bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Urine steroid excretion rates in childhood reflect growth and activity of the adrenal cortex
Authors: Honour J. W. , Kelnar C. J. H. , Brook C. G. D. 
Published: June 2009

Abstract.
Normal ranges for daily urine steroid excretion rates in childhood are reported for the first time by gas chromatographic analysis using capillary columns and flame ionisation detector. Longitudinal data came from a study over 3 years of 127 normal boys (aged 7.5-15.6 years) studied on 5 occasions and 14 pubertal girls studied over 2 years. Cross-sectional data were collected from 115 hospitalized patients (58 males, 57 females) aged 2.9 to 14 years with normal adrenal function. The excretion rate of cortisol metabolites was constant for body size, whereas androgen metabolite excretion rates rose sharply in childhood to approach adult levels at the end of puberty. The new data will enable better interpretation of pediatric patient data.
Regulatory peptides in the thyroid gland — a review on their localization and function
Authors: Ahrén Bo 
Published: June 2009

Abstract.
It has been demonstrated that nerve fibres storing immunoreactivity of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, peptide histidine iso-leucine, neuropeptide Y, substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide, galanin, and cholecystokinin exists in the thyroid, though the content of these neuropeptides is lower in the thyroid than in other organs, like in the gut. Furthermore, the parafollicular C-cells have been shown to harbour several different peptides: calcitonin, somatostatin, calcitonin gene-related peptide, gastrin-releasing peptide, katacalcin and helodermin. In addition, other regulatory peptides like atrial natriuretic hormone, growth factors, and cytokines are also produced in the thyroid. This review summarizes today's knowledge on the effects of these peptides on thyroid hormone secretion and their possible role in thyroid physiology. So far, functional studies have failed to establish any convincing effect of substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide, galanin and cholecystokinin on basal or TSH-stimulated thyroid hormone secretion. In contrast, vasoactive intestinal peptide has convincingly been demonstrated to stimulate thyroid hormone secretion, and neuropeptide Y to potentiate the inhibitory action of noradrenaline on TSH-induced thyroid hormone secretion. This suggests that these two neuropeptides are involved in the intrathyroidal neural regulation of thyroid function. Moreover, the C-cell peptides somatostatin, calcitonin, calcitonin gene-related peptide, and katacalcin seem to be involved as inhibitors of thyroid hormone secretion, whereas both gastrin-releasing peptide and helodermin stimulate thyroid hormone secretion. Atrial natriuretic hormone and growth factors, and cytokines seem to inhibit thyroid hormone secretion. Hence, studies undertaken so far suggest a local intrathyroidal peptidergic regulatory concept, the exact role of which remains to be established.
Serum melatonin during human pregnancy
Authors: Kivelä Aarre 
Published: June 2009

Abstract.
Serum melatonin concentrations from 55 pregnant healthy women (13 during the first, 18 during the second and 24 during the third trimester) and 11 non-pregnant control women were measured radioimmunologically at 11.00 h (Study A). In addition, serum melatonin concentrations from 12 women in early and 11 women in late pregnancy were measured every four hours throughout the day (Study B). Serum melatonin levels during the third trimester of pregnancy (76.5±38.3 pmol/l were significantly (p<0.01) higher than those during the first (29.7±9.9 pmol/l and the second trimester (39.1 ± 11.2 pmol/l and those of non-pregnant control women (41.7± 15.5 pmol/l and there was a positive correlation between the week of gestation and serum melatonin at 11.00 h (Study A). A clear diurnal rhythm in serum melatonin concentrations was found both in early and in late pregnancy (Study B). The amplitude and duration of the nocturnal rise of melatonin were higher during late pregnancy, but there was no clear phase shift. Increased serum concentration of melatonin in late pregnancy may be due to increased synthesis and secretion or retarded metabolism of melatonin during late pregnancy.
Thyroid gland volume and echo structure in 13-year-old children in northern Finland
Authors: Takalo Raija M. , Mäkäräinen Hanna P. , Jaakkola R. Kaarina 
Published: June 2009

Abstract.
The purpose of this work was to determine by ultrasound the volume and echo structure of the thyroid gland in 13-year-old schoolchildren in northern Finland. 76 healthy schoolchildren underwent cervical ultrasound examinations during the period of Jan-Feb 1990, performed with a real-time scanner using a 7.5 MHz linear transducer and direct contact method. The volume of each lobe was calculated according to the formula for a volume of rotation ellipsoid by multiplication of maximal thickness, width and height of the lobe by the correction factor 0.479. Any focal lesion that could be distinguished in the homogenous thyroid parenchyma was assessed for echogenicity as compared with the normal thyroid gland and was measured with electronic calipers. The mean thyroid volume was 6.5±1.6 ml (mean ±sd), being 6.3±1.8 ml in the boys and 6.7± 1.4 ml in the girls. The sex difference was not significant. The right lobe was significantly larger than the left one (mean 3.7 and 2.8 ml, respectively). Thyroid volume was correlated with body weight and body surface area in both sexes. Abnormal lesions in terms of echo structure were noted in one subject (1.3%). Comparing the results with the findings reported from other countries, it can be concluded that the thyroid volume in these 13-year-old Finnish schoolchildren was about 30% less than that reported for the same age group in the FRG (with insufficient iodine intake) and about 35% more than in 13-year-old schoolchildren in Sweden (with sufficient iodine intake).
Glucocorticoids and adrenal androgens in children with end stage renal disease
Authors: Ferraris Jorge R. , Ramírez José A. , Goldberg Victoria , Rivarola Marco A. 
Published: June 2009

Abstract.
We studied the effects of chronic renal failure on the pituitary-cortisol axis and adrenal androgen function in 26 patients (16 male and 10 female), aged 6.5 to 22.5 years (mean 14.5). Ten patients were prepubertal, 8 pubertal, and 8 post-pubertal. All of them were on chronic hemodialysis. Pubic hair development was delayed in 56% of the patients. Serum cortisol was increased in 15 out of the 26 patients. Serum Δ4-androstenedione was high in 11 out of 15 patients in Tanner's stage I or II and in 1 out of 11 patients in Tanner's stage III, IV or V (p<0.01). Serum cortisol was elevated in 10 out of 12 patients with high serum Δ4-androstenedione and in only 5 out of 14 with normal Δ4-androstenedione (p<0.02). Serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate was normal in 22 patients and elevated in 4 males. There was a significant inverse correlation between bone age and serum cortisol (r:-0.59; p<0.005) and a significant positive correlation between bone age and serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (r: 0.45 p<0.01). Serum ACTH was normal. A reduction by 50% in cortisol and 78% in dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate was found after dexamethasone suppression, but Δ4-androstenedione did not suppress after dexamethasone. After ACTH stimulation test cortisol increased by 50% and Δ4-androstenedione by 80%. Conclusions: The increased levels of cortisol and Δ4-androstenedione with partial resistance to dexamethasone suggest that these patients have a hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction similar to that found in Cushing's disease or in chronic stress. The difference in the responses of Δ4-androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate observed is consistent with the existence of different mechanisms of control for these two steroids.
Effects of routine heparin therapy on plasma aldosterone concentration
Authors: Kageyama Yo , Suzuki Hiromichi , Saruta Takao 
Published: June 2009

Abstract.
Changes in plasma aldosterone, plasma renin activity, plasma cortisol, serum sodium and potassium concentrations were studied in 9 patients with thromboembolic diseases treated with heparin. Heparin was administered at doses of 700-1000 units/h for 7-10 days. Plasma aldosterone decreased from 239±33 to 114±25 pmol/l during heparin therapy and returned to basal levels after discontinuation of the therapy. In addition, responses to a low sodium intake (3 g/day) and ACTH were examined in 5 patients during and 2 weeks after heparin therapy. The increase in plasma aldosterone caused by low sodium intake was significantly attenuated during heparin therapy (124±5% increase from baseline) as compared with that 2 weeks after heparin therapy (148±7%, p<0.05). On the other hand, ACTH stimulated plasma aldosterone similarly during and at 2 weeks after heparin therapy (increase from baseline: 190±20% vs 193±9%). These results suggest that heparin decreased plasma aldosterone owing to attenuation of the angiotensin Il-induced aldosterone production.
Muscle bioenergetic impairment in hyperthyroid man: A study by 31P NMR spectroscopy
Authors: Kaminsky P. , Robin-Lherbier B. , Walker P. , Brunotte F. , Escanye J. M. , Klein M. , Forrett M. C. , Robert J. , Duc M. 
Published: June 2009

Abstract.
Phosphorus nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to investigate muscle bioenergetics in 9 hyperthyroid patients who were compared with 9 normal subjects. Using the thenar muscle group as reference, the inorganic phosphate, phosphocreatine and intracellular pH were calculated at rest, during aerobic exercise (0.13 w) and post-exercise recovery. No difference was found at rest. After 5 min of exercise, the hyperthyroid patients exhibited a more important phosphocreatine depletion (41.2±8.2 vs 31.1%±6.5, p<0.02) and a larger pH fall (6.65±0.04 vs 7.01±0.10, p<0.001) than the control subjects. The phosphocreatine recovery rate was not significantly different in hyperthyroid patients and control subjects. These results suggest that exercise requires more ATP in hyperthyroid patients than in normal subjects and that there is excessive dependence on glycolytic metabolism for ATP synthesis in hyperthyroidism. Phosphocreatine resynthesis, reflecting the oxydative metabolism, is not increased. These metabolic disturbances could also supply a partial explanation to the frequent exercise intolerance in hyperthyroid patients.
Renaturalizing the sexually dimorphic profiles of circulating growth hormone in hypophysectomized rats
Authors: Pampori Nisar A. , Agrawal Arun K. , Shapiro Bernard H. 
Published: June 2009

Abstract.
Hypophysectomy resulted in a total elimination of measurable circulating growth hormone with an associated loss of body weight gain. The typical sexually dimorphic plasma growth hormone patterns: pulsatile profiles in male rats and tonic-like secretion in female rats, were lost. The male- and female-dependent profiles of plasma growth hormone, monitored from serial blood collections, were restored by administering the hormone through a single electrically controlled external pump attached to an indwelling catheter, and by implanting osmotic pumps intraperitoneally, respectively. Restoring the natural patterns of plasma growth hormone in animals devoid of pituitaries, re-initiated body growth. However, the body weight gains in both sexes of hypophysectomized rats were much greater when rat growth hormone was introduced to the animals in a masculine (pulsatile) pattern that appeared to be independent of pulse frequency, rather than in a continuous feminine profile. Subcutaneous injections, the most commonly reported method of administration, produced low-amplitude, long-lasting plasma peaks that were not as effective as pulse infusion in restoring growth. The procedure allows manipulation of the hormone profile (i.e. number of pulses/day, pulse amplitude, and through duration in the pulsatile pattern, and plasma concentration in the tonic pattern) in order to identify, and thus study the presumed salient components of the pattern regulating growth hormone responses.
Interleukin 6 inhibits human thyroid peroxidase gene expression
Authors: Tominaga Tan , Yamashita Shunichi , Nagayama Yuji , Morita Shigeki , Yokoyama Naokata , Izumi Motomori , Nagataki Shigenobu 
Published: June 2009

Abstract.
It has been reported that cytokines, especially interleukin 1 and interferon-γ, inhibit the thyroid hormone secretion and the gene expression of human thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin. Interleukin 6 has recently been found to be an important cytokine for the regulation of immunoendocrine interaction and intrathyroidal production of interleukin 6 has been reported. Therefore, we investigated the regulation of thyroid hormone secretion and thyroid peroxidase messenger RNA by interleukin 6 in human thyrocytes to clarify further the functional role of interleukin 6 in thyroid glands. Thyrocytes dispersed from Graves' thyroid tissues were incubated with TSH with or without interleukin 6. TSH (5 U/l stimulated the expression of thyroid peroxidase mRNA transcripts (4.0, 3.2, 2.1, and 1.7 kb, respectively), although unstimulated thyrocytes contained the low level of 3.2 kb thyroid peroxidase mRNA transcript. Interleukin 6 (104-105 U/l) inhibited TSH-induced thyroid peroxidase mRNA in a dose-dependent manner, although the basal level of thyroid peroxidase mRNA expression was not suppressed by interleukin 6. Interleukin 6 also inhibited 8-bromo-cyclic adenosine monophosphate-induced thyroid peroxidase mRNA levels. In contrast, the γ-action mRNA hybridization signal was not altered in control or treated cells. Subsequently, interleukin 6 inhibited TSH-induced T3 secretion in a dose-dependent manner after 72 h treatment. However, interleukin 6 did not affect DNA synthesis. Pretreatment with specific antibody against interleukin 6 selectively restored the inhibitory effect of interleukin 6 on thyroid peroxidase gene expression. Our results suggest that interleukin 6 plays an inhibitory role in the thyroid gland, in addition to interleukin 1 and interferon γ.
Use of the receiver operating characteristic curve to evaluate sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of methods for detection of peaks in hormone time series
Authors: Genazzani A. D. , Rodbard D. 
Published: June 2009

Abstract.
We utilize the "Receiver Operating Characteristic" to describe the relationship between sensitivity and specificity as the threshold for peak detection is varied systematically, to provide objective comparison of the performance of methods for detection of episodic hormonal secretion. A computer program was used to generate synthetic data with peaks with variable durations, with constant or variable height, shape and/or interpulse interval. This approach was used to compare the CLUSTER and DETECT programs. For both programs, the observed false positive rates estimated using signal-free data were in good agreement with the nominal rates, but in the presence of signal the observed false positive rates were systematically lower. Sensitivity increases with increasing signal/noise ratio, as expected. Program DETECT, using its standard options, provided excellent sensitivity (90-100%) with very low false positive rate under all conditions tested. Its performance could be further improved by the use of a more stringent definition of a peak requiring the presence of "UP" followed by a "DOWN". The CLUSTER program was found to have very poor sensitivity when using the "local variance" option. Use of the true fixed standard deviation or percent coefficient of variation resulted in a modest improvement. Optimal performance of program CLUSTER was obtained by the use of the best of 3 variance models, testing 12 different cluster sizes (from 1×1) to 4×4 and selecting the best among these: under these conditions it can achieve high sensitivity (90-100%) for very low observed false positive rate, such that its performance was comparable to that of DETECT. The methods developed and illustrated here should permit the definitive characterization and validation of the performance of any one method, the objective comparison of the relative performance of two or more methods for analysis of pulsatile hormone levels for episodic hormone secretion, and lead to the improvement of algorithms for peak detection.
Chronic treatment with bovine growth hormone upregulates high-affinity hepatic somatotropic receptors in sheep
Authors: Sauerwein Helga , Breier Bernhard H. , Bass John J. , Gluckman Peter D. 
Published: June 2009

Abstract.
We evaluated the effect of chronic bovine growth hormone treatment on the hepatic somatotropic receptor. Growing lambs were treated with bGH at 0, 0.05, 0.15, 0.25 or 0.55 mg · kg−1 · day−1 daily (N=5/group) for 56 days. The binding of ovine GH to hepatic membranes washed with 4 mol/l MgCl2 and prepared in the presence of aprotinin was examined. The specific binding of oGH was increased (p<0.01) from 7.1±1.2% in saline-treated controls to 17.4±1.5% in the 0.55 mg · kg−1 · day−1 group. Scatchard analysis showed curvilinear plots that best fitted a two-site model in 22/25 livers. The two sites had estimated dissociation constants (Kd) of 3 to 13 nmol/l for the low-affinity site and a Kd ranging from 0.17 to 0.31 nmol/l for the high-affinity site. Treatment with bGH had no consistent effect on the affinity of either binding site. However, bGH therapy was associated with a dose-dependent increase (p<0.01) in the number of high-affinity somatotropic receptors. There was no effect of bGH therapy on the concentration of low-affinity binding sites. The concentration of high-affinity receptors correlated with weight gain (r=0.54, p<0.01), fat content (r=−0.54, p<0.01), protein content (r=0.40, p<0.05), and plasma IGF-I (r=0.57, p<0.005). The concentrations of low-affinity binding sites showed no such correlations. These observations demonstrate that an important effect of chronic GH therapy in animals with an intact somatotropic axis is to increase significantly the concentration of high-affinity somatotropic receptors. It is suggested that enhancement of the number of high-affinity somatotropic receptors is central to the determination of the efficacy of GH therapy.
Age-related alterations in prolactin binding sites in the female rat
Authors: Schneiter Philippe , Reymond Marianne J. , Lemarchand-Béraud Thérèse 
Published: June 2009

Abstract.
Aging is associated with various neuroendocrine alterations, including in the rat a hypersecretion of PRL with maintained ovulations (repetitive pseudopregnancy) and a reduced activity of the hypothalamic dopaminergic neurons with loss of the neuron responsiveness to PRL, suggestive of age-related alterations in PRL receptors. In this study we have investigated PRL binding sites in the hypothalamus as well as in the mammary glands, the ovaries and the liver of young and old nulliparous female rats. The old rats (26-28 months) displayed spontaneous repetitive pseudopregnancies and they were compared with young (4-6 months) pseudopregnant rats; the binding studies were performed by saturation analysis using 125I-oPRL as ligand and particulate membrane preparations. In the hypothalamus, a negligible binding of PRL was observed in all fragments studied, mediobasal hypothalamus, median eminence, in both young and old rats and no characterization of the binding sites could be achieved. In the mammary glands, the number of PRL binding sites was appreciable in spite of the nulliparity of the rats, but it was smaller in the old than in the young rats (9.0±1.4 vs 14.9±1.2 fmol/mg protein; mean ± sem; p<0.02). In the ovaries, the density of PRL binding sites was similar in the old and young rats (112.6±9.7 vs 115.0±8.9 fmol/mg protein), illustrative of a maintained luteotropic effect of PRL with age in the rat. In contrast, in the liver a greater number of binding sites was found in the old than in the young rats (261.9±36.6 vs 63.6±5.8 fmol/mg protein; p<0.001), supportive of the ability of PRL to induce its own receptors in that tissue. The affinity constant of PRL binding was not altered with age in the tissues studied. These results are illustrative of tissue-specific modifications in the number of PRL binding sites with age and they are suggestive of a sustained biological activity of PRL in the old rats.
Uterine binding sites for LH/hCG can be modulated by hormonal status in rabbits and rats
Authors: Sawitzke Arleen L. , Odell William D. 
Published: June 2009

Abstract.
High-affinity LH/hCG binding sites have been identified in both porcine and rabbit uteri. We have now identified these binding sites in rat uteri. We have assessed the binding site specificity and modulation and have searched for binding sites for a related glycoprotein. Radioreceptor assays were performed with membrane homogenates of uterine tissue, and were analysed for binding site specificity, affinity, and capacity. The rabbit and rat LH/hCG binding sites did not bind human TSH or human FSH. Rabbit uterine tissue contained no binding sites for FSH, as determined with 125I-labelled FSH and unlabelled FSH. Pretreatment of rabbits with hCG decreased their uterine binding site capacity from 1.30±0.29 to 0.46±0.01 fmol/mg protein. Pretreatment of castrated rabbits with estrogen or estrogen combined with progesterone did not alter the binding site affinity or capacity. In rats, the uterine binding site number was shown to vary inversely with the serum LH concentration and directly with the ovarian LH/hCG bindig site number during the estrus cycle. Hypophysectomy resulted in a significant increase in uterine binding site capacity in rats. Estrogen treatment prevented this hypophysectomy-induced increase. The function of these LH/hCG binding sites remains uncertain; however, the lack of binding sites for a related glycoprotein and the modulation of these binding sites by hormonal factors strengthen the concept that uterine tissue might respond in a specific manner to direct LH/hCG stimulation.
Partial primary sequence of a human endometrial epithelial progesterone dependent protein secreted in vitro
Authors: Dichek Helen L. , MacLaughlin David T. , Bringhurst F. Richard , Keutmann Henry T. , Richardson George S. 
Published: June 2009

Abstract.
We have recently identified a uterine progesterone-dependent 25 kD protein (protein #27) secreted by endometrial epithelial cells but not stroma. Protein #27 was originally isolated from human luteal phase uterine fluids and partially purified by two-dimensional gel-electrophoresis and electroelution. It could not be detected in serum. We here report the further purification and amino terminal sequence of this protein, obtained from in vitro luteal phase endometrial tissue incubation media. Protein #27 was purified by a one-step method using reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography. Amino acid compositional analysis confirms a high content of nonpolar and hydrophobic residues (40 mol%) and reveals a preponderance of acidic amino acids, consistent with its isoelectric point (5.9-6.3 pH). The amino terminal sequence obtained from a single individual reveals 85% homology with that of pregnancy-associated α2-globulin from pooled cytosolic fractions from pregnancy endometria. We propose that protein #27, secreted by the endometrial epithelium, is an excellent candidate for a marker to be used to study pathological processes of the endometrium such as endometriosis and invasive carcinoma.