Psychoimmunological effects of dioscorea in ovariectomized rats: role of anxiety level

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Anxiety levels in rats are correlated with interleukin-2 (IL-2) levels in the brain. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of dioscorea (wild yam), a Chinese medicine, on emotional behavior and IL-2 levels in the brain of ovariectomized (OVX) rats.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>One month after ovariectomy, female Wistar rats were screened in the elevated plus-maze (EPM) test to measure anxiety levels and divided into low anxiety (LA) and high anxiety (HA) groups, which were then given dioscorea (250, 750, or 1500 mg/kg/day) by oral gavage for 27 days and were tested in the EPM on day 23 of administration and in the forced swim test (FST) on days 24 and 25, then 3 days later, the brain was removed and IL-2 levels measured.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Compared to sham-operated rats, anxiety behavior in the EPM was increased in half of the OVX rats. After chronic dioscorea treatment, a decrease in anxiety and IL-2 levels was observed in the HA OVX rats. Despair behavior in the FST was inhibited by the highest dosage of dioscorea.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results show that OVX-induced anxiety and changes in neuroimmunological function in the cortex are reversed by dioscorea treatment. Furthermore, individual differences need to be taken into account when psychoneuroimmunological issues are measured and the EPM is a useful tool for determining anxiety levels when examining anxiety-related issues.</p

Evaluation of the fracture resistance of computer‑aided design/computer‑aided manufacturing monolithic crowns prepared indifferent cement thicknesses

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the fracture resistance of monolithic computer‑aided  design/computer‑aided  manufacturing (CAD/CAM) crowns that are prepared with different cement thickness.Materials and Methods: For this investigation, a human maxillary premolar tooth was selected. Master model preparation was performed with a demand bur under water spray. Master die was taken to fabricate 105 epoxy resin replicas. The crowns were milled using a CEREC 4 CAD/CAM system (Software Version, 4.2.0.57192). CAD/CAM crowns were made using resin nanoceramic, feldspathic glass ceramic, lithium disilicate, and leucite‑reinforced ceramics. Each group was subdivided into three groups in accordance with three different cement thicknesses (30, 90, and 150 μm). Crowns milled out. Then RelyX™ U200 was used as a luting agent to bond the crowns to the prepared samples. After one hour cementations, the specimens were stored in water bath at 37°C for 1 week before testing. Seven unprepared and unrestored teeth were kept and tested as a control group. A universal test machine was used to assume the fracture resistance of all specimens. The compressive load (N) that caused fracture was recorded for each specimen. Fracture  resistance data were statistically analyzed by one‑way ANOVA and two‑factor interaction modeling test (α = 0.001).Results: There are statistically significant differences between fracture resistances of CAD/CAM monolithic crown materials (P &lt; 0.001). It is seen that cement thickness is not statistically significant for fracture resistance of CAD/CAM monolithic crowns (P &gt; 0.001).Conclusions: CAD/CAM monolithic crown materials affected fracture resistance. Cement thickness (30, 90, and 150 μm) was not effective on fracture resistance of CAD/CAM monolithic crowns.Keywords: Cement thickness, fracture resistance, monolithic computer‑aided design/computer‑aided manufacturing crown

Personality profile in menopausal women

WOS: 000475300700015Purpose of Investigation: Different menopausal conditions may exhibit different personality traits. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) responses between naturally menopausal women and surgically menopausal women may be different. The authors compared the personality characteristics of naturally and surgically menopausal women by using MMPI. Materials and Methods: Twenty-five surgically menopausal women and 54 natural menopausal women were included in the present study. Psychometric evaluation was established with the Turkish version of the MMPI. The patients were divided into two separate groups as the surgically menopausal women and naturally menopausal women. Results: Surgically menopausal women compared to naturally menopausal women had higher absolute scores on hypochondriasis (66.4 +/- 9.2 vs. 57.1 +/- 8.0, p = 0.001, respectively). Surgically menopausal women compared to naturally menopausal women had a higher rate of clinical elevation on both depression (40.0 vs. 13.0%, p = 0.007, respectively) and hypochondriasis (60.0 vs. 14.8 %, p = 0.001, respectively). Hypochondriasis t score in patients with menopause was associated with the presence of surgically menopausal status after adjusting for possible confounding factors in multivariate model. Conclusion: Surgical menopause may take the foreground hypochondriac personality traits because of its unique characteristics. Surgically menopausal women are relatively more overworked with their bodies, so they complain of chronic fatigue, pain, and weakness, indicating hypochondriacal personality features

Ischaemia-reperfusion injury of rat ovary and the effects of vitamin C, mannitol and verapamil

KISA, Ucler/0000-0002-8131-6810WOS: 000179305200032PubMed: 12407059BACKGROUND: In this prospective controlled study, the aim was to examine the effects of vitamin C, mannitol and verapamil on adnexial ischaemia-reperfusion injury in the rat ovary. METHODS: Thirty-six female Wistar rats were used. In the controls (group 1), only laparotomy was performed. In group 2, ovarian ischaemia was produced and the bilateral ovaries were surgically removed 4 h later. In group 3, an ischaemic period of 4 h was followed by reperfusion for 1 h; the bilateral ovaries were then removed. In groups 4, 5 and 6, after 4 h of ischaemia, either vitamin C, mannitol or verapamil respectively was infused before reperfusion; after 1 h of reperfusion the ovaries were removed. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) levels were measured in all ovary tissues. RESULTS: TBARS levels of the reperfusion group were significantly higher than those of groups treated with vitamin C or mannitol (P = 0.013 and P = 0.045 respectively), but not of the verapamil group. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin C and mannitol were found to be effective in reducing ischaemia-reperfusion injury of the ovary during its early stages, but verapamil was ineffective

The association of bone mineral density with insulin resistance in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

Yucel, Aykan/0000-0002-5888-692XWOS: 000223308200013PubMed: 15262356Objective: The aim of the study was to compare the bone mineral density (BMD) measurements between the patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and age and the body mass index (BMI) matched healthy controls, and to examine whether insulin resistance was associated with BMD. Study design: Twenty-nine consecutive patients with PCOS and seventeen, age and BMI matched healthy control women were included in the study. Blood samples were obtained for follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate, 17 hydroxy-progesterone, free testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin, insulin, and glucose levels and BMD measurements were performed for total body, lumbar spine (L2-L4), and femoral neck for each participant. Insulin resistance was estimated by fasting insulin level, fasting glucose/insulin ratio and 75 g of glucose tolerance test for 2 It. Differences between the groups were analyzed by Student's t-test and Mann-Whitney U-test where appropriate. Correlation analysis between the parameters concerning insulin resistance and BMD measurements were performed in patients with PCOS using Pearson's correlation coefficient (r). Correlation analysis was also performed between serum hormone levels and BMD measurements in the PCOS group. Partial correlation coefficients were calculated for these parameters, using age and BMI as covariates. Results: Free testosterone and 17 hydroxy-progesterone levels were significantly high in patients with PCOS compared to the control women (P = 0.001 and 0.04, respectively). Fasting insulin was significantly higher and fasting glucose/insulin ratio was significantly lower in the PCOS group compared to the controls (P = 0.021 and 0.008, respectively). BMD measurements did not differ between the groups (P > 0.05). There were significant correlations between fasting insulin and total BMD (r = 0.424, P < 0.05) and fasting glucose/insulin ratio and L2-L4 BMD (r = -0.401, P < 0.05) after controlling for age and BMI. Conclusion: BMD measurements are not different between the patients with polycystic ovary syndrome and healthy control women and hyperinsulinemia, and insulin resistance might play a role in the preserved BMD. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Effects of oral contraceptives with low-dose estrogen and desogestrel on leptin concentrations

WOS: 000177227800006PubMed: 12170530OBJECTIVE: To evaluate short-term leptin concentrations in women who use low-dose oral contraceptives. STUDY DESIGN: From 15 women without medical problems, venous blood samples were taken: basal, between days 3 and 5 of menstruation, and in the third month. The Human Leptin Radioimmunassay Kit (Linco Reseach, Inc., St. Charles, Missouri) was used for leptin measurement. Statistical analysis was done with the Wilcoxon test. RESULTS: The average patient age was 30.1 +/- 6.7 years. The basal leptin concentrations and leptin concentrations at the third month were 22.17 +/- 8.85 and 23.04 +/- 6.77 ng/mL, respectively. This increase was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Oral contraceptives with low-dose estrogen and desogestrel do not affect leptin concentrations in a three-month period

Body hair scores and total hair diameters in healthy women in the Kirikkale Region, of Turkey

WOS: 000222617700017PubMed: 15227736It was aimed to determine the normal hair scores of women of Kirikkale region according to the Ferriman-Gallwey scale and to investigate the relationship between the hair shaft diameter and hair scores. Hair scores were calculated in 204 healthy women, and hair shaft diameters were measured from the hair samples collected from 60 patients. Body mass index, waist to hip ratio, insulin resistance and blood androgen levels were determined. Neutral, hormonal and total hair scores were 2.1 +/- 1.4, 3.1 +/- 2.7 and 5.2 +/- 3.6, respectively. The average total hair diameter and hormonal hair diameter were 191.93 +/- 90.49 mum and 121.8 +/- 75.9 mum respectively. The correlation between total hair diameter and total hair score was statistically significant (r = 0.704 p < 0.001). Also, the correlation between hormonal hair diameter and hormonal hair score was statistically significant (r = 0.724 p < 0.001). While hair scores and diameters show meaningful positive correlation with androgen levels, they show negative correlation with age. In our population, 95% value of total hair score was 11, and for the hormonal score, it was 9. Hair diameters increase with hair score, regardless of total or hormonal of hair scores. Hair scores and hair diameters may be affected by blood androgens in healthy women

The association of androgenic sex steroids with serum lipid levels in postmenopausal women

Yucel, Aykan/0000-0002-5888-692XWOS: 000221059400014PubMed: 15059164Background. The aim of the present study was to examine the correlations between androgenic sex steroids and serum lipid levels in postmenopausal women. Methods. The study group included 72 postmenopausal women. Correlation analysis between serum hormone [dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), androstenedione, free testosterone and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG)] and lipid {total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], apolipoproteinA-1 (apoA-1) and apolipoprotein B (apo B)} levels was performed. Results. DHEA-S was found to be positively correlated with HDL-C (r = 0.231, p = 0.049) and negatively correlated with Lp(a) (r = -0.355, p = 0.002). These correlations were statistically significant even after adjustment for age and body mass index (BMI) (r = 0.332, p = 0.005 and r = -0.362, p = 0.002, respectively). SHBG was positively correlated with HDL-C (r = 0.352, p = 0.002). There was a significant but weaker correlation between SHBG and HDL-C levels after controlling for age and BMI (r = 0.243, p = 0.041). No other correlations were found between sex hormone and lipid levels. Conclusion. DHEA-S was found to be associated with a less atherogenic lipid profile in postmenopausal women

Postmenopozal kadinlarda hormon replasman tedavisi ve prolaktin seviyeleri

Objective: Our purpose was to investigate the effect of hormonal replacement therapy on serum prolactin (PRL) levels in postmenopausal women. Study Design: Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was initiated to 30 postmenopausal patients. We determined the basal prolactin levels before treatment, and again at the first and third months. We used paired-t and student-t test for statistical analysis. Results: The basal PRL level of menopausal women was 9.6 ± 4.6 ng/ml, while it was 10.5 ± 4.1 ng/ml in premenopausal women (p>0,05). After initiation of HRT, the PRL levels were 9.9 ± 3.3 ng/ml and 10.1 ± 3.9 ng/ml at the first and third months, respectively. These values were not different from basal PRL levels. Conclusion: Serum prolactin determination may be used for the diagnosis of secondary amenorrhea of menopause if clinically indicated. Howover checking the serum prolactin level after the initiation of HRT has no clinical implications

The effects of hormone therapy, estrogen therapy and tibolone on apoptosis and cyclin D-1 expression in postmenopausal vaginal epithelium

Yucel, Aykan/0000-0002-5888-692XWOS: 000230704500011PubMed: 15955616Objective: To investigate the effects of hormone therapy, estrogen therapy and tibolone on markers of apoptosis including bcl-2, and bax and cyclin D, expression in postmenopausal vaginal epithelium. Study design: Thirty postmenopausal women were randomized to the treatment protocols (0.625 mg conjugated equine estrogen (CEE) + 2.5 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA); 2 mg estradiol valerate; 2.5 mg tibolone). After baseline vaginal biopsy, control biopsies were performed after 70 days following the initiation of the therapy. Bcl-2, bax, Bcl-2/bax ratio, cyclin D, measurements were performed immunohistochemically. Data were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon tests. Results: After the treatment period the above-mentioned parameters were not different among the groups except for cyclin D-1 levels. Cyclin D-1 expression was found to be strong in patients with treated estradiol valerate. Conclusions: The effects of estrogen on cyclin D-1 expression were not detected with tibolone or with the addition of progesterone to estrogen in the vaginal epithelium. Cyclin D, appeared to have stronger effects on the estrogen related proliferation compared to apoptotic markers in vaginal epithelial cells. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved