IS THERE A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SERUM IGF-1 AND THYROID NODULE, THYROID OR OVARIAN VOLUME IN POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME?

Context. Studies investigating the association between serum IGF-1, and thyroid nodule, ovarian or thyroid volume in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) are limited

Doppler waveforms and blood flow parameters of the superior and inferior mesenteric arteries in patients having Behcet disease with and without gastrointestinal symptoms -: Preliminary data

Objective. To evaluate hemodynamic changes in mesenteric arteries in patients with Behcet disease with and without gastrointestinal symptoms. Methods. Doppler sonography of mesenteric arteries was performed in 25 symptomatic and 15 asymptomatic patients having Behcet disease and in 25 healthy control subjects. The peak systolic, minimal, and mean velocities, resistive and pulsatility indexes, inner diameter, cross-sectional area, and blood flow volume of mesenteric arteries were evaluated. The results were compared between patient groups and controls. Results. The mesenteric artery flow was significantly greater in patients in the symptomatic group than in those in the asymptomatic group or in controls. In the superior mesenteric artery, mean velocity and mean blood flow volume (0.35+/-0.18 m/s and 711+/-404 mL/min, respectively; P<.0001) in the symptomatic group were significantly higher than in the asymptomatic group (0.16±0.07 m/s and 305±168 mL/min, respectively) or in controls (0.15±0.07 m/s and 290±123 mL/min, respectively). The mean peak systolic velocity (1.23±0.47 m/s; P<.005) in the symptomatic group was significantly higher than in controls (0.93+/-0.23 m/s). In the inferior mesenteric artery, mean velocity and mean blood flow volume (0.25+/-0.10 m/s and 139+/-79 mL/min) in the symptomatic group were significantly higher than in the asymptomatic group (0.16+/-0.07 m/s; P<.006; and 78±26 mL/min; P<.007) or in controls (0.17+/-0.07 m/s; P<.0031; 83±48 mL/min; P<.004). Conclusions. In this study, symptomatic patients with gastrointestinal Behcet disease were associated with a significant increase in mesenteric artery flow that could be evaluated easily on spectral patterns of arteries during Doppler sonography. The Doppler sonographic findings also revealed that intestinal involvement in patients with Behcet disease without gastrointestinal symptoms is not significantly different from that of healthy controls

Effect of Combined Treatment With Melatonin and Methylprednisolone on Neurological Recovery After Experimental Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in the loss of function below the lesion. Secondary injury following the primary impact includes a number of biochemical and cellular alterations leading to tissue necrosis and cell death. Methylprednisolone (NIP), by reducing edema and protecting the cell membrane against peroxidation, is the only pharmacological agent with a proven clinically beneficial effect on SCI. Melatonin, known as a free radical scavenger, has been shown to have an effect on lipid peroxidation following experimental SCI. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of MP and melatonin on neurological, ultrastructural, and electrophysiological recovery. Female albino rats weighing 200-250 g were randomized into five groups of 18 rats each and six rats for the control group. Weight-drop trauma was performed for each group and a 30-mg/kg single dose of NIP for rats in group 1, a 10-mg/kg single dose of melatonin for rats in group 2, and MP and melatonin in the same doses for rats in group 3 were administered immediately after trauma. The rats in group 4 were the vehicle group (treated with ethanol) and group 5 was the trauma group. The motor and somatosensory evoked potentials were recorded at the 4th hour, the 24th hour, and on the 10th day of the study for six rats in each group. Posttraumatic neurological recovery was recorded for 10 days using "motor function score" and inclined plane test. After electrophysiological study the rats were terminated for an analysis of lipid peroxidation level of the injured site of the spinal cord. Electron microscopic studies were performed to determine the effects of melatonin, MP, and the combined treatment with MP and melatonin on axons, neurons, myelin, nucleus, and intracytoplasmic edema. The groups treated with MP, melatonin, and a combination of both had significantly enhanced electrophysiological, biochemical, and neurological recovery and also showed better ultrastructural findings than the trauma and vehicle groups. Although combined treatment was significantly more effective on lipid peroxidation than melatonin or MP treatments alone, at the 10th day, neurobehavioral, electrophysiological, and ultrastructural recovery were at the same level. In conclusion, MP, melatonin, and MP and melatonin combined treatment modalities improved functional recovery at the same level. Future studies involving different doses of melatonin and different dose combinations with MP could promise better results since each drug has a different anti-oxidative mechanism of action.Wo