Protective Effects of Intranasally Administrated Oxytocin-Loaded Nanoparticles on Pentylenetetrazole-Kindling Epilepsy in Terms of Seizure Severity, Memory, Neurogenesis, and Neuronal Damage

Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced kindling is an animal model for studying human temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), which is characterized by alterations of hippocampal neurons and memory. Although the intranasal (IN) administration of oxytocin (OT) has limited efficiency, nanoparticles (NPs) are a promising candidate to deliver OT to the brain. However, there are very limited data on epilepsy research about oxytocin-loaded nanoparticles (NP-OTs). The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of IN administration of chronic NP-OTs on the hippocampus of PTZinduced male epileptic rats in terms of seizure severity, memory, neurogenesis, and neuronal damage. Saline/OT/NP-OTs were administrated to both control (Ctrl) and PTZ groups intranasally. Consequently, saline and PTZ were injected, respectively, 25 times every 48 h. Then, seizure severity (score and latency) was calculated for the PTZ groups. A spatial working memory evaluation test (SWMET) was performed after the last injection. Hippocampus histopathology, neurogenesis, and apoptosis were demonstrated. Serum total antioxidant status (TAS) and total oxidant status (TOS) levels and the oxidative stress index (OSI) were measured. We showed that OTs and NP-OTs prevented the kindling development and had positive effects on seizure severity. SWMET-related behaviors were also recovered in the PTZ + NP-OT group. A significant increase of neurogenesis and decrease of apoptosis in the hippocampus of the PTZ + NP-OT group were observed, while OTs and NP-OTs had protective effects against PTZ-induced damage to hippocampal neurons. Our results indicate that the chronic administration of NP-OTs may have positive effects on hippocampal damage via increasing neurogenesis and decreasing apoptosis and seizure severity

Homocysteine levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome treated with metformin versus rosiglitazone: a randomized study

BACKGROUND: Elevated levels of plasma homocysteine (Hcy) have been implicated as a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Although long-term treatment with metformin can increase Hcy levels in patients with type II diabetes mellitus or coronary heart disease, it is becoming an increasingly accepted and widespread medication in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In the literature, only one study has demonstrated that metformin increases Hcy levels in PCOS patients, but the effect of other insulin sensitizers on Hcy levels have not been reported previously in women with PCOS. We aimed to assess the effects of metformin and rosiglitazone on plasma Hcy levels in patients with PCOS. METHODS: Thirty women were randomized to two groups: 15 women in group 1 received 850 mg of metformin twice daily for 3 months. In group 2, 15 women received 4 mg of rosiglitazone for 3 months. In both groups, body mass index, menstrual pattern, and plasma total Hcy, insulin, glucose and lipid metabolism parameters were recorded at baseline and at 3 months. RESULTS: Hcy levels increased from 8.93 6 0.49 to 11.26 6 0.86 mmol/l (P 5 0.002) and from 10.70 6 0.86 to 12.36 6 0.81 mmol/l (P 5 0.01) in the metformin and rosiglitazone groups, respectively. Apolipoprotein (Apo) A1 levels increased from 127.10 6 6.85 to 145.7 6 7.18 mg/dl (P 5 0.018) in the metformin group. Total cholesterol (total-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), lipoprotein (a) and Apo B levels decreased in the metformin group, but the change was not significant. Total-C levels decreased from 161.15 6 8.94 to 150.23 6 8.73 mg/dl (P 5 0.026), HDL-C decreased from 43.13 6 2.65 to 39.15 6 2.52 mg/dl (P 5 0.005) and LDL-C levels decreased from 93.83 6 6.06 to 80.7 6 2.30 mg/dl (P 5 0.021) in the rosiglitazone group. CONCLUSION: Treatment with insulin sensitizers in women with PCOS may lead to increases in Hcy levels

Usefulness of the Logistic Clinical Syntax Score in Prediction of Saphenous Vein Graft Failure in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

We investigated the association between the preoperative logistic clinical syntax score (log CSS), saphenous vein graft (SVG) patency, and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) after coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). Of 1875 patients undergoing isolated CABG between 2009 and 2011, 267 patients, who later underwent coronary angiography, were included in the study. The primary end point was at least 1 graft occlusion on the follow-up coronary angiogram. The secondary end point was a composite of MACCE. In multivariate analysis, log CSS was found as a strong predictor of SVG failure (odds ratio [OR] 0.66, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.46-0.94, P = .02; and OR: 2.21, 95% CI: 1.02-4.75, P = .04, respectively): log CSS was also associated with MACCE (P = .001 and P < .001, respectively). The addition of clinical parameters to the anatomical SYNTAX score, termed as log CSS, augmented the accuracy and reliability of the prediction of SVG failure and MACCE in patients undergoing CABG

A Turkish Gynecologic Oncology Group study of fertility-sparing treatment for early-stage endometrial cancer

Objective: To analyze the results of fertility-sparing treatment of early-stage endometrial cancer (EC) in patients treated at Turkish gynecologic oncology centers, and to present a review of the literature. Methods: Thirteen healthcare centers in Turkey were contacted to determine if they were eligible to participate in the study. Centers that were eligible and agreed to participate were sent a database form to record the demographic characteristics, clinicopathologic findings, and follow-up results for their EC patients. Results: Eleven Turkish healthcare centers provided data on 43 EC patients. Mean duration of treatment was 5 months and mean follow-up was 49 months. In total, 35 (81.4%) patients were tumor free following primary progesterone therapy. Mean time from the end of progesterone therapy to pregnancy was 10.6 +/- 4.3 months (range, 3-18 months). Two patients had tumor recurrence during follow-up. The pregnancy rate among the 31 women who actively sought pregnancy was 41.9% (n = 13). Conclusion: Conservative management of early-stage EC in women of reproductive age using oral progestins was effective and did not compromise oncological outcome. Pregnancy in the study patients was achieved spontaneously and artificially. (C) 2012 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved