Effect of testosterone propionate on hippocampal pyramidal neuron number in female rats

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>The hippocampus is an important region of the brain that regulates cognitive and emotional functions. In this study, we examined the impact of perinatal administration of testosterone propionate (TP) on the number of pyramidal neurons in the CA1 and CA3 regions of the hippocampi of female rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Five groups of rats were used in this study. Three groups of female rats were administered TP in either both the prenatal and the postnatal periods (Group 1), only the prenatal period (Group 2) or only the postnatal period (Group 3). The other two groups of rats included control females (Group 4) and control males (Group 5). The rats were sacrificed on postnatal Day 120 and their brains were analysed for hippocampal pyramidal neuron number using stereological methods.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Control male rats (Group 5; p = 0.043) and TP-treated female rats in Groups 1 (p = 0.012) and 2 (p = 0.037), but not Group 3 (p > 0.05), had a significantly higher number of pyramidal neurons than control female rats (Group 4). The rats in Group 1 had the highest number of pyramidal neurons among the female rats.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Perinatal TP treatment has an augmenting effect on the number of pyramidal neurons in the hippocampi of female rats. We also found gender-based differences in the hippocampi of male and female rats, with a higher number of pyramidal neurons seen in male rats. Continuous TP administration during the prenatal and postnatal periods is more effective than administration only in the prenatal or postnatal period.</p>

Evaluation of glucose metabolism in hepatitis serology negative beta thalassemia major patients

To evaluate the impaired glucose metabolism and their possible risk factors in beta thalassemia major [TM] patients negative for hepatitis serology and PCR. Prospective descriptive study. Department of Pediatric Hematology, Pamukkale University Faculty of Medicine, Denizli, Turkey. Patients with history of familial diabetes mellitus [DM] and hepatitis serology and polymerase chain reaction [PCR] positive TM patients were excluded. An oral glucose tolerance test [OGTT] was done on 32 TM patients. Insulinogenic index, beta-cell function index and insulin resistance index were calculated. Glucose metabolism in beta TM patients negative for hepatitis serology and PCR. Seven patients [1.8%] had impaired glucose metabolism [IGM]. Three patients [9.3%] were diagnosed with DM, one [3.1%] patient with impaired glucose tolerance [IGT] and three [9.3%] patients with impaired fasting glucose [IFG]. Cases with IGM had significantly higher, annual erythrocyte consumption rate [ml/kg/year], ferritin, alaninaminotransferase [ALT], postsplenectomy period, age at first transfusion when compared with normal glucose metabolism [NGM] patients [p < 0.05]. Insulinogenic index decreased in IGM patients compared to NGM patients [p < 0.005]. Our results show that annual erythrocyte consumption rate, ferritin, post-splenectomy period, insulinogenic index and ALT values are predictive of IGM in TM patients negative for hepatitis serology and PCR

Metabolic syndrome in childhood obesity.

OBJECTIVES: We determined the frequency of metabolic risk factors and the prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in childhood obesity. SUBJECTS: 186 obese children (97 females and 89 males), aged 11.2 +/- 2.8 (6-16) years and 98 healthy children (46 females and 52 males), aged 10.9 +/- 3.2 (6-16) years were recruited for the study, as study and control groups, respectively. METHODS: Subjects were evaluated for anthropometry, blood pressure (BP) and biochemical cardiovascular risk factors. Metabolic syndrome was defined in presence of > 3 of the following: (i) fasting triglyceride > 100 mg/dL; (ii) high density lipoprotein cholesterol < 50 mg/dL, except in boys aged 15 to 19 years, in whom the cutoff point was 45 mg/dL; (iii) fasting glucose >110 mg/dL; (iv) waist circumference > 75th percentile for age and gender and (v) systolic BP > 90th percentile. RESULTS: We found that 144 (77.4%) children in the obese group had one, two or more cardiovascular risk factors. Using a pediatric definition, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 2.1%. In the control group, the clustering of one, two and three risk factors was very rare. CONCLUSION: Childhood obesity is associated with increased frequency of cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic syndrome.