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Months' Therapy (month + therapy)
Selected AbstractsOxidative stress parameters after combined fluoxetine and acetylsalicylic acid therapy in depressive patientsHUMAN PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY: CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL, Issue 4 2009Piotr Ga, ecki Abstract Objective There are numerous reports indicating disturbed equilibrium between oxidative processes and antioxidative defense in patients with depression. Moreover, depressive patients are characterized by the presence of elements of an inflammatory process, which is one of the sources of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In view of the above, it was decided to study both the effect of fluoxetine monotherapy and that of fluoxetine co-administered with acetylsalicylic acid on lipid peroxidation and antioxidative defense in patients with the first depressive episode in their life. Method Seventy seven patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), divided into two groups were included in the study. The first group, consisting of 52 patients, received fluoxetine 20 mg, and the second one, in addition to fluoxetine 20 mg, received 150 mg of acetylsalicylic acid. The activity of antioxidative enzymes, copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD, SOD1), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPSH-x) and the concentration of malonyldialdehyde (MDA) was determined in erythrocytes, whereas the total antioxidant status (TAS) was determined in the plasma. All parameters were measured before and after three month therapy. Results The obtained results indicate a significant decrease in the activity of SOD1, CAT and GSHP-x, as well as in MDA concentration after the combined therapy. Also a significant TAS increase was observed after the combined therapy. The study demonstrated that combined therapy with fluoxetine and ASA is characterized by the same efficacy and clinical safety as fluoxetine monotherapy, resulting additionally in improvement of oxidative stress parameters in the patients treated for depression. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Connective tissue panniculitis in a child with vitiligo and Hashimoto's thyroiditisAUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 1 2006Basit Mirza SUMMARY A 9-year-old girl presented with a 6-month history of inflamed tender nodules in the pretibial area. These eventually healed leaving depressed areas of atrophy and loss of subcutaneous tissue. Histology showed a predominantly lymphocytic lobular panniculitis, consistent with connective tissue panniculitis. Investigations revealed an elevated thyroid stimulating hormone, elevated thyroid antiperoxidase antibody and a weakly positive antinuclear antibody (titre 1 in 40). She was commenced on hydroxychloroquine 300 mg daily, which resulted in resolution of the panniculitis. She developed focal vitiligo on the thighs. This gradually improved with 0.1% mometasone furoate ointment. The hydroxychloroquine dose was tapered to 200 mg daily after 12 months, then to 100 mg daily after 18 months therapy. Her thyroid autoantibody levels continued to rise and the hydroxychloroquine was increased again to 300 mg daily. She became borderline hypothyroid. Hashimoto's thyroiditis was diagnosed. Thyroxine was instituted with a resultant improvement in her thyroid blood tests. The lipoatrophy has not developed further during 2-year follow up. [source] Quantitative analysis of human mitochondrial DNA using a real-time PCR assayHIV MEDICINE, Issue 3 2003K Gourlain Objectives Known for their ability to inhibit the human DNA polymerase-,, nucleoside analogues induce toxic effects on mitochondria ranging from increased serum lactate levels to fatal lactic acidosis. DNA polymerase-, ensures the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replication and, thus, its inhibition leads to the decrease of the mtDNA. We describe a real-time PCR assay for mtDNA quantification associating DNA extraction procedures applied on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and subcutaneous adipose tissues and to study the antiretroviral effect on mitochondria. Methods Total DNA was extracted from PBMCs and subcutaneous adipose tissues. Nuclear and mitochondrial genes were amplified to determine the number of copies of mtDNA per cell using a cyt-b recombinant plasmid as standard control. We analysed eight HIV-infected asymptomatic patients never treated, four patients who had been treated for 6 months with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and six non-infected donors. Results The mtDNA quantification gave rise to reproducible results as the mean coefficients of variation were 1.09% for replicates of samples undertaken 10 times within the same run, and 5.78% and 3.7% for replicates tested in five different runs at 1:100 and 1:1000 dilutions, respectively. Median levels of mtDNA in PBMCs of healthy donors, naive and treated HIV-infected patients were 2.94, 2.78 and 1.93 log HIV-1 RNA copies/mL, respectively. Whereas DNA from PBMCs was shown to be devoid of inhibitors, subcutaneous adipose tissues needed an extra treatment as they were found to be highly inhibited. Conclusions The method generated consistent and reproducible results and was successfully applied to DNAs extracted from PBMCs and subcutaneous adipose tissues with adapted extraction. The mtDNA changes in PBMCs were found to be fast as they fall off after 6 months' therapy, decreasing from 2.78 to 1.93 log copies/mL. [source] Topical 3.0% diclofenac in 2.5% hyaluronic acid gel induces regression of cancerous transformation in actinic keratosesJOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY & VENEREOLOGY, Issue 3 2010T Dirschka Abstract Background, Actinic keratoses (AKs) are frequently diagnosed in dermatological patients. As they represent in situ carcinomas, effective treatment is required. Objectives, We investigated the effect of topical 3.0% diclofenac in 2.5% hyaluronic acid gel on AK. Methods, Sixty-five patients with AKs were clinically evaluated before and after 3 months' treatment with topical 3.0% diclofenac in 2.5% hyaluronic gel. Biopsy specimens were taken and stained with haematoxylin-eosin and immunohistological markers. Specimens were evaluated for histological type of AKs using the AK classification scheme suggested by Röwert-Huber et al. [(early) in situ squamous cell carcinoma type AK Grade I,III], number of mitoses per high-power field and expression of immunohistological markers. Results, Complete clinical resolution was observed in 11 patients (16.9%). A significant (P < 0.001) downgrading of AK grade was observed. Complete histological resolution was achieved in 15 patients (23.1%). The number of mitoses per high-power field was reduced significantly (P < 0.001). The expression of anti-p53-antibody decreased significantly (P = 0.009), as did the expression of anti-MiB-1 antibody (P = 0.021). Conclusions, 3.0% diclofenac in 2.5% hyaluronic acid gel causes regression of signs of cancerous transformation after 3 months' therapy. [source] | ||||||||||