The association of androgenic sex steroids with serum lipid levels in postmenopausal women

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to examine the correlations between androgenic sex steroids and serum lipid levels in postmenopausal women. Methods. The study group included 72 postmenopausal women. Correlation analysis between serum hormone [dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), androstenedione, free testosterone and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG)] and lipid [total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), lipoprotein (a) [Lp (a)], apolipoprotein A-1 (apo A-1) and apolipoprotein B (apo B)] levels was performed. RESULTS: DHEA-S was found to be positively correlated with HDL-C (r = 0.231, p = 0.049) and negatively correlated with Lp (a) (r = - 0.355, p = 0.002). These correlations were statistically significant even after adjustment for age and body mass index (BMI) (r = 0.332, p = 0.005 and r = -0.362, p = 0.002, respectively). SHBG was positively correlated with HDL-C (r = 0.352, p = 0.002). There was a significant but weaker correlation between SHBG and HDL-C levels after controlling for age and BMI (r = 0.243, p = 0.041). No other correlations were found between sex hormone and lipid levels. CONCLUSION: DHEA-S was found to be associated with a less atherogenic lipid profile in postmenopausal women.     

Hemispheric cerebrovascular venous thrombosis due to closed head injury

Case report We present the case of an 8-month-old infant who was admitted to our Neurosurgery Department with venous infarction related to sagittal sinus thrombosis. The infarction was radiologically detected 5 days after the baby had undergone surgery for acute subdural hematoma due to a closed head injury.Results and conclusions Cerebrovascular venous thrombosis is a rare clinical entity that has multiple causes and variable presenting symptoms. There is no consensus on overall strategy concerning surgical, radiosurgical, or medical therapy (anti-coagulation, thrombolytic, and anti-edema treatment), and exactly how, when, or in which cases these should be applied. The treatment planning should be based on clinical findings, and should be modified according to the clinical course. In this case, the clinical and radiological findings regressed with symptomatic treatment alone.     

Splenic denervation suppresses mRNA gene expression and protein production of IL-1beta and IL-6 by peritoneal macrophages in both Trypanosoma brucei brucei-infected and non-infected rats

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that the nervous system participates in modulating the immune response during experimental African trypanosomiasis caused by Trypanosoma brucei brucei. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using in situ hybridization and immunochemistry, we studied the effects of splenic sympathectomy on mRNA gene expression and protein production of IL-1beta and IL-6 in splenic and peritoneal macrophages (PMPhi) of Sprague-Dawley rats infected with T. brucei brucei and non-infected rats. The enhancements of mRNA gene expression and production of IL-1beta and IL-6 by peritoneal macrophages were significantly suppressed by the splenic sympathectomy in both infected and non-infected rats. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate a probably stimulatory role of the sympathetic nervous system during the host immune response in both normal and T. brucei brucei-infected rats.     

Achievement of pregnancy in globozoospermia with Y chromosome microdeletion after ICSI

Pregnancy achieved with sperm from a patient with globozoospermia is rare, even after ICSI, since the activation of the oocyte may not occur in this disorder. Therefore, activation of the oocytes by piezoelectricity or calcium ionophores has been suggested, although spontaneous activation of the oocyte after ICSI has been reported in some cases. We report a successful pregnancy in a couple in which the male partner had globozoospermia with microdeletions in the Y chromosome with no further assisted activation after ICSI. During the diagnostic study of the husband, increased numerical chromosome abnormalities after fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH) and microdeletions in AZFa; sY86 and AZFb; sY 131 were detected. Out of the 13 oocytes injected, four fertilized and a twin pregnancy was obtained after replacement of four embryos. Healthy twin girls were delivered after a term pregnancy. Some patients with globozoospermia may also have Y chromosome microdeletions, which subsequently may be inherited by the male offspring in cases of achievement of pregnancy.     

Effects of forced diuresis achieved by oral hydration and oral diuretic administration on uroflowmetric parameters and clinical waiting time of patients with lower urinary tract symptoms

INTRODUCTION: We studied the impact of diuresis forced by oral hydration or single-dose oral diuretic administration on uroflowmetric parameters and clinical waiting time of patients with lower urinary tract symptoms. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 58 patients with a mean age of 59 (range 41-77) years who presented with lower urinary tract symptoms were included in the study. The patients were grouped with respect to their International Prostate Symptom Scores as having mild, moderate, or severe symptoms. The prostatic volumes of the patients were calculated using transrectal ultrasound. Uroflowmetric measurements were performed on 3 consecutive days. On the 1st day, the test was performed without diuretic stimulation; on the 2nd day, oral hydration was applied, and on the 3rd day, the patients received 20 mg of furosemide orally. Voiding time, maximum flow rate, voided volume, and the time elapsed in minutes until voiding (waiting time) were recorded. RESULTS: Diuretic stimulation did not significantly alter the uroflowmetric parameters in each symptom group, but the waiting time was significantly reduced. Forced diuresis caused acute urinary retention in 5 of 20 (25%) severely symptomatic patients. CONCLUSIONS: Forced diuresis with oral hydration or oral administration of diuretics improves patient comfort and test applicability by shortening clinical waiting time and reducing the number of attempts to reach the sufficient urine volume for reliable measurements and can be applied safely for mild and moderately symptomatic patients. On the other hand, the risk of 25% of acute urinary retentions should be reconsidered, and the decision about diuretic stimuli should be made carefully by the clinician in severely symptomatic patients.     

Reliability of radionuclide gastroesophageal reflux studies using visual and time-activity curve analysis: inter-observer and intra-observer variation and description of minimum detectable reflux

Radionuclide studies have gained wide acceptance in the evaluation of infants and children with gastroesophageal reflux (GER). For correct interpretation of scan results, knowledge of inter-observer and intra-observer variability and minimum detectable reflux volume is essential. In this study, we evaluated the methodological issues underlying the visual assessment of GER and time activity curve analysis. An in vitro model of stomach and oesophagus was established to determine the minimum detectable reflux by placing various volumes and concentrations representing the diluted activity in the stomach. In the clinical part 99 patients were imaged for 1 h after oral administration of 99mTc sulfur colloid. Eleven patients were excluded from the study either due to incomplete clinical data or suboptimal image quality. Frames of 16 s each, and time-activity curves which were generated after drawing regions of interest from the oesophagus, were read three times by an experienced nuclear medicine physician and a resident in training. On the phantom study, the concentration, volume and duration were the determining factor for the visualization of reflux. In the clinical part, the overall incidence of GER in 88 patients was 69%. The mean intra- and inter-observer reproducibility (kappa values) was 0.76 and 0.7065, respectively. Agreement was slightly higher in the analysis of time-activity curves (0.767 and 0.731). Our results indicate that GER may be reproducibly analysed on scintigraphy by the same and different observers with varying levels of training. Its visualization is associated with reflux duration, volume and dilution factor of radioactivity.     

Social Anxiety and Quality of Life in Vitiligo and Acne Patients with Facial Involvement: A Cross-Sectional Controlled Study

Background

Vitiligo and acne vulgaris, commonly affecting the face, have significant psychological effects and impair the quality of life of the affected individuals. Because of their negative effect on physical appearance, these conditions may act as a potential barrier to social relationships and cause social anxiety.

Objective

The objective of the study was to investigate the social anxiety, quality of life, anxiety, and depression levels of acne and vitiligo patients with facial involvement and compare these levels with healthy controls.

Methods

Thirty-seven vitiligo and 37 acne patients, aged older than 18 years, with facial involvement and 74 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects were included in the study. The patients and healthy controls were asked to complete the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Dermatology Life Quality Index. Disease severity was evaluated both objectively by the physician and subjectively by the patients using a visual analog scale.

Results

Social anxiety, depression, and anxiety levels of vitiligo and acne patients were significantly higher than healthy controls (p < 0.05). Quality of life was impaired in both patient groups (Dermatology Life Quality Index scores for vitiligo: 5.6 ± 5.1; acne: 6.4 ± 6.2). There was no correlation between psychiatric scale scores and disease severity. Quality of life was negatively correlated with social anxiety and depression levels in both patient groups in our study.

Conclusion

Vitiligo and acne patients had higher levels of social anxiety, anxiety, and depression compared with healthy control subjects. Considering that increased psychosocial morbidity was regardless of age, sex, and disease severity and was correlated with quality of life impairment, evaluation of the psychosocial morbidity, in particular social anxiety, may be valuable in all vitiligo and acne patients.