Modulation of Melatonin Receptors Regulates Reproductive Physiology: The Impact of Agomelatine on the Estrus Cycle, Gestation, Offspring, and Uterine Contractions in Rats.

Agomelatine is a pharmaceutical compound that functions as an agonist for melatonin receptors, with a particular affinity for the MT1 and MT2 receptor subtypes. Its mode of action is integral to the regulation of diverse physiological processes, encompassing the orchestration of circadian rhythms, sleep-wake cycles, and mood modulation. In the present study, we delve into the intricate interplay between agomelatine and the modulation of estrus cycles, gestation periods, offspring numbers, and uterine contractions, shedding light on their collective impact on reproductive physiology.

Treadmill Exercise Improves Behavioral and Neurobiological Alterations in Restraint-Stressed Rats.

Stress is a state that is known to impact an organism's physiological and psychological balance as well as the morphology and functionality of certain brain areas. In the present work, chronic restraint stress (CRS) model rats treated with treadmill exercise were used to examine anomalies associated to emotion and mood as well as molecular changes in the brain. Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control, stress, exercise, and stress+exercise groups.

Treadmill exercise has healing effects on obesity-induced sexual behavior disorder through kisspeptin and kiss1R expression in male rats.

The basic objective of this study was to examine the possible effects of treadmill exercise on obesity-related sexual behavior disorder in obese male rats and the role of kisspeptin in this effect. The rats were separated from their mothers at the age of 3 weeks, and classified into four groups as Control (C): normal diet-sedentary group, Exercise (E): normal diet-exercise group, Obese (O): high-fat diet-sedentary group, Obese + Exercise (O+E): high-fat diet-exercise grouSexual behavioral testing was conducted in the rats. At the end of the study, brain samples were taken from the animals for gene expression analyses.

TRPM2 may be involved in high fructose corn syrup-induced anxiety-like behavior in adult male rats.

Excessive high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) consumption is known to cause oxidative stress, which induces transient receptor potential melastatin type 2 (TRPM2) channel gating. Oxidative stress-induced TRPM2 gating is suggested to play an important role in neurons, indicating a role for the TRPM2 channel in a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders including depression and anxiety. We investigated the effects of HFCS and chronic immobilization stress (CIS) on TRPM2 channel immunoreactivity, anxiety, and depressive-like behaviors in adult male rats.

The Effects of Chronic Asprosin Administration on Sense of Smell and Sexual Behavior in Female Rats.

Introduction: Asprosin is an adipokine released from white adipose tissue during fasting and acts through the olfactory receptor. It is known that adipokines play roles in reproductive physiology in mammals. However, there are very few studies conducted on role of asprosin in reproductive functions.

Automated Adrenal Gland Disease Classes Using Patch-Based Center Symmetric Local Binary Pattern Technique with CT Images.

Incidental adrenal masses are seen in 5% of abdominal computed tomography (CT) examinations. Accurate discrimination of the possible differential diagnoses has important therapeutic and prognostic significance. A new handcrafted machine learning method has been developed for the automated and accurate classification of adrenal gland CT images.

A Case of Brucellosis with a Rare Complication: Pericarditis.

Objectives: To describe brucellosis and its possible complications according to clinical, laboratory and radiological findings.

Methods: We describe a case of pericarditis visualized at transthoracic echocardiography with clinical manifestations.

Results: Clinical manifestations, imaging and laboratory findings provided the correct diagnosis of pericarditis.

Dengue vaccine roll-out: getting ahead of the game.

Dengue vaccines are currently being tested in clinical trials but public health specialists are already working on delivery strategies for a rapid roll-out to the people who need them most. Gozde Zorlu and Fiona Fleck report.

New WHO child growth standards catch on.

Since 2006, when the World Health Organization launched the new Child Growth Standards, over 140 countries have adopted them. Gozde Zorlu talks to Dr Mercedes de Onis about why these represent a new approach and why they are useful.

Early impact of hormone replacement therapy on vascular hemodynamics detected via ocular colour Doppler analysis.

Objective: To determine the effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on ocular blood flow.

Study Design: In a prospective controlled study, 40 healthy women who presented to the menopause clinic between December 2000 and December 2001 were randomly assigned into the study. The HRT-receiving group was administered estradiol 17-valerate 2 mg the first 11 days, and estradiol 17-valerate 2 mg plus ciproterone acetate 1 mg the next 10 days of the monthly cycle for 6 months.

Effect of pregnancy on intraobserver and intertechnique agreement in intraocular pressure measurements.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of pregnancy on intraobserver and intertechnique agreement for intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements.

Material And Methods: Right eyes of 88 healthy women who were likely to become pregnant and of 94 healthy age-matched females were included in the study. Complete ocular examinations were performed on each eye.

Menstrual cycle dependent changes in blue-on-yellow visual field analysis of young diabetic women with severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Purpose: To evaluate menstrual cycle dependent changes on blue-on-yellow visual fields of diabetic women, and to compare the results with those of healthy women.

Methods: Left eyes of 93 normally menstruating women were included in the study, comprising 45 with type-1 diabetes mellitus and severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy and 48 healthy controls. All subjects underwent baseline complete ocular examination and achromatic visual field analysis.

Effects of gestational hypertension on left ventricular geometry.

Background: During pregnancy heart rate, stroke volume, cardiac output and left ventricular (LV) mass increase while peripheral vascular resistance decreases. Gestational hypertension (GHT) which is noted in some pregnancies during the third trimester, is considered a temporary condition. Its effects on LV geometry are not known.

Efficacy of gemcitabine in heavily pretreated advanced ovarian cancer patients.

Single agent gemcitabine was used in recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer patients after standard treatment with debulking surgery and platin-paclitaxel based chemotherapy. Response rates and toxicity results were evaluated retrospectively. Gemcitabine was given in 1000 mg/m2 intravenous infusion over 30 minutes at 1, 8, 15 days of every 28 days.

[Prognostic factors of mitral stenosis during pregnancy].

Objective: To identify characteristics associated with complications during pregnancy in patients with mitral stenosis.

Methods: Thirty-seven pregnant women with mitral stenosis, followed-up from 1998 to 2001 were evaluated. Predictor variables were the mitral valve area (MVA) measured by echocardiogram and functional class (FC) before pregnancy according to NYHA criteria.

Telomere-specific fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis of couples with five or more recurrent miscarriages.

Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis using telomere specific probes has been used to detect cryptic translocations in the chromosomal telomeric regions. This study was performed in five clinically normal couples who have had five or more spontaneous abortions and whose karyotypes were found to be normal using conventional cytogenetic techniques. Using the telomere specific probes, in one couple we determined a cryptic translocation between chromosome 3 and 10, and, in another couple, the signal in chromosome 20 was detected in another chromosome, which was probably a D group chromosome.

Benign persistent papular acantholytic and dyskeratotic eruption of the vulva: a case report.

We report a case of 44-year-old woman with persistent pruritic papules on the left and right labium majus of the vulva. Histopathologic examination of the vulvar biopsy specimen revealed a suprabasal separation of the epidermis with acantholysis and dyskeratosis.

Immunohistochemical staining properties of PCNA, Ki-67, p53, beta-hCG and HPL in trophoblastic disease.

Objective: In this study proliferating markers PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) Ki-67 and mutation of supressor gene p53 were investigated in gestational trophoblastic disease (GTL). These markers were tested by using immunostaining with beta subunits of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and human placental lactogen (HPL).

Material And Methods: Twenty curetting samples, 20 spontaneous abortions, 16 hydatidiform moles and two choriocarcinomas were studied and compared.

Toxicity of chemotherapeutical protocols in the treatment of uterine sarcomas (Vincristine, actinomycin D, Cyclophosphamide VAC versus ifosfamide).

Objective: Uterine sarcomas are rare tumors which account for 1% of all genital tract malignancies. They have a poor prognosis with an overall survival of under 50% at 2 years. The benefit of chemotherapy is unclear and different chemotherapy protocols are used for the treatment of uterine sarcomas.

Postmenopausal vulvar pruritus--colposcopic diagnosis and treatment.

Vulvar pruritus is a common symptom in post-menopausal women and treatment is easy if the diagnosis is duly recognized. The purpose of this study is to show the importance of colposcopic examination and directed biopsies in 27 post-menopausal women with pruritus. Biopsy sites were selected by colposcopy.