Mean daily plasma concentrations of beta-endorphin, leu-enkephalin, ACTH, cortisol, and DHEAS in epileptic patients with complex partial seizures evolving to generalized tonic-clonic seizures.

INTRODUCTION: A multitude of mechanisms have been implicated in the pathophysiology of epilepsy. OBJECTIVE: To assess mean daily plasma concentrations of ACTH, cortisol, DHEAS, leu-enkephalin, and beta-endorphin in epileptic patients with complex partial seizures evolving to tonic-clonic in relation to frequency of seizure occurrence (groups with seizure occurrences - several per week and several per year) and duration of the disease (groups less than and more than 10 years). We decided to analyse mean daily values of beta-endorphin and leu-enkephalin because of significant differences in concentrations of these substances in blood during the day. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was performed on 17 patients (14 males + 3 females; mean age 31.8 yrs) treated with carbamazepine (300-1800 mg/day). The control group consisted of six age-matched healthy volunteers. Blood was collected at 8 a.m., 2 p.m., 8 p.m., and 2 a.m. Intergroup analysis was performed with the use of ANOVA Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS: Mean daily concentrations of ACTH and cortisol in the blood of the patients with epilepsy were higher in comparison with those of the healthy volunteers, independently of the frequency of seizures and duration of the disease. Mean daily concentrations of beta-endorphin in the blood of the patients with epilepsy were higher in the groups of patients with more severe clinical course of disease (with more frequently occurring epilepsy seizures and longer duration of the disease) in comparison with healthy subjects. Mean daily concentrations of leu-enkephalin in the blood of the patients with epilepsy were higher in the group of patients with short duration of the disease in comparison with the group with long duration of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Pituitary-adrenal axis hyperactivity is observed in patients with clinically active epilepsy, independently of the frequency of seizures and duration of the disease. 2. Changes in endogenous opioid system activity are related to the clinical activity of epilepsy - beta-endorphin concentrations are connected with frequency of seizures and duration of the disease and leu-enkephalin concentrations with duration of the disease. 3. Endogenous opioid peptides might take part in the neurochemical mechanism of human epilepsy. (Pol J Endocrinol 2010; 61 (1): 103-110).

[Assessment of antioxidative enzymes activity and intensification of lipids peroxidation in asthmatic patients]. / Ocena aktywnosci enzymów antyoksydacyjnych i nasilenia peroksydacji lipidów u chorych na astme.

Chronic immunoallergic inflammatory reaction plays a key role in pathogenesis of asthma. Importance of free oxygen radicals in mechanism of chronic inflammatory process has been proved. Activity of two antioxidative enzymes: isoenzymes of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (POX), and concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) in serum and erythrocytes in asthmatics during exacerbation and improvement of disease were assessed. Disturbances in oxidative system in asthmatic patients have been observed. Lack of significant differences in antioxidative indexes between a period of exacerbation, not complicated by infection and a period of improvement indicates a pathophysiological role of chronic oxygen stress in asthma. It has been also shown that bacterial infection disturbs efficiency of antioxidative mechanisms.

The relationship between the daily profile of chosen biochemical markers of bone metabolism and melatonin and other hormone secretion in rats under physiological conditions.

BACKGROUND: The mechanism of generating and synchronizing daily rhythms of bone and mineral metabolism markers has not been entirely explained. Most studies indicate that LD cycle and/or feeding schedules provide important synchronizers of these rhythms. It seems that endogenous factors, including systemic and local hormones can be important in the mechanism of dependence of bone and mineral metabolism parameters rhythms on LD cycle and feeding schedule. OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between the daily profile of chosen biochemical parameters of bone and mineral metabolism (serum ALP, PICP, ICTP and iP and urinary excretion of HYP and total calcium) and daily secretion of MEL, GH/IGF-I axis activity and parathyroid, thyroid, adrenal cortex and gonads function in 48 adult male rats. METHODS: Material for studies was collected every 3 hours within a day. Hormones, PICP and ICTP concentrations were determined with the use of RIA method and ALP, HYP, total calcium and iP values--spectrophotometrically. RESULTS: Existence of a negative correlation between daily oscillations of studied markers of osteogenesis (ALP and PICP) and daily profile of MEL and PTH secretion and positive with daily fluctuations of GH and IGF-I was shown. Moreover, ALP values correlated negatively with daily oscillations of CT. Concentrations of bone resorption markers (ICTP, HYP and total calcium) correlated negatively with daily fluctuations of MEL and positively with GH, IGF-I and thyroid hormones. CONCLUSION: The present results suggest that physiological daily rhythmicity of PTH, MEL, GH, IGF-I and thyroid hormones most probably play an important role in regulating the daily rhythm of biochemical markers of bone metabolism.

Circadian rhythm of melatonin in patients with colorectal carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was pineal gland function assessment on the base of daily rhythm study and mean daily melatonin (MEL) concentrations in serum in patients with colorectal carcinoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Studies were performed in 12 women at the age of 63.17+/-5.90 years and 21 men aged 58.95+/-11.32 years with large intestine adenocarcinoma. The control group consisted of 28 healthy volunteers at comparable age. During the circadian study blood samples for the measurement of melatonin (MEL) were collected every 4 hours during 12 h. MEL concentrations were assessed with the use of RIA methods. Statistical analysis of circadian rhythms of MEL was carried out with the use of cosinor method according to Halberg. RESULTS: Existence of daily rhythm of MEL secretion was shown in all studied groups. A significant decrease of amplitude of rhythm and secretion of MEL at nocturnal hours in comparison with the control group was shown in the group of women with large intestine carcinoma. A significant decrease of mesor value and amplitude of MEL rhythm as a consequence of decrease of MEL secretion at nocturnal and morning hours was observed in the group of ill men. CONCLUSIONS: Decrease in melatonin circadian rhythm amplitude as a consequence of its lowered nocturnal secretion occurred in all patients with colorectal carcinoma. Abnormalities in daily rhythm of melatonin secretion were more intensified in men with large intestine carcinoma, which leads to suppression of mean daily hormone concentration.

Circadian rhythm of melatonin in postmenopausal asthmatic women with hormone replacement therapy.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to check if in postmenopausal women such a disease as asthma and use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) influence daily melatonin (MEL) secretion. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Studies were performed in 55 asthmatics (treated and not treated with glucocorticosteroids) and 20 healthy postmenopausal women (aged 48-60) before HRT and after 6 months of transdermal 17beta-estradiol and medroxyprogesterone acetate treatment (cyclical method). During the circadian study blood samples for the measurement of MEL were collected every 3 hours during the day. MEL concentrations were assessed with the use of RIA methods. Statistical analysis of the circadian rhythm was performed with the use of cosinor test according to Halberg et al. RESULTS: Existence of daily rhythm of MEL secretion was shown in all studied groups, before as well as after HRT. A significant decrease of mesor and amplitude's rhythm was observed in the group of women with asthma treated with glucocorticosteroids (GC) before and after HRT use in relation to women not treated with GC and the control group. Secretion of MEL in these patients was lower at nocturnal hours. A significant decrease of mean daily MEL secretion in relation to values before HRT use was shown in all groups. CONCLUSIONS: Asthmatic postmenopausal women treated with GC show lowered circadian secretion of melatonin as a consequence of lowering its secretion at nocturnal hours. Hormonal replacement therapy causes a decrease of daily melatonin secretion in healthy as well as asthmatic women, not disturbing circadian rhythm of this hormone's secretion.