bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
ADRENOCORTICAL RESPONSE DURING EXAMINATION
Authors: BASEER A. , RAB S. M. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYThe stressful effect of a written and oral examination was studied in twenty‐two doctors sitting a postgraduate examination. The rise in the plasma cortisol was not significant in the written examination and reverted to normal values after an hour. On the other hand, there was a significant rise in the plasma cortisol during the oral examination with a pre‐enry rise in blood sugar and a fall in α‐amino nitrogen. It is concluded that whereas a written examination is not a stressful situation, an oral examination is stressful enough to be comparable to rowing and flying.
THE OESTROGEN PROVOCATION TEST
Authors: SHAW R. W. , BUTT W. R. , LONDON D. R. , MARSHALL J. C. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYThe oestrogen feedback and gonadotrophin release in ten amenorrhoeic women were investigated, using intramuscular injection of 1 mg oestradiol benzoate. Serial estimations of serum oestradiol and gonadotrophins (LH and FSH) were made over a period of 72 h following the injection. Five patients demonstrated positive feedback release of LH to the oestrogen stimulus with elevated levels of LH significantly above baseline (P<0.001), which occurred between 48 and 72 h after the injection. Two of the five patients also demonstrated elevated FSH levels accompanying these LH peaks. The hypothalamic‐pituitary axis was postulated to be intact in these five patients, and all ovulated on clomiphene.None of the remaining five subjects showed any increase in serum gonadotrophin levels in response to oestradiol and none ovulated on clomiphene when given a dose of up to 200 mg daily × 5 days.This ‘oestrogen provocation test’ seems to be a useful means of evaluating the functional capacity of the hypothalamic‐pituitary axis for gonadotrophin release and has proved useful in predicting responsiveness to clomiphene in amenorrhoeic women.
CHRONIC TREATMENT REGIMENS FOR HIRSUTISM IN WOMEN: EFFECT ON BLOOD PRODUCTION RATES OF TESTOSTERONE AND ON HAIR GROWTH
Authors: CASEY JOHN H. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYTwenty‐five women with hirsutism were studied before and during treatment aimed empirically at suppressing testosterone production by adrenals, ovaries or both. Mean basal plasma testosterone was 70 ± 30 ng/dl, significantly (P<0.01) higher than the mean of twenty‐three normal women; basal metabolic clearance rate (MCR) of testosterone was also higher (P<0.01) than that reported for normal women. Production rate (PR) of testosterone exceeded 417 μg/24 h (1 SD above the mean reported for normal women), in nineteen of the twenty‐five patients. After 4 months, small dose betamethasone therapy (0.5 mg at bed time) had reduced the mean PR of testosterone in thirteen patients from 509 μg/24 h to 356 μg/24 h (P= 0.05); anovulatory steroids reduced mean PR of testosterone in nine from 612 μg/24 h to 345 μg/24 h (P<0.05, >0.025), and the combination of both therapies in ten reduced PR of testosterone from 528 μg/24 h to 148 μg/24 h (P<0.001). The latter regimen had moderate success in reducing hair growth (in six out of ten). Fourteen of the twenty‐five claimed benefit in hirsutism and all thirteen with acne were improved. In individual cases, clinical benefit did not correlate well with reduction in PR of testosterone. Freedom from undesirable side effects allows these well‐accepted forms of treatment to be given even longer trials.
BIOSYNTHESIS OF OESTROGENS AND THEIR INTER‐CONVERSION IN HUMAN PLACENTAE FROM NORMAL AND TOXAEMIC PREGNANCIES
Authors: RAHMAN S. A. , HINGORANI V. , LAUMAS K. R. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARY In vitro biosynthesis of oestrogens in microsomal and 10000 g supernatant fractions of placentae, ten each, from normal and toxaemic pregnancies has been investigated. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHAS), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA) and androstenedione were used as substrates and their conversion to oestrone and oestradiol studied. In all the placental preparations the relative efficiency of the conversion of these androgens to oestrogens, though differing greatly between subcellular fractions as well as between normal and toxaemic placentae, was invariably in the order of DHAS > DHA > androstenedione. The conversion of these androgen precursors to oestrone and oestradiol was reduced in toxaemia compared with the normal placenta. Moreover, formation of oestradiol was much more reduced than that of oestrone. The free oestradiol level in the serum was also found to be lower in toxaemic pregnancies as compared with the normal range. The inter‐conversions of oestrogens further showed a significantly reduced conversion of oestrone to oestradiol in toxaemic placentae compared with normal placentae. The results may explain the lowered blood oestradiol levels observed in toxaemia of pregnancy and thus provide an explanation of the usefulness of the estimation of the oestradiol level as an index of feto‐placental function.
DEFECTIVE THYROGLOBULIN EXPORT AS A CAUSE OF CONGENITAL GOITRE
Authors: LISSITZKY S. , TORRESANI J. , BURROW G. N. , BOUCHILLOUX S. , CHABAUD O. 
Published: March 2008

SummaryThe thyroids of two brothers aged 13 and 15 with congenital goitre, butanolinsoluble iodine in blood and which had pronounced decrease of immunoreactive thyroglobulin content in the thyroid were studied. Two types of thyroglobulin were identified. The first amounted to only about 200‐300 μg/g wet tissue and was fully immunoreactive with anti normal human thyroglobulin antiserum (iTG‐G). It was purified by affinity chromatography. The other was mainly associated with intracytoplasmic membranes, amounted to about 8 mg/g wet tissue and was only partially immunoreactive (piTG‐G). Both had abnormal amino acid compositions but only iTG‐G showed a decreased carbohydrate content. Surprisingly, piTG‐G showed a normal iodination level (0.5%) and a normal iodoamino acid composition. Immunochemical studies performed on slices or cell‐free fractions incubated in the presence of labelled amino acids and /or monosaccharides showed that: (1) thyroglobulin peptide chains were being synthesized and almost normally discharged into the cisternae of the rough endoplasmic reticulum; (2) incorporation of sugars into iTG‐G was decreased; (3) sialyl‐ and galactosyltranserase activities were normal and the enzymes normally located, and (4) albumin which is present in the thyroid as the iodinated protein was probably not synthesized by the goitrous tissues. Two major abnormalities were detected by light and electron microscopy: absence or pronounced scarcity of colloid in the follicular lumina and over distended endoplasmic reticulum cisternae. These observations are compatible with a defect in TG transport from the cell into the lumen as the cause of the goitre. Whether defective thyroglobulin export is basically related to abnormality of the protein structure or to another cause is discussed.
HYPOGLYCAEMIA ASSOCIATED WITH AN INTRATHORACIC FIBROSARCOMA
Authors: WALSH C. H. , WRIGHT A. D. , COORE H. G. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYA patient with an intrathoracic fibrosarcoma in whom disabling hypoglycaemic episodes occurred is reported. No further hypoglycaemic episodes occurred following removal of the tumour. The mechanism of the hypoglycaemia associated with non‐pancreatic tumours is discussed. It seems that inadequate hepatic glucose output was an important factor in contributing to the hypoglycaemia in this patient.
PLASMA GLUCAGON RESPONSE TO ARGININE INFUSION IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH DIABETES MELLITUS
Authors: JOSEFSBERG Z. , LARON Z. , DORON M. , KERET R. , BELINSKI YOAV , WEISMANN I. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYPlasma glucagon response to an arginine infusion was studied in children and adolescents belonging to the following groups: (I) twenty‐two controls; (II) six subjects with delayed insulin peak during oral GTT; (III) ten diabetics on diet and/or oral therapy; (IV) six newly diagnosed uncompensated diabetics; and (V) eight diabetics on insulin therapy. The fasting glucagon concentrations and rise of glucagon in response to arginine in the patients of Groups II, III and V were similar to those of the controls (Group I).The basal levels and rise of glucagon in the newly diagnosed, uncompensated diabetic children (Group IV) was elevated compared to the other groups but the difference was statistically not significant.The results of this investigation favour the hypothesis that the hyperglucagonaemia in diabetes is a secondary effect to the metabolic derangement, bearing a direct relationship to the degree of homeostastic decompensation.
RESPONSE OF PLASMA ALDOSTERONE TO FLUDROCORTISONE IN PRIMARY HYPERALDOSTERONISM AND OTHER FORMS OF HYPERTENSION
Authors: PADFIELD P. L. , ALLISON M. E. M. , BROWN J. J. , FERRISS J. B. , FRASER R. , LEVER A. F. , LUKE R. G. , ROBERTSON J. I. S. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYThe response of plasma aldosterone to fludrocortisone administration (400 μg 12‐hourly for 3 days) was studied in twenty‐two patients with primary hyperaldosteronism. No difference was observed in the response between those patients with an adrenal adenoma and those with bilateral adrenocortical hyperplasia, there being no significant change in plasma aldosterone levels across the test period. No separation between the groups was seen when basal plasma renin concentration was related to the aldosterone level following fludrocortisone. It is concluded that the test is of little value in the pre‐operative differentiation of these conditions.Twenty‐three patients with no demonstrable cause for their hypertension and four with elevated levels of plasma deoxycorticosterone were similarly studied for comparison. These groups demonstrated a normal fall in plasma aldosterone levels following fludrocortisone.
SECRETION OF ALPHA AND BETA SUBUNITS OF TSH BY THE ANTERIOR PITUITARY
Authors: EDMONDS M. , MOLITCH M. , PIERCE J. , ODELL W. D. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYWe have attempted to determine whether blood concentrations of the α chains of TSH arise by direct pituitary secretion of α chain or by degratation of the intact hormone after secretion. Highly purified human TSH was administered by infusion to euthyroid volunteers; blood TSH concentrations were raised to 36 μu/ml. After TSH infusion, circulating blood α chain concentrations did not change. The same volunteers received an infusion of TRH which stimulated pituitary secretion of TSH, raising blood concentrations to 15 μ/ml in one series of subjects and to 23 μu/ml in a second series. After TRH, blood concentrations of α chain increased from undetectable to over 400 pg/ml. We conclude that α subunits of TSH are directly secreted by the pituitary gland and are not formed by degradation of intact TSH in the peripheral circulation.
PLASMA TESTOSTERONE AND PROLACTIN IN THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE
Authors: EPSTEIN M. T. , McNEILLY A. S. , MURRAY M. A. F. , HOCKADAY T. D. R. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYDaily hormonal studies during nine ovulatory menstrual cycles showed that plasma prolactin and testosterone concentrations fluctuated randomly and independently.Mean plasma testosterone levels were found to be higher during the 7 days before and after the mid‐cycle LH peak when compared to the premenstrual phase (P<0.01). No correlation was found between daily levels of prolactin and those of LH, FSH, oestrogen or progesterone and no correlation was seen between peaks of prolactin and testosterone or mean prolactin and testosterone levels. The lack of correlation between blood levels of prolactin and testosterone during the menstrual cycle suggests that prolactin is unlikely to have any direct controlling influence on the cyclical nature of testosterone production observed during ovulatory menstrual cycles.
THE EFFECT OF PROGESTERONE ON FSH AND LH RESPONSE TO LHRH IN NORMAL WOMEN
Authors: SHAW R. W. , BUTT W. R. , LONDON D. R. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYAn LHRH test was performed on twenty‐eight regularly menstruating females dur‐the follicular phase of their cycles. Twenty‐four were then given an intramuscular injection of progesterone in oil and retested with LHRH 20 or 44 h later, the remaining four received no pretreatment and acted as controls.The twelve subjects retested 20 h after the progesterone injection showed marked changes in response. The greatest increase in gonadotrophin release after LHRH was seen when subjects were tested between days 8 and 10 of the menstrual cycle. In contrast, the twelve studied 44 h after receiving the steroid showed no change in release.
TRIIODOTHYRONINE RESPONSE TO THYROTROPHIN RELEASING HORMONE IN PATIENTS WITH HYPOTHALAMIC‐PITUITARY DISORDERS
Authors: FAGLIA G. , FERRARI C. , PARACCHI ALESSANDRA , SPADA ANNA , BECK‐PECCOZ P. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYThe serum triiodothyronine concentration was evaluated before and after thyrotrophin releasing hormone in fifty‐six patients with hypothalamic‐pituitary disorders (thirty‐four had secondary hypothyroidism, twenty‐two were euthyroid) and in twenty‐four normal controls.Basal serum T3 was low in fifteen hypothyroid subjects and normal in the remainders. After TRH, serum T3 did not increase normally in twenty‐five hypothyroid and in ten euthyroid patients; even the patients with normal or supranormal plasma TSH increase had significantly lower T3 responses than normal controls (P<0.0001 for hypothyroid, P<0.01 for euthyroid subjects).The finding of low T3 response to TRH in some euthyroid patients with hypothalamic‐pituitary disorders can perhaps identify cases of preclinical secondary hypothyroidism, probably due to low biological activity of released TSH.
THE ROLE OF PROLACTIN IN THE RESTORATION OF OVARIAN FUNCTION DURING THE EARLY POST‐PARTUM PERIOD IN THE HUMAN FEMALE
Authors: ROLLAND RUNE , LEQUIN RUDOLF M. , SCHELLEKENS LOUIS A. , JONG FRANK H. DE 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYSerial plasma levels of prolactin, follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), 17β‐oestradiol (E) and progesterone (P) were determined by radioimmunoassay in ten healthy women during late pregnancy and puerperium until the occurrence of the first menstruation, at which moment an endometrial biopsy was taken. Prolactin concentrations, which were high during late pregnancy and the early post‐partum period, declined thereafter but remained above 30 ng/ml plasma during the period of breast‐feeding. FSH was nearly undetectable during late pregnancy and the first week post‐partum but returned to normal levels between days 7 and 18. Thereafter relatively high FSH levels were found during the period of hyperprolactinaemia. Following clearance of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) during the first 2 weeks post‐partum, LH remained below the normal cyclic range in all cases for at least 28 days. Placental E and P were fully cleared within 7 days. In spite of relatively high levels of FSH, E remained low as did LH during the period of hyperprolactinaemia. Thereafter E increased followed by an increase of LH, suggesting a positive feedback of E on LH release. The first menses observed in five subjects during the study were preceded by (subnormal P levels for a relatively short period although the endometrial biopsies showed only late proliferative changes.
PLASMA PREGNENOLONE, PROGESTERONE, 17‐HYDROXYPROGESTERONE, TESTOSTERONE AND 5α‐DIHYDROTESTOSTERONE IN DIFFERENT TYPES OF CONGENITAL ADRENAL HYPERPLASIA
Authors: JÄNNE O. , PERHEENTUPA J. , VIINIKKA L. , VIHKO R. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYUnconjugated pregnenolone, progesterone, 17‐hydroxyprogesterone, testosterone and 5a‐dihydrotestosterone were simultaneously measured by radioimmunoassay in plasma from children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) due to a deficiency of 21‐hydroxylase (21‐OHase), 11 β‐hydroxylase (11β‐OHase) or 3β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β‐HSD). These steroids were also measured in a reference group of children of similar age.The following concentrations of these five steroids were observed in the prepubertal children aged 0‐4‐10‐9 years: pregnenolone <0‐2‐0‐85 ng/ml; progesterone 0‐17‐0‐68 ng/ml; 17‐hydroxyprogesterone 0‐10‐0‐53 ng/ml; testosterone <0‐05‐0‐14 ng/ml, and 5α‐dihydrotestosterone <0‐05 ng/ml (detection limit of the method).The concentrations were clearly elevated in the plasma of children with CAH. A very high plasma concentration of 17‐hydroxyprogesterone differentiates a 21‐OHase deficiency from the two other types: children with this defect had levels mostly in excess of 100‐fold that of normal. Plasma progesterone concentrations in these patients were also high being in the range found during the luteal phase level in the adult. Their plasma testosterone concentrations showed a scatter from normal values to high adult male levels being mostly at the level of adult females. The concentrations of 5a‐dihydrotestosterone were at or above those of adult males. A high plasma concentration of pregnenolone with at most slightly elevated progesterone and 17‐hydroxyprogesterone levels differentiated the 3β‐HSD defect from the other two forms of CAH. The plasma profile of the five steroids determined in a patient with an 11 β‐OHase deficiency was close to normal, but slightly elevated pregnenolone, progesterone and 17‐hydroxyprogesterone levels were found to be characteristic of this enzyme deficiency.
ENDOCRINE EFFECTS OF VASECTOMY
Authors: PURVIS K. , SAKSENA S. K. , CEKAN Z. , DICZFALUSY E. , GINER J. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYIn order to provide information on the endocrine effects of vasectomy, unconjugated pregnenolone, dehydroepiandrosterone, androstenedione, testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, oestrone and oestradiol were analysed in the blood plasma of twenty Mexican men on two occasions before and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after vasectomy. Vasectomy appeared to be associated with a significant decrease in the plasma levels of pregnenolone, dehydroepiandrosterone and androstenedione and a significant increase in the levels of dihydrotostrone and oestrone. A probably significant increase in oestradiol levels took place 12 months after vasectomy but not before. No consistent changes were found in testosterone (up to 12 months) or in FSH and LH levels (up to 6 months) after vasectomy.The unconjugated steroids indicated above, except oestrone, were also estimated, whenever possible, in seminal plasma specimens obtained from thirty‐nine subjects (including the twenty indicated above) on the same occasions. Vasectomy was associated with a highly significant decrease of seminal plasma dihydrotestosterone levels on all occassions and a significant decrease in androstenedione levels after 6 and 12 months. After 12 months there was a decrease in dehydroepiandro‐sterone and an increase in oestradiol; these changes were both probably significant.In another preliminary study, the levels of pregnenolone sulphate, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, testosterone glucuronide, testosterone sulphate and dihydrotestosterone sulphate were estimated before and 1 month after vasectomy in the seminal plasma of fourteen to seventeen subjects. Testosterone glucuronide fell, probably significantly, but other conjugates were unchanged.The data indicate that vasectomy may be associated with significant changes in the circulating and in seminal plasma levels of several steroids. The gradual nature of some of the changes observed suggests the necessity of conducting in several centres large‐scale, long‐term studies on vasectomized subjects and on a carefully matched control group.
EFFECT OF ACUTE AND CHRONIC NEUROLEPTIC THERAPY ON SERUM PROLACTIN LEVELS IN MEN AND WOMEN OF DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS
Authors: DE RIVERA JOSE LUIS , LAL SAMARTHJI , ETTIGI PRAKASH , HONTELA SLAVOJ , MULLER HERBERT F. , FRIESEN HENRY G. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYA single fasting level of serum prolactin was measured in each of sixty control subjects and eighty‐three psychiatric patients of both sexes who had been on neuroleptic therapy for 2‐4 weeks (acute treatment) or at least 5 years (chronic treatment) and who were aged either 17‐45 or 48‐85 years. All groups of patients had significantly higher mean prolactin levels than controls. Gender, age group of women, and exposure to acute or chronic treatment were significant variables determining the magnitude of neuroleptic‐induced elevation of prolactin. In some of the groups, dose, duration of chronic therapy, and concomitant administration of anticholinergic drugs also influenced prolactin levels.Whereas all acutely treated women had prolactin values above the control range, one out of twelve (8.3%) of the women aged 17‐45 years and six out of fourteen (42.9%) of the women aged 48‐85 years who were under chronic treatment had normal values. Normal prolactin levels were also found in five out of sixteen (31.2%) of the acutely treated and nine out of twenty‐four (37.5%) of the chronically treated men aged 17‐85 years.
THE EFFECT OF VARYING DOSES OF CEREBRAL IRRADIATION ON GROWTH HORMONE PRODUCTION IN CHILDHOOD
Authors: SHALET S. M. , BEARDWELL C. G. , PEARSON D. , JONES P. H. MORRIS 
Published: March 2008

SummaryThe radiation dose, delivered to the hypothalamic‐pituitary region, has been calculated in thirty‐nine children irradiated for brain tumours and in seventeen children who had received prophylactic cranial irradiation for acute leukaemia. All subjects had an insulin tolerance test at least 2 years after their radiotherapy. There is a significant inverse correlation between radiation dose and peak GH response. Thirty‐seven of the fifty‐six patients showed an impaired GH response and thirty‐six of these received more than 2900 rads. Only five patients who received such a dose showed normal GH responses and four of these were aged over 13 years when treated.In conclusion, cerebral irradiation is a potent cause of GH deficiency in children.
HYPOTHALAMIC‐PITUITARY FUNCTION FOLLOWING SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT OF INTRACRANIAL TUMOURS
Authors: HARROP J. S. , DAVIES T. J. , CAPRA L. G. , MARKS V. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYHypothalamic‐pituitary function was examined in seventeen patients treated in the past for extrasellar intracranial tumours. All patients had received a course of external cranial irradiation. Biochemical abnormalities of endocrine function were present in almost all of the patients. In particular, the growth hormone response to insulin induced hypoglycaemic stress was impaired in eleven out of fifteen patients. Preliminary data from a group of seven patients with intracranial tumours prior to radiotherapy are also presented. The possibility that cranial irradiation causes hypothalamic‐pituitary dysfunction is discussed. The results suggest that endocrine assessment should be considered in patients who have been treated for intracranial tumours, even in the absence of direct pituitary involvement.