bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Thyroglobulin measurement before rhTSH‐aided 131I ablation in detecting metastases from differentiated thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Giovanella Luca , Ceriani Luca , Suriano Sergio , Ghelfo Antonella , Maffioli Marco 
Published: March 2008

SummaryAim  Thyroidectomy followed by administration of large activities of 131‐iodine (131I) is the treatment of choice for differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). The serum thyroglobulin (Tg) measurement during hypothyroidism (offT4‐Tg), just before radioiodine thyroid ablation, has proved to be effective for predicting persistent/recurrent disease. However, the Tg measurement cannot be used as a corresponding value for pre‐ablative offT4‐Tg when recombinant human TSH (rhTSH) is used as stimulus before treatment. The present study was undertaken to evaluate if post‐thyroidectomy Tg values, measured before rhTSH‐stimulated radioiodine ablation is of prognostic value in patients affected by DTC.Methods  We enrolled 126 patients with DTC submitted to total thyroidectomy. T4 treatment was started just after surgery to suppress TSH levels and Tg levels (onT4‐Tg) were measured just before rhTSH‐aided thyroid ablation by 131I (3700 MBq). Neck radioiodine uptake (RAIU) was measured just before ablation and a post‐treatment whole body scan (PT‐WBS) was performed.Results  A significant relationship was found between thyroid remnants’ RAIU and onT4‐Tg levels (P < 0·001). The 1·10 ng/ml onT4‐Tg threshold selected by ROC curve analysis identifies patients with positive PT‐WBS with 83·3% sensitivity, 65·7% specificity, 44·5% positive predictive value (PPV) and 93·6% negative predictive value (NPV). The 0·65 ng/ml cut‐off level recognizes metastatic patients with 82·9% sensitivity, 55·2% specificity, 43·3% PPV and 97·8% NPV when compared with 12 months restaging results. Among 63 patients with initially undetectable onT4‐Tg (i.e. ≤ 0·2 ng/ml) none had positive PT‐WBS nor DTC relapse at 12‐month restaging (NPV 100%).Conclusions  Based on our data we conclude that pre‐ablative onT4‐Tg is a prognostic marker and should be used instead of pre‐ablative TSH‐stimulated Tg measurement when rhTSH‐aided radioiodine ablation is done.
Increased serum advanced glycation end‐products is a distinct finding in lean women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
Authors: Diamanti‐Kandarakis Evanthia , Katsikis Ilias , Piperi Christina , Kandaraki Eleni , Piouka Athanasia , Papavassiliou Athanasios G. , Panidis Dimitrios 
Published: March 2008

SummaryBackground  Nonenzymatic advanced glycation and oxidation end‐products, advanced glycation end‐products (AGEs), impart a potent impact on vessels and other tissues in diabetic state and in euglycaemic conditions with increased oxidative stress.Insulin resistant (IR) polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) women, have elevated serum AGEs, increased receptor (RAGE) expression, and increased deposition with differential localization in the polycystic ovarian tissue (theca and granulosa) compared to normal.Objective  To determine whether the raised AGE levels in noninsulin resistant women with PCOS is a distinct finding compared with those presenting the isolated components of the syndrome and among PCOS subphenotypes. Noninsulin resistant women were selected in order to show that serum AGEs are elevated in PCOS independently of the presence of IR.Design  Clinical trial.Patients  One hundred and ninety‐three age‐ and BMI‐matched young lean noninsulin resistant women were studied. Among them, 100 women were diagnosed with PCOS according to Rotterdam criteria, and divided to subphenotypes (hyperandrogenaemia with or without PCO morphology and with or without anovulation). Sixty‐eight women with the isolated components of the PCOS phenotype were also studied along with 25 healthy women.Measurements  Serum AGE levels, metabolic, hormonal profiles and intravaginal ultrasound were determined in all subjects.Results  The studied population did not differ in BMI, fasting insulin concentration, waist : hip and glucose : insulin ratios. PCOS women exhibited statistically higher AGEs levels (7·96 ± 1·87 U/ml, P < 0·001) compared with those with isolated hyperandrogenaemia (5·61 ± 0·61 U/ml), anovulation (5·53 ± 1·06 U/ml), US‐PCO morphology (5·26 ± 0·25 U/ml) and controls (5·86 ± 0·89 U/ml).Conclusions  In PCOS, serum AGEs are distinctly elevated compared with women having the isolated characteristics of the syndrome. No difference was observed between PCOS subphenotypes. As chronic inflammation and increased oxidant stress have been incriminated in the pathophysiology of PCOS, the role of AGEs as inflammatory and oxidant mediators, may be linked with the metabolic and reproductive abnormalities of the syndrome.
Influence of Fasting on Adrenocortical and Pancreatic Islet Response to Glucose Loads in the Obese*
Authors: Kolakowski J. , Pizarro M. A. , Gasparo M. de , Desmecht P. , Harvengt C. , Crabbé J. 
Published: March 2008

Abstract The present study was undertaken in an attempt at unravelling the mechanisms involved in alteration of water and electrolyte balance occurring in the obese during fasting and refeeding. After a short control period, 8 obese patients were submitted to total fasting for 7 days, after which they received 200 g glucose orally in 1 dose each morning for 3 consecutive days. The intake of sodium and potassium was kept constant throughout.Body weight reduction during fasting was far in excess of what could be ascribed to negative caloric balance, on account of fluid and sodium chloride losses. Conversely, carbohydrate refeeding was associated with sodium chloride and water retention.Urinary sodium excretion exceeded intake during fasting despite the fact that aldosterone secretion rate (ASR) almost doubled, rising from 160 to 280 μg/24 h. After aldosterone was administered i.v. over 3 hours on the penultimate day of fasting, sodium excretion dropped from 62 to 22 mEq/24 h. Cortisol levels in plasma and urine remained normal during fasting.Unlike what was seen before the fast, glucose administration after 7 days without food resulted in a prompt decrease in sodium (from 34 to 6 mEq/24 h) and potassium (from 48 to 17 mEq/24 h) excretion; ASR and Cortisol values did not change appreciably at that time. Bicarbonate administered in order to correct the acidosis resulting from starvation, failed to reverse the negative sodium balance.After the fast, a marked deterioration of glucose tolerance was observed, despite an excessive insulin response, since plasma immunoreactive insulin levels at 3 hours were 2.5 times higher than those obtained during the control period.The hypothesis is raised that the accompanying sodium retention might be, at least in part, due to this increased insulin secretion.
Inverse Variations of Plasma Renin Activity and Renin Substrate in Normal Man*
Authors: Rosset E. , Veykat R. 
Published: March 2008

Abstract. In the control subject, plasma angiotensin production is a linear function of plasma renin content. Upon incubation of this same plasma in the presence of an excess of homologous renin, angiotensin production is finally limited by the plasma content of renin substrate (PRS). By this method, PRS levels were measured and compared with levels of plasma renin activity (PRA), urinary aldosterone excretion, and sweat sodium and potassium content, in sixteen normal human subjects, aged twenty‐five to thirty years, under three defined metabolic conditions: unrestricted sodium intake, salt depletion, constant sodium intake plus administration of desoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA). 1) Unrestricted Sodium Intake. In these control subjects, in perfect health, there exist important individual differences in PRS levels. The PRS levels seem to be quite constant for a given subject under a given metabolic condition: the levels remained the same after a four month interval for a given subject. 2) Salt Depletion. Activation of the renin‐angiotensinaldosterone system (RAAS), as shown by an elevation of PRA and of urinary aldosterone excretion, is accompanied by a decrease in PRS levels. 3) Constant Sodium Intake Plus Administration of DOCA. Inactivation of the RAAS, as shown by lowering of PRA and of urinary aldosterone excretion, is accompanied by a marked elevation of PRS levels.It would appear that, in human control subjects there exists an inverse relationship between PRS and PRA levels.
Iron Excess, Early Glucose Intolerance and Impaired Insulin Secretion in Idiopathic Haemochromatosis
Authors: de Haan B. Bierens , Scherrer J.‐R. , Stauffacher W. , Pometta D. 
Published: March 2008

Abstract. The relationship between iron storage and glucose metabolism was studied in 21 relatives of 4 patients with idiopathic haemochromatosis and in 10 healthy control subjects. In all individuals, plasma iron and iron binding capacity were measured and liver function was assessed. In addition, intravenous and oral glucose tolerance tests (IVGTT, OGTT), as well as tolbutamide (TTT) and insulin tolerance tests (ITT), were performed. Serum insulin (IRI) was measured. Liver biopsies were performed on the 21 relatives only.In the relatives of patients with haemochromatosis, glucose tolerance was impaired and insulin secretion in response to hyperglycaemia diminished and/or delayed. Glucose intolerance increased with age but did not depend on abnormal liver function or excessive iron storage. Insulin release in response to tolbutamide was normal and insulin tolerance test failed to reveal insulin resistance.The results suggest that:1. There is an early glucose intolerance in healthy relatives of patients suffering from idiopathic haemochromatosis.2. The glucose intolerance seems unrelated to measurable anomalies in iron metabolism.3. The delayed insulin secretion in response to glucose resembles that observed in common maturity‐onset diabetes mellitus.4. The results obtained are compatible with the hypothesis that haemochromatosis and diabetes mellitus might be two distinct but genetically linked entities.
Albumin Catabolism Measurement by a Double Tracer Technique in Uraemic Patients During a Single Dialytic Treatment*
Authors: Mariani G. , Bianchi R. , Pilo A. , Palla R. , Toni M. G. , Fusani L. 
Published: March 2008

Abstract. In order to explain the pathogenesis of protein depletion in chronic uraemia, 13 measurements of albumin catabolism were performed in uraemic patients undergoing haemo‐ or peritoneal dialysis treatment; during either the early phase or steady uraemic state.Catabolism was determined during a single haemo‐ or peritoneal dialysis by a double tracer technique (Human Serum Albumin and sodium iodide labelled with two different isotopes of iodine). The output from both albumin and iodine systems was measured in the dialysis solution flowing out from the peritoneum or artificial kidney. The radioactive iodide arising in dialysate from albumin breakdown was concentrated by the use of an anion exchange resin.Catabolic rate was three times the normal in 3 patients showing clinical features of hypercatabolism (true rapid loss of body weight) in the early phase of uraemia, or during relapse of it; albumin turnover rate returned to normal in 2 of these patients, when measured during clinical steady state conditions. This behaviour suggests highly increased catabolism, not counterbalanced by a correspondingly increased synthesis, as the cause of albumin depletion in chronic uraemia.
Effect of Cholesterol Feeding on Cholesterol Biosynthesis in Maternal and Foetal Rat Liver
Authors: Calandra S. , Quartaroli G. C. , Montaguti M. 
Published: March 2008

Summary. Hepatic cholesterol biosynthesis has been studied in rat foetuses whose mothers had been fed on a cholesterol rich diet during the last week of gestation. Foetal liver was found to be capable of synthesizing cholesterol from acetate in vitro. The rate of incorporation of labelled acetate into digi‐tonin precipitable sterols, fatty acids and CO2 in foetal liver was much higher than that found in maternal liver.Cholesterol feeding reduced the rate of sterol synthesis in maternal liver but it did not have any appreciable effect on foetal liver. In order to investigate whether this lack of feed‐back control in foetal liver could be attributable to an obstacle to the placental transfer of dietary cholesterol. C‐cholesterol was administered to the pregnant rats and its distribution in maternal and foetal liver and plasma was studied.Our results indicate that placental transfer of cholesterol from mother to foetus occurs very slowly so that only a small proportion of labelled cholesterol is found in foetal plasma over a 48 hour period following the administration of radioactive cholesterol. Cholesterol transferred from the mother into the foetal plasma is efficiently taken up by the foetal liver. These findings would suggest that the low amount of dietary cholesterol transferred from the mother into the foetal plasma is not sufficient to activate the control mechanism of the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway in the foetal liver.
Lipids and Lipoproteins in Chronic Uraemia. A Study of the Influence of Regular Haemodialysis**
Authors: Daubresse J.C. , Lerson G. , Plcmteux G. , Rorive G. , Luyckx A.S. , Lefebvre P.J. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractPlasma lipids and lipoproteins were studied in a group of chronic uraemic patients seme of whan were maintained by regular haemodialysis. Compared with healthy individuals, there was a significant increase in plasma triglycerides and in the prebeta‐1‐ and prebeta‐2‐lipoprotein plasma concentrations. There was no difference between dialyzed and undialyzed patients. Carbohydrate intake was normal, basal plasma insulin and free fatty acid levels were within the normal range. There was no correlation between plasma triglyceride levels and the degree of hypoalbuminaemia, the latter being marked in 30% of the patients. Basal plasma glucagon levels were very high in nearly all dialyzed patients and post‐heparin lipoprotein‐lipase activity was very low in dialyzed patients. In our experience, regular haemodialysis for 32 weeks did not improve hypertriglyceridaemia.
Influence of Bile Acids upon Biliary Cholesterol and Phospholipid Secretion in the Dog
Authors: Poupon R. , Grosdemouge M. L. , Dumont M. , Erlinger S. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractThe relationship between taurocholate or taurochenodeoxycholate secretion and cholesterol and phospholipid secretion in bile was studied in anaesthetized dogs infused with graded doses of these bile acids. Cholesterol output was linearly related to bile acid output during both taurocholate and taurochenodeoxycholate infusions. On the average 1.45 nmol and 4.70 nmol of cholesterol were secreted per umol of taurocholate or taurochenodeoxycholate respectively (P < 0.001). A linear relationship was also observed between phospholipid secretion rate and taurocholate or taurochenodeoxycholate secretion rates. However, the amounts of phospholipid secreted per ymol of taurocholate or taurochenodeoxycholate (respectively 0.10 and 0.15 μmol) were not significantly different. Thus, bile was less saturated with cholesterol during taurocholate infusions than during taurochenodeoxycholate infusions. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that micelle formation by bile acids is a major determinant of cholesterol and phospholipid secretion in the dog.
Removal of Exogenous Plasma Triglycerides in Forearm Muscle and Subcutaneous Tissue of Hyper‐and Normotriglyceridaemic Men
Authors: Rössner S. , Eklund B. , Kaijser L. , Olsson A.G. , Walldius G. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractAbsolute arterio‐venous removal and fractional removal of blood‐borne exogenous triglyceride particles by skeletal and subcutaneous tissues were determined in eight normotriglyceridaemic and six hypertriglyceridaemic men. Estimations were made by simultaneously sampling blood from catheters inserted into a brachial artery, and in the distal direction, into a superficial and deep vein, draining subcutaneous tissue and skeletal muscle respectively. During the infusion of the fat emulsion IntralipidR for 3 hours steady arterial concentrations of exogenous TG particles were found, indicating first order kinetics.In all subjects absolute arterio‐venous and fractional removal of triglycerides were about twice as high in skeletal muscle as in subcutaneous tissue. In skeletal muscle the fractional removal and absolute removal were significantly higher in normotriglyceridaemic than in hypertriglyceridaemic subjects (p < 0.001). No decrease in removal with time was observed, which would have suggested saturation of removal sites. Mean fractional removal in skeletal muscle was significantly correlated with the k2 value determined by an intravenous fat tolerance test before the infusion study (r = 0.61, p < 0.05). In subcutaneous tissue fractional removal was also significantly higher in normotriglyceridaemic subjects (p < 0.05).The results suggest that in both skeletal muscle and subcutaneous tissue the removal system is impaired in hypertriglyceridaemic subjects. This finding supports the concept that a decreased elimination capacity in these tissues may partly account for triglyceride elevation in hypertriglyceridaemic subjects.
Screening for medullary carcinoma of the thyroid in families with Sipple's syndrome: evaluation of new stimulation tests
Authors: TELENIUS‐BERG MARGARETA , ALMQVIST SVEN , BERG BERTEL , HEDNER PAVO , INGEMANSSON STIG , TIBBLIN STEN , WÄSTHED BIRGITTA 
Published: March 2008

Abstract. In search of new practical diagnostic methods for the early diagnosis of hereditary medullary carcinoma of the thyroid (MCT) calcitonin release has been studied following induction by pentagastrin, cholecystokinin‐pancreozymin (the C‐terminal octapeptide, C8‐CCK, and the native swine extract), and ethanol in eighteen cases of MCT (all but one clinically occult), three ‘borderline cases’, seven first degree relatives of patients with hereditary MCT and thirty‐five healthy controls.Pentagastrin, subcutaneous (s.c.) or intravenous (i.v.), induced a pronounced and rapid increase of serum calcitonin within 2–5 min. The elevation was roughly proportional to the tumour mass as estimated at operation. Seventeen out of eighteen MCT patients responded to s.c. pentagastrin with a significant increase in serum calcitonin and the response correlated well with that induced by calcium infusion test. Only two blood samples, at times 0 and 5 min, were necessary for diagnosis. In the MCT patients, i.v. pentagastrin produced more pronounced elevations of serum calcitonin than did s.c. pentagastrin, whereas no increase was seen in the control group. The subjective discomfort caused by i.v. pentagastrin was somewhat more intense but lasted shorter than that induced by s.c. administration. No serious complications were seen.All of nine MCT patients responded to C8‐CCK with increments in serum calcitonin exceeding those of the control group and both of two responded similarly to the native cholecystokinin‐pancreozymin extract. Generally the serum calcitonin response was lower and more variable after C8‐CCK than after s.c. or i.v. pentagastrin, and the subjective discomfort was also more pronounced with abdominal cramps during the injection. Ethanol in the dose used was the least effective stimulator for serum calcitonin release.Clinically suspected MCT carriers with palpable tumours can be diagnosed by determination of the basal, i.e. non‐stimulated serum calcitonin levels. Other possible Sipple genome carriers, who are at the time clinically healthy with normal basal serum calcitonin, should be subjected to a s.c. or i.v. pentagastrin stimulation test at each examination. These tests are much simpler to perform than a calcium infusion test, but seem to have about the same sensitivity.
Characteristics and behaviour of arylesterase in human serum and liver
Authors: BURLINA A. , MICHIELIN E. , GALZIGNA L. 
Published: March 2008

Abstract. Human arylesterase is localized in liver microsomes where the presence of different electrophoretic bands corresponding to the serum bands can be recognized.Serum arylesterase is mainly a result of liver activity and its high level might be explained by a low rate of elimination in urine. The behaviour of arylesterase towards inhibitors shows certain similarities to that of some of the proteases, such as trypsin.The clinical value of serum arylesterase determination in assessing liver function is confirmed by its isoenzyme behaviour in cirrhossis and porto‐caval shunt.
The permeability of the blood—brain barrier during electrically induced seizures in man
Authors: BOLWIG TOM G. , HERTZ MARIANNE M. , PAULSON OLAF B. , SPOTOFT HANS , RAFAELSEN OLE J. 
Published: March 2008

Abstract. The blood‐brain barrier (BBB) in man was studied during various conditions using the indicator dilution method of Crone [8]. Using 113mIn‐DTPA as reference substance the extraction, E, of the small test substances 24Na+, 36Cl‐, 14C‐urea and 14C‐thiourea was estimated from the areas under the venous outflow curves following intracarotid slug injection of tracers. Interlaminar diffusion and red cell carriage were taken into consideration when calculating E. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was measured using the intra‐arterial 133Xe‐injection method. Twenty‐two patients receiving electro‐convulsive therapy (ECT) were studied before and during seizures and during hypercapnia. Before seizures the extraction values in % were as follows: ENa+ 1.6, ECl‐ 1.9, Eurea 3.9 and Ethiourea 7.8; the corresponding values for the permeability‐surface area products (PS) in ml/100 gX min were 0.5, 0.3, 0.7, 4.1, respectively. During seizure a decrease of Ethiourea and an increase of PSurea were significant. During hypercapnia PSNa and PSthiourea rose significantly.Due to the similarity of the findings in those two high flow situations it is suggested that the changes of CBF and not the epileptic activity are responsible for the changes in permeability. The mechanism of action may be a stretching of endothelial cells in the cerebral vessels or an opening up of new capillaries, or a combination of both.
Influence of glucagon on natriuresis and glucose‐induced sodium retention in the fasting obese subject*
Authors: KOLANOWSKI J. , SALVADOR G. , DESMECHT P. , HENQUIN J. C. , CRABBÉ J. 
Published: March 2008

Abstract. The role which glucagon could play in the mechanism of fasting natriuresis and renal sodium retention associated with carbohydrate refeeding was studied in thirty‐seven non‐diabetic obese subjects.In nine obese subjects undergoing a 7 day fast without any additional treatment (control group), the renal sodium excretion exceeded intake through the whole experimental period, with maximal natriuresis on day 2 of the fast. Blood glucose and plasma insulin (IRI) levels fell rapidly from the first day of fast on, while pancreatic glucagon (IRG) titres rose from day 1 to day 4, declining slightly thereafter.When additional subjects received intravenous glucose on day 4 (n= 6), there was a rise in blood glucose concentration and in IRI associated with a rapid drop in IRG restricted to the period of glucose infusion. The resulting antinatriuresis occurred essentially during the following 36 h, while IRG and IRI levels had returned to fasting levels. A comparable glucose load on day 4 associated with 0.1 mg glucagon (n= 5) still led to the glucose‐induced antinatriuresis while 1 mg glucagon added to a similar glucose infusion completely abolished its antinatriuretic effect (n= 6). Glucagon infused alone on day 4 of fast aggravated fasting natriuresis (n= 5) but was devoid of this effect when administered 24 h after the glucose load (n= 6).These data indicate that fasting hyperglucagonaemia or its reduction upon glucose refeeding, cannot be considered as directly involved in renal mechanism(s) responsible for fasting natriuresis of antinatriuretic effects of carbohydrate. It is suggested that the role of glucagon is indirect, possibly through its influence on ketogenesis which in turn may alter renal sodium handling.