Role of Melatonin in the Onset of Metabolic Syndrome in Women.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a constellation of several associated cardiometabolic risk factors that increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), cardiovascular diseases, and mortality. The role of hormonal factors in the development of MetS is assumed. In women, an insulin-resistant state that is associated with polycystic ovarian syndrome and increased deposition of intra-abdominal adipose tissue promotes the development of MetS and increases cardiovascular risk.

Serum Levels of Incretin Hormones - GLP-1 and GIP in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.

Background: The glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and the glucose- dependent Insulinotropic peptide (GIP) are natural incretin hormones, which are secreted respectively by the L- and K-cells of the intestinal mucosa in response to the physiological gastrointestinal glucose absorption. In patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, the incretin effect is reduced, whereas the results in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) are heterogeneous, in some patients normal incretin response is observed.

Aim: Comparative analysis of the basal serum levels of the incretin hormones GLP-1 and GIP in patients with type 1 DM and in individuals without carbohydrate disorders.

Cortisol Correlates with Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging Parameters in Middle Aged Bulgarian Patients with Metabolic Syndrome: A Pilot Study.

Background: There is a dose-dependent relationship between chronically increased cortisol levels and the number of metabolic syndrome (MetS) components. Both cortisol and MetS are linked to various brain abnormalities.

Aim: To investigate an association of MetS components and salivary cortisol levels with cortical thickness in middle-aged Bulgarian patients with MetS.

Effect of Training at Lactate Threshold Intensity on Maximal Time to Exhaustion, Depression and Anxiety Behaviour of Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats after Kainate-Induced Status Epilepticus.

Aim: The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of treadmill training at lactate threshold intensity on maximum time to exhaustion (MTE) and heart rate (HR) as well as behavioral changes after kainate (KA)-induced status epilepticus (SE) of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs).

Materials And Methods: Male SHRs were divided in four groups: two sedentary (vehicle- and KA-treated) and two exercised (vehicle- and KA-treated), respectively. The exercised rats were trained on a treadmill at a speed of 20 m.

The effect of flutamide on the physical working capacity and activity of some of the key enzymes for the energy supply in adult rats.

The aim of the study was to assess the effects of androgen receptor antagonists on the physical working capacity and activity of some of the key muscle enzymes for the energy supply in rats. Young adult male Wistar rats were divided into two groups. One group received 15 mg kg-1 of flutamide daily for 6 days a week and the other group served as control for 8 weeks.

Serum melatonin in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Unlabelled: There has been a surge of interest in recent years in studying the changes of serum melatonin concentrations in disorders that are associated with insulin resistance such as diabetes mellitus type 2 and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Aim: The present study was designed to investigate the day-time and night-time levels of serum melatonin and the cortisol rhythm in women with PCOS and compare them with those of healthy women.

Patients And Methods: This is a case-control study which included 30 women with PCOS and 25 healthy women.

Prevalence of cytomegalovirus infection in hospitalized infants.

Unlabelled: Data on cytomegalovirus infection (CMV) prevalence and course in hospitalized infants are rather scarce, obsolete and considerably inconsistent.

Aim: to determine the prevalence, rate of clinical manifestations, risk factors and predictive capacity of clinical manifestations of CMV infection in hospitalized infants during their first year of life.

Patients And Methods: All 163 infants hospitalized in the Pediatric Ward for Nonrespiratory Pathology in a tertiary hospital were serologically screened for cytomegalovirus infection for 10 months.

Melatonin reference limits at 3:00 AM and 8:00 AM in healthy adults.

We determined melatonin reference limits in blood serum of 129 healthy volunteers, aged 21 to 70 years, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (IBL ELISA kit, Hamburg, Germany). At 3:00 AM, in almost full dark, the reference limits were found to be 18.3-134 pg/ml in males, 19.

Effect of chromium on the insulin resistance in patients with type II diabetes mellitus.

Introduction: Chromium deficiency in diabetic patients is a debatable problem. The prevailing opinion suggests the presence of low serum concentrations in such patients and therefore an early, long-term addition of chromium to the standard therapy is recommended.

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of chromium on the insulin resistance in diabetic patients with type II diabetes mellitus.

Interleukin-6, interleukin-8, interleukin-10, and C-reactive protein in febrile neutropenia in children with malignant diseases.

Aim: To compare serum levels of interleukin-6, interleukin-8 and interleukin-10 in bacteremic and non-bacteremic episodes of febrile neutropenia in children with malignant diseases, and determine their changes and correlation with C-reactive protein (CRP).

Material And Methods: Between January 2003 and June 2004, we examined 41 episodes of febrile neutropenia in 24 children with malignant diseases who were receiving polychemotherapy. C-reactive protein was measured at the onset of febrile episodes and on days 3 and 5 from beginning of therapy.

Early hypothyroidism after subtotal thyroidectomy in patients with Graves' disease--the role of the preoperative conservative treatment and hormonal status.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of the preoperative antithyroid drug treatment and hormonal status in the development of early postoperative hypothyroidism after subtotal thyroidectomy in patients with Graves' disease.

Material And Methods: Eighty-five patients with Graves' disease (males : females ratio 1:5.54, age range 19 to 64, 37.