Effects of oral continuous 17beta-estradiol plus norethisterone acetate replacement therapy on abdominal subcutaneous fat, serum leptin levels and body composition.

AIM: To evaluate the effects of oral continuous 17beta-estradiol plus norethisterone acetate (E2/NETA) replacement therapy on abdominal subcutaneous fat, serum leptin level (SLL) and body composition in postmenopausal women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 6-month, prospective, randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study was conducted. Forty-three healthy naturally postmenopausal women aged 43-65 years were randomly assigned to receive E2/NETA (2 mg E2 plus 1 mg NETA, n = 22) or placebo (n = 21). Fasting SLL by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, subcutaneous abdominal fat thickness (STh) by ultrasound and the anthropometric indices of body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumference (WC, HC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were recorded at the beginning and the end of the study. RESULTS: After 6 months of therapy, BW and SLL increased in the placebo group (p = 0.043 and 0.033, respectively). WC, HC and STh decreased significantly in the E2/NETA group (p = 0.002, 0.006 and 0.000, respectively) and they were also significantly lower in women receiving E2/NETA than in women taking placebo (p = 0.000, 0.034 and 0.000, respectively). At baseline, SLL and STh were positively correlated with all anthropometric indices except WHR. CONCLUSION: Oral continuous combined regimen of E2/NETA significantly reduced central fat accumulation as assessed by WC and STh, and attenuated the increase in SLL. The observed changes in SLL were highly and positively related to changes in STh. The oral continuous combined E2/NETA regimen appears to have protective effects on cardiovascular function and probably on metabolic diseases by its slimming effect upon WC in postmenopausal women.     

Long-term modulatory effect of Mycobacterium vaccae treatment on histopathologic changes in a murine model of asthma.

BACKGROUND: Mycobacteria are being investigated for modulation of inflammation in asthma and atopic disorders by eliciting particularly strong protective TH1 immune responses. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the long-term effects of intratracheally administered Mycobacterium vaccae on an experimental murine model of asthma. METHODS: BALB/c mice were placed in 4 groups: long-term M. vaccae, M. vaccae, asthma, and control groups. All groups but controls were sensitized intraperitoneally and challenged intratracheally with ovalbumin. The long-term M. vaccae and M. vaccae groups were treated with M. vaccae intratracheally simultaneously during challenges. Finally, mice in the long-term M. vaccae group were rechallenged with ovalbumin nebulization 24 days later. Evaluations of lung histopathologic findings and serum cytokine levels were performed. RESULTS: Comparison of the long-term M. vaccae group with the asthma model group revealed that the number of hyperplasic goblet cells in small and large airways (small airway: P < .05; large airways: P < .01) and thickness of basement membrane in large airways were significantly less in the long-term M. vaccae group. Furthermore, numbers of hyperplasic goblet cells in small airways (P < .05) and basement membrane in the large airway (P < .05), as well as inflammation in small airways (P < .01), were significantly less in the M. vaccae group when compared with the asthma model group. Interferon-gamma secretion from splenocytes of the M. vaccae group was significantly higher than the asthma model and long-term M. vaccae groups. CONCLUSION: Intratracheal administration of M. vaccae exerted a long-lasting ameliorating effect on airway histopathologic features of a murine asthma model.     

Clinical characteristics of pulmonary artery involvement in patients with Behçet’s syndrome: single-centre experience of 61 patients

Clinical Rheumatology - To report the clinical characteristics of pulmonary artery involvement (PAI) in patients with Behçet’s syndrome (BS) and to define the predictors of relapses. We...     

Plasma homocysteine levels in polycystic ovary syndrome and congenital adrenal hyperplasia

The purpose of this study was to determine whether polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and nonclassic 21-hydroxylase deficiency (CAH) are related to hyperhomocysteinemia, and to investigate if there is a correlation between homocysteine levels and insulin sensitivity in women with PCOS and CAH. Fifty patients with PCOS, 50 patients with CAH and 25 control women were included in the study. Blood samplings were performed in the early follicular phase for measuring hormone profile, Vitamin B(12), folate, homocysteine levels and fasting blood glucose. Ovulatory status was assessed with timed serum progesterone measurements. Homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated as a measure of insulin resistance. Mean homocysteine levels were found as (8.9 + 1.9 micromol/l and 17.7 + 3.6 micromol/l) in the normal group and PCOS respectively (p<0.001), but there was no statistical significance between nonclassic 21-hydroxylase deficiency (9.0 + 2.2 micromol/l) and control group. Most of the patients in PCOS group (35 of 50) were significantly insulin resistant. However, there was no insulin resistant patient in CAH or control group. When we compare the two subgroups of PCOS women, the patients with insulin resistance had significantly higher homocysteine levels than the ones who were not insulin resistant. There were positive correlations among serum homocysteine, insulin and androgen levels in PCOS patients. There were no correlations among these parameters in CAH and control groups. Increased homocysteine levels may contribute to increased cardiovascular disease risk in patients with PCOS. The reason for hyperhomocysteinemia seems to be related to insulin resistance but not high androgen levels.     

Bioremediation of cadmium-contaminated paddy soil using an autotrophic and heterotrophic mixture

Cadmium (Cd) pollution poses a serious risk to human health and ecological security. Bioremediation can be a promising and effective remediation technology for treating Cd contaminated soils. In this study, seven heterotrophic strains were isolated from Cd contaminated soil and 7 autotrophic strains were isolated from acid mine drainage. Cd removal efficiencies were compared after leaching with autotrophic bacteria (Att-sys), heterotrophic isolates (Htt-sys) and cooperative leaching systems (Co-sys) in laboratory agitating reactors. The results indicated that Cd removal efficiency of Co-sys (32.09%) was significantly higher than that of Att-sys (23.24%) and Htt-sys (0.74%). By analyzing the soil microbial community in different bioleaching systems, we found that the addition of heterotrophic isolates significantly promoted the growth of some heavy metal resistant inhabitants (Massilia, Alicyclobacillus, Micromonospora, etc.), and Co-sys had a minor effect on the growth of soil indigenous microbes. In Co-sys, the content of the four Cd fractions all decreased compared with other leaching systems. The analysis of soil physicochemical parameters during the leaching process showed that pH and ORP (oxidation reduction potential) were not the only determinants for Cd removal efficiency in Co-sys, synergistic metabolic activities of autotrophic and heterotrophic strains may be other determinants. This study demonstrated that cooperative bioremediation may prove to be a safe and efficient technique for field application in heavy metal soil pollution.

Bioremediation can be a promising and effective remediation technology for treating Cd contaminated soils. Cooperative bioremediation using heterotrophic and autotrophic mixtures proved to be an efficient, short-term bioremediation strategy for heavy metal contaminated soil.     

Evaluation of kinesthetic sense and hand function in women with breast cancer-related lymphedema

[Purpose] This study evaluated the functional ability and kinesthetic sense of the hands of women with breast cancer-related lymphedema. [Subjects and Methods] Fifty-seven women experiencing lymphedema after breast surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy were included. The patients were divided into two groups: women with hand edema (HE+, n = 29) and without hand edema (HE−, n = 28) after breast cancer treatment. Arm edema severity, hand size, functional mobility and kinesthetic sense of the hand, and daily living skills were evaluated. [Results] The mean age of the patients was 55.8 years. In both groups, functional mobility, kinesthetic sense, and daily living skills decreased significantly with increasing edema severity. However, there was no significant difference between groups with respect to functional mobility or daily living skills. The kinesthetic sense of the hand was better in the HE− group than the HE+ group. There was a significant negative relationship between the severity of edema and hand function. [Conclusion] Breast cancer-related lymphedema can negatively impact women’s functional mobility and kinesthetic sense of the hands as well as daily living skills.Key words: Breast cancer related lymphedema, Kinesthetic sense, Hand functions     

No alteration in the PFA-100 in vitro bleeding time induced by the Ginkgo biloba special extract, EGb 761, in elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment.

EGb 761 is widely used in the management of mild cognitive impairment in the elderly population. Elucidation of the effects of EGb 761 on primary haemostasis via PFA-100 could represent an important step for better understanding of the haemostatic safety of EGb 761. The purpose of this prospective study is to assess the effects of Ginkgo biloba special extract, EGb 761, on PFA-100 in vitro bleeding time in elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment. A total of 40 elderly patients aged 65-79 years who were referred for geriatric assessment and who were diagnosed as having mild cognitive impairment were included. Patients were started on 80 mg EGb-761 three times daily. The complete set of PFA-100 in vitro bleeding time and coagulation parameters including prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time and International Normalized Ratio were assessed before and on the seventh day of treatment with EGb 761. There was no statistically significant prolongation in PFA-100 in vitro bleeding time or coagulation parameters in patients receiving EGb 761 after 7 days. The data about the safety of EGb 761 from the point of primary haemostasis in our elderly patient population with mild cognitive impairment casts hope for the future management of this 'difficult-to-treat' population with the promising Ginkgo extracts.