Effect of vitamin D therapy in addition to amitriptyline on migraine attacks in pediatric patients.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of supplementary vitamin D therapy in addition to amitriptyline on the frequency of migraine attacks in pediatric migraine patients. Fifty-three children 8-16 years of age and diagnosed with migraine following the International Headache Society 2005 definition, which includes childhood criteria, were enrolled. Patients were classified into four groups on the basis of their 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels. Group 1 had normal 25(OH)D levels and received amitriptyline therapy alone; group 2 had normal 25(OH)D levels and received vitamin D supplementation (400 IU/day) plus amitriptyline; group 3 had mildly deficient 25(OH)D levels and received amitriptyline plus vitamin D (800 IU/day); and group 4 had severely deficient 25(OH)D levels and was given amitriptyline plus vitamin D (5000 IU/day). All groups were monitored for 6 months, and the number of migraine attacks before and during treatment was determined. Calcium, phosphorus alkaline phosphatase, parathormone, and 25(OH)D levels were also determined before and during treatment. Results were compared between the groups. Data obtained from the groups were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance. The number of pretreatment attacks in groups 1 to 4 was 7 ± 0.12, 6.8 ± 0.2, 7.3 ± 0.4, and 7.2 ± 0.3 for 6 months, respectively (all P > 0.05). The number of attacks during treatment was 3 ± 0.25, 1.76 ± 0.37 (P < 0.05), 2.14 ± 0.29 (P < 0.05), and 1.15 ± 0.15 (P < 0.05), respectively. No statistically significant differences in calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, or parathormone levels were observed (P > 0.05). Vitamin D given in addition to anti-migraine treatment reduced the number of migraine attacks.

Effect of vitamin D therapy in addition to amitriptyline on migraine attacks in pediatric patients

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of supplementary vitamin D therapy in addition to amitriptyline on the frequency of migraine attacks in pediatric migraine patients. Fifty-three children 8-16 years of age and diagnosed with migraine following the International Headache Society 2005 definition, which includes childhood criteria, were enrolled. Patients were classified into four groups on the basis of their 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels. Group 1 had normal 25(OH)D levels and received amitriptyline therapy alone; group 2 had normal 25(OH)D levels and received vitamin D supplementation (400 IU/day) plus amitriptyline; group 3 had mildly deficient 25(OH)D levels and received amitriptyline plus vitamin D (800 IU/day); and group 4 had severely deficient 25(OH)D levels and was given amitriptyline plus vitamin D (5000 IU/day). All groups were monitored for 6 months, and the number of migraine attacks before and during treatment was determined. Calcium, phosphorus alkaline phosphatase, parathormone, and 25(OH)D levels were also determined before and during treatment. Results were compared between the groups. Data obtained from the groups were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance. The number of pretreatment attacks in groups 1 to 4 was 7±0.12, 6.8±0.2, 7.3±0.4, and 7.2±0.3 for 6 months, respectively (all P>0.05). The number of attacks during treatment was 3±0.25, 1.76±0.37 (P<0.05), 2.14±0.29 (P<0.05), and 1.15±0.15 (P<0.05), respectively. No statistically significant differences in calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, or parathormone levels were observed (P>0.05). Vitamin D given in addition to anti-migraine treatment reduced the number of migraine attacks.

Antitumor effects of Origanum acutidens extracts on human breast cancer.

PURPOSE: There has been a long-standing interest in the identification of medicinal plants and derived natural products for developing anticancer agents. This work aimed at investigating the antiprolipherative properties of Origanum acutidens (OA) on breast cancer. METHODS: OA water extracts were studied for cytotoxicity against the breast cancer cell lines MCF-7, MDA-MB-468 and MDA-MB-231. In vitro apoptosis studies of these cancer cell lines were performed by annexin V staining in flow cytometry analyses. Immunohistochemistry studies for Ki-67 and caspase-7 of tumor tissue sections of dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA) -induced mammary cancer in rats were also performed. TUNEL assay was used to detect apoptotic cells of tumor tissue. In vivo anticancer activity testing was carried out by inhibiting the growth of DMBA-induced mammary cancer in rats. RESULTS: OA showed cytotoxicity on all 3 cancer cell lines. Annexin-positive cells level in OA-treated cell lines were significantly higher compared with untreated control cells (p=0.002). The expressions of caspase-7 protein and TUNEL-positive cells were much higher for the rats treated by OA, compared with the untreated control group (p<0.05). The expressions of the Ki-67 decreased in the treated groups compared with the control group (p<0.05). In vivo studies showed that the mean tumor volume inhibition ratio in OA-treated group was 41 % compared with the untreated rats (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that OA has antitumor activity against breast cancer cell lines.

Raloxifene: is it really effective on mood changes in postmenopausal osteopenic women?

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of raloxifene therapy on menopausal symptoms, depression and anxiety scores using Kupperman's Scale, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and Beck Anxiety Rating Scale (BARS) in osteopenic postmenopausal women. METHODS: This was a prospective, randomised, parallel and open labeled clinical study. One-hundred thirty-two postmenopausal osteopenic women with natural menopause enrolled into the study. One-hundred twenty-four of them completed the study. Group I patients were treated with oral raloxifene (60 mg/day), Group II patients were treated with oral calcium supplementation (1000 mg/day) for 3 months. The patient's menopausal, depressive and anxiety symptoms were assessed by using Kupperman's Scale, HDRS and BARS, before and at the end of treatment. For statistical analysis unpaired t, ANOVA, RM-ANOVA, MANCOVA, Pearson correlation tests were used. Statistical significance level was established at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Baseline Kupperman's Scale, HDRS and BARS scores were not different among two groups. At the end of 3 months of therapy, there was improvement in menopausal symptoms, depression and anxiety scores within both groups. When we compared change of scores before and after the treatment; group I scores were better than group II scores. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that raloxifene may have a positive effect on mood in osteopenic postmenopausal women.

Startup of an anaerobic fluidized bed reactor for landfill leachate treatment.

Anaerobic treatment of the young landfill leachate in a pilot-scale fluidized bed reactor was performed to observe the effects of startup on COD removal, biogas production and biomass attachment. During the experiments, the organic loading rate (OLR) was increased gradually from 2.5 to 27 g COD l(-1) day(-1) with varying the feed rate and the hydraulic retention time in the range of 5.5-13 1 day(-1) and 1-2.35 days, respectively. The anaerobic fluidized bed reactor (AFBR) showed an excellent performance and attained steady state conditions with COD removal of 90% after 80 days. Biogas production in the reactor continuously increased and its average yield (Y(gas)) was defined as 0.531 biogas g(-1) COD(rem)(-1) with a correlation of 99%. Greater microbial attachment was found at the increased loading rates and the attached biomass concentration (X(attach)) consisted of about 90% of the total biomass concentration. In addition, the substrate utilization rate indicated a linear increase as a function of time during the process.

What happens after conversion of treatment to continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis from hemodialysis?

A prospective study was planned to follow the clinical and laboratory data of hemodialysis (HD) patients after change of treatment to continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Patients who had been on the HD program for more than 6 months were selected and followed for at least 6 months under CAPD treatment. Measured parameters included hemoglobin, ferritin, C-reactive protein (CRP), calcium, phosphorus, and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) levels; lipid profile; total protein and albumin; body mass index and triceps skin fold thickness; echocardiographic findings; and medications administered. We followed 34 patients (12 males, 22 females; mean age: 43.5 +/- 14.5 years; mean HD duration: 36.6 +/- 24.76 months) for a mean period of 19.8 +/- 11.9 months after change of treatment to CAPD. We saw a significant increase in mean hemoglobin, cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)], phosphorus, and iPTH levels. We observed a decrease in erythropoietin dose, mean ferritin levels, systolic blood pressure (139.4 +/- 22.8 mmHg vs 114.4 +/- 21.0 mmHg, p = 0.001), diastolic blood pressure (85.7 +/- 12.6 mmHg vs 73.5 +/- 17.6 mmHg, p = 0.002), percentage of left ventricular hypertrophy, systolic and diastolic dysfunction, and the number of hypertensive drugs received. A significant improvement in the nutritional status of the patients (total protein, body mass index and triceps skin fold thickness) was also seen. In conclusion, CAPD treatment has a short-term outcome superior to that of HD in terms of better nutritional status and better control of hypertension and anemia.

Erythrocyte antioxidant activity and trace element levels in Behçet's disease.

Selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and antioxidant enzyme (superoxide dismutase [SOD] and glutathione peroxidase [GSH-Px]) levels in sera were detected in Behçet patients. Age and sex matched controls were used to find out if oxidative stress takes place in the etiopathogenesis of Behçet's disease. Superoxide dismutase levels were found to be lower in the whole patients group when compared to controls. In whole patients and inactive patients' group Zn and Se levels were found to be higher, but not different in the active patients group when compared to controls. No significant difference was found between the groups as Cu and glutathione peroxidase levels were taken into consideration. According to the results of the present study, SOD level is low in Behçet's disease patients' sera independent from the phase of the disease, and as a result of decreased SOD activity, increased production of free oxygen radicals may play a role in the etiopathogenesis of the disease.