EFFECT OF SIMVASTATIN TREATMENT ON BONE MINERAL DENSITY IN HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIC POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN

Statins are able to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality mainly through their hypocholesterolemic effect. Beyond the inhibition of cholesterol synthesis, the identification of pleiotropic mechanisms has motivated many studies to evaluate the effects of statin use on bone mineral density (BMD) modification.The aim of our study was to evaluate whether simvastatin treatment (20 mg/d) could modify BMD in hypercholesterolemic women (n=28) after one-year treatment as compared with a control group treated only with a diet (n=11). The exclusion criteria was current or previous therapy with statins, bisphosphonates and/or estrogens. The following parameters were determined at the beginning and after one year, and those are: total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-C and LDL-C (Friedewald equation). The BMD was measured at the lumbar spine by dual energy x-ray absorpiometry (DEXA).In the simvastatin treated group, BMD showed an insignificant 2,812% increase after 12 months, respectively (0,965+0,111 v 0,992+0,110, P>0,05). The group treated only with hypolipidic diet demonstrated a 3,45% decrease in BMD (respectively, 1,042+0,181 v 1.006+0,182; P>0,05) after 12 months. Nevertheless, the comparison of average BMD changes between the two examined groups during one year showed a significant value diference (-0,027+0,037 v 0,036+0,036; P<0,0006).As partly suggested by retrospective or observational data, this longitudinal study indicates that simvastatin treatment achieves a beneficial effect on BMD

A new epigean false scorpion: Roncus sumadijae n. sp. (Neobisiidae, Pseudoscorpiones) from the Balkan Peninsula (Western Serbia)

A new endemic epigean species from the village of Adžina Livada, nr. Kragujevac, Mts. Gledićke Planine, western Serbia, is erected, described and thoroughly illustrated. Its main morphometric characters and important diagnostic features are analyzed and compared to the two closest congeners, Roncus ivanjicae B. Ćurčić, and R. golijae B. Ćurčić from western Serbia, respectively

SIGNIFICANCE OF THERAPY LENGTH WITH NORFLOXACIN TREATMENT OF LOWER URINARY TRACT INFECTION

The aim of the paper was to examine the significance of the therapy with Norfloxacin as mono therapy in the treatment of the lower urinary tract infection and to examine the effectiveness of this antibiotic nowadays as it has not been used for a long time (it was not available on our market).Eighty patients with the lower urinary tract infection were examined. Patients were divided into two groups according to the length of therapy and the age of patients. Before and after the therapy, some examinations were done: clinical check – up, urinary analysis (general check – up), KSL, SE, urea, creatinin, urinoculture, urinary tract EHO.There was no statistically significant difference in the number of patients with the lower urinary tract infections after 3 and 7 days of therapy with Norfloxacin. Often, the cause of this infection was Escherichia coli. The highest frequency of this infection was reported in the aged and female population. There was no statistically significant difference in the number of the patients with the lower urinary tract infection after the therapy with Norfloxacin in relation to the age.There were no differences in the effects of the medicine between the group whose therapy lasted for 3 days and the group whose therapy lasted for 7 days. There was no difference in the effects of the medicine without regard to the age of the patients, too

Acidosis, cognitive dysfunction and motor impairments in patients with kidney disease

International audienceMetabolic acidosis, defined as a plasma or serum bicarbonate concentration &lt;22 mmol/L, is a frequent consequence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and occurs in ~10–30% of patients with advanced stages of CKD. Likewise, in patients with a kidney transplant, prevalence rates of metabolic acidosis range from 20% to 50%. CKD has recently been associated with cognitive dysfunction, including mild cognitive impairment with memory and attention deficits, reduced executive functions and morphological damage detectable with imaging. Also, impaired motor functions and loss of muscle strength are often found in patients with advanced CKD, which in part may be attributed to altered central nervous system (CNS) functions. While the exact mechanisms of how CKD may cause cognitive dysfunction and reduced motor functions are still debated, recent data point towards the possibility that acidosis is one modifiable contributor to cognitive dysfunction. This review summarizes recent evidence for an association between acidosis and cognitive dysfunction in patients with CKD and discusses potential mechanisms by which acidosis may impact CNS functions. The review also identifies important open questions to be answered to improve prevention and therapy of cognitive dysfunction in the setting of metabolic acidosis in patients with CKD