Restless legs syndrome in hemodialysis patients: association with depression and quality of life

Purpose  

The prevalence of restless legs syndrome (RLS) ranging from 6.6% to 83% has been reported in different case series. The pathophysiology of RLS in uremia is still unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of RLS in the hemodialysis patients and to explore depression and associated detrimental impact on quality of life.     

Atorvastatin acutely reduces the reactivity to spasmogens in rat aorta: implication of the inhibition of geranylgeranylation and MYPT‐1 phosphorylation

Statins are known to display benefits in various diseases independently from their cholesterol lowering properties. In this study, we investigated the acute effects of atorvastatin on vascular reactivity to various spasmogens in isolated rat aorta. The responses to noradrenaline (NA, 10^?8–10^?4 m ), endothelin‐1 (ET‐1, 10^?10–10^?7 m ), and potassium chloride (KCl, 10–100 mm ) were evaluated in aortic rings pretreated with atorvastatin (10^?7–10^?4 m , 30 min). To verify the mechanism of action, the effects of atorvastatin were studied in the presence of cholesterol precursor, mevalonate (10^?2 m , 45 min), mevalonate‐derived isoprenoids, namely geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP, 5 × 10^?6 m , 30 min) and farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP, 5 × 10^?6 m , 30 min), and in the absence of endothelium. In parallel, aortic rings were pretreated with the specific inhibitor of Rho kinase, Y‐27632 (10^?7–10^?6 m ). Atorvastatin significantly and concentration‐dependently reduced the contractions to spasmogens in rat aorta. This acute inhibitory effect was also evident in endothelium‐denuded rings. Pretreatment with mevalonate and GGPP, but not with FPP, reversed the inhibitory effect of atorvastatin (10^?4 m ) on NA and ET‐1 induced contractions. Similar to atorvastatin, pretreatment with Y‐27632 inhibited the contractions to NA and KCl in a concentration‐dependent manner. Western blot analysis revealed that both atorvastatin (10^?4 m ) and Y‐27632 (10^?6 m ) pretreatment inhibited the phosphorylation of myosin phosphatase target subunit‐1 (MYPT‐1) triggered by NA, indicating an inhibitory influence on myosin phosphatase. In conclusion, atorvastatin displayed an acute inhibitory effect on vascular contractility evoked by various spasmogens and the inhibitory effect was possibly mediated by the inhibition of mevalonate and GGPP synthesis as well as the prevention of MYPT‐1 phosphorylation induced by Rho/Rho kinase.     

The Oxidant and Antioxidant Status in Pityriasis Rosea

Background:Pityriasis rosea (PR) is usually an asymptomatic and self-limiting papulosquamous skin disease with acute onset. The etiology has not been clarified yet. Recently, increased oxidative stress was found to play a role in etiopathogenesis of multiple cutaneous diseases with T cell-mediated immune response. However, there are no studies demonstrating the oxidative stress status in PR.Aim:The aim of the study is to determine the status of oxidative stress (OS) and paraoxonase (PON) 1/arylesterase enzyme activities in PR.Results:TAS levels and ARES activities in the patient group were significantly lower than the control group. On the other hand, TOS and OSI levels were significantly higher in patients compared with controls. There was no significant correlation between the duration of disease and TAS, TOS, OSI levels, and ARES activities.Conclusion:A systemic oxidative stress exists in PR, which suggests that OS may be involved in the etiopathogenesis of disease.     

Neuroprotective effects of melatonin and omega-3 on hippocampal cells prenatally exposed to 900 MHz electromagnetic fields

Purpose: Adverse effects on human health caused by electromagnetic fields (EMF) associated with the use of mobile phones, particularly among young people, are increasing all the time. The potential deleterious effects of EMF exposure resulting from mobile phones being used in close proximity to the brain require particular evaluation. However, only a limited number of studies have investigated the effects of prenatal exposure to EMF in the development of the pyramidal cells using melatonin (MEL) and omega-3 (ω-3).

Materials and methods: We established seven groups of pregnant rats consisting of three animals each; control (CONT), SHAM, EMF, EMF?+?MEL, MEL, EMF?+?ω-3 and ω-3 alone. The rats in the EMF, EMF?+?MEL, EMF?+?ω-3 groups were exposed to 900?MHz EMF for 60?min/day in an exposure tube during the gestation period. The CONT, MEL and ω-3 group rats were not placed inside the exposure tube or exposed to EMF during the study period. After delivery, only spontaneously delivered male rat pups were selected for the establishment of further groups. Each group of offspring consisted of six animals. The optical fractionator technique was used to determine total pyramidal neuron numbers in the rat hippocampal region.

Results: The total number of pyramidal cells in the cornu ammonis (CA) in the EMF group was significantly lower than in the CONT, SHAM, EMF?+?MEL, and EMF?+?ω-3 groups. No significant difference was observed between the EMF, MEL and ω-3 groups. No difference was also observed between any groups in terms of rats’ body or brain weights.

Conclusion: MEL and ω-3 can protect the cell against neuronal damage in the hippocampus induced by 900?MHz EMF. However, further studies are now needed to evaluate the chronic effects of 900?MHz EMF on the brain in the prenatal period.     

A ciliated foregut cyst in a gallbladder: the smallest recorded

Ciliated foregut cysts (CFCs) are rare masses that develop from the tissues which remain from embryological foregut development. In the literature, about a hundred cases have been described in various organs so far. Although rare, there is a risk of development of squamous cell carcinoma from these cysts that typically bear benign features. Prognosis following the development of carcinoma is poor. A female case presented with upper quadrant pain and was sent to radiology for US examination of the abdomen. In 2010, a cyst which was about 5 mm in size was detected on the wall of the gall bladder. In subsequent US, the lesion reached 7 mm in diameter and a shape protruding to the lumen was included in the findings; therefore, it was decided to operate. The mass was diagnosed as a CFC of the gallbladder. We determined that the lesion had the smallest dimension noted in the literature. Congenital gallbladder cysts are detected rather rarely. The US characteristics are enough to make a definitive diagnosis, and the other imaging methods therefore remain unnecessary. Treatment using a laparoscopic surgical method is the first preference.