Dopaminergic Function in the Psychosis Spectrum: An [18F]-DOPA Imaging Study in Healthy Individuals With Auditory Hallucinations

Background: The psychosis phenotype appears to exist in the population as a continuum, but it is not clear if subclinical psychotic symptoms and psychotic disorders share the same neurobiology. We investigated whether the dopaminergic dysfunction seen in psychotic disorders is also present in healthy, well-functioning people with hallucinations. Methods: We compared dopamine synthesis capacity (using 6-[¹⁸F]fluoro-L-DOPA [[¹⁸F]-DOPA] positron emission tomography imaging) in 16 healthy individuals with frequent persistent auditory verbal hallucinations (hallucinating group) with that in 16 matched controls. Results: There was no significant difference in dopamine synthesis capacity in the striatum, or its functional subdivisions, between groups and no relationship between subclinical psychotic symptom severity or schizotypal traits and dopamine synthesis capacity in the hallucinating group. Conclusions: Altered dopamine synthesis capacity is unlikely to underlie subclinical hallucinations, suggesting that although there may be a phenomenological psychosis continuum, there are distinctions at the neurobiological level.     

Preventive Effect of Ethyl Pyruvate on Postoperative Adhesion Formation Following Abdominal Surgery

Objective: Postoperative adhesions are among the major causes of morbidity and mortality following abdominal surgery. As an antioxidant and antiinflamatory agent, the potential effect of ethyl pyruvate on adhesion prevention has not been clearly studied. We aimed to investigate the possible anti-adhesive effect of ethyl pyruvate compared with an effective barrier membrane, Seprafilm, in a rat cecal abrasion model. Materials and Methods: Male Wistar albino rats separated into three adhesion model groups (n = 8, each) with applications of different agents during surgery: control (intraperitoneal normal saline), Seprafilm group (intraperitoneal Seprafilm), and Ethyl pyruvate group (40 mg/kg intraperitoneal ethyl pyruvate). Postoperative adhesion was graded both macroscopically and histopathologically. Malondialdehyde and nitric oxide levels were determined from tissue samples for assessment of oxidative stress. Results: Seprafilm and Ethyl pyruvate groups had lower adhesion scores (both macroscopic and microscopic) and decreased malondialdehyde and nitric oxide levels compared to the control group (p < 0.05 for all parameters). The results were comparable for both Seprafilm and Ethyl pyruvate groups for all parameters (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Intraperitoneal ethyl pyruvate application reduced the incidence and the extent of postoperative adhesions in rat cecal abrasion model. Ethyl pyruvate also had comparable overall efficacy for adhesion prevention as Seprafilm.     

The effect of low-level laser therapy on non-surgical periodontal treatment: a randomized controlled,single-blind,split-mouth clinical trial

The purpose of this split-mouth, single-blind, controlled clinical study was to evaluate the impact of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) as an adjunct to non-surgical treatment of chronic periodontitis. Twenty-five systemically healthy and non-smoking adults with chronic periodontitis who had at least two bilateral premolar teeth with probing pocket depth (PPD) of 7?≥?x?≥?5 mm were included in the study. In the periodontal examination of these patients, PPD, gingival index (GI), plaque index (PI), clinical attachment level (CAL), and bleeding on probing (BOP) were recorded at the baseline, first, third, and sixth months after treatment. Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) samples were taken at the baseline, first week, and first month after treatment. The collected GCF samples were analyzed using the MAGPIX? system with a Bio-Plex Pro? Human Cytokine 27-plex kit. After non-surgical periodontal treatment, LLLT with an energy density of 7.64 J/cm² was performed four times: immediately after scaling and root planning (SRP) and on the first, third, and seventh day after treatment. In the first month, PPD levels were significantly (p?<?0.05) lower in the SRP?+?LLLT group than in the SRP group. At the third and sixth months, CAL, PPD, and GI were significantly (p?<?0.05) lower in the SRP?+?LLLT group than in the SRP group. Differences in GCF cytokines levels among the group were not statistically significant. Within the limitations of this study, it is indicated that LLLT as an adjunct to non-surgical periodontal treatment has a positive impact on clinical parameters.     

Kisspeptin levels in idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism diagnosed male patients and its relation with glucose-insulin dynamic

Male hypogonadism is defined as the deficiency of testosterone or sperm production synthesized by testicles or the deficiency of both. The reasons for hypogonadism may be primary, meaning testicular or secondary, meaning hypothalamohypophyseal. In hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH), there is indeficiency in gonadotropic hormones due to hypothalamic or hypophyseal reasons. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is an important stimulant in releasing follicular stimulant hormone (FSH), mainly luteinizing hormone (LH). GnRH omitted is under the effect of many hormonal or stimulating factors. Kisspeptin is present in many places of the body, mostly in hypothalamic anteroventral periventricular nucleus and arcuate nucleus. Kisspeptin has a suppressor effect on the metastasis of many tumors such as breast cancer and malign melanoma metastases, and is called “metastin” for this reason. Kisspeptin is a strong stimulant of GnRH. In idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH) etiology, there is gonadotropic hormone release indeficiency which cannot be clearly described.

A total of 30 male hypogonatropic hypogonadism diagnosed patients over 30 years of age who have applied to Haydarpasa Education Hospital Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases Service were included in the study. Compared to the control group, the effect of kisspeptin on male patients with hypogonatropic hypogonadism and on insulin resistance developing in hypogonadism patients was investigated in our study.

A statistically significant difference was detected between average kisspeptin measurements of the groups (p?The reason for high kisspeptin levels in the patient group compared to the control group makes us consider that there may be a GPR54 resistance or GnRH neuronal transfer pathway defect. When patients and control groups were compared for HOMA-IR, the difference was not statistically significant. It is considered that kisspeptin is one of the reasons for hypogonatropic hypogonadism and has less effect on insulin resistance.     

A TGF-beta1 polymorphism association with dementia and neuropathologies: the HAAS

The transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) is involved in post-ischemic neuronal rescue and in beta-amyloid turn-over. We hypothesized that the risk for dementia and related neuropathologies is modified by the TGF-beta1 functional genetic variants. The association of the TGF-beta1+29T-->C polymorphism with dementia was examined in a sample of 261 cases and 491 controls from the Honolulu-Asia Aging Study, including 282 subjects with autopsy data. Dementia was assessed in 1991 and 1994 by a multi-step protocol and standardized diagnostic criteria. The analysis was adjusted for demographic and vascular factors. Compared to the TT genotype, the TC and the CC genotypes were associated with a reduced risk for vascular dementia (OR(TC)=0.28, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.1-0.9; OR(CC)=0.28, CI: 0.1-0.9), microinfarcts (OR(CC)=0.31, CI: 0.13-0.71) and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (OR(CC)=0.48, CI: 0.2-0.9). The CC genotype was associated with an increase risk of neocortical plaques (OR(CC)=4.34, CI: 1.6-11.8). These preliminary data suggest that the TGF genetic variability may be important in the risk of vascular related dementia.     

Synthesis,anticancer activity,and molecular modeling of etodolac‐thioether derivatives as potent methionine aminopeptidase (type II) inhibitors

A series of (R,S)‐1‐{[5‐(substituted)sulfanyl‐4‐substituted‐4H‐1,2,4‐triazole‐3‐yl]methyl}‐1,8‐diethyl‐1,3,4,9‐tetrahydropyrano[3,4‐b]indoles ( 5a–v ) were designed and synthesized using a five‐step synthetic protocol that involves substituted benzyl chlorides and (R,S)‐5‐[(1,8‐diethyl‐1,3,4,9‐tetrahydropyrano[3,4‐b]indole‐1‐yl)methyl]‐4‐substituted‐2,4‐dihydro‐3H‐1,2,4‐triazole‐3‐thiones in the final step. The synthesized derivatives were evaluated for cytotoxicity and anticancer activity in vitro using the MTT (3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide) colorimetric method against VERO, HEPG2 (human hepatocellular liver carcinoma), SKOV3 (ovarian carcinoma), MCF7 (human breast adenocarcinoma), PC3 and DU145 (prostate carcinoma) cells at 10^?5 M (10 μM) for 24 h. Compounds 5d and 5h showed the best biological potency against the SKOV3 cancer cell line (IC₅₀ = 7.22 and 5.10 μM, respectively) and did not display cytotoxicity toward VERO cells compared to etodolac. Compounds 5k , 5s , and 5v showed the most potent biological activity against the PC3 cancer cell line (IC₅₀ = 8.18, 3.10, and 4.00 μM, respectively) and did not display cytotoxicity. Moreover, these compounds were evaluated for caspase‐3, ‐9, and ‐8 protein expression and activation in the apoptosis pathway for 6, 12, and 24 h, which play a key role in the treatment of cancer. In this study, we also investigated the apoptotic mechanism and molecular modeling of compounds 5k and 5v on the methionine aminopeptidase (type II) enzyme active site in order to get insights into the binding mode and energy.

     

Benefits of boarding home placement in patients with schizophrenia

OBJECTIVE: To determine if boarding home placement of patients with schizophrenia decreases the need for acute inpatient treatment, during and after the placement. METHOD: Data was collected from the medical records of 74 patients initially diagnosed with schizophrenia in our hospital from July 2001 to June 2002. The progress of these patients was then tracked until February 2005. Data gathered was analyzed for standard deviation, correlations, paired sample test and t test two-tailed analysis. RESULTS: Of those patients, 35 had no boarding home (BH) placement and used our inpatient services with a frequency of 1.1 day a month on average. Another 20 patients were placed in a BH after an average period often months without placement in a BH. During the pre-BH period they needed more acute inpatient care (3.3 versus 1.1 day/month) than patients that did not receive BH services (P < 0.0003). Following BH placement, these 20 patients spent an average of 14 months in a BH requiring only 0.34 days/month of inpatient treatment. On discharge from the BH, for the next eleven months they needed only 0.22 days/month of inpatient services. This rate of hospitalization was less than that of the same patients before BH placement (P = 0.0003) and patients that were not placed in a BH (P < 0.001). The remaining 19 patients were lost to follow-up, likely as result of their travel patterns. CONCLUSION: The patients who received BH care required fewer days of hospitalization than the same patients in the pre-BH period and fewer days of hospitalization than the patients who did not receive BH care. This effect persisted for at least 11 months after leaving the boarding home.     

Unilateral parotid gland involvement with synchronous multiple Basal cell adenomas

Basal cell adenoma (BCA) is a rare benign epithelial tumor of the salivary gland. BCA is seen most frequently in the parotid gland and less commonly in the submandibular gland and minor glands of the upper lips, oral cavity, and hard palate. Salivary gland tumors are observed as single tumors in one salivary gland. Double or multiple tumors of the salivary gland tumors are unusual and metachronous or bilateral salivary gland tumors are more observed than synchronous or unilateral tumors. The most commonly seen multiple tumor unilaterally or bilaterally is the Warthin's tumor. A 65-year-old woman with a painful, slowly enlarging mass in front of the left ear, which was present for 6 months, was evaluated. Physical examination revealed two solid and well-delineated masses in the preauricular region, which were 1.5 x 1 cm in diameter and in the tail of the parotid gland, which is 2.5 x 2 cm in diameter. Excision of the superficial lobe of the parotid gland was performed. The macroscopic examination of the specimen showed the two discrete nodular masses. Histologic examination of the two nodular solid lesions was reported as BCA. Multiple synchronous nonmembranous-type BCAs of the unilateral parotid gland is a rare entity. More extensive excision of the parotid gland tumor, careful macroscopic perioperative examination of the surgical specimen, and histologic evaluation of all surgical specimens might be necessary for reducing revision operations and surgical complications.     

Effects of sunitinib and bevacizumab on VEGF and miRNA levels on corneal neovascularization

Aim: To evaluate the effects of sunitinib (0.5?mg/ml) and bevacizumab (5?mg/ml) on VEGF-A, VEGFR-2 and microRNA (miRNA) levels on corneal neovascularization (CNV).

Methods: In this study, CNV was induced by silver nitrate application to the cornea, and 40 Albino male rats were equally divided into four subgroups:

Group 1 (sunitinib): After silver nitrate application to the cornea, 0.5?mg/ml sunitinib eyedrop was administered twice daily for two weeks (n?=?10).

Group 2 (bevacizumab): After silver nitrate application to the cornea, 5?mg/ml bevacizumab eyedrop was administered twice daily for two weeks (n?=?10).

Group 3 (control): After silver nitrate application to the cornea, normal saline eyedrop was administered twice daily for two weeks (n?=?10).

Group 4 (vehicle): After silver nitrate application to the cornea, 1% DMSO eyedrop was administered twice daily for two weeks (n?=?10).

After two weeks from the silver nitrate application, corneas were evaluated by hand-held biomicroscope for their vascularization status. Then, corneas were excised and the expression levels of VEGFR-2, VEGF-A and the common miRNA markers for neovascularization (miR-15?b, miR-16, miR-23a, miR-126, miR-188, miR-210, miR-221, miR-222, miR-410 and miR-423) were evaluated by real-time PCR.

Results: It was seen that the CNV was decreased in sunitinib- and bevacizumab-administered groups compared to the control and DMSO groups. Also, in comparison with the control group; VEGF-A expression was downregulated by nearly 0.75 times in sunitinib group and nearly 0.52 times in bevacizumab group. VEGFR-2 expression was downregulated by 0.89 times in sunitinib group and 0.68 times in bevacizumab group, compared to the control group. miR-15?b, miR-16 and miR-126 levels were statistically lower in sunitinib and bevacizumab groups, but miR-188 and miR-410 levels were two-fold higher compared to the control group. The miR-210 level was found higher only in sunitinib group compared to the control group. There were no statistically significant changes in miR-23a, miR-221, miR-222 and miR-423 levels among the groups.

Conclusion: Topical application of bevacizumab (5?mg/ml) and sunitinib (0.5?mg/ml) decreases the levels of VEGFR-2 and VEGF-A in CNV. Further studies are needed for detailed analysis of genes which are targeted by up- or downregulated miRNAs in this study.