<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<bold>Objective.</bold> Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is identified as an important growth factor involved in learning and memory. Patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis can suffer from cognitive dysfunction, whereas BDNF is directly regulated by thyroid hormones. It seems reasonable to propose that changes in BDNF expression underlie some of the persistent neurological impairments associated with hypothyroidism.
<bold>Methods.</bold> The study involved a total of 153 patients with various forms of thyroid pathology. BDNF levels in the sera of the patients and healthy individuals were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with highly sensitive Human BDNF ELISA Kit. Genotyping of the BDNF (rs6265) gene polymorphism using TaqMan probes and TaqMan Genotyping Master Mix (4371355) on CFX96™Real-Time PCR Detection System. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for TaqMan genotyping was carried out according to the kit instructions.
<bold>Results.</bold> Distribution rs6265 variants in the patients depending on the different types of thyroid pathology showed no significant difference in the relative frequency of BDNF polymorphic variants. Presence of hypothyroidism, regardless of its cause (autoimmune or postoperative), there was a decrease in the serum BDNF levels in all genotypes carriers compared with the control group. The analysis of the correlation between BDNF levels and the levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroxine (T4), anti-thyroglobulin (anti-Tg), and anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) antibodies showed a significant inverse relationship between BDNF and TSH levels (p&lt;0.001), a direct correlation between BDNF and T4 levels in the blood (p&lt;0.001), and a weak direct relationship between anti-Tg and BDNF levels (p=0.0157).
<bold>Conclusion.</bold> The C allele presence is protective and associates with the lowest chances for reduced serum BDNF levels in thyroid pathology patients in the West-Ukrainian population. However, the T-allele increases the risk of low BDNF levels almost 10 times in observed subjects.
</abstract>

I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University

HSEEU “Bukovinian State Medical University”

Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University

BDNF blood serum linkage with BDNF gene polymorphism (rs6265) in thyroid pathology patients in the West-Ukrainian population

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<bold>Objectives.</bold> Given the high prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH), defined as high thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and normal free thyroxine (FT4), and uncertainty on treatment, one of the major challenges in clinical practice is whether to initiate the treatment for SCH or to keep the patients under surveillance. There is no published study that has identified predictors of short-term changes in thyroid status amongst patients with mild elevation of TSH (4.5–10 mIU/L).
<bold>Subjects and Results.</bold> A cohort study was conducted on patients with SCH detected through a general population screening program, who were followed for six months. This project identified factors predicting progression to hypothyroid status, persistent SCH and transient cases. A total of 656 participants joined the study (431 controls and 225 were patients with SCH). A part of participants (12.2%) developed biochemical hypothyroidism during the follow-up, while 73.8% of the subjects became euthyroid and the remained ones (13.4%) stayed in the SCH status. The incidence of overt hypothyroidism for participants with TSH above 6.9 mIU/L was 36.7%, with incidence of 42.3% for females. Anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO) positivity is an important predictor of development of hypothyroidism; however, it could be also positive due to transient thyroiditis.
<bold>Conclusions.</bold> It can be concluded that females with TSH above 6.9 mIU/L, particularly those with free triiodothyronine (FT3) and FT4 in the lower half of the reference range, are more likely to develop biochemical hypothyroidism. Therefore, it is recommended to give them a trial of levothyroxine replacement. It is also recommended to repeat TSH after six months for male subjects and participants with baseline TSH equal or less than 6.9 mIU/L.
</abstract>

Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine

Jordan University of Science and Technology

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine

Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine

42 Jordan University of Science and Technology

Transient high thyroid stimulating hormone and hypothyroidism incidence during follow up of subclinical hypothyroidism

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<bold>Objectives.</bold> The effectiveness of exogenously triggered serotonin (e.g., dietary supplements, drugs) increase is varied. However, since urinary serotonin concentrations were found to correlate with those in the cerebrospinal fluid, the olfactory system might be an efficient and testable pathway to quickly elevate serotonin levels due to its fast-acting central neurophysiological and peripheral pathways. However, little research has been devoted to investigate this assumption. This paper extends previous findings of parasympathetic activation of a specially designed essential oil inhaler (AromaStick® Balance) by experimentally testing its impact on urine serotonin and saliva cortisol excretion.
<bold>Method.</bold> Two experiments involving healthy individuals were conducted to test the efficacy of essential oil application to the nose by employing different inhalation protocols and control conditions.
<bold>Results.</bold> In the pilot study (n=8), serotonin urine excretion was increased after six inhalations (effect size Cohen’s d=0.7). In the second experiment (n=80), inhalations proved superior to both the natural control condition and the pseudo placebo condition after three and six inhalation cycles (0.6&lt;d&lt;1.8). In addition, there was a large reduction of cortisol saliva levels after three inhalations (d=0.9).
<bold>Conclusion.</bold> Short and deep inhalations of essential oil scents directly delivered to the olfac-tory system appear to result in an enhanced serotonin and a reduced cortisol release in healthy individuals of both sexes.
</abstract>

The increase in urinary serotonin and decrease in salivary cortisol concentrations following direct inhalations of concentrated essential oils is not induced by non-specific effects

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<bold>Objective.</bold> Significantly underdiagnosed, diabetes-associated cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) causes a wide range of cardiac disorders that may cause life-threatening outcomes. This study investigated the effects of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) on arterial stiffness and insulin resistance (IR) parameters in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) patients and definite CAN.
<bold>Methods.</bold> A total of 36 patients with T2D and a definite stage of CAN were recruited. This investigation was carried out on two separate arms: traditional hypoglycemic therapy (n=18, control) and ALA (n=18) 600 mg in film-coated tablets/q.d. in addition to traditional hypoglycemic therapy. The duration of the study was three months.
<bold>Results.</bold> In subjects with T2D and definite stage of СAN, treatment with ALA resulted in a significant decrease of glucose, immunoreactive insulin concentration, and Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA)-IR (HOMA-IR) parameters; pulse wave velocity (PWV), aorta augmentation index (AIxao) during the active period of the day and decrease of PWV, AIxao, and brachial augmentation index during the passive period of the day compared with the results, obtained in the control group. Therefore, the administration of ALA to patients with T2D for three months promotes the improvement of glucose metabolism and arterial stiffness parameters.
<bold>Conclusions.</bold> In patients with T2D and definite stage of СAN treatment with ALA improved HOMA-IR and arterial stiffness parameters. These findings can be of clinical significance for the complex treatment of diabetes-associated CAN.
</abstract>

Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University

Effect of alpha-lipoic acid on arterial stiffness parameters in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with cardiac autonomic neuropathy

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<bold>Objectives.</bold> The balance between DNA methylation and demethylation is crucial for the brain development. Therefore, alterations in the expression of enzymes controlling DNA methylation patterns may contribute to the etiology of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism. SH3 and multiple ankyrin repeat domains 3 (<italic>Shank3</italic>)-deficient mice are commonly used as a well-characterized transgenic model to investigate the molecular mechanisms of autistic symptoms. DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), which modulate several cellular processes in neurodevelopment, are implicated in the pathophysiology of autism. In this study, we aimed to describe the gene expression changes of major <italic>Dnmts</italic> in the brain of <italic>Shank3</italic>-deficient mice during early development.
<bold>Methods and Results.</bold> The <italic>Dnmts</italic> gene expression was analyzed by qPCR in 5-day-old homo-zygous <italic>Shank3</italic>-deficient mice. We found significantly lower <italic>Dnmt1</italic> and <italic>Dnmt3b</italic> gene expression levels in the frontal cortex. However, no such changes were observed in the hippocampus. However, significant increase was observed in the expression of <italic>Dnmt3a</italic> and <italic>Dnmt3b</italic> genes in the hypothalamus of <italic>Shank3</italic>-deficient mice.
<bold>Conclusions.</bold> The present data indicate that abnormalities in the <italic>Shank3</italic> gene are accompanied by an altered expression of DNA methylation enzymes in the early brain development stages, therefore, specific epigenetic control mechanisms in autism-relevant models should be more extensively investigated.
</abstract>

Gene expression levels of DNA methyltransferase enzymes in <italic>Shank3</italic>-deficient mouse model of autism during early development

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<bold>Objectives.</bold> We aim to report the clinical repercussions of a nutritional approach in a patient diagnosed with Niemann Pick disease type C (NPC) using miglustat as pharmacological therapy.
<bold>Case report.</bold> A 33-year-old woman diagnosed with NPC using miglustat was instructed to look for a dietary management at our nutrition service. Patient’s symptoms were weight loss and important gastrointestinal alterations. Our nutritional prescription was a high-calorie and high-protein, lactose- and sucrose-free diet, as well as a daily supplementation of L-glutamine, probiotics, omega 3, and coenzyme Q10. After two months, the patient had weight gain and improvement in the intestinal health.
<bold>Conclusions.</bold> We found that nutritional prescription aided in the treatment of NPC and revealed that nutritional care represents an important strategy in the management of rare genetic diseases.
</abstract>

Nucleus of Research and Extension in Nutritional Genomics and Metabolic Dysfunctions (GENUT), Life Sciences Department

University Hospital of Federal University of Sergipe

Coordinator of Nutrition Course and GENUT, Life Sciences Department

UNEB; Interactive Process of Organs and Systems, Health Sciences Institute/UFBA

Nutrition management of Niemann Pick disease type C: A case report

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