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Case Reports 2011; 32(4): 405-407 PubMed PMID: 21876491 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Biopsy, Breast Neoplasms:pathology, Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine:pathology, Carcinoma, Papillary:pathology, Cell Differentiation, Female, Humans, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic:pathology,.   

: Solid papillary carcinoma, a special form of breast carcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation, usually presents in women aged 60 years or more. (Koern 2010). According to our best knowledge, we present the second case of such a tumor in pregnant women....

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Journal Article 2011; 32(4): 491-495 PubMed PMID: 21876490 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Borrelia burgdorferi:classification, Borrelia burgdorferi Group:classification, DNA, Bacterial:analysis, Humans, Ixodes:microbiology, Lyme Neuroborreliosis:epidemiology, Nymph:microbiology, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Risk Factors, Slovakia:epidem.   

OBJECTIVE: Lyme borreliosis (LB) is the most disseminated tick-borne disease in the Northern hemisphere, and infestation with ticks is one of the essential factors influencing transmission of the disease to humans. This work intends to compare the occurrence of borrelia circulating in indigenous ticks and in patients suffering from neurological diseases.

MATERIALS & METHODS: The total of 660 nymphs and 567 adult ticks from the Bratislava and Košice areas was examined over the years 2001-2004, and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 82 neurological patients suffering from suspected Lyme borreliosis infection was investigated in the 2007-2009 period, using the polymerase chain reaction method (PCR).

RESULTS: PCR investigation proved presence of borrelia in 23.3% of the total 1227 ticks; of these, co-infection was found in 2.7% of all ticks. Borrelia garinii (9.9%) and B. valaisaina (9.2%) were the prevalent types. PCR investigation of the CSF samples of 32 patients with clinically diagnosed Lyme borreliosis showed the presence of B. burgdorferi s.l. in 17 cases. Positive results were found also in patients with unclear or different diagnoses. In cases where the genospecies could be identified, B. garinii was most frequently found (8x), followed with B. burgdorferi s.s. (4×) and B. afzelii (3×).

CONCLUSIONS: The high infestation level of ticks with borrelia, mainly with B. garinii which is the most-often documented borrelia species identified in neurological patients, is indicative of a high risk of this contamination in Slovakia. B. garinii were found also in our neuroborreliosis patients, whereas their proof in the CSF of patients with suspected neuroborreliosis or with a different clinical diagnosis pointed upon their persistence after an infectious experience. However, knowledge of not only the genospecies but also of the genotypes capable of eliciting an invasive disorder would be necessary for better clarification of the relationship between borrelia and their peccant capacity. Identification of the invasive borrelia types circulating in nature, and clarification of the vector vs. human infection incidence relationship is of importance from the aspect of detailed knowledge of the epidemiology of this disease....

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Journal Article 2011; 32(4): 563-572 PubMed PMID: 21876489 Citation  Keywords:  Female, Gastrointestinal Hormones:genetics, Gene Expression:physiology, Humans, Myometrium:physiology, Placenta:physiology, Pre-Eclampsia:etiology, Pregnancy, RNA, Messenger:metabolism, Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled:genetics, Signal Transduction:physiology.   

OBJECTIVE: Preeclampsia (PE) is a hypertensive complication of the pregnancy. In our study we investigated the expression, localization, and signaling pathways of PK1 and PKR1 in third-trimester human placenta and myometrium and assessed the correlation between the PK1 and PKR1 expression and signaling and the incidence of the PE.

MATERIALS & METHODS: We designed two study groups: pregnant PE patients and healthy, pregnant women. After collection, tissue was placed in RNAlater for RNA extraction, fixed in 4% neutral buffered formalin, and wax embedded for immunohistochemistry or placed in RPMI and transported to the laboratory for in vitro culture. We have collected and processed placental and myometrial biopsies from 40 patients - 19 were PE patients.

RESULTS: Only the PK1 mRNA expression comparison between PE and CTRL in placenta showed statistically significant difference (p=0.004). There was statistically significant difference in cell signaling in myometrium controls in 30 minutes after ligand. The rise in pERK/tERK ratio is clearly visible in time intervals 20 and 30 minutes in controls, although with no statistical significance. There was no difference in PK1 and PKR1 localization in the placenta and myometrium in the groups.

CONCLUSIONS: The number of PKR1 is not reduced in PE. The reduced PK1 mRNA expression is not than dependent on PKR1 mRNA expression. The data shows that ST produces much more PK1 in healthy pregnant women than those suffering from PE. We can conclude that in PE the production of PK1 is impaired and so are the endocrine functions of the ST....

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Journal Article 2011; 32(4): 481-486 PubMed PMID: 21876488 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Attention:physiology, Cognition:physiology, Female, Humans, Male, Memory, Short-Term:physiology, Motor Cortex:physiology, Photic Stimulation:methods, Psychomotor Performance:physiology, Theta Rhythm:physiology, Time Perception:physiology, Transcran.   

OBJECTIVES: Supplementary motor area (SMA) was suggested to have a dominant role in the temporal control of behavior by many neuroimaging studies. The aim of this study was to support this hypothesis by influencing time estimates with theta burst transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) over the SMA.

METHODS: Nineteen healthy volunteers with a mean age 25.9±3 (SD) years performed the time reproduction task (TRT) before and after 190 seconds of intermittent theta-burst TMS over SMA and the precuneus (total 600 pulses). The TRT consisted of an encoding phase (during which visual stimuli with durations of 5, 10 and 16.82 seconds were presented pseudorandomly) and a reproduction phase (during which interval durations were reproduced by pressing a button). Mean subjects' interval estimates as a measure of accuracy and standard deviation as a measure of variability pre-TMS and post-TMS were compared.

RESULTS:&nbsp;Theta-burst TMS over both areas had no effect on the accuracy of duration estimates. An increased variability of interval reproduction was present after stimulation of the precuneus (p<0.01) with the biggest effect on the five second interval. Stimulation of SMA caused a decrease of variability in the ten second interval only (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION:&nbsp;It is likely that increased variability of time estimates is a non-specific result of impaired attention and working memory after theta-burst TMS. Decreased variability after stimulation over the SMA could be explained in terms of enhanced activity of the physiological oscillator with a frequency close to 0.1 Hz....

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Case Reports 2011; 32(4): 408-410 PubMed PMID: 21876487 Citation  Keywords:  Child, Choristoma:genetics, Chromosome Aberrations, Chromosomes, Human, Y, Cryptorchidism:genetics, Hernia, Inguinal:genetics, Humans, Hypospadias:genetics, Male, Mosaicism, Sex Chromosome Aberrations,.   

OBJECTIVES:&nbsp;Growth disturbances and developmental malformations of external genitalia, such as hypospadias, bifid scrotum and micropenis, coexisting with non-palpable testes, may develop as a result of primary endocrinological dysfunctions as well as an effect secondary to chromosomal aberrations. Therefore, patients with these symptoms require specific diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

DESIGN AND METHODS:&nbsp;We present an example of TTE as a presentation of karyotype abnormalities. Clinical presentation - 9.5 year old boy presented with hypospadias, bilateral cryptorchidism and right inguinal hernia and short stature.

RESULTS:&nbsp;Endocrine test showed low testosterone levels with adequate gonadal response. Laparoscopy was performed and revealed the presence of TTE.

CONCLUSIONS:&nbsp;The presence of mosaic karyotype with abnormal Y chromosome does not exclude a possibility of testis migration disorders, including TTE, caused by other (possibly genetic) factors. Laparoscopy is a technique of choice for diagnosis and treatment in cases of cryptorchidism....

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Journal Article 2011; 32(4): 510-517 PubMed PMID: 21876486 Citation  Keywords:  Animal Feed, Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena:physiology, Animals, Animals, Suckling:growth & development, Colostrum:metabolism, Dietary Supplements, Esters:pharmacokinetics, Eukaryota, Fatty Acids:pharmacokinetics, Female, Iodine:pharmacokineti.   

OBJECTIVES:&nbsp;The aim of the study was to compare iodine utilization from different sources by sows and their progeny and the levels of T3 and T4 in their serum.

DESIGN:&nbsp;Pregnant Czech Large White × Landrace sows were fed with an experimental KPK diet (a diet for lactating sows) 14 days before parturition until weaning (at a piglet age of 28 days). In group A (n=50, 10 sows, 40 piglets) the feed was supplemented with KI (0.6 mg of iodine per kg of feed). Iodine enriched alga Chlorella spp. (0.6 mg of iodine per kg of feed) was used as a supplement in group B (n=50, 10 sows, 40 piglets). In group C (n=50, 10 sows, 40 piglets) the sows were injected i.m. with IFAE at a dose of 100 mg of iodine per sow. Iodine, T3 and T4 were measured in each group for comparison of iodine utilization.

RESULTS:&nbsp;The use of IFAE resulted in higher serum concentrations in sows compared to KI and alga. In contrast, iodine concentrations in milk and piglets were lower when IFAE were used. We found a wide variation in the concentrations of T3 and T4 in the serum of piglets in all groups.

CONCLUSION:&nbsp;Our results indicate a good utilization of iodized oil by sows. However, its transfer into milk is lower compared to the other iodine sources....

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Journal Article 2011; 32(4): 487-490 PubMed PMID: 21876485 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Behavior, Animal:drug effects, Disease Models, Animal, Electroencephalography, Epilepsy, Absence:chemically induced, Grooming:drug effects, Male, Mastication:drug effects, Motor Activity:physiology, Rats, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Veratridine:toxicit.   

OBJECTIVES:&nbsp;Veratridine was characterized previously as an experimental model of epilepsy in vitro. The aim of this preliminary investigation is to identify the pattern of seizure induced by this model in vivo.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:&nbsp;Veratridine (200 μg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally to male Sprague-Dawley rats and the electrical activity of the brain was recorded as surface electroencephalogram (EEG).

RESULTS:&nbsp;The animals developed behavioral effects manifested as grooming, masticatory movements, facial automatism and wet dog shakes (WDSs). There were episodes of complete quiescent periods for 2-5 minutes before the animals presumed activity which were repeated every 15-20 minutes. The seizure activity during this silent activity showed fast frequency signals in the surface EEG correlating with absence seizure. The WDS behaviour was associated with electrical spikes on the EEG. When the rats were pre-treated with 200mg/kg ethosuximide (ETX), EEG recordings did not display the same fast frequency signal as that observed in animals receiving veratridine only. The number and duration of WDSs were not altered by ETX (200-400 mg/kg).

CONCLUSION:&nbsp;Veratridine produced an absence like-seizure activity in the surface EEG, sensitive to ETX and correlates with its behavioural effects....

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Journal Article 2011; 32(3): 221-225 PubMed PMID: 21712792 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Algorithms, Behavior, Addictive:psychology, Choice Behavior, Economics, Humans, Nonlinear Dynamics, Psychophysics, Time Perception:physiology,.   

:&nbsp;Neuroeconomic conditions for "rational addiction" (Becker & Murphy 1988) have been unknown. This paper derived the conditions for "rational addiction" by utilizing a nonlinear time-perception theory of "hyperbolic" discounting, which is mathematically equivalent to the q-exponential intertemporal choice model based on Tsallis' statistics. It is shown that (i) Arrow-Pratt measure for temporal cognition corresponds to the degree of irrationality (i.e., Prelec's "decreasing impatience" parameter of temporal discounting) and (ii) rationality in addicts is controlled by a nondimensionalization parameter of the logarithmic time-perception function. Furthermore, the present theory illustrates the possibility that addictive drugs increase impulsivity via dopaminergic neuroadaptation without increasing irrationality. Future directions in the application of the model to studies in neuroeconomics are discussed....

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