BACKGROUND Serum androgen levels correlate with ovarian sensitivity to follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) but in practice, standard baseline serum testosterone (T) levels prior to in-vitro fertilization (IVF) may not be the most appropriate marker for determination. METHODS Infertile women enrolled in an IVF programme were included in this study. Serum T and Delta4-androstenedione (A), and th...

BACKGROUND The present study was designed to investigate the effects of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and of obesity on serum parathyroid hormone (RhoTauEta), 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-vitamin D), and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25-(OH)2-vitamin D] concentrations and the possible associations of the above calciotropic hormones with the hormonal and metabolic characteristics of the syndrome. ...

The neuroactive steroids dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), its sulfate ester DHEA sulfate (DHEAS), and allopregnanolone (Allo), produced by the CNS and the adrenals, appear to exert a protective effect in hippocampal and cortical neuron ischemia- and excitotoxicity-induced injury. We hypothesized that they may also play a protective role on the adrenal medulla, an important part of the sympathetic...

Tirilazad mesylate (FREEDOX), a potent inhibitor of membrane lipid peroxidation in vitro, is under clinical development for the treatment of subarachnoid hemorrhage. In humans, tirilazad is cleared almost exclusively via hepatic elimination with a medium-to-high extraction ratio. In human liver microsomal preparations, tirilazad is biotransformed to multiple oxidative products and one reduced, ...

The neurohypophysial nonapeptides vasopressin (VP) and oxytocin (OT) modulate a broad range of cognitive and social activities. Notably, in amphibians, vasotocin (VT), the ortholog of mammalian VP, plays a crucial role in the control of sexual behaviors. Because several neurosteroids also regulate reproduction-related behaviors, we investigated the possible effect of VT and the OT ortholog meso...

Fish are the most important dietary source of the n-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA), eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), that have particularly important roles in human nutrition reflecting their roles in critical physiological processes. The objective of the study described here was to clone, functionally characterize and compare expressed fatty acid desaturase genes...

The purpose of this study is to perform dosimetric validation of Monaco treatment planning system version 5.1. The Elekta VersaHD linear accelerator with high dose rate flattening filter-free photon modes and electron energies was used in this study. The dosimetric output of the new Agility head combined with the FFF photon modes warranted this investigation into the dosimetric accuracy prior t...

PURPOSE Intensity modulated arc therapy offers great advantages with the capability of delivering a fast and highly conformal treatment. However, moving targets represent a major challenge. By monitoring a moving target it is possible to make the beam follow the motion, shaped by a Dynamic MLC (DMLC). The aim of this work was to evaluate the dose delivered to moving targets using the RapidArc (...

Evidence suggests that both the arterial baroreflex and vestibulosympathetic reflex contribute to blood pressure regulation, and both autonomic reflexes integrate centrally in the medulla cardiovascular center. A previous report indicated increased sympathetic baroreflex sensitivity during the midluteal (ML) phase of the menstrual cycle compared with the early follicular (EF) phase. On the basi...

Purpose To evaluate the Edose system, a novel three-dimensional (3D) in vivo dose monitoring system based on electronic portal imaging device (EPID), prior to clinical application, we analyzed the preliminary clinical data using Edose system in patients receiving intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). Materials and methods After the physical modeling, the measured results from the Edos...