The Role of Vitamin D in Stroke Prevention and the Effects of Its Supplementation for Post-Stroke Rehabilitation: A Narrative Review

Hypovitaminosis D is a serious public health problem, representing an independent factor in mortality among the general population. Vitamin D deficiency may affect up to one billion people worldwide. Recently, the potential association between vitamin D levels and stroke has gained increasing attention. Many studies suggest that maintaining normal serum vitamin D levels is associated with improvement of the cardiovascular system and a reduction in stroke risk. As a neurosteroid, vitamin D influences brain development and function and immunomodulation and affects brain neuroplasticity. It supports many processes that maintain homeostasis in the body. As stroke is the second most common cause of death worldwide, more studies are needed to confirm the positive effects of vitamin D supplementation, its dosage at different stages of the disease, method of determination, and effect on stroke onset and recovery. Many studies on stroke survivors indicate that serum vitamin D levels only offer insignificant benefits and are not beneficial to recovery. This review article aims to highlight recent publications that have examined the potential of vitamin D supplementation to improve rehabilitation outcomes in stroke survivors. Particular attention has been paid to stroke prevention.     

Increased oxytocinergic system activity in the cardiac muscle in spontaneously hypertensive SHR rats

IntroductionThe present study aimed to determine whether the presence of cardiac hypertrophy due to arterial hypertension is associated with a change in the activity of the oxytocinergic system in cardiomyocytes.Material and methodsThe experiments were performed on male, spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR, n = 10) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY, n = 12). Blood samples were collected from both SHR and WKY animals to asses plasma oxytocin (OT) concentration; the rats were sacrificed by decapitation. Samples of the left and right ventricles were harvested for the analysis of the OT and oxytocin receptor (OTR) protein by ELISA, and OT and OTR mRNA expression by RT-PCR. Immunohistopathological studies were performed to confirm the presence of OTR receptors in the cardiac muscle of the ventricles.ResultsPlasma OT concentration did not differ between SHR and WKY rats. In the SHR rats, the expression of OT mRNA and the OT protein level was higher in the left and the right ventricle, while OTR mRNA expression was significantly lower in both the left and the right ventricle. However, the level of OTR protein was higher only in the left ventricle of the SHR rats. The presence of OTR receptors was confirmed by immunohistochemical analysis in the muscle of the right and left ventricle.ConclusionsThe presence of arterial hypertension is associated with increased activity of the oxytocinergic system in the heart, especially in the area of the left ventricle. These findings support the important role of this system in the maintenance of cardiovascular homeostasis.     

Intrusion of overerupted molars with temporary anchorage devices before prosthetic reconstruction: A case report

Extraction of teeth without adequate prosthetic rehabilitation frequently can lead to overeruption of opposing teeth, which may cause occlusal disturbances and complicate dental restoration. Equilibration with consequent need of endodontic treatment, surgical intrusion or extraction are often indicated as a remedy in such cases. The article proposes a method of orthodontic intrusion with the use of temporary anchorage devices as a predictable and less invasive option. Important clinical aspects of molar intrusion with respect to surrounding anatomical structures are also discussed.     

Synthesis and antimycobacterial assay of some xanthone derivatives

A series of some derivatives of 2-xanthone was synthesized and evaluated for their activity against M. tuberculosis in primary and/or secondary microbiological assays. The cytotoxic activity of some compounds was also evaluated. The most active compounds were: [I] 2-(2-(4-(2-(4-chloro-3-methylphenoxy)ethyl)piperazin-1-yl)ethoxy)-9H-xanthen-9-one, [III] 2-((4-(2-(4-chlor-3-methylphenoxy)ethyl)piperazin-1-yl)methyl)-9H-xanthen-9-one dihydrochloride and [XVIII] ethyl 4-(2-hydroxy-3-(9-oxo-9H-xanthen-2-yloxy)propyl) piperazine-1-carboxylate, which displayed 98%, 98% and 94% inhibition of M. tuberculosis growth, respectively. Furthermore, compounds III and XVIII revealed their cytotoxic activity (SI < 1). Other structures varied greatly in their anti M. tuberculosis activity, however, several trends in their structure in relation to their antituberculous activity have been observed.     

The 3020insC NOD2 gene mutation in patients with ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVE: There is an increasing evidence that genetic factors play a role in the etiology of malignant tumors. Mutations of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are responsible for an increased risk of ovarian cancer. The role of mutations in NOD2 gene in this type of neoplasm is still under investigation. THE AIM: The aim of this study was to determine: 1. incidence of NOD 2 3020insC constitutional mutation in a group of consecutive women with ovarian cancer, 2. risk of developing ovarian cancer in patients with NOD2 gene mutation, 3. clinical and pathological features of ovarian cancer in NOD2 gene mutation carriers. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Clinical and pathological data were collected from 257 non-selected patients with primary epithelial ovarian cancer. The researches identified NOD2 3020insC gene mutation. On the basis of patient source documentation we obtained the data concerning the age of patients at diagnosis, histopathological recognition, FIGO stage and morphological grade G. RESULTS: 19 out of 257 women were identified with germ-line 3020insC mutation of NOD2 gene (7.39%). An increased risk of ovarian cancer in NOD2 mutation carriers was not revealed (OR=1.01; p=0.928; 95% Cl=0.61-1.66). The mean age at diagnosis of patients with NOD2 mutation was 54.8 (SD=9.9), while for non-carriers it was 53.2 (SD=10.2). The difference between these frequencies was statistically irrelevant (p=0.550). Clinical and pathological profile of ovarian cancer was made. We assessed the following features: age at disease onset, histopathology, FIGO stage and morphological grade G. For NOD2 mutation carriers no statistically significant features of ovarian cancer were revealed. CONCLUSION: 1. Despite high frequency of constitutional mutations occurrence in NOD2 gene in women with ovarian cancer, genetic testing seem not to be justified in all women diagnosed with this disease. 2. Due to a lack of increased risk of ovarian cancer in NOD2 gene mutation carriers, proceedings for them may not differ from recommendations for general population. 3. It is difficult to determine characteristic clinical and pathological features of ovarian cancer for NOD2 gene mutation carriers.     

Antibacterial C-geranylflavonoids from Paulownia tomentosa Fruits

Eight C-6-geranylflavonoids ( 1- 8) were isolated from an ethanol extract of Paulownia tomentosa fruits. Tomentodiplacone ( 1), 3'- O-methyl-5'-hydroxydiplacone ( 2), 3'- O-methyl-5'- O-methyldiplacone ( 3), and tomentodiplacone B ( 4) were obtained as new compounds, and 3'- O-methyldiplacol ( 5) was isolated for the first time from a natural source. The structures of these new compounds were determined by using mass spectrometry (including HRMS) and 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, and the absolute configurations of the compounds were determined by circular dichroism. The antibacterial activities of 1- 8 against seven bacteria and yeast were evaluated.     

Response of proopiomelanocortin and gonado- or lactotroph systems to in-vitro fertilisation procedures stress

Objective

To analyse for the first time the response of the corticotroph-type and the melanotroph-type pituitary proopiomelanocortin (POMC) system with regard to in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment using self-developed highly specific non-cross-reacting radioimmunoassay.

Study design

Setting: University hospital. Patients: A total of 28 patients undergoing IVF oocyte retrieval. Cross sectional exploratory study, one factorial design with repeated measurements on one factor, non-parametric tests. Blood was collected before anaesthesia (t_A) (n = 28) and immediately after oocyte retrieval (t_B) (n = 28). Main outcome measure(s): β-endorphin immunoreactive material (IRM), acetyl-N-β-endorphin IRM, β-lipotropin IRM, ACTH, cortisol, estradiol, progesterone, prolactin, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone. For determination of authentic β-endorphin [β-endorphin (1–31)] a highly specific two-site fluid phase immunoprecipitation radioimmunoassay was developed, which did not cross-react with any β-endorphin derivative or any other opioid peptide tested.

Results

No response of acetyl-N-β-endorphin IRM and of authentic β-endorphin (1–31) was observed to oocyte retrieval in contrast to a significant increase of corticotroph-type proopiomelanocortin derivatives. A significant rise in prolactin plasma concentration indicates a pronounced lactotroph response to oocyte retrieval stress. No significant correlation between POMC derivates and prolactin and between POMC derivatives and gonadotropins or sexual steroids except for ACTH and progesterone and for β-endorphin IRM and estradiol was observed.

Conclusion

IVF treatment stress led to significant corticotroph-type POMC and lactotroph responses, but not to responses of authentic β-endorphin or melanotroph-type POMC in women undergoing oocyte retrieval.     

Assessment of expression of luteinizing hormone (LH)/human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) receptor (LH/hCGR) and hCG protein in ovarian cancer tissues

OBJECTIVES: Ovarian cancers still remain a significant worldwide epidemiological problem. The vast majority of newly diagnosed cases are in advanced clinical stages, and the five-year survival rate in all clinical stages amounts up to less than fifty percent. A better understanding of the biology of ovarian cancer can bring us closer to successful treatment and recovery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of luteinizing hormone (LH)/human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) receptor (LH/hCGR) and the expression of hCG protein in the ovarian cancer tissue. MATERIALS: Histologically proven primary ovarian cancer samples (n=20) were obtained from women undergoing gynecologic surgery. Frozen sections of ovarian cancer tissues were evaluated by means of indirect immunofluorescence. RESULTS: The expression of hCG protein was ubiquitous throughout all samples, while LH/hCGR was detected in only sixty percent of samples. Co-expression of LH/hCGR and hCG protein was detected in some individual cells in tumor tissue. Some cancer cells expressed only hCG protein, but not LH/hCGR. CONCLUSIONS: Expression of LH/hCG receptor is a characteristic feature of various histological types of ovarian cancer. Co-expression of LH/hCGR and hCG protein in individual cancer cells may point to an autocrine or paracrine mechanism of _hCG activity in the tumor microenvironment. Further studies are needed to evaluate LH/hCGR and hCG protein function in the course of neoplastic development.