Serum leptin level in women with unexplained infertility

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to compare serum levels of leptin in women with unexplained infertility with fertile subjects. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Serum leptin levels of 27 infertile and 30 fertile women on day 3 of the menstrual cycle were assessed and compared in this prospective age and body mass index (BMI) comparable controlled study. RESULTS: The mean age in the infertile group was 29.3 (range, 23-38), while this figure was 28.9 (range, 19-39) in the fertile group; the mean BMIs were 24.5 (range, 20.6-27.8) and 25.0 (range, 21.8-28.7), respectively. The mean serum leptin level was significantly higher in women with unexplained infertility compared with fertile subjects. Considering normal weight subjects, mean serum leptin levels were increased significantly in the unexplained infertile group compared with the fertile group (7.2 (range, 4.3-10.4) versus 3.5 (range, 1.9-6.2)ng/ml, respectively; p<0.0001, Mann-Whitney U-test). The significant increase in serum leptin levels was observed also in overweight patients (6.8 (range, 1.3-5.2) versus 3.3 (range, 4.2-8.9)ng/ml, respectively; p<0.0001, Mann-Whitney U-test). CONCLUSION: A significant difference in serum leptin levels between unexplained infertile and fertile women suggests that this cytokine may be involved in pathophysiology of unexplained infertility.     

Spectroscopic,antiproliferative and antiradical properties of Cu(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II) complexes with amino acid based Schiff bases

Novel six Cu(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II) complexes with Schiff bases derived from 4-aminobenzoic acid with terephtaldehyde and amino acids (glycine, β-alanine). Structures have been proposed from elemental analysis, UV–Vis, IR, NMR, TGA, DTA, and magnetic measurements. Spectroscopic studies suggest that coordination occurs through azomethine nitrogen, hydroxyl group, and carbonyl oxygen of the ligands to the metal ions. The elemental analyses of the complexes where L is Schiff base ligands, are confined to the stoichiometry of the type M₂L₂(CH₃COO)₂ [M = Cu(II)]; and M₂L(CH₃COO)₂ [M = Ni(II) and Zn(II)]. The cytotoxicity activities of the compounds against human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cell line have been studied. Ligands and their Zn(II) compounds inhibited cell proliferation of MCF-7 cancer cell lines in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The free radical scavenging activity was measured by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazil. Our results show that the synthesized compounds induced oxidative damage by increasing the lipid peroxidation in yeast since MDA formation was increased, and it could be concluded that the synthesized compounds caused oxidative stress. In addition, the antioxidant activities of the synthesized compounds were very much lower than those of standard antioxidants.     

Effect of sildenafil on anxiety in the plus-maze test in mice

Several studies have shown a role of nitric oxide/cyclic guanosine monophosphate signaling pathway in the regulation of anxiety. The effects of the phosphodiesterase (PDE) 5 inhibitors on anxiety are not fully understood. The aim of present study was to investigate the possible role of sildenafil, an inhibitor of cyclic GMP-specific phosphodiesterase, on anxiety in the plus-maze test in mice. Sildenafil at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg had no significant effect on the behavior in the plus-maze test but at doses of 1 and 3 mg/kg induced an anxiogenic effect. The combination of sildenafil (1 mg/kg, i.p.) and methylene blue (1 mg/kg, i.p.) abolished the anxiogenic-like effect of sildenafil. The combination of sildenafil (1 mg/kg, i.p.) and L-arginine (50 mg/kg, i.p.) decreased the percentage of time spent in open arms compared to saline-treated group. Diazepam at a dose of 2 mg/kg significantly increased the percentage of time spent in open arms (p < 0.05). Sildenafil at a dose of 3 mg/kg and the combination of L-arginine (50 mg/kg, i.p.) and sildenafil (1 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly decreased the locomotor activity (p < 0.05). These results suggest that a nitric oxide-cGMP pathway seems to play an important role in sildenafil-induced anxiogenic-like effect.     

Investigation of lead contents in lipsticks by solid sampling high resolution continuum source electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

In this study, the lead contents of different kinds of lipsticks were determined by solid sampling high resolution continuum source electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (SS-HR-CS ET AAS) and the results were compared with those obtained after microwave-assisted acid digestion of the samples. The experimental parameters for solid sampling such as the maximum amount of sample on the platforms of solid autosampler, graphite furnace program were optimized. Samples were directly loaded on the platforms of solid autosampler between 0.25 and 2.0 mg and lead was determined applying 800 °C for pyrolysis and 2100 °C for atomization. Under optimized conditions, interference-free determination could be performed using aqueous standards. The LOD and the characteristic mass were 21.3 and 12.6 pg, respectively. The lead in the same lipstick samples was determined after microwave-assisted acid digestion and compared with those found by solid sampling. Mostly, there was no significant difference between the lead concentrations found by the two techniques. The lead in 25 lipstick samples with different properties were 0.11–4.48 ng mg^?1 which were not significantly different from those (<0.026–7.19 ng mg^?1) reported by FDA for around 400 samples.     

Effects of calcium channel blockers on hyaluronidase-induced capillary vascular permeability

Inflammation and increased capillary permeability is a significant aspect of the pathogenesis of many diseases including atherosclerosis. L-type calcium channel blockers (CCB) are commonly used as cardiovascular drugs. Amlodipine, lacidipine, and nicardipine were evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity on the paw oedema produced by carrageenan. The effect of these drugs was compared with the activity of indomethacin. Their effects on vascular permeability were also tested by hyaluronidase-induced capillary permeability. In our animal experiments, amlodipine decreased the carrageenan-induced paw oedema at doses of 1, 3, and 6 mg kg(-1) by 27.3%, 43.7%, and 67.3% four hour after carrageenan administration; the same doses of lacidipine and nicardipine decreased paw oedema by 37.1%, 55.6%, 76.4%, 11.2%, 31.0%, 91%; and indomethacin decreased oedema by 38.2% at a dose of 6 mg kg(-1). Lacidipine significantly inhibited the hyaluronidase-induced increase in capillary permeability at doses of 1, 3, and 6 mg kg(-1) compared with the control group. However, amlodipine and nicardipine significantly inhibited the hyaluronidase-induced increase in capillary permeability at 3 and 6 mg kg(-1) doses. A 6 mg kg(-1) dose of indomethacin significantly decreased the capillary permeability which was increased by hyaluronidase. These results suggest that CCBs can be efficient anti-inflammatories, and can also significantly decrease capillary permeability.     

α-Lipoic acid has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties: an experimental study in rats with carrageenan-induced acute and cotton pellet-induced chronic inflammations

α-Lipoic acid (ALA) has been termed the 'ideal' antioxidant, a readily absorbed and bioavailable compound capable of scavenging a number of free radicals, and it has been used for treating diseases in which oxidative stress plays a major role. The present study was designed to gain a better understanding for the positive effects of ALA on the models of acute and chronic inflammation in rats, and also determine its anti-oxidative potency. In an acute model, three doses of ALA (50, 100 and 200?mg/kg) and one dose of indomethacin (25?mg/kg) or diclofenac (25?mg/kg) were administered to rats by oral administration. The paw volumes of the animals were calculated plethysmometrically, and 0·1?ml of 1?% carrageenan (CAR) was injected into the hind paw of each animal 1?h after oral drug administration. The change in paw volume was detected as five replicates every 60?min by plethysmometry. In particular, we investigated the activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and myeloperoxidase (MPx), and the amounts of lipid peroxidation (LPO) or total GSH in the paw tissues of CAR-injected rats. We showed that ALA exhibited anti-inflammatory effects on both acute and chronic inflammations, and a strongly anti-oxidative potency on linoleic acid oxidation. Moreover, the administration of CAR induced oedema in the paws. ALA significantly inhibited the ability of CAR to induce: (1) the degree of acute inflammation, (2) the rise in MPx activity, (3) the increases of GST and iNOS activities and the amount of LPO and (4) the decreases of GPx, GR and SOD activities and the amount of GSH. In conclusion, these results suggest that the anti-inflammatory properties of ALA, which has a strong anti-oxidative potency, could be related to its positive effects on the antioxidant system in a variety of tissues in rats.     

Anxiolytic-like profile of propofol, a general anesthetic, in the plus-maze test in mice

The present study was performed to investigate the effect of propofol on anxiety using the elevated plus-maze test. Groups of mice received propofol (20, 40, 60 mg/kg) or diazepam (2 mg/kg), caffeine (30 mg/kg), L-arginine (100 mg/kg), m-chlorophenylpiperazine (m-CPP, 2.5 mg/kg) and then were placed in an elevated plus-maze that was composed of two opposite closed arms and two opposite open arms. Propofol (20, 40, 60 mg/kg) and diazepam (2 mg/kg) significantly increased the percentage of time spent in the open arms compared to control. Caffeine (30 mg/kg) and m-CPP (2.5 mg/kg) decreased the percentage of time spent in the open arms and these effects were antagonized when propofol (40 mg/kg) was administered before the test. L-arginine (100 mg/kg) has also produced anxiogenic effect and this effect was not prevented by propofol. All drugs used in this study did not significantly change locomotor activity. These results suggest that propofol has anxiolytic effect in plus-maze test.     

Low-fluence photodynamic therapy combinations in the treatment of exudative age-related macular degeneration

AIM: To compare the efficacy of low-fluence photodynamic therapy (PDT) combinations in the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: Forty-five previously untreated eyes of 45 patients with exudative AMD whose best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was ≥0.3 (Snellen) were enrolled. 15 patients in Group I underwent low-fluence PDT (25J/cm2-300mW/cm2-83sec) and intravitreal pegaptanib combination, 15 patients in Group II underwent PDT (50J/cm2-600mW/cm2-83sec) and intravitreal pegaptanib combination while, 15 patients in Group III underwent intravitreal pegaptanib monotherapy. Complete ophthalmologic examinations were performed in pre and post treatment visits, and the results were statistically analised. A clinical activity score (CAS) was calculated by using changes in lesion size, amount of hemorrhage, staining pattern in FA and OCT measurement of intra/subretinal fluid. ≤ 3 logMAR lines of decrease in BCVA and decrease in CAS were considered as successful treatment. RESULTS: The mean age of 19 female (42.2%) and 26 male (57.8%) patients was 72.82±8.02 years. Mean follow-up was 13.93±5.87 months. Lesion type was occult in 28 eyes (62.2%). Treatment success rates according to BCVA assessments were 86.7%, 80%, 60% and mean BCVA decrease were 0.3, 1.0, 2.2 logMAR lines in Group I, II and III, respectively (P>0.05). According to the changes in central macular thickness and CAS, no difference was found among the study groups (P=0.850 and P=0.811, respectively). Patients treated with combination regimens had lower intravitreal injection frequencies (P=0.015). CONCLUSION: Combination regimen with intravitreal pegaptanib and low-fluence PDT seems to be safe and effective in stabilizing the clinical activity and BCVA in exudative AMD.     

The effect of adrenalectomy on leptin levels and some metabolic parameters in rats with diet-induced obesity

Recently, there has been many investigations on the relationship between leptin and obesity, which is the main health problem in developed countries. In some reports, it has been claimed that the adrenalectomy has lead to weight loss and thus prevented obesity induced in rodents in various ways. It has also been accepted that diet-induced obesity in animals is very similar to obesity in humans beings. In this study, obesity has been developed with high-calorie diet given for 8 weeks in Sprague-Dawley rats. Then, it has been investigated how leptin and some metabolic parameters change in blood samples obtained from rats 15 d after adrenalectomy. Leptin levels was determined with Radio Immun Assay (RIA, Linco Research Co) method. Our study showed that, there were statistically significant increases in leptin (p<0.001), glucose (p<0.05), triglyceride (p<0.01) levels in diet-induced obese rats (n=19) when compared with the findings of control rats, lean ones (n=16), (Tables 3, 4). Adrenalectomy led to decreased serum leptin (p<0.001) and triglyceride (p<0.01) levels both in the obese and lean rats (Table 5). As a conclusion, it could be claimed that the decrease in leptin levels may be attributed to reduced adipose tissue due to adrenalectomy. On the other hand, the decreases in glucose and triglyceride levels might be the consequence of reduced lipogenesis and impaired gluconeogenesis with the effect of adrenalectomy. It was concluded that adrenalectomy might prevent obesity by affecting leptin and intermediate metabolism.     

Bilateral acute iris transillumination following a fumigation therapy: a village-based traditional method for the treatment of ophthalmomyiasis

Bilateral acute iris transillumination (BAIT) is a relatively new clinical entity characterized by bilateral acute loss of iris pigment epithelium, iris transillumination, pigment dispersion in the anterior chamber and atonic pupilla. We report herein a 50-year-old female who presented with bilateral ocular pain, severe photophobia and red eyes. One month ago, a fly hit her eye, and she instantly complained of a discomfort and sensation of a foreign body in both eyes. She used a fumigation therapy, a traditional method for the treatment of ophthalmomyiasis. During follow-up examinations, intraocular pressures increased over 40?mmHg bilaterally despite maximal medical therapy, which necessitated trabeculectomy surgery with mitomycin. This is a typical BAIT case with no antecedent fluoroquinolone use or viral disease, but a fumigation therapy. There might be a possible relationship between BAIT and traditional fumigation therapy or this association might be coincidental, both of which need further evaluation.