Neuro endocrinology letters最新文献

Purpose: Self-awareness can be characterised as impartial, non-judgmental thoughtful attention towards the self. Self-reflection in therapy is when a therapist reviews their experiences, thoughts, and behaviours concerning therapy and changes them as needed to enhance the therapeutic process. Therapists with good quality self-reflection can make more effective and ethical decisions, differentiate their own needs from clients', understand transference and countertransference, and consider the optimal response during a session. Practising the CBT approach and reflecting on one's own experiences can be essential for successful therapeutic development. Furthermore, self-reflection forms the basis of a fruitful therapeutic relationship and the therapist's self-confidence and sense of competence.

Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) in pregnancy is rare and may be associated with increased maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. The ideal timing for parathyroidectomy is during the second trimester, and parathyroidectomy in the third trimester is extremely rare. We present a case of a 32-year-old woman who was admitted to our hospital with severe hypercalcemia in the 36th week of her first pregnancy. Conventional bilateral neck exploration was performed and parathyroid adenoma was removed. The surgical procedure was tolerated well by the mother, and she delivered a healthy girl 10 days after surgery. The newborn had mild hypocalcemia that required minimal substitution postnatally; however, no tetany occurred. This case demonstrates that parathyroidectomy in the third trimester followed by spontaneous delivery may be performed safely.

Introduction: Insulinomas are rare neuroendocrine tumors of pancreas. Clinical manifestations include various symptoms of hypoglycemia, which is the result of insulin overproduction. Symptoms of hypoglycemia are heterogenous what most probably contributes to diagnostic delay. In this study we retrospectively evaluated clinical features of hypoglycemia. We discovered that a substantial number of patients suffered from hypoglycemia unawareness.

Materials and methods: We performed retrospective analysis of prospectively collected patients with histologically confirmed insulinoma. We evaluated clinical features and signs of hypoglycemia and the duration of symptoms and performed thorough review of the patients' files in order to identify whether patients had been falsely diagnosed previously. Each patient underwent 72 hour fasting test during which levels of immunoreactive insulin (IRI), C-peptide and nadir blood glucose level were obtained. Based on the clinical findings and results of 72 hour fasting test we identified a subgroup of patients with hypoglycemia unawareness. These had an episode of clinically silent hypoglycemia. We compared IRI and C-peptide levels obtained at the time of the fasting test termination in the unawareness group and the group without hypoglycemia unawareness.

Results: Twenty two patients with insulinoma that had been hospitalized in our tertiary center were included in the analysis. Mean age was 51±16.7 years. The most common symptom reported by 63.6% of patients was fatigue, followed by increased appetite with consequent weight gain and the loss of consciousness, both reported by 40.9% of patients. Based on the review of clinical features and the results of the fasting test we identified a group of patients with hypoglycemia unawareness. We labeled the patient accordingly in case of the loss of consciousness in personal history as well as asymptomatic hypoglycemia or severe neuroglycopenic symptoms during the fasting test without any accompanying or preceding clinical signs. There were 7 patients with hypoglycemia unawareness in our cohort (31.8%). Patients with this phenomenon had significantly lower levels of both IRI (2.35±1.25 vs. 5.88±3.92ng/ml, p=0.01) and C-peptide (9.14±7.36 vs. 50±42.8 µU/ml, p=0.01) than the rest of the patients. Nadir blood glucose level during the fasting test showed no significant difference (9.4±8.2 vs. 12.2±8.2 months, p=0.28) in the unawareness group and the rest of the patients, respectively.

Conclusion: We described the phenomenon of unawareness to hypoglycemia in the patients with insulinoma. This has not been recognized in insulinoma patients yet since available evidence mostly relates to type I diabetic patients. It might lead to higher morbidity and diagnostic delay. Further studies with prospective evaluation should be performed to further confirm relatively high prevalence in patients with in

Our dear Professor, the Editor-in-Chief of Neuroendocrinology Letters (NEL) has left us. We, the Editors, Associated Editors and the Editorial Board continue our work without interruption and will follow the steps and traditions established by Professor Fedor-Freybergh, point to point, without exception. As it was, so will it be. On this sad occasion, we would like to reproduce some excerpts from an article published in Activitas Nervosa Superior Rediviva (ANSR), on the occasion of Professor Fedor-Freybergh's 80th birthday: "Let us to note - at least telegraphically - the profound milestones in his professional curriculum: Doctor of Medicine (1959); Doctor of Psychology (1965), Certificate in Psychiatry (1962) all 3 from Comenius University in Bratislava; Certificate in Pedopsychiatry (1965) and PhD in Psychiatry (1967) both from Charles University in Prague); Certificate and Doctorate in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (1977 Sweden); since 1968 appointments in Psychiatric Clinics in Austria, Switzerland, England, Sweden and Czech Republic; in 1974, he read the Introductory Lecture Psychotropic Action of Hormones at the 1st World Congress of Biological Psychiatry in Buenos Aires which significantly contributed to the global development of this discipline in both educational and scientific fields, Lecturer in Psycho-neuroendocrinology 1978 and in 1982 appointed the 1st University Professor in Europe in this field (University of Salzburg);. In 1978 Professor Fedor-Freybergh founded and Edited the peer reviewed International Journal of Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Medicine; in 1986, he elevated the International Study-Group for Prenatal Psychology to transform into the International Society of Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology & Medicine, in 1988, he published in English and German languages the world's first textbook Prenatal & Perinatal Psychology & Medicine; from 1983-1992 he served as Elected President of the International Society of Prenatal Psychology and Medicine and since 1992 as its Honorary Life President; in 1996, he won an audition for the post of Professor of Child Psychiatry at the 3rd Medical Faculty of Charles University in Prague which he held until 2004; in 1997 he became Director of the Institute of Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology, Medicine and Social Work at the University of Health and Social Work of St. Elisabeth University in Bratislava, in 2009, the Rector of the University granted Prof. Fedor-Freybergh the title of Professor of Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Medicine - the first such Professorship in the world". "As the Editor-in-Chief of ANSR [besides Neuroendocrinology Letters, Editors note], he became a member of the CIANS Executive Committee and actively participated in CIANS' international conferences and symposia. In recent years, his health has not allowed him to travel, but he has not stopped watching these events. In face-to-face meetings, we discussed much of the knowledge presented. Discussing w

Background and aims: An ulcerative colitis rat model was established with baicalin as the treatment.

Materials and methods: Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (QRT-PCR) and Western blot analysis were used to determine inflammatory factor expression in interstitial cells of Cajal.

Results: Baicalin treatment reduced the ulcerative colitis symptoms, such as bloody diarrhea, reduction in body weight, and vomiting. Baicalin treatment decreased the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-17A compared to the phosphate buffer saline (PBS) control group. Baicalin treatment protected the interstitial cells of Cajal against oxidative stress injury via improvements in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, modified disease activity index (mDAI), reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), and nitric oxide (NO) level in the serum and interstitial cells of Cajal. Baicalin treatment decreased apoptosis of interstitial cells of Cajal. Baicalin treatment decreased the nuclear factor Kappa B (NF-κB)/ Adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/ extracellular regulated kinase (Erk) / protein kinase B (Akt) signal pathway in interstitial cells of Cajal and NF-κB overexpression abrogated the decreased baicalin-induced inflammation and apoptosis of interstitial cells of Cajal induced.

Conclusion: Baicalin treatment improved ulcerative colitis symptoms and decreased inflammation and apoptosis of interstitial cells of Cajal. Baicalin treatment inhibited inflammation and apoptosis of interstitial cells of Cajal by targeting the NF-κB pathway in an ulcerative colitis rat model, which may serve as a potential agent for the treatment of ulcerative colitis.

COVID-19 disease is caused by the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. The disease first appeared in China in 2019 and quickly spread throughout the world. It primarily affects the respiratory tract, manifested by fever, cough and the development of dyspnoea, but the symptoms and complications can affect any organ system. Neurological symptoms include headaches, muscle and joint pain, taste and smell disorders. Complications include inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system, ataxia, peripheral nerve and muscle diseases, worsening of extrapyramidal diseases, and neuropsychiatric disorders. This paper presents a case report of a 62-year-old man with cerebellar syndrome, ataxia, intentional tremor and hypermetria when dealing with COVID-19 disease.

Background: A significant proportion of anthropogenic dust particles are present in the atmosphere. In particular, these include industrial and municipal dust, black carbon from fossil fuels and biomass. Mineralogical research of dust particles in the air is important for knowing their impact on public health in hazardous work environments (not only in Slovakia). In the recent past (in 2000-2010), research of dust fallouts from mining and processing of mineral resources was carried out. Specifically, it was focused on the Lubeník and Jelšava area, where the environment and population were adversely affected by mining activities and magnesite (MgCO3) processing treatment.

Methods: The dust obtained from the plastic containers at the sampling stations was filtered in distilled-water wash. Afterwards the dust dispersion, respirable fraction and chemical composition were determined by analytical methods. The mineralogical characteristics of the particles were determined by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and their morphology by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Results: The exposure to dust particles and associated contaminants can cause pulmonary diseases with a significant impact on the inhabitants health and quality of life. The most destructive action of the mineral dust particles comes after their penetration into the alveolar parts of the lungs. Pulmonary dusting, Pneumoconiosis, occurs, when the fibrogenic dust particles smaller than 2.5 µm passes through the alveolar wall into the interstitial space. Insoluble or sparingly soluble minerals are referred to as active, they initiate and activate fibrosis. In the samples from Jelšava-Lubeník, the dominant mineral phases include magnesite occurring as crystals and their fragments and periclase present as irregular allotriomorphic grains, aggregates and masses. According to dusting monitoring, a trend of decreasing in the periclase proportion was observed.

Conclusions: Mineral composition and morphology of dust fallouts in the air from mining areas directly affects the health of the population and contributes to the increased incidence of respiratory diseases in the region, even several years after closing the mines or after the change of filters in mineral processing plants. Reducing unwanted air pollution should be a priority for relevant ministries (of health, environment etc.), as well as a challenge for public health professionals.

Objective: The aim of this study is to point out certain discrepancies and inaccuracies in reporting data concerning the consumption of cardiovascular pharmaceuticals (Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical code C, cardiovascular system) - measured in defined daily doses (DDDs) per 1,000 inhabitants per day - as reported by the Slovak Republic and the Czech Republic for the year 2014. This data also appears in the online database of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Health Statistics.

Methods: First, we take the Czech wholesalers' data by DDD as reported to the OECD, and we compare this Czech data with the Slovak data. We calculate the Slovak data by the method traditionally used in the Slovak Republic (SDS - standard dose of substance). However, the data we use for the Slovak Republic is that reported by health insurance companies and hospital pharmacies, while the official data reported to the OECD is based on wholesalers' reports. Secondly, we recalculate medicine consumption for both countries using DDD.

Results: A comparison based on the first methodological approach shows the Slovak Republic having a higher consumption of cardiovascular medicines than the Czech Republic. A second comparison, using the same measurement tool (DDD) for both countries, shows cardiovascular medicine consumption to be actually lower in the Slovak Republic as compared to the Czech Republic.

Conclusion: Our results indicate that, when actual DDDs for both countries are used, cardiovascular pharmaceutical consumption in the Slovak Republic is shown to be lower than in the Czech Republic.

The increasing number of patients with anaphylactic reactions is a modern challenge for healthcare professionals in clinical practice and public health professionals. It remains difficult to determine the prevalence or incidence of anaphylaxis in the population due to the long absence of a consensus definition, the fact that analyses are performed on various population groups and the use of different data collection methodologies. In the United States, anaphylaxis mortality ranges from 0.63 to 0.76 cases per million inhabitants, with 58% of these deaths due to drug anaphylaxis. The risk factors for anaphylaxis are ramipril and metoprolol use, which is common in patients with cardiovascular disease. Also, a higher level of gliadin following excess gluten intake is associated with a higher incidence of anaphylaxis. Drugs, food and insect stings have long been known as anaphylaxis inductors. In diagnosis, determination of serum tryptase concentration is used. In patients with normal tryptase concentration, it is appropriate to screen other inflammatory mediators. The authors of this article present new findings on anaphylaxis in the literature and recommended practices of professional societies in the context of public health.

In 2019, there were several new epidemics of diseases around the world, which would only be known from old medical books. Conspiracy and antivax movements around the world have raised important issues about public health, its safety, prevention and the media. The importance of public health is increasing more than ever. That is why we are very pleased that we have succeeded in collecting enough quality articles to present a collection of papers this year again. We have a great need for quality data to combat disinformation, hoaxes and lies. But we also have a greater need to deliver this information to medically untrained people. We - doctors, nurses and medical workers - have lost our ability to talk to people, talk to them in ways they can actually understand us. This, and lack of time for patients, has brought us to this situation and only patience, good data and easily understandable language can give us success. We also have an important task to renew people's trust in doctors and to humanize modern medicine. So, together with the fight against epidemics, setting new standards for occupational safety or ensuring healthy habits for children, adults and the elderly, we should not forget to communicate in the first place. We are grateful for the opportunity to provide you with this supplemental issue of Neuroendocrinology Letters, where support for public health issues has always been strong.