovarian reserve and in men with oligo- and asthenozoospermia....

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Journal Article 2013; 34(8): 814-820 PubMed PMID: 24522024 Citation  Keywords:  Body Height, Body Mass Index, Humans, Male, Military Personnel:statistics & numerical data, Obesity:epidemiology, Poland:epidemiology, Prevalence, Retrospective Studies, Rural Population:statistics & numerical data, Thinness:epidemiology, Urban Population.   

OBJECTIVES:&nbsp;The aim of the study was to investigate secular trends in body mass index among the young military population. This involved a comparison of changes in the body mass index (BMI) and height among 19-year-old males from 11 successive birth cohorts.

DESIGN:&nbsp;Samples of a total of 37,934 conscripts between 2000 and 2010 were examined using the BMI defined as weight (kg)/ height (m2).

SETTING:&nbsp;The analysis included each medical record for all recruits reporting for examination between 2000 and 2010 to the Military Headquarters in south-east of Poland. Underweight, overweight and obesity were estimated according to World Health Organization criteria. Means of the BMI, body mass and height were calculated for the following three subgroups: (1) rural resident; (2) urban resident (towns with population of 10,000+); and, (3) urban resident (cities with populations of 100,000+).

RESULTS:&nbsp;Secular trends in body mass index have changed significantly between 2000 and 2010. A statistically significant increase in both the prevalence of overweight (10.5% to 15.6%) and obesity (2.5% to 3.8%) were observed. However, the prevalence of underweight also increased from 8.3% to 10.2%.

CONCLUSIONS:&nbsp;Secular trends in BMI have been unfavourable for the military population over the last 10 years studied and, therefore, the need for promotion of health among recruits is very important....

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Case Reports 2013; 34(8): 763-766 PubMed PMID: 24522023 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Central Nervous System Depressants:administration & dosage, Female, Fertility:drug effects, Humans, Male, Melatonin:administration & dosage, Pineal Gland:surgery, Pregnancy, Semen:drug effects, Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm:drug therapy,.   

OBJECTIVES:&nbsp;Little is known about the effect of chronic melatonin treatment on human reproductive function. We report here on the effect of 10 months treatment with a controlled-release melatonin preparation (Circadin®, 2 mg) on spermatogenesis and gonadotropic hormone status in a pinealectomised patient whose melatonin secretion was abolished.

METHODS:&nbsp;Semen analysis, hormone (Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Luteinizing Hormone (LH), inhibin B, prolactin, testosterone and estradiol) and Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin (SHB G) concentrations were determined before and at the end of 4 and 10 months of, treatment.

RESULTS:&nbsp;At the end of treatment, testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin, prolactin and inhibin B levels did not display significant variation with time, whereas FSH and LH levels showed a tendency to a decrease, but remained in the normal range. Sperm concentration and total spermatozoa count dropped below the lower limit of the reference range during melatonin treatment, whereas motility and normal form percentages remained in the normal range. Fertility was preserved, since the patient's wife became pregnant during month 10 of melatonin treatment and gave birth to a healthy female baby.

CONCLUSIONS:&nbsp;this isolated clinical observation shows that more investigations in large patient series are needed to document possible side-effects of melatonin administration on male reproductive function. One should therefore be cautious about melatonin prescription for circadian rhythm sleep disorders in young males....

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Case Reports 2013; 34(8): 723-737 PubMed PMID: 24522022 Citation  Keywords:  Bronchial Hyperreactivity:drug therapy, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Copying Processes, Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic:drug therapy, Humans, Hydrogen:therapeutic use, Lasers:adverse effects, Male, Middle Aged, Oxidative Stress:drug effects, Plant Preparations:therap.   

:&nbsp;Emissions of laser printers and photocopiers (LP&P) may be associated with health problems. The aim of this review is to describe the clinical picture that is triggered by exposure to LP&P and the molecular mechanisms underpinning the symptoms. Exposure to LP&P to vulnerable subjects may cause a symptom complex consisting of 1) irritation and hyperresponsiveness of the upper and lower respiratory tract; and 2) chronic fatigue (syndrome, CFS). Symptoms occur within hours after L&P exposure and may last for some days or become chronic with exacerbations following LP&P exposure. Substances that can be found in toners or are generated during the printing process are Silica nanoparticles, Titanium Dioxide nanoparticles, Carbon Black, metals, ozone, volatile organic compounds (VOC), etc. The latter may generate oxidative and nitrosative stress (O&NS), damage-associated molecular patterns molecules, pulmonary and systemic inflammation, and modulate Toll Like Receptor 4 (TRL4)‑related mechanisms. It is concluded that LP&P emissions may cause activation of the TLR4 Radical Cycle and thus be associated with the onset of chronic inflammatory and O&NS illnesses, such as CFS, in some vulnerable individuals. Cinnamon, an antagonist of the TLR4 complex, and Hydrogen, a potent antiinflammatory and oxygen radical scavenger, may have efficacy treating LP&P-induced illness....

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Journal Article 2013; 34(8): 792-797 PubMed PMID: 24522021 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Epigenesis, Genetic:genetics, Genetic Predisposition to Disease:epidemiology, Genotype, Humans, Male, Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2):genetics, Middle Aged, Polymorphism, Genetic, Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2:genetics, Risk Factors, .   

OBJECTIVES:&nbsp;Increasing evidences support the importance of epigenetic control in schizophrenia pathogenesis. One of the enzymes involved in DNA methylation process through homocysteine metabolism is methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR). The most extensively studied variant in the MTHFR gene is the C677T polymorphism, resulting in reduced enzyme activity and elevated homocysteine level.

METHODS:&nbsp;In sample of 192 schizophrenics and 213 healthy controls an increasing risk of schizophrenia associated with MTHFR 677 CT+TT genotype was found (OR=1.6, p=0.021). Association was also evaluated by considering the C677T polymorphism as an interaction with COMT Val158Met and ADRA2A C-1291G polymorphisms previously associated with schizophrenia risk using a logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS:&nbsp;Previous studies of MTHFR*COMT (C677T*Val158Met) interaction in relation to schizophrenia resulted in inconsistent results. In our sample this interaction did not significantly differ between schizophrenics and control subjects. On the other hand analysis of MTHFR*ADRA2A (C677T*C-1291G) interaction revealed significant association between ADRA2A CC+CG genotype in the MTHFR TC+TT carriers (p=0.008).

CONCLUSIONS:&nbsp;Our results support role of noradrenergic functions as well as previously proposed role of epigenetic control in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Further relevant studies including larger sample size and more markers are needed to prove our results....

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Clinical Trial 2013; 34(8): 802-808 PubMed PMID: 24522020 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic:immunology, Biomarkers:metabolism, Chaperonin 60:immunology, Dental Restoration, Permanent:adverse effects, Device Removal, Electrogalvanism, Intraoral, Female, Humans, Immunoglobulin A:immunology, Male, Metals:immunology.   

BACKGROUND:&nbsp;An enhanced release of metals in the mouth due to galvanic cell formation is considered to be one of the causes of oral discomfort. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of galvanic cell on salivary immune defense factors.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:&nbsp;The levels of IgA1, IgA2, sIgA, lysozyme and antiIgA/HSP60 were evaluated in representative samples from 159 patients with galvanism, from 177 patients without galvanism and in two control groups. All the participants underwent personal history taking, clinical examination, galvanic currents measurement and saliva collection.

RESULTS:&nbsp;Electro active dental materials were removed in 30 patients. There was a significant increase in IgA2 level, a significant decrease in antiIgA/HSP60 levels and an increase in IgA1, sIgA and lysozyme levels found after the removal of electro active restorations. Morphological symptoms disappeared in 70% of the treated patients.

CONCLUSION:&nbsp;The study confirmed that pathologic galvanic phenomena influences the immune defense reactions in the oral cavity and thus may cause the symptoms of oral discomfort. A measurement of the galvanism and a subsequent removal of electro active restorations should become a common therapeutic procedure in the patients with oral discomfort....

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