bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
PROLACTIN RESPONSIVENESS TO TRH AND METOCLOPRAMIDE IN THALASSAEMIA
Authors: SPITZ I. M. , LANDAU H. , GROSS V. , TRESTIAN S. , PALTI Z. , RACHMILEWITZ E. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYPRL and gonadotrophin secretion has been evaluated in six prepubertal male thalassaemic patients and nine females. Four of the latter were sexually immature (group 1) and the remainder had more advanced sexual development (group 2). Subjects were challenged with LHRH (100 μg), TRH (200 ug) as well as the dopaminergic antagonist, metoclopramide (10 mg) and their responses compared with normal adult controls. The male patients had low testosterone, oestradiol and basal and peak LH responses to LHRH. FSH values were intact. Basal PRL levels, as well as PRL responses to TRH and metodopramide were normal. There was a further increase in PRL response to TRH after the administration of a long acting testosterone preparation. In group 1 females, basal and peak gonadotrophins and oestradiol were decreased. Basal PRL was normal, but there was a markedly impaired PRL response to both TRH and metoclopramide. Oestradiol valerate administration restored the impaired PRL response to TRH, but not to metoclopramide in group 1 female subjects, although conjugated oestrogens had no effect. Group 2 females had normal gonadotrophin profiles, but low oestradiol levels. Their PRL response to TRH was normal, but they also demonstrated an impaired PRL response to metoclopramide. It is concluded that the impaired PRL reserve in female thalassaemic patients could be due to iron infiltration in the pituitary, or to oestradiol deficiency. It may also be related to the low LH levels or, alternatively, it may represent some alteration in dopamine tone.
THE ROLE OF OPIATE PEPTIDES IN THE CONTROL OF PROLACTIN IN THE PUERPERIUM, AND TSH IN PRIMARY HYPOTHYROIDISM
Authors: GROSSMAN A. , WEST S. , WILLIAMS J. , EVANS J. , REES L. H. , BESSER G. M. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYThe role of endogenous opiate peptides in puerperal hyperpro‐lactinaemia, and in the control of TSH in hypothyroidism, has been investigated. Although exogenous opioids raise prolactin and TSH levels, 16 mg naloxone administered to women on days 2–4 of the puerperium produced no significant change in serum prolactin and the same dose of naloxone had no significant effect on serum TSH in six primary hypothyroid patients. There is little evidence that endogenous opioid peptides are major modulators of prolactin or TSH in man under these conditions.
CALCIUM AND PARATHYROID HORMONE BEHAVIOUR AFTER EXOGENOUS SECRETIN INFUSION IN MAN
Authors: LO CASCIO V. , PIUBELLO W. , COMINACINI L. , VANTINI I. , GALVANINI G. , EDERLE A. , CAVALLINI G. , SCURO L. A. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYThe response of serum calcium, PTH, CT and gastrin to an infusion of secretin (3 CU/kg/h) over a period of 90 min was studied in ten healthy males and two female patients with hypoparathyroidism.In the healthy males serum calcium, after a transient fall, significantly increased at 45 min after the onset of the infusion (P < 0·001). Serum iPTH rose significantly within 5 min whereas serum CT and gastrin concentrations did not change. The two hypoparathyroid patients did not show any variations in either serum iPTH or calcium.These findings suggest that infusion of pharmacological doses of secretin into normal subjects modifies serum calcium, and that this change is due to PTH release.
DEVELOPMENT OF ADRENOCORTICAL FAILURE IN NON‐ADDISONIAN PATIENTS WITH ANTIBODIES TO ADRENAL CORTEX A CLINICAL FOLLOW‐UP STUDY
Authors: SCHERBAUM W. A. , BERG P. A. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYOut of 1036 sera tested for the presence of antibodies to adrenal cortex using the indirect immunofluorescence (IFL) method, fifteen out of 323 patients with Graves' thyrotoxicosis, 6/105 Hashimoto's thyroiditis, 3/29 myxoedema, 2/49 asymptomatic autoimmune thyroiditis, 1/12 subacute thyroiditis, and 4/130 with myasthenia gravis were positive. Thirty antibody‐positive non‐addisonian patients were tested for subclinical adrenocortical failure and followed up over a period of 1–3–5 years. Three women with Graves' disease had biochemical signs of early Addison's disease at the first Synacthen test. Two young women with controlled Graves' thyrotoxicosis developed a diminished adrenocortical reserve within 2 and 3 years, respectively; one of them developed anovulatory cycles which did not respond to clomiphene treatment. Both patients had high titres of complement‐fixing adrenal antibodies before the adrenal failure could be recognized by functional tests. One elderly female patient in whom a euthyroid goitre with adrenal and thyroid antibodies was detected in 1977, developed Graves' thyrotoxicosis in 1980. These observations indicate that antibodies to adrenal cortex have a high clinical significance and may allow the early diagnosis of Addison's disease even in the absence of specific clinical symptoms.
NALOXONE INCREASES THE NICOTINE‐STIMULATED RISE OF VASOPRESSIN SECRETION IN MAN
Authors: LIGHTMAN STAFFORD , LANGDON NICOLA , TODD KATHRYN , FORSLING MARY 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYIntravenous nicotine was administered to a group of six subjects during the concurrent intravenous infusion of either the opiate antagonist naloxone, or of saline. Nicotine stimulated vasopressin secretion in all subjects. Naloxone infusion increased both the plasma vasopressin response to nicotine and the resulting rise in urine osmolality.
BIOCHEMICAL AND CLINICAL EFFECTS OF FENCLOFENAC IN THYROTOXICOSIS
Authors: PEARSON D. W. M , RATCLIFFE WENDY A. , THOMSON J. A. , RATCLIFFE J. G. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYAdministration of the anti‐inflammatory drug fenclofenac (600 mg bd) for 28 days to four females with thyrotoxicosis resulted in a rapid decline in thyroid hormone levels. The mean total thyroxine (T4) level of 173 ± 8·6 (SEM) nmol/l before therapy was normalized to 70 ± 6·4 nmol/l after administration of the drug for 7 days. Free T4 levels also decreased significantly but not to within the reference range in all subjects. Mean total triiodothyronine (T3) and reverse T3 levels declined from 6·2 ± 0·9 nmol/l and 0·63 ± 0·2 nmol/l respectively before therapy to 3·8 ± 0·5 nmol/l and 0·52 ± 0·1 nmol/l after 7 days' treatment but remained consistently elevated in all subjects.Clinical thyroid status remained unchanged despite these marked reductions in circulating thyroid hormone levels, suggesting that fenclofenac was of no therapeutic benefit.
DEXAMETHASONE SUPPRESSION TESTS: USEFULNESS OF SIMULTANEOUS MEASUREMENT OF PLASMA CORTISOL AND DEXAMETHASONE
Authors: MEIKLE A. WAYNE 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYThe effect of oral dexamethasone on the plasma content of cortisol and dexa‐methasone was investigated in 175 patients suspected of having Cushing's syndrome. Plasma concentrations of cortisol and dexamethasone were measured by specific radioimmunoassays at 08.00 h following administration of either a low‐low (0·5 mg), low (1·0 mg), high (4·0 mg) or high‐high (8·0 or more mg) dose of dexamethasone at midnight. All seventeen patients with documented Cushing's syndrome exhibited resistance to the action of low‐low and/or low dose dexamethasone on suppression of 08.00 h plasma cortisol content. Nine of twelve patients with pituitary dependent Cushing's syndrome had plasma cortisol values of less than 166 nmol/l following high‐high dose testing. In 157 patients with suspected Cushing's syndrome, standard dexamethasone testing was considered unsatisfactory in at least 20%. After low‐low or low dose tests 11% had supranormal cortisol values, but plasma cortisol content overlapped with values observed in patients with Cushing's syndrome only when plasma dexamethasone content was less than 5·6 nmol/l. Twelve per cent of patients suspected of having Cushing's syndrome had sufficient elevation of plasma dexamethasone values after low dose testing so that marked reduction of plasma cortisol might be expected even in patients with pituitary dependent Cushing's syndrome. Four patients receiving anticonvulsants had subnormal plasma levels of dexamethasone for the dose administered, but all exhibited normal suppression when plasma levels of dexamethasone and cortisol were correlated simultaneously. In summary, there is considerable variation in the plasma content of dexamethasone following oral doses. Simultaneous measurement of both plasma levels of dexamethasone and cortisol has proved most useful in identifying patients with unsatisfactory dexamethasone suppression tests.
CORTICOSTEROID‐INDUCED OSTEOPENIA AND VITAMIN D METABOLISM. EFFECT OF VITAMIN D2, CALCIUM PHOSPHATE AND SODIUM FLUORIDE ADMINISTRATION
Authors: RICKERS H. , DEDING Å. , CHRISTIANSEN C. , RØDBRO P. , NÆSTOFT J. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYThirty‐one patients scheduled for long‐term (24 weeks) treatment with prednisone in comparatively high doses were randomly allocated to two further treatment groups.Group A received prednisone plus ‘triple‐treatment’ (vitamin D2 45 000 iu twice weekly, sodium fluoride 50 mg and calcium phosphate 4·5 g daily), group B received only prednisone. The study was undertaken in order to evaluate the effect of prednisone‐ and triple‐treatment upon bone mineral content (BMC) and vitamin D metabolism. The groups were comparable with regard to age, sex and prednisone dose. BMC fell rapidly and similarly in both groups, demonstrating that the triple‐treatment has no preventive effect on corti‐costeroid induced osteopenia.Serum concentrations of 25OHD2, 25OHD3 and 1,25(OH)2D were unchanged in group B (without triple‐treatment), whereas in group A 25OHD2 increased enormously, 25OHD3 was suppressed possibly by substrate competition for hydroxylation in the liver and 1,25(OH)2D was halved. The suppression of 1,25(OH)2D may be an effect of raised 25OHD2 alone, or in combination with corticosteroid excess.
RECOVERY OF HYPOTHALAMO‐PITUITARY‐ADRENAL FUNCTION IN ASTHMATICS WHOSE ORAL STEROIDS HAVE BEEN STOPPED OR REDUCED
Authors: HARRISON B. D. W. , REES LESLEY H. , CAYTON RUTH M. , NABARRO J. D. N. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYHypothalamo‐pituitary‐adrenal (HPA) function was studied using tetracosactrin and insulin hypoglycaemia tests in eleven asthmatic patients who were receiving or had taken oral steroids. The patients had been on prednisone, 5–20 mg/day for 2–17 years. As the dose was reduced they used beclomethasone inhalation, up to 800 μg/day.Seven insulin hypoglycaemia tests were performed when the patients had been off oral steroids for 15–37 months. Plasma cortisol responses were normal in all seven, three had subnormal responses of ACTH.In five patients serial tetracosactrin and insulin hypoglycaemia tests were performed during reduction of steroid dose. Two patterns of recovery of HPA function were observed. In one, both hypothalamo‐pituitary and adrenal function seemed to return simultaneously, in the other normal response to tetracosactrin appeared before that to insulin hypoglycaemia. One patient had normal ACTH and cortisol responses to the stress of a vasovagal attack, but failed to respond to subsequent hypoglycaemia.We conclude that a normal response to tetracosactrin does not indicate recovery of the HPA axis after stopping prolonged oral steroid therapy for asthma, and that patients should continue to carry steroid therapy cards for at least 5 years after such treatment has been discontinued.
SIMULTANEOUS STUDY OF SOMATOTROPHIC AND CORTICOTROPHIC PITUITARY SECRETIONS DURING ORNITHINE INFUSION TEST
Authors: EVAIN‐BRION D. , DONNADIEU M. , ROGER M. , JOB J. C. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYAn ornithine infusion test was performed in fifty‐four children with constitutional short stature. The ornithine infusion induced an elevated level of GH at 45 min (mean value = 873 pmol/1) and a similar rise of cortisol levels (mean value = 544 nmol/1). An important peak of ACTH appeared 15 min before the increase of cortisol. In three panhypopituitary dwarfs studied, no elevation of GH or cortisol was observed. The well tolerated ornithine infusion test allows the simultaneous study of the somatotropic and corticotropic pituitary secretions in children with delayed growth.
THE SPECIES SPECIFICITY OF TSH RECEPTOR BINDING ANTIBODIES AS MEASURED BY RADIORECEPTOR ASSAY
Authors: STRAKOSCH C. R. , JOYNER DIANNE , MANLEY S. W. W. , WALL J. R. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYThe species specificity of TSH binding inhibitory antibodies was compared for patients with untreated Graves' hyperthyroidism, past Graves' hyper‐thyroidism, active ophthalmopathy with past hyperthyroidism, and subacute thyroiditis, by measuring inhibition of TSH binding to plasma membranes prepared from human, guinea‐pig, calf, pig, and dog thyroid glands in a radioreceptor assay. Results were expressed as TSH binding inhibition indices (TBII). Broad species reactivity was demonstrated. This was greatest with pig and least with guinea‐pig thyroid membranes. Immunoglobulin (Ig) from patients in whom strongly positive tests with human thyroid preparations were demonstrated were usually strongly positive with all other species tested, whereas Ig from patients which were less strongly positive with human were, generally, also less positive with the other species. There was a tendency for greater species reactivity of TSH binding inhibiting antibodies from patients with treated Graves' hyperthyroidism (with or without eye disease) than of those from untreated patients with Graves' hyperthyroidism or subacute thyroiditis. Combining the data from all groups, correlation between TBII for human membranes and those of other species was best for dog and least for guinea‐pig. It is concluded that the TSH binding inhibiting antibody is a polyclonal antibody against a single antigen at or near the TSH receptor, and that the degree of reactivity with its antigen in other species depends, mainly, on the amount of antibody present in the serum.
PITUITARY GIGANTISM: A DISABLING CONDITION
Authors: WHITEHEAD E. M. , SHALET S. M. , DAVIES D. , ENOCH B. A. , PRICE D. A. , BEARDWELL C. G. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYTen pituitary giants have been seen in hospitals in the Manchester region between 1938 and 1980, nine of whom are still alive. We report the clinical and hormonal features in eight of these cases. Marked skeletal deformity and psychological problems were common. We draw attention to the importance of early diagnosis and treatment if the long‐term sequelae of pituitary gigantism are to be prevented.
HYPERPROLACTINAEMIA AFTER EXTERNAL IRRADIATION FOR ACROMEGALY
Authors: CLARK A. J. L. , MASHITER K. , GOOLDEN A. W. , JOPLIN G. F. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYThe progress of twelve patients who received external irradiation of the pituitary as sole treatment for acromegaly was reviewed. In all cases a fall in serum GH was achieved and no patient developed hypopituitarism. Three had mild hyperprolactinaemia before therapy. In all twelve cases, PRL levels rose after treatment, in five entering the hyperprolactinaemic range. It is suggested that the most likely cause is interference with the supply of prolactin release inhibiting factor (PIF) by the effects of irradiation on the hypothalamus.
EFFECTS OF CIMETIDINE ON THYROID HORMONES
Authors: HUGUES J. N. , PERRET G. , SEBAOUN J. , MODIGLIANI E. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYShort‐term administration of the H2‐antagonist cimetidine (400 mg three times/day for 5 days) was performed in eight healthy male volunteers and its effects on both thyroid hormone levels and on hypophyseal hormone release induced by acute hypoglycaemia and TRH were tested. Absolute values of basal and post‐TRH serum T3 were decreased by treatment, while basal and stimulated serum rT3 and T4 levels were not altered significantly. Cimetidine administration did not change the hormone release induced by acute hypoglycaemia but significantly enhanced the prolactin and TSH responses to TRH. Our results suggest that cimetidine administration can modify the peripheral metabolism rather than the secretion of thyroid hormones.
IS TESTICULAR ENDOCRINE FUNCTION ABNORMAL IN YOUNG MEN WITH SPINAL CORD INJURIES?
Authors: YOUNG R. J. , STRACHAN R. K. , SETH J. , NICOL K. , FRIER B. M. , CORRALL R. J. M. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYPlasma concentrations of FSH, LH, testosterone and prolactin have been studied in seventeen men, aged 19 to 38 years, with traumatic paraplegia. Plasma testosterone, FSH and LH values were normal in all patients. The median LH concentration in patients was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than in controls but there was no difference for FSH or testosterone. Plasma prolactin was high in five patients and the median prolactin concentration in patients was significantly greater (P < 0.001) than in controls. It is concluded that there is no evidence of primary testicular failure in young paraplegics but it is possible that testicular hypofunction in some paraplegics may be related to increased prolactin production.
RAPID COMMUNICATION: A COMPARISON OF FREE T4 AND THE RATIO OF TOTAL T4 TO T4‐BINDING GLOBULIN IN SERUM THROUGH PREGNANCY
Authors: WHITWORTH A. S. , MIDGLEY J. E. M. , WILKINS T. A. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYSerum free T4 concentrations have been variously reported as either constant or falling in pregnancy. In this study, 122 serum samples from apparently normal pregnancies were used to derive euthyroid ranges throughout pregnancy for T4 and free T 4 (measured by the Amerlex kits) and for T4‐binding globulin (TBG). The mean free T4 concentration fell with increasing gestational age, the range of values in the third trimester being narrower than the non‐pregnant normal range. Evidence is reviewed which shows that the Amerlex free T4 assay is unaffected by the elevation of TBG in non‐pregnant subjects. The decline in mean free T4 as pregnancy proceeds is in good agreement with the change in free T4 predicted by the falling T4/TBG ratio.
FERTILITY AFTER CHILDBIRTH: INFANT FEEDING PATTERNS, BASAL PRL LEVELS AND POST‐PARTUM OVULATION
Authors: HOWIE P. W. , McNEILLY A. S. , HOUSTON M. J. , COOK A. , BOYLE H. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYThe infant feeding patterns at the time of first ovulation after childbirth were determined in a longitudinal study of twenty‐seven mothers who chose to breast feed their babies. Fourteen mothers suppressed ovulation throughout lactation and thirteen ovulated while still breast feeding. Those who ovulated while breast feeding had all introduced two or more supplementary feeds/day, reduced suckling frequency to less than six times/day and reduced suckling duration to less than 60 min/day at the time of first ovulation. Basal PRL levels had fallen to below 600 μU/l in all but one of the mothers at first ovulation.Those mothers who suppressed ovulation for more than 40 weeks post‐partum (late ovulation group) were compared with those who ovulated between 30 and 40 weeks post‐partum (middle group) and with those who ovulated before 30 weeks post‐partum (early group). The late ovulation group breast‐fed for longest, suckled most intensively, maintained night feeds for longest and introduced supplementary feeds most gradually.This study suggests suckling may be the most important factor inhibiting the return of ovulation during lactation and that policies which encourage increased suckling frequency and duration will maximize the contraceptive effects of breast feeding.
PARATHYROID SUPPRESSIBILITY IN HYPERPARATHYROIDISM DUE TO CHRONIC RENAL FAILURE: STUDIES WITH AUTOTRANSPLANTED PARATHYROID TISSUE
Authors: BORN WALTER , DAMBACHER MAXIMILIAN A. , MEYRIER ALAIN , ARDAILLOU RAYMOND , FISCHER JAN A. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYSuppressibility of parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion by calcium was evaluated in six patients with chronic renal failure and parathyroid tissue autotransplanted into the forearm. One patient was reinvestigated after renal transplantation. Plasma PTH levels were measured in the venous effluent of transplanted parathyroid tissue (VE) and in peripheral blood (PB) with two radioimmunoassays (RIA). One of these detected predominantly the intact human parathyroid hormone‐(1–84) [PTH‐(1–84)] (N‐assay) and another in addition carboxyl (COOH)‐terminal fragments (C‐assay). At 5 min after the start of 12‐min calcium infusions, resulting in a mean increase of plasma calcium levels of 0±6 mmol/l (P < 0±01), PTH was lowered to 44±10% (mean ± SE) (P < 0±01) of preinfusion levels in the VE and to 88±4% (P < 0±05) in PB, when measured in the N‐assay; subsequently the plasma calcium level remained raised and PTH level lowered. When estimated in the C‐assay, PTH was significantly lowered to 82± 6% (P < 0–05) in the VE at 120 min, and to between 91 ± 2% and 96 ± 2% (P < 0±01‐ < 0±05) in the PB at 20 to 120 min after the start of the calcium infusions. The results were extended with gel permeation chromatography of representative plasma samples. After renal transplantation and restoration of renal function gel filtration analysis indicated that the levels of intact PTH‐(1–84) were 49±6 and of its COOH‐terminal fragments 3±5 higher in the VE than in PB. In response to i.v. calcium administration intact PTH and its COOH‐terminal fragments were lowered to 25% and 62% in the VE, and to 29% and 86% in PB, respectively. These findings demonstrate that the secretion of intact PTH‐(1–84) is suppressed within minutes in response to i.v. calcium administration; a slower fall of the secretion of COOH‐terminal PTH fragments was demonstrated only after restoration of near‐normal renal function.
RELATIONSHIP OF CHANGES IN SERUM CONCENTRATIONS OF PROLACTIN AND TESTOSTERONE DURING DOPAMINERGIC MODULATION IN MALES*
Authors: NAKAGAWA KOJI , OBARA TAKAO , MATSUBARA MIYAO , KUBO MITSUMASA 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYTo evaluate the effect of PRL on the male pituitary‐gonadal system, serum concentrations of PRL, testosterone, LH and FSH were determined in healthy young men daily before, during, and after 3‐day oral administration of bromocriptine, metoclopramide or sulpiride. Bromocriptine (2.5 mg as a single dose) caused, concurrently with a marked suppression of serum PRL, a significant increase of serum testosterone and a transient decrease of serum LH. The changes of PRL and testosterone were negatively correlated. With metoclopramide (10 mg q.i.d.) serum PRL was increased and testosterone inversely decreased. There was no change in LH and FSH. Sulpiride (50 mg q.i.d.) evoked the elevation of serum PRL and LH, but no change in testosterone. A significant increase in serum concentration of testosterone was also observed in a patient with PRL‐producing pituitary tumour and four out of seven patients with acromegaly during bromocriptine treatment. These results suggest an inhibitory effect of PRL on testosterone secretion at the gonadal level, or direct dopaminergic stimulatory control of testosterone secretion.
hCGβ PRODUCING PINEAL CHORIOCARCINOMA
Authors: WASS J. A. H. , JONES A. E. , REES LESLEY H. , BESSER G. M. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYA patient is described with tumours in the region of the pineal gland and anterior hypothalamus associated with high levels of hCGβ in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). He presented aged 19, with hypopituitarism, but persistent secondary sexual characteristics. LH immunoreactivity in serum was due to the hCGβ which probably caused the elevated level of testosterone. Following cranial irradiation the tumour became undetectable and hCGβ was eradicated from the serum and CSF. The patient later died because of an intramedullary metastasis of choriocarcinoma in the cervical spinal cord.The endocrine details of six previously reported intracranial neoplasms which have been shown to secrete hCGβ are reviewed. Only two of these involved the pineal region. Chorionic gonadotrophin production by this tumour enabled early detection of its recurrence. It is unclear how often precocious puberty is caused by tumours producing hCGβ, but patients presenting either with that problem or a pineal tumour should have circulating hCGβ measured.