Changes in taste palatability across the estrous cycle are modulated by hypothalamic estradiol signaling.

Food intake varies across the stages of a rat's estrous cycle. It is reasonable to hypothesize that this cyclic fluctuation in consumption reflects an impact of hormones on taste palatability/preference, but evidence for this hypothesis has been mixed, and critical within-subject experiments in which rats sample multiple tastes during each of the four main estrous phases (metestrus, diestrus, proestrus, and estrus) have been scarce. Here, we assayed licking for pleasant (sucrose, NaCl, saccharin) and aversive (quinine-HCl, citric acid) tastes each day for 5-10 days while tracking rats' estrous cycles through vaginal cytology. Initial analyses confirmed the previously-described increased consumption of pleasant stimuli 24-48 hours following the time of high estradiol. A closer look, however, revealed this effect to reflect a general magnification of palatability-higher than normal preferences for pleasant tastes and lower than normal preferences for aversive tastes-during metestrus. We hypothesized that this phenomenon might be related to estradiol processing in the lateral hypothalamus (LH), and tested this hypothesis by inhibiting LH estrogen receptor activity with ICI 182,780 during tasting. Control infusions replicated the metestrus magnification of palatability pattern; ICI infusions blocked this effect as predicted, but failed to render preferences "cycle free," instead delaying the palatability magnification until diestrus. Clearly, estrous phase mediates details of taste palatability in a manner involving hypothalamic actions of estradiol; further work will be needed to explain the lack of a flat response across the cycle with hypothalamic estradiol binding inhibited, a result which perhaps suggests dynamic interplay between brain regions or hormones. Significance Statement: Consummatory behaviors are impacted by many variables, including naturally circulating hormones. While it is clear that consumption is particularly high during the stages following the high-estradiol stage of the rodent's estrous (and human menstrual) cycle, it is as of yet unclear whether this phenomenon reflects cycle stage-specific palatability (i.e., whether pleasant tastes are particularly delicious, and aversive tastes particularly disgusting, at particular phases). Here we show that palatability is indeed modulated by estrous phase, and that this effect is governed, at least in part, by the action of estradiol within the lateral hypothalamus. These findings shed light on the mechanisms underlying the adverse impact on human welfare due to irregularities observed across the otherwise cyclic menstrual process.

The role of oxidized phospholipids in COVID-19-associated hypercoagulopathy.

OBJECTIVE: There is more pronounced hypercoagulation in COVID-19 infection than in other viral lung infections. Oxidized phospholipids (OxPLs) appear in COVID-19-infected lungs due to oxidative stress, after which they promote the induction of tissue factor (TF) expression and inflammatory programmers in monocytes, as well as activate endothelial cells to recruit and bind to monocytes. Therefore, we aimed to demonstrate the role of OxPLs in inflammatory and procoagulant responses in COVID-19 infection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with a positive SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction test and ten healthy donors were included in the study. Peripheral blood was drawn at inclusion for OxPAPC, IFN-γ, and CCL2 serum level measurements. Clinical data were collected from electronic patient medical files. The serum levels of OxPAPC, IFNγ, and CCL2 were measured by immune assays. RESULTS: Seventy-two patients were included in the study. OxPAPC and CCL2 were higher in the patients than in the controls (<0.003 and 0.011, respectively). INF-γ did not significantly differ between groups. There was no difference between the patients with lung involvement and those without CCL2, INF-γ, and OxPAPC. D-dimer, CRP, and ferritin were higher in the patients with lung involvement. Serum levels of INF-γ and CCL2 were positively correlated with each other (r:0.757, p<0.0001), but no correlation was detected between OxPAPC and INF-γ or CCL2. There was no correlation between OxPAPC and hematologic or biochemical parameters. CONCLUSIONS: OxPAPC, which is thought to contribute to hypercoagulability, was found to be high in the patients with Covid-19 infection. The role of OxPLs in COVID-19-associated hypercoagulopathy should be investigated further in experimental models and in larger patient groups.

Association of colon adenomas and skin tags: coincidence or coexistence?

OBJECTIVES: Skin tag (STs) are benign connective tissue tumors of the dermis. Some researchers have argued that there is a relationship between skin tag and colon polyps, although the physiopathological mechanisms underlying this relation were not well elucidated. In this study we aimed to investigate the co-existence of colonic adenomatous polyps and ST, additionally to shed light on the physiopathological mechanisms underlying this coincidence. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 45 patients aged between 18 and 60 diagnosed with adenomatous colonic polyps and 45 sex, age, and socio-demographically matched subjects, had no polyps, were enrolled as the control group. Routine blood analysis of all participants, including serum glucose, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglyceride, insulin, IGF-1, and EGF, were performed. The chi-square and independent sample t or Mann Whitney U test were used to determine differences between groups. RESULTS: The number of participants with ST was significantly higher in the patient group (OR 7.067, p < 0.01). Serum levels of IGF-1 and EGF were statistically similar between the groups. In the subgroup analyses, no difference was found in serum levels of insulin, IGF-1, or EGF between patients with and without ST. However, higher serum levels of insulin and EGF were found in control subjects with ST (p < 0.01 and p < 0.01, respectively). For the entire study group, 67 participants had ST and 23 patients did not. Serum insulin, and IGF-1 were similar, while serum EGF levels were higher in patients with ST (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Findings of the present study may show a co-existence of colonic polyps and ST. Although previous studies have indicated that insulin resistance may play a role in the pathogenesis of both lesions in diabetic and obese patients, we found no indication of a relationship in nondiabetic and nonobese patients with increased levels of EGF in patients with ST, suggesting an alternative pathogenesis in this patient group.

Carotid intima-media thickness and serum paraoxonase-1 activity in patients with Helicobacter pylori.

AIM: To evaluate serum paraoxonase(PON)-1 activity and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in patients with Cytotoxin-associated antigen(CagA)-positive and negative Helicobacter pylori strains. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study group included a total of 134 individuals, of whom 103 were H. pylori positive, and 31 were H. pylori negative. Five biopsies were collected from each patient for histological examination: two from the antrum, two from the corpus, and one from the incisura angularis. The presence of H. pylori was determined using a modified Gram staining protocol. Peripheral blood was collected from each patient to determine levels of triglyceride, TC, HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol. IgG antibodies against CagA protein were analyzed by enzyme immunoassays. PON-1 activity was measured by colorimetric method. Carotid intima-media thickness and atherogenic plaques were measured using a grey scale color Doppler ultrasound. Data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: The right, the left and the mean CIMT were significantly higher in H. pylori (+) group versus H. pylori (-) group (p < 0.001 for all). However, the mean PON-1 concentration was significantly lower in H. pylori (+) group versus H. pylori (-) group (p < 0.001). The right, the left and the mean CIMT of CagA (+) group were significantly higher than that of CagA (-) group and controls, while PON-1 concentrations of CagA (+) group were significantly lower than that of CagA (-) group and controls (for all p = 0.0001). The right, the left and the mean CIMT of CagA (-) group were significantly higher than that of the control group, while the mean PON-1 concentration were significantly lower (for all p = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Decreased PON-1 activity may be an etiopathogenetic factor in increased atherosclerosis in patients with H. pylori infection, especially in those infected with the CagA positive strain.

Behçet's syndrome is not associated with vitiligo.

OBJECTIVE: Behçet's syndrome (BS) has many features that are different from autoimmune diseases, including a lack of association with Sjögren's syndrome. Vitiligo is frequently associated with various autoimmune disorders such as autoimmune thyroiditis, pernicious anemia and Addison's disease. Our informal observation was that vitiligo is also uncommon among BS patients. With this controlled and masked study we formally surveyed the presence of vitiligo among BS patients and suitable controls. METHODS: Patients with Behçet's syndrome, Graves' disease, and Hashimoto's thyroiditis being followed in the rheumatology and endocrinology departments of a university hospital and healthy controls were examined. Subjects with hypopigmented lesions were re-examined by a dermatologist in a masked protocol. Wood's lamp was used to confirm the diagnosis of vitiligo in suspected lesions. RESULTS: 253 consecutive BS patients, 34 Graves' disease patients, 32 Hashimoto's thyroiditis patients, and 439 healthy controls were surveyed. None of the BS patients had vitiligo, while 6/34 (17.6%) of Graves' disease patients, 6/32 (18.7%) of Hashimoto's thyroiditis patients, and 4/439 (0.9%) of healthy controls had vitiligo. All the subjects with vitiligo, except for one patient with associated Graves' disease, were women. CONCLUSION: In contrast to two autoimmune diseases, Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Graves' disease, the frequency of vitiligo was not increased among patients with BS. This constitutes further evidence that traditional autoimmune mechanisms may not be operative in BS.

Intraperitoneal involvement in rhabdomyosarcoma CT findings in a child.

Intraperitoneal neoplastic involvement in rhabdomyosarcoma is rare and its incidence and imaging characteristics need to be further described. We present the computerized tomography (CT) findings of a case with pelvic rhabdomyosarcoma and intraperitoneal neoplastic involvement. Enhanced peritoneal and retroperitoneal masses were seen around the liver, spleen, in the paracolic gutters, and in the lesser sac without evidence of ascites, mesenteric nodules or omental caking. Our case also showed that absence of ascites does not preclude the presence of peritoneal involvement. Progression in the peritoneal disease was also well demonstrated by CT.

Treatment of gonorrhea with single-dose thiamphenicol.

This study was undertaken to determine the effectiveness of a single 2.5-g dose of thiamphenicol as therapy for gonococcal infection and to compare the results obtained in a limited group of male and female patients to those reported by other investigators. Diagnosis was determined by direct microscopy and culture. Cure was defined as the abolishment of symptoms in males and disappearance of microscopic evidence of gonococci in females. Follow-up examination was not performed. Of the 28 males and five females treated, 30 (90.9%) experienced relief of symptoms according to the criteria given above. These results are compatible with those reported for other drug regimens.