The relationship between vitamin D3 and insulin in polycystic ovary syndrome - a critical review.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder affecting women of reproductive age. It is characterized by hormonal, reproductive and metabolic disturbances, including hyperandrogenism, altered gonadotropin level, ovarian cysts and ovulatory dysfunction as well as insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia and dyslipidemia. It was shown that increased insulin concentration is a plausible factor in the pathogenesis of PCOS. Insulin leads to overstimulation of ovarian theca cells to androgen biosynthesis and contributes to insulin resistance in tissues such as muscle, liver, adipose tissue and ovary of PCOS patients. Noteworthy, recent studies suggested that supplementation with vitamin D3 may be an alternative therapy increasing insulin sensitivity and thereby improving reproductive parameters in PCOS women. Indeed, various action of vitamin D3 on the ovarian, hormonal and metabolic features observed in PCOS were presented. Many studies reported therapeutic effects of vitamin D3, but some research found a lack of influence or contradicted these findings. Therefore, the aim of this review was to summarize the available evidence about vitamin D3 and insulin interaction in PCOS, and discusses the potential usefulness of VD3 in PCOS treatment.

Repeated co-treatment with mirtazapine and aripiprazole reversed the schizophrenia-like behaviors and increased the brain-derived neurotrophic factor mRNA expression in the adult Sprague-Dawley rats exposed to glutathione deficit during early postnatal brain development.

Recent studies suggest that impaired glutathione synthesis and dopaminergic transmission are important factors in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Moreover, some studies have suggested that antidepressants are able to increase the activity of atypical antipsychotics which may efficiently improve the treatment of negative and some cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia. In the present study, we investigated the influence of repeated co-treated with mirtazapine and aripiprazole on the schizophrenia-like behavior and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA expression in adult rats exposed to glutathione deficit during early postnatal development. Between the postnatal days p5-p16, male pups were treated with the inhibitor of glutathione synthesis, BSO (L-buthionine-(S,R)-sulfoximine) and the dopamine uptake inhibitor, GBR 12909 alone or in combination. Mirtazapine and aripiprazole were given repeatedly, once daily for 21 days before the tests. The behavioral and biochemical tests were performed in p90-92 rats. BSO given alone and in combination with GBR 12909 induced deficits in the studied behavioral tests and decreased the expression of BDNF mRNA. Repeated aripiprazole administration at a higher dose reversed these behavioral deficits. Co-treatment with an ineffective dose of aripiprazole and mirtazapine also abolished the behavioral deficits and biochemical changes, especially in the hippocampus in these rats. The present study indicated that the inhibition of glutathione synthesis in early postnatal development induced long-term deficits corresponding to schizophrenia-like behavior and decreased the BDNF mRNA expression in adult rats, and these behavioural and biochemical deficits were reversed by repeated treatment with a higher dose of aripiprazole and also by co-treatment with an ineffective dose of aripiprazole and mirtazapine. The above data suggest that this neurodevelopment rat model of schizophrenia-induced by glutathione deficit evoked by repeated treatment with BSO alone and together with GBR 12909 in early postnatal life may be useful for studies on the pathomechanism of schizophrenia.

Investigation of the midgut structure and ultrastructure in Cimex lectularius and Cimex pipistrelli (Hemiptera: Cimicidae).

Cimicidae are temporary ectoparasites, which means that they cannot obtain food continuously. Both Cimex species examined here, Cimex lectularius (Linnaeus 1758) and Cimex pipistrelli (Jenyns 1839), can feed on a non-natal host, C. lectularius from humans on bats, C. pipistrelli on humans, but never naturally. The midgut of C. lectularius and C. pipistrelli is composed of three distinct regions-the anterior midgut (AMG), which has a sack-like shape, the long tube-shaped middle midgut (MMG), and the posterior midgut (PMG). The different ultrastructures of the AMG, MMG, and PMG in both of the species examined suggest that these regions must fulfill different functions in the digestive system. Ultrastructural analysis showed that the AMG fulfills the role of storing food and synthesizing and secreting enzymes, while the MMG is the main organ for the synthesis of enzymes, secretion, and the storage of the reserve material. Additionally, both regions, the AMG and MMG, are involved in water absorption in the digestive system of both Cimex species. The PMG is the part of the midgut in which spherites accumulate. The results of our studies confirm the suggestion of former authors that the structure of the digestive tract of insects is not attributed solely to diet but to the basic adaptation of an ancestor.

Ultrastructure of the salivary glands in Lithobius forficatus (Myriapoda, Chilopoda, Lithobiidae) according to seasonal and circadian rhythms.

The salivary glands (mandibular epidermal glands) of adult males and females of Lithobius forficatus (Myriapoda, Chilopoda) were isolated during spring, summer and autumn. In addition, the organs were isolated at different times of the day - at about 12:00 (noon) and about 00:00 (midnight). The ultrastructure of these organs depending on seasonal and circadian rhythms was analyzed using transmission and scanning electron microscopy and histochemical methods. The paired salivary glands of L. forficatus are situated in the vicinity of the foregut and they are formed by numerous acini that are surrounded by the fat body, hemocytes and tracheolae. The salivary glands are composed of a terminal acinar component and a system of tubular ducts that are lined with a cuticle. The glandular part is composed of secretory epithelial cells that are at various stages of their secretory activity. The saliva that is produced by the secretory cells of the acini is secreted into the salivary ducts, which are lined with a simple epithelium that is based on the non-cellular basal lamina. The ultrastructural variations suggest that salivary glands function differently depending on seasonal rhythms and prepare the animal for overwintering. Therefore, the salivary glands of the centipedes that were analyzed participate in the accumulation of proteins, lipids and polysaccharides during the spring, summer and autumn. Subtle differences in the ultrastructure of the secretory cells of the salivary glands during the circadian cycle must be related to the physiological reactions of the organism. The salivary ducts showed no differences in the specimens that were analyzed during the day/night cycle or during the seasonal cycle.

The antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like effects following co-treatment with escitalopram and risperidone in rats.

Several clinical reports have documented a beneficial effect of the addition of a low dose of risperidone to the ongoing treatment with antidepressants, in particular selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), in the treatment of drug-resistant depression and treatment-resistant anxiety disorders. In the present study, we investigated the effect of treatment with the antidepressant escitalopram (SSRI) given separately or jointly with a low dose of risperidone (an atypical antipsychotic) in the forced swim test and in the elevated plus-maze test in rats. The obtained results showed that escitalopram at doses of 2.5 or 5 mg/kg evoked antidepressant-like effect in the forced swim test. Moreover, risperidone at low doses (0.05 or 0.1 mg/kg) enhanced the antidepressant-like activity of escitalopram (1 mg/kg) in this test by increasing the swimming time and decreasing the immobility time in those animals. WAY 100635 (a serotonin 5-HT1A receptor antagonist) at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg abolished the antidepressant-like effect induced by co-administration of escitalopram and risperidone. The active behavior in that test did not reflect an increase in general activity, since the combined treatment with escitalopram and risperidone failed to enhance the exploratory activity of rats. In the following experiment, we showed that escitalopram (5 mg/kg) and mirtazapine (5 or 10 mg/kg) or risperidone (0.1 mg/kg) induced an anxiolytic-like effect in the elevated plus-maze test, and the combined treatment with an ineffective dose of risperidone (0.05 mg/kg) enhanced the anxiolytic-like effects of escitalopram (2.5 mg/kg) or mirtazapine (1 and 2.5 mg/kg) in this test. The obtained results suggest that risperidone applied at a low dose enhances the antidepressant-like activity of escitalopram in the forced swim test, and that 5-HT1A receptors may play some role in these effects. Moreover, a low dose of risperidone may also enhance the anxiolytic-like action of the studied antidepressants.

The ultrastructure of the midgut epithelium in millipedes (Myriapoda, Diplopoda).

The midgut epithelia of the millipedes Polyxenus lagurus, Archispirostreptus gigas and Julus scandinavius were analyzed under light and transmission electron microscopies. In order to detect the proliferation of regenerative cells, labeling with BrdU and antibodies against phosphohistone H3 were employed. A tube-shaped midgut of three millipedes examined spreads along the entire length of the middle region of the body. The epithelium is composed of digestive, secretory and regenerative cells. The digestive cells are responsible for the accumulation of metals and the reserve material as well as the synthesis of substances, which are then secreted into the midgut lumen. The secretions are of three types - merocrine, apocrine and microapocrine. The oval or pear-like shaped secretory cells do not come into contact with the midgut lumen and represent the closed type of secretory cells. They possess many electron-dense granules (J. scandinavius) or electron-dense granules and electron-lucent vesicles (A. gigas, P. lagurus), which are accompanied by cisterns of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. The regenerative cells are distributed individually among the basal regions of the digestive cells. The proliferation and differentiation of regenerative cells into the digestive cells occurred in J. scandinavius and A. gigas, while these processes were not observed in P. lagurus. As a result of the mitotic division of regenerative cells, one of the newly formed cells fulfills the role of a regenerative cell, while the second one differentiates into a digestive cell. We concluded that regenerative cells play the role of unipotent midgut stem cells.

Participation of analogues of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA): oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphate (L-alpha-LPA) and 1-oleoyl-2-O-methyl-rac-glycerophosphothionate (OMPT) in uterine smooth muscle contractility of the pregnant pigs.

Recent studies show that a representative of phospholipids, namely lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and its receptors (LPA1.3) play a significant role in the reproductive processes, i. a, in the modulation of the uterine contractility. The participation of LPA3 in the reproductive processes has been revealed in mice and has not been studied in gilts. Therefore, in the present study we investigated the role/action of LPA and its receptors LPA1, LPA2 and LPA3 on the contraction activity in the porcine uterus. The study was conducted on an experimental model in which the pig uterus consisted of the one whole uterine horn and a part of the second horn, both connected with the uterine corpus. Uterine strips consisting of the endometrium with the myometrium (ENDO/MYO) and myometrium (MYO) alone were collected on days 12-14 of the estrous cycle (control group; n = 5) or pregnancy (experimental group; n = 5). Two analogues of LPA at increasing doses were used: oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphate (L-alpha-LPA, a selective agonist of LPA1 and LPA2 receptors; 10(-7) M; 10(-6) M and 10(-5) M) and 1-oleoyl-2-O-methyl-rac-glycerophosphothionate (OMPT, a selective agonist of LPA3 receptor; 68 nM; 136 nM and 680 nM). L-alpha-LPA caused an increase in the contraction tension, amplitude and frequency of ENDO/MYO from the uterine horn with the developing embryos. This effect was not observed in MYO in both groups examined. In the ENDO/MYO strips of the uterine horn with developing embryos, OMPT significantly increased the contraction tension at the highest dose (680 nM) and amplitude at all doses examined, while frequency of contractions was decreased at doses of 136 nM and 680 nM. In the MYO strips of the uterine horn with embryos a significant increase in the contraction tension and amplitude after the highest dose of OMPT was observed. The results obtained imply the important role of receptors LPA1, LPA2 and LPA3 in the contraction activity of the porcine uterus during early pregnancy.

The influence of embryo presence on prostaglandins synthesis and prostaglandin E2 and F2alpha content in corpora lutea during periimplantation period in the pig.

We determined the expression of PGE2 synthase (mPGES-1), PGF synthase (PGFS), carbonyl reductase/prostaglandin 9-ketoreductase (CBR1) genes and the content of PGE2, PGF2alpha in porcine corpora lutea on Days 12-14 of pregnancy and Days 12-14 of the estrous cycle. For this study we used a surgically-generated model in which one of the uterine horns was cut transversely and a part of this horn was detached from the uterine corpus. The expression of mPGES-1, PGFS, and CBR1 genes and mPGES-1/PGFS ratio were significantly higher in corpora lutea of the pregnant gilts compared to the corpora lutea from the parallel ovaries of the cyclic gilts. There was no difference in mPGES-1, PGFS, CBR1 genes expression and mPGES-1/PGFS ratio between corpora lutea ipsi-(CL1) and contralateral (CL2) to the uterine horn with the developing embryos. The highest content of PGE2 was found in CL1 of the pregnant gilts. The PGE2/PGF2alpha ratio was significantly higher in CL1 of the pregnant gilts compared to corpora lutea from parallel ovary of the cyclic gilts. We suggest that the activity of the investigated genes is induced by compounds of embryonic origin which are not distributed only to the ipsilateral ovary but are transported within the mesometrium to both ovaries in a more systemic manner.

[Enzymatic tests for alkaline and acid phosphatase in gingival tissues in workers of the Chelm Cement Plant]. / Odczyny enzymatyczne na fosfataze zasadowa i fosfataze kwasna w tkankach dziasel pracowników cementowni "Chelm".

Using histochemical methods the activity of alkaline and acid phosphatase was determined in the gingivae of 38 workers aged from 26 to 59 years employed in work with greatest exposure to dust. The control group comprised 11 men aged 23 to 49 years living in Chelm or in its vicinity, not exposed to cement dust. The activity of alkaline phosphatase in the group with exposure and with deep gingivitis of lower intensity was very high, while it was lower in the group with highest intensity of the inflammatory process. The activity of acid phosphatase increased with increasing intensity of pathological changes.

[Localization of retained teeth in radiogram]. / Umiejscowienie zebów zatrzymanych w obrazie radiologicznym.

The purpose of the study was evaluation of various possibilities of localization of retained teeth. The study was carried out on 86 patients referred to the Department of Conservative Stomatology, Institute of Stomatology Medical Academy in Lublin. Retained teeth were discovered in them accidentally or in examinations for various symptoms. On the basis of history data, clinical examination and radiological findings the following localization of retained teeth was recognized: 1) lateral or anterior part of the mandible, 2) lateral or anterior part of the maxilla, 3) maxillary sinus or its vicinity, 4) ascending ramus or condular process, 5) vicinity of the lower orbital margin and piriform fossa.

[Congenital absence of permanent teeth]. / Wrodzone braki zebów stalych.

In 76 patients treated at the Department of Conservative Stomatology, Institute of Stomatology, Medical Academy in Lublin congenital absence of anlages of permanent teeth was found. The patients were aged 8 to 18 years, including 49 girls and 27 boys. In the whole group absence of 214 teeth was noted, i.e. 136 in girls and 78 in boys. In the examinations it was observed that congenital absence of permanent teeth was more frequent in girls than in boys, 2) most frequently only one tooth was absent in a given patient, 3) upper teeth were lacking more frequently than lower teeth, and absence of right teeth was more frequent than left teeth, 4) the greatest group among absent teeth were upper lateral incisors, while second upper molars in the maxilla were least frequently absent.

[Usefulness of radiological examinations in the diagnosis of supernumerary teeth]. / Przydatnosc badania radiologicznego w diagnostyce zebów nadliczbowych.

Existence of the supernumerary teeth has been found in 39 persons at the age of 8 to 69. There were 61.6% of the cases at the age when dentition exchange takes place and 38.4% of the cases during maturity. Clinical and radiological examinations have been carried out in these patients. The radiograms obtained have been found useful in detection, description and treatment of this dental anomaly.

[Rare case of supernumerary teeth]. / Rzadki przypadek zebów nadliczbowych.

A case of supernumerary teeth existence in maxilla and mandible in 21-years' old female patient has been described. The possibility of utilization one of them situated in the dental arch as an abutement for prosthetic crown has been considered.