Serum S100B Protein Levels in Patients with Panic Disorder: Effect of Treatment with Selective Serotonine Reuptake Inhibitors

ObjectiveAltered serum S100B protein levels have been shown in several psychiatric disorders. Our aim was to investigate whether plasma S100B is different in patients with panic disorder (PD) when compared with controls. Our second aim was to investigate whether treatment with SSRIs have an effect on S100B levels in patients with PD.MethodsThe sample included 32 patients diagnosed with PD (21 women, 11 men) per DSM-IV criteria and 21 healthy controls (11 women, 10 men). S100B levels were measured with BioVendor Human S100B ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay) kit.Results14 patients were not on drug treatment (43.8%) while 18 patients were taking various SSRIs. Median S100B value was 151.7 pg/mL (minimum-maximum: 120.4-164.7 pg/mL) in the control group, 147.4 pg/mL (minimum-maximum: 138.8-154.1 pg/mL) in the drug free group and 153.0 pg/mL (minimum-maximum: 137.9-164.7 pg/mL) in the treatment group. Kruskal-Wallis analysis showed a significant diffrerence among the three groups (z=9.9, df=2, p=0.007). Follow up Mann-Whitney-U tests indicated that while the control and the patients with treatment were not significantly different (z=-0.05, p=0.96), there were significant differences between the control group and untreated patients (z=-2.6, p=0.009) and treated and untreated patients (z=-3.0, p=0.003).ConclusionOur results suggested that, serum S100B protein level might be decreased in untreated PD patients and that patients who were treated with SSRIs had similar S100B level to healthy controls.     

Evaluation of purified antigen fraction in the immunodiagnosis of cystic echinococcosis

Echinococcus granulosus antigen B fraction (AgB) was evaluated for its prognostic value in the serological follow-up of cystic echinococcosis (CE), compared to crude hydatid fluid (HF) as well as soluble somatic Echinococcus multilocularis antigen (Em). The sensitivity and specificity of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were compared examining 177 sera from patients with different clinical courses and outcome of CE and with other parasitic infections. AgB-ELISA in comparison to confirmed cystic echinococcosis has 96.4 % sensitivity and 97.2 % specificity, with 93.1 % positive predictive value and 98.6 % negative predictive value. The HF-ELISA was more sensitive than the AgB-ELISA, but its specificity was lower. Our results indicate that AgB-ELISA was more satisfactory for seroconfirmation of acute echinococcosis than HF-ELISA. Moreover, the AgB-ELISA has a potential key role in control measures implemented in patients undergoing surgery. In sera of patients more than 3 months after the treatment, no antibody response to antigen B was detected; however, with conventionally used HF-ELISA, they were still positive. The AgB is recommended for the confirmatory diagnosis. AgB-WB allocated low background with typical “triplet” bands at 8-12-16 kDa.     

Successful Hypothermia Treatment of Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy in a Neonate with Epidermolysis Bullosa

Despite advances in the neonatal care, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy in late preterm and term infants remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality. There is lack of data on the application of therapeutic hypothermia in the existence of severe skin lesions. Epidermolysis bullosa is a rare group of inherited conditions which causes blisters in skin and mucosal membranes. In this report, the authors describe a successful whole-body hypothermia treatment of severe hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy in a term newborn with dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. They observed that therapeutic hypothermia may also be given in newborns with dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa without any complications.     

Arg-Phe-amide-related peptides influence gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons

The hypothalamic Arg-Phe-amide-related peptides, gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone and orthologous mammalian peptides of Arg-Phe-amide, may be important regulators of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal reproductive axis. These peptides may modulate the effects of kisspeptins because they are presently recognized as the most potent activators of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis. However, their effects on gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons have not been investigated. In the current study, the GT1-7 cell line-expressing gonadotropin-releasing hormone was used as a model to explore the effects of Arg-Phe- amide-related peptides on kisspeptin activation. Intracellular calcium concentration was quantified using the calcium-sensitive dye, fura-2 acetoxymethyl ester. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone released into the medium was detected via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results showed that 100 nmol/L kisspeptin-10 significantly increased gonadotropin-releasing hormone levels (at 120 minutes of exposure) and intracellular calcium concentrations. Co-treatment of kisspeptin with 1 μmol/L gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone or 1 μmol/L Arg-Phe-amide-related peptide-1 significantly attenuated levels of kisspeptin-induced gonadotropin-releasing hormone but did not affect kisspeptin-induced elevations of intracellular calcium concentration. Overall, the results suggest that gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone and Arg-Phe-amide-related peptide-1 may have inhibitory effects on kisspeptin-activated gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons independent of the calcium signaling pathway.     

Bilateral Lower Limb Edema Caused by Compression of the Retrohepatic Inferior Vena Cava by a Giant Hepatic Hemangioma

Hemangiomas are the most common benign primary tumors of the liver and their prevalence ranges from 0.4% to 20%. Approximately 85% of hemangiomas are clinically asymptomatic and are incidentally detected in imaging studies performed for other causes. In a very small minority of patients, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, distension, palpable mass, obstructive jaundice, bleeding, and signs and symptoms of Budd-Chiari syndrome may develop due to compression of bile duct, hepatic vein, portal vein, and adjacent organs. Occasionally, external compression of inferior vena cava may lead to edema and/or indirect symptoms such as deep vein thrombosis of the lower limbs. In this report, we present a case of giant hepatic hemangioma that completely filled the right lobe of the liver. The patient presented with bilateral lower limb edema and pain. A computed tomography scan detected a 9 × 11 × 12 cm mass indicative of a hemangioma in the right lobe of the liver that compressed the inferior vena cava. The patient refused treatment initially but returned 6 months later presenting with the same symptoms. At that time, the mass had increased in size and a hepatectomy was performed, preserving the middle hepatic vein. By postoperative month 13, the swelling in the lower extremities had decreased significantly and the inferior vena cava appeared normal.     

Serum adipokines and low density lipoprotein subfraction profile in hypopituitary patients with growth hormone deficiency

The aim was to evaluate the concentrations of lipid subfractions in relation to adipokines and metabolic parameters in adult growth hormone (GH)-deficient hypopituitary patients on conventional replacement therapy. The study included 21 GH deficient-hypopituitary patients (age: 36.0 ± 15.1 years, male/female: 7/14) on conventional replacement therapy other than GH and 20 comparable controls (age: 37.3 ± 14.0 years, male/female: 6/14). Lipid subfractions (Lipoprint system), serum adipokine (leptin, adiponectin, resistin) concentrations, body composition, a surrogate marker for insulin resistance (HOMA) and conventional lipid profile were evaluated. No statistically significant difference was found with respect to HOMA, adipokine concentrations and anthropometric parameters between patients and controls except for significantly increased waist-to-hip ratio in hypopituitary group. Total and LDL cholesterol concentrations were significantly higher in the patients. LDL particle size (268.88 ± 3.16 vs. 271.31 ± 3.11 ?, P = 0.151) and small-dense LDL subfraction did not differ significantly. According to logistic regression analysis, triglyceride concentrations ≥1.69 mmol/L was the sole parameter significantly and independently predicted small (<268 ?) LDL particle size (P = 0.019) in the whole group. Increased triglyceride concentrations affect LDL particle size in GH-deficient hypopituitary patients. Small dense LDL seems not directly contribute to atherogenic potential in hypopituitarism.     

Effects of diode laser photocoagulation treatment on ocular biometric parameters in premature infants with retinopathy of prematurity

AIM:To investigate the effects of diode laser treatment on ocular biometric parameters in premature infants with retinopathy of prematurity(ROP).METHODS:Premature infants who received diode laser treatment for ROP(n=68)and premature infants with spontaneous regressed ROP without treatment(n=50)were performed longitudinal ocular biometric measurements including anterior chamber depth,lens thickness and axial length as follows:1 d prior to laser treatment,and 3,6,9,and 12 mo after the laser treatment.RESULTS:The mean birth weight,gestational age and initial examination time values were 936.53±302.07 g,26.66±2.42 wk,36.26±2.73 wk in the treatment group and 959.78±260.08 g,27.28±2.10 wk,36.56±2.54 wk in the control group.There was no statistically significant difference in these demographic characteristics of the groups.Anterior chamber depth,lens thickness and axial length demonstrated statistically significant linear increases during the study period in the two groups(P<0.001 for each).There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of anterior chamber depth after laser treatment.Measurements of the lens thickness at 9 th and 12 th months(9 th month 3.70±0.22 vs 3.60±0.21 mm,P=0.017;12 th month 3.81±0.21 vs 3.69±0.22 mm,P=0.002)and the axial length at 12 th month(19.35±0.79 vs 19.13±0.54 mm,P=0.031)after laser treatment were statistically higher in the treatment group.CONCLUSION:Diode laser retinal photocoagulation treatment in premature infants seems to increase the lens thickness and axial length.