The effect of opioid dependence on conventional and novel biochemical parameters of bone metabolism.

Background: Opioids influence bone metabolism in several ways and osteoporosis associated with the long-term use of opioids is believed to be multifactorial.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of opioid dependence on conventional and novel biochemical parameters of bone metabolism. To evaluate whether the concomitant HCV infection affects these parameters.

Response of biochemical markers of bone turnover to oral glucose load in diseases that affect bone metabolism.

Objective: Postprandial suppression of bone resorption is considered one of the main contributors in the circadian rhythm of bone turnover markers. The aim of this study was to investigate this physiological response of bone tissue in diseases that affect bone metabolism.

Patients And Methods: In this study, 118 patients (45 hypothyroid, 40 hyperthyroid, and 33 β-thalassemic patients) and 78 healthy individuals matched for age and body mass index were included.

Physical training in patients on hemodialysis has a beneficial effect on the levels of eicosanoid hormone-like substances.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in the levels of vasoactive eicosanoid hormone-like substances PGE2, PGI2 and TXA2 in hemodialysis (HD)patients who were following a long-term physical training program during the hemodialysis session.

Design: A total of 50 patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) (stage 5)on hemodialysis and 35 healthy individuals who served as controls (C) were evaluated. The 50 CKD patients were divided into two groups: the HD group consisted of 31 patients who received usual care without any physical activity during the hemodialysis sessions, while group HD/Exer included 19 patients who followed a program of physical exercise for six months.

Atrial natriuretic peptide decreases aorta stiffness in cholesterol-fed anesthetized rabbits.

Aortas from Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic rabbits show in vitro impaired vasodilatory response to atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) during atherosclerosis progression. To test a similar reaction in vivo, the effect of ANP administration on pulse wave velocity (PWV, index of aorta stiffness) was investigated in 10 normal and 10 cholesterol-fed (2% cholesterol-loaded feeding for 4 weeks) anesthetized male New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits. Invasively taken carotid and femoral blood pressures (BP) were recorded, simultaneously with ECG, and blood samples for ANP measurement (by RIA) were taken at 0 min and 20, 40, 60 min following an intravenous 20-min administration of either 0.

Enhanced oxidative stress with a gradient between plasma and muscle interstitial fluid in patients with end stage renal failure on hemodialysis.

Objective: The concentration of 8-iso-prostaglandin-F2 alpha (8-iso-PGF2 alpha in biological fluids has been considered as the most reliable biochemical index of the lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress in patients with several pathological conditions including end stage renal failure. However, there is no reference regarding the influence of Hemodialysis (HD) on the values of 8-iso-PGF2 alpha in the muscle Interstitial Fluid (IF) of patients with end stage renal failure. The aim of our study was to determine 8-iso-PGF2 alpha concentration in the IF during hemodialysis and the gradient between plasma and IF in patients with end stage renal failure.

Increase in oxidative stress but not in antioxidant capacity with advancing stages of chronic kidney disease.

Background/aims: Increased oxidative stress in chronic kidney disease (CKD) was suggested to be both a cause and an effect of renal injury. However, the evolution of oxidant stress from early stages of renal function decline is not fully clear. This study aimed to determine the oxidant-antioxidant balance across the whole range of renal function.

Ghrelin and leptin levels in obese adolescents. Relationship with body fat and insulin resistance.

Objective: Ghrelin and leptin levels are influenced by body fat (BF%), pubertal stage and possibly insulin resistance (IR). The aim of our study was: 1) To compare fasting ghrelin and leptin levels between obese and non-obese, adolescents, 2) to investigate possible correlations of these hormones with BF %, as well as IR.

Design: Twenty obese insulin resistant (IR) adolescents, twenty obese non IR (NIR) and fifteen healthy non-obese, age-matched adolescents were studied.

Ghrelin serum levels during oral glucose tolerance test in prepubertal obese children with insulin resistance.

Background: An involvement of ghrelin in glucose metabolism has been suggested; nevertheless, the relationship between ghrelin and insulin resistance (IR) remains unclear.

Aims: 1. To investigate the effect of glucose loading on ghrelin in prepubertal obese children with IR.

Season of birth, clinical manifestations and Dexamethasone Suppression Test in unipolar major depression.

Background: Reports in the literature suggest that the season of birth might constitute a risk factor for the development of a major psychiatric disorder, possibly because of the effect environmental factors have during the second trimester of gestation. The aim of the current paper was to study the possible relationship of the season of birth and current clinical symptoms in unipolar major depression.

Methods: The study sample included 45 DSM-IV major depressive patients and 90 matched controls.

CD4+CD25+ regulatory T-cell frequency in HER-2/neu (HER)-positive and HER-negative advanced-stage breast cancer patients.

Purpose: CD4(+)CD25(bright) regulatory T cells (Tregs) are increased in patients with several malignancies and correlate with disease stage and prognosis. Breast cancer patients represent a heterogeneous population with unpredictable disease progression even at advanced stages. Circulating Tregs in correlation with HER-2/neu (HER) status and treatment with chemotherapy, either alone or in combination with trastuzumab therapy, were monitored in advanced-stage breast cancer patients.

The effect of L-arginine and aprotinin on intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Background: Intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) results in local mucosal injury, systemic injuries, and organ dysfunction. These injuries are characterized by altered microvascular and epithelial permeability and villous damage. Activation of neutrophils, platelets, and endothelial factors are known to be involved in this process.

Subclinical exocrine pancreatic dysfunction resulting from decreased cholecystokinin secretion in the presence of intestinal villous atrophy.

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to evaluate the concept that pancreatic dysfunction in patients having gluten sensitivity (celiac disease [CD]) or cow's milk protein enteropathy (CMPE) may result from the lack of pancreatic enzyme stimulation in the absence or decrease of cholecystokinin (CCK) secretion caused by villous atrophy.

Patients And Methods: The following parameters were measured: plasma CCK in response to a fatty meal and human pancreatic fecal elastase in 24 patients with CD while on gluten-free diet and after gluten provocation and in 12 patients with CMPE at diagnosis and after a 6-month period of cow's milk-free diet. Intestinal mucosa morphology was examined by small bowel biopsy.

Early decreases in plasma lipid transfer proteins during weight reduction.

Objective: To determine the effect of short-term weight loss in obese women on concentrations of plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) and phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP), two new risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Research Methods And Procedures: Plasma CETP and PLTP mass concentrations were measured in 38 obese, non-diabetic women before and after a moderate, 4% weight loss that was obtained by a 1250 kcal/d diet for 4 weeks. Anthropometric and biological parameters were measured before and after weight loss.

Multidisciplinary therapy of locally far-advanced or inflammatory breast cancer with fixed perioperative sequence of epirubicin, vinorelbine, and Fluorouracil chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy: long-term results.

Background: Based on phase II data in advanced breast cancer (BC), the fluorouracil, epirubicin, and vinorelbine (FEN) combination was assessed as perioperative chemotherapy, integrated in a multidisciplinary treatment for locally advanced BC.

Patients And Methods: Patients with newly diagnosed inoperable (stage IIIB or inflammatory) BC. Multimodality treatment protocol consisted of four preoperative courses of fluorouracil (600 mg/m(2) day 1), epirubicin (75 mg/m(2) day 1), and vinorelbine (25 mg/m(2) day1 and day 8), all i.

Multifollicular ovaries in female adolescents with cystic fibrosis.

Objective: To assess hormonal status and morphology of ovaries in cystic fibrosis (CF) adolescents.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: University teaching hospital.

The influence of continuous seven-day elevated intra-abdominal pressure in the renal perfusion in cirrhotic rats.

Since hepatorenal syndrome is a functional renal failure due to renal ischemia in cirrhotics with refractory ascites, we investigated whether increased intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) impairs the renal function and perfusion in cirrhotic portal hypertensive rats. Eight groups of 32 rats each were studied, including 4 control and 4 CCl(4) cirrhotic groups. These were subdivided into two groups each, with and without an increased IAP, and further subdivided into groups of rats with and without NO inhibition.

Insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia in prepubertal obese children.

Background: Tissue resistance to insulin has been demonstrated in obese individuals. Pancreatic beta-cells respond to the reduced tissue sensitivity with increased insulin secretion so that glucose homeostasis is maintained.

Objective: The purpose of this prospective study was to investigate the presence of hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance in obese children and adolescents.

The effects of marathon swimming on serum leptin and plasma neuropeptide Y levels.

It seems likely that the neuropeptide Y (NPY)-leptin axis is involved in the regulation of energy expenditure in man. The purpose of this study was to observe the effect of a model of intense prolonged exercise-mediated energy expenditure (25 km swim race in 6.9-10.