bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
AFFINITY OF LIQUORICE DERIVATIVES FOR MINERALOCORTICOID AND GLUCOCORTICOID RECEPTORS
Authors: ARMANINI D. , KARBOWIAK I. , FUNDER J. W. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYLiquorice abuse causes a syndrome of pseudohyperaldosteronism. Much less commonly, glucocorticoid‐like effects have been reported. The electrolyte‐active principle of liquorice is glycyrrhizic acid (GI), which can be hydrolyzed to glycyrrhetinic acid (GE). Previous studies have reported that GE, but not GI, may occupy mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptors. We here report that both GE and GI can bind to both mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptors. The affinity of GI for mineralocorticoid receptors is four orders of magnitude lower than aldosterone and for glucocorticoid receptors five orders of magnitude lower than dexamethasone. The affinity, though low, is sufficient to explain the mineralocorticoid‐like side effects, given the large amount of liquorice required to produce such a syndrome.
LONG TERM RESULTS OF RADICAL HYPOPHYSECTOMY FOR CUSHING'S DISEASE
Authors: THOMAS J. P. , RICHARDS S. H. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYSixteen consecutive cases of Cushing's disease were treated by radical transsphenoidal hypophysectomy. Surgical removal was not possible in two cases. Of the other 14, there was total clinical and biochemical remission of the disease in 13 and partial remission in one. Some form of replacement therapy has been necessary in 11 out of the 14 cases. During a long period of postoperative clinical and biochemical assessment extending over 5–14 years (average 8 years) there have been no recurrences.
EFFECTS OF AMINOGLUTETHIMIDE ON ADRENAL STEROID SECRETION
Authors: VERMEULEN A. , PARIDAENS R. , HEUSON J. C. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYEffects of various doses of aminoglutethimide (AG) alone upon adrenal steroidogenesis were studied in normal postmenopausal women, whereas the effects of combined treatment with aminoglutethimide in variable doses together with 40 mg of hydrocortisone were studied in postmenopausal women with advanced mammary concer and compared to effects of treatment with cortisol alone. Despite the well known inhibitory effect of AG on cortisol biosynthesis, plasma cortisol levels were unaffected by AG in doses of 150–1000 mg/d, probably due to a compensatory increase in ACTH in subjects with an intact pituitary‐adrenal axis. The aromatase system appeared to be very sensitive to inhibition by AG, a clearcut inhibition being shown at doses as low as 150 mg/d. Evaluated from the ratio of plasma oestrone (E1) to plasma androstenedione (AN), treatment with AG at a dose of 150 mg/d appeared to reduce the aromatase activity to 33% of the basal value; 250 mg/d resulted in a reduction to 20% and 1 g/d to 5% of basal values. Whereas AG at 150 mg/d did not appear to affect 11β‐hydroxylase, the latter was clearly inhibited by 250 mg/d and even more so by 1000 mg/d, as indicated by the increase in plasma 11‐desoxycortisol and 17‐OH progesterone (17‐OHP) levels. Due to the increase of the latter, their biosynthetic precursor, AN and to a lesser degree testosterone (TS) levels increased significantly during AG treatment at a dose of 250 or 1000 mg/d. Δ5 steroid levels remained practically unchanged, probably because 11‐(as well as the 21‐) hydroxylation concerns essentially the Δ4 pathway. During combined treatment with 500–1000 mg/d of AG and cortisol 40 mg/d, AN and TS were significantly higher than during treatment with cortisol alone, suggesting that cortisol had not completely blocked ACTH secretion. E1 and E2 levels were however lower than during treatment with cortisol alone, a consequence of the inhibition of the aromatase activity. Although at a dose of
NELSON'S SYNDROME: INCIDENCE AND PROGNOSIS
Authors: KASPERLIK‐ZAŁUSKA A. A. , NIELUBOWICZ J. , WISŁAWSKI J. , HARTWIG W. , ZAŁUSKA J. , JESKE W. , MIGDALSKA B. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYFifty patients bilaterally adrenalectomized for Cushing's disease were followed for 1 to 22 (mean, 12) years. In 14 of them (28%) Nelson's syndrome appeared within 1·5 to 12 (mean, 4·8) years after adrenalectomy. All the patients were deeply pigmented, 12 had a radiologically demonstrable tumour and six had visual defects. Plasma ACTH levels ranged from 450 to 8000 ng/1. However in every case at least one estimation during circadian studies equalled 2000 ng/1. One patient with an anaplastic pituitary tumour died 3 years after the discovery of the tumour. Anaplasia was also diagnosed in another patient with recurrence of pituitary tumour after a transsphenoidal operation. Symptoms of tumour infarction occurred in two patients, followed by clinical remission of Nelson's syndrome. In the majority of cases the course was benign. We conclude that all cases, however, should be followed indefinitely because Nelson's tumours are not infrequently aggressive.
EVIDENCE FOR DOPAMINERGIC CONTROL OF ALDOSTERONE IN MAN
Authors: FRISINA N. , COSTA G. , BUEMI M. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYThe effect of L‐dopa (0·50 g, orally) on serum aldosterone, cortisol and potassium levels, plasma renin activity, and on urinary aldosterone excretion has been studied in normotensive subjects, before and after dexamethasone‐induced ACTH suppression. L‐dopa caused a further reduction in the levels of aldosterone but not cortisol, in the dexamethasone treated subjects. It is therefore suggested that the inhibitory action of L‐dopa on aldosterone secretion is mediated by the dopaminergic system.
NYCTOHEMERAL PATTERN OF SERUM LH, FSH AND PRL IN PATIENTS WITH MYOTONIC DYSTROPHY
Authors: BARRECA T. , ROSSI B. , MAGNANI G. , SARTUCCI F. , ARENA R. , ROLANDI E. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYThe nycotohemeral pattern of serum luteinizing (LH), follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) and prolactin (PRL) in eight patients with myotonic dystrophy (MD) was studied. Gonadotropin patterns were classified as adult, pubertal or infantile. Six patients showed an adult pattern, whereas two had a pubertal or infantile pattern. A normal pattern of PRL secretion was found in seven patients and a blunted sleep‐related hormonal increase was observed in one. Impaired hypothalamic control of pituitary secretion in MD is proposed as the cause for these findings.
SUPPRESSIVE EFFECT OF METYRAPONE ON PLASMA CORTICOTROPHIN IMMUNOREACTIVITY IN NORMAL MAN
Authors: SCHÖNESHÖFER M. , FENNER A. , CLAUS M. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYShort term alterations of plasma corticotrophin immunoreactivity (ACTH) and cortisol were studied in healthy men under basal conditions and during intravenous administration of metyrapone. In the intravenous experiment, a low dose (1 g/5 h) and a high dose (4 g/5 h) of metyrapone ditartrate were infused. In the early phase of the metyrapone experiments, plasma ACTH fell from 9.46 ± 0.95 (se) pmol/l at 08.00 h to 7.7 ± 1.1 pmol/l at 09.00 h (P > 0.05) in the low‐dose experiment, and from 7.0 ± 1.6 pmol/l to 4.6 ± 0.9 pmol/1 (P < 0.05) in the high‐dose experiment. A significant delayed increase of plasma ACTH secondary to the hypocortisolaemic stimulus was apparent in the high‐dose experiment, in which plasma cortisol was maximally suppressed to 14 ± 3 nmol/l at 13.00 h. No significant increase was observed in the low‐dose experiment, the maximal suppression of plasma cortisol being 46 ± 9 nmol/1 at 14.00 h.The present data suggest dual effects of metyrapone on plasma ACTH: 1) a suppressive effect, the mechanism of which is not yet understood, and 2) the known increasing effect of ‘feed‐back’ stimulation, which seems to be very sensitive to alterations of plasma cortisol only at cortisol levels lower than about 50 nmol/l. The suppressive effect of metyrapone may account for the frequently described inadequate response of plasma ACTH to metyrapone‐induced hypocortisolaemia. Particularly, the diagnostic validity of the very short versions of the metyrapone test would seem to be seriously questioned.
CRITICAL STUDY OF THE GROWTH HORMONE RESPONSE TO DYNAMIC TESTS AND THE INSULIN GROWTH FACTOR ASSAY IN ACROMEGALY AFTER MICROSURGERY
Authors: SCHAISON G. , COUZINET B. , MOATTI N. , PERTUISET B. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYEighteen acromegalic patients were studied 8 months to 5 years after transsphenoidal selective adenomectomy in order to evaluate the most reliable criteria for assessing the efficacy of treatment. Dynamic growth hormone (GH) studies were performed after administration of oral glucose (OGTT), thyrotro‐phin‐releasing‐hormone (TRH) or l‐dopa, and after insulin‐induced hypogly‐caemia. Insulin‐like growth factor (IGF) was measured by means of a competitive protein‐binding assay which detects all somatomedins, particularly those which are GH‐dependent.Of the 18 subjects reported in our study, five showed clinical symptoms of persistent acromegaly. After oral glucose, seven patients had minimum plasma GH levels above 5 ng/ml, five had GH levels between 5 and 2 ng/ml (three of whom maintained a positive GH response to TRH), and six had minimum plasma GH values below 2 ng/ml. Only the latter six patients had normal IGF levels; however, one was still responsive to TRH and three did not increase their GH plasma levels after insulin or l‐dopa administration.Thus, our data suggest that the criteria used to assess the cure of acromegaly should be more rigorous than those generally applied. When plasma GH levels remain above 2 ng/ml after OGTT, it is doubtful that the cure is complete. A positive GH response to TRH after neurosurgery indicates incomplete removal of the adenoma. The lack of a GH response following insulin‐induced hypoglycaemia and l‐dopa administration suggests that the initial somatotroph dysfunction persists. Finally, high plasma IGF levels point to residual GH overproduction. The definition of cure in acromegaly should involve stricter biochemical criteria than those currently in use.
SINGLE DAILY DOSE SHORT TERM CARBIMAZOLE THERAPY FOR HYPERTHYROID GRAVES’DISEASE
Authors: MACFARLANE I. A. , DAVIES D. , LONGSON D. , SHALET S. M. , BEARDWELL C. G. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYTwenty‐one patients with hyperthyroid Graves’disease were treated with carbimazole 30 mg daily, given as a single dose. Propranolol was also given for the first 3 weeks. All became clinically euthyroid with normal serum thyroxine (T4) levels, usually within 1–3 months. Patients with large goitres and raised serum alkaline phosphatase concentrations took longer to respond. In 19 patients a positive thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) response to intravenous thyrotrophin releasing hormone (TRH) developed. Carbimazole was stopped soon after (median time of treatment 18 weeks, range 9–41 weeks) and 18 patients have been followed. Seven of these (39%) have remained in remission from hyperthyroidism for more than one year (median 77 weeks).Carbimazole 30 mg once daily is a convenient and effective treatment for hyperthyroid Graves’disease. Many patients will achieve prolonged remissions if treatment is stopped when serum T3 and T4 levels are in the low‐normal range, usually 2–4 months after clinical euthyroidism has been reached.
PITUITARY FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH EVIDENCE OF SPONTANEOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF A PITUITARY ADENOMA
Authors: LINDHOLM J. , BJERRE P. , RIISHEDE J. , GYLDENSTED C. , HAGEN C. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYForty‐four untreated patients with an enlarged sella were studied (excluding patients with acromegaly, Cushing's disease, and those with radiological evidence of suprasellar extension). In 20 patients CT revealed a completely or partially empty sella. Based on recent studies we take this finding to signify the previous presence of a pituitary adenoma which has undergone complete or partial necrosis. Ten of the 20 patients had in fact experienced symptoms typical of a pituitary apoplexy compared with only one out of the other 24 patients. Adrenal, thyroid, and growth‐hormone insufficiency occurred as often in patients with an empty sella as in those with a solid pituitary tumour. In contrast, plasma prolactin levels were much lower in patients with an empty sella than in patients with a solid tumour (11 vs 166 ng/ml). It is assumed that this discrepancy reflects previous necrosis occurring in an adenoma hyper‐secreting prolactin. These results emphasize the importance of taking the spontaneous course of pituitary adenomas into account when assessing the effect of various treatment protocols.
HEPATIC OSTEODYSTROPHY IN PRIMARY BILIARY CIRRHOSIS: A POSSIBLE DEFECT IN KUPFFER CELL MEDIATED CLEAVAGE OF PARATHYROID HORMONE
Authors: ATKINSON M. J. , VIDO I. , KECK E. , HESCH R.‐D. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYTwelve of fourteen female patients with primary biliary cirrhosis, receiving vitamin D supplementation, exhibited unequivocal signs of osteoporosis but not of osteomalacia. Vitamin D treatment reproduced normal 25‐hydroxyvitamin D levels in all but two patients and the 1,25 and 24,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D metabolic pathways appeared to be unimpaired. A possible mechanism for the vitamin D resistant osteoporosis has been identified following the observation that, in those patients with severe cirrhosis, the circulating concentration of intact PTH was elevated. The increase in intact hormone appears to be at the expense of the carboxyl‐regional PTH produced by hepatic Kupffer cell mediated cleavage of intact PTH. As a defect in Kupffer cell function is documented in primary biliary cirrhosis we postulate that the increased intact PTH/decreased carboxyl‐regional PTH concentrations arise as a result of diminished Kupffer cell mediated cleavage. The reduced generation of cleaved PTH, due to this loss of Kupffer cell activity, would thus contribute to the development of osteoporosis in primary biliary cirrhosis.
BINDING OF IMMUNOGLOBULIN‐G FROM PATIENTS WITH THYROID AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE TO NORMAL T LYMPHOCYTES
Authors: PACINI F. , SRIDAMA V. , PRESSENDO J. , DEGROOT L. J. , MEDOF M. E. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYSera from patients with Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis were reacted with normal T lymphocyte preparations in an attempt to detect binding of immunoglobulin G (IgG) to T cells. Sera from normal subjects and patients with toxic adenomas served as controls. Each serum was reacted with at least three different preparations of normal T cells. Bound IgG was identified using a fluoresceinated second antibody, antihuman IgG. Positive cells were enumerated by means of epifluorescent microscopy. IgG from 57·8% of toxic Graves' patients, 30·7% of Graves' patients who were euthyroid after treatment, and 41·6% of Hashimoto's patients bound to normal T cells more than did IgG from normal controls.Reactivity of toxic adenoma sera was similar to that of normal sera. When the positive sera were reacted with helper or suppressor/cytotoxic T cell preparations (separated by negative selection technique), the binding was shown to be directed against suppressor/cytotoxic T cells but not against helper cells. These data indicate that a significant proportion of patients with autoimmune thyroid disease have IgG in their serum which react with a subset of normal T suppressor/cytotoxic cells. This phenomenon could be the expression of anti‐lymphocyte antibodies, which may relate to previously recognized reductions in number and function of suppressor T cells in autoimmune thyroid disease.
PLASMA AMINE AND HORMONE CHANGES IN ‘POST‐PARTUM BLUEs'
Authors: KUEVI V. , CAUSON R. , DIXSON A. F. , EVERARD D. M. , HALL J. M. , HOLE D. , WHITEHEAD S. A. , WILSON C. A. , WISE J. C. M. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYThe relationship between hormone levels, plasma catecholamines, and mood disturbances has been investigated in 44 patients during days 2 to 5 of the immediate post‐partum period. Fifty‐two per cent of the mothers showed periods of emotional lability although there was no significant correlation between plasma concentrations of FSH, prolactin, oestrone, oestradiol, cortisol, or progesterone and the incidence of post‐partum blues. In contrast there was a significant reduction of circulating catecholamines which correlated with mood disturbances. Women who experienced only a single day of post‐partum blues had significantly lower levels of noradrenaline and adrenaline on that day compared with preceding or subsequent days.
PLASMA SOMATOMEDIN ACTIVITY AND DIABETIC RETINOPATHY
Authors: ASHTON I. K. , DORNAN T. L. , POCOCK A. E. , TURNER R. C. , BRON A. J. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYSomatomedin activity was measured by a rabbit chondrocyte bioassay in plasma of adult patients with insulin‐dependent diabetes of 11–28 years duration. Mean somatomedin activity in patients with background or proliferative retinopathy, assessed by ophthalmoscopy or fluorescein angiography, was 1·42 ± 0·65 U/ml (n= 20) which was significantly greater than in age‐ and weight‐matched control subjects (1·05 ± 0·22 U/ml, n= 9). In contrast, somatomedin activity was not raised in patients who had no retinopathy (1·16 ± 0·33 U/ml, n= 10).Diabetic patients with retinopathy also showed the greatest differences between repeat samples suggesting wider fluctuations in plasma somatomedin levels. Plasma growth hormone and glucose measured either simultaneously with somatomedin or during a 12–24 h profile were not different when diabetics with or without retinopathy were compared.The somatomedins have mitogenic actions in vivo on a variety of connective tissues. The possibility that this may extend to retinal vessels should be further evaluated.
ENDOGENOUS CORTISOL AND THYROID HORMONE LEVELS IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION
Authors: KAHANA LUNA , KEIDAR SHLOMO , SHEINFELD MAXIM , PALANT AVRAHAM 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYThyroid hormones and cortisol levels were serially measured over seven mornings and evenings in 23 consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or acute coronary insufficiency (ACI). The patients were divided into two groups, high level cortisol (HLC) and low level cortisol (LLC) groups, according to mean morning and evening cortisol levels. The transient increase in plasma rT3, decrease in T3 and TSH was significantly greater in the HLC group. A diurnal variation in cortisol levels was observed in the LLC group 48 h and in the HLC group 72 h after admission. Taking the 23 patients together, no significant correlation was observed between infarct size (peak CPK levels) and the altered rT3, T4 or TSH levels. However, a significant correlation was obtained between the maximal change in T3, rT3 or TSH and the mean cortisol levels preceding these alterations, as well as between cortisol levels and infarct size. It is suggested that cortisol rather than infarct size may be the dominant factor involved in the alteration of thyroidal levels in AMI patients.
PLASMA IMMUNOREACTIVE β‐ENDORPHIN IS ELEVATED IN URAEMIA
Authors: ARONIN N. , KRIEGER DOROTHY T. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYPlasma immunoreactive‐(IR) β‐endorphin (β‐EP) and β‐lipotrophin (β‐LPH) levels were measured in 15 adult uraemic patients on chronic haemodialysis. The presence of immunoreactivity eluting in the position of β‐EP was demonstrated following submission of pooled extracts of uraemic plasma to gel permeation chromatography on Sephadex G‐50. To separate β‐EP from β‐LPH, pre‐dialysis plasma extracts from six individual patients, and three pools of three patients each, were submitted to sequential immune‐affinity chromatography and levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. In all cases, plasma IR β‐EP concentrations were markedly increased compared with normal subjects (m± SEM fmol/ml; 64·4 ± 13·7 vs. 2·3 ± 0·2). IR β‐LPH concentrations were also increased (m± SEM fmol/ml; 55·7 ± 13·2 vs. normal 6·1 ± 0·8). In addition, post‐dialysis concentrations of plasma IR β‐EP and β‐LPH were lower than pre‐dialysis levels (n= 4).
TESTICULAR DAMAGE AFTER RADIOACTIVE IODINE (I‐131) THERAPY FOR THYROID CANCER
Authors: HANDELSMAN D. J. , TURTLE J. R. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYTesticular damage was evaluated in twelve men by determination of sperm counts, serum FSH, LH, and testosterone up to 3½ years after treatment with radioactive iodine (131I) therapy for thyroid cancer. Dose‐dependent spermatogenic damage with elevation of serum FSH was evident. Full recovery in one and partial recovery in another patient was documented during 2½ years of follow‐up. Serial study in two patients documented a small but significant effect of 50 mCi 131I on serum FSH levels and clinically important effects appear to be restricted to men having multiple doses totalling over 100 mCi.
HYPERTHYROIDISM DUE TO A TSH SECRETING PITUITARY ADENOMA: CASE REPORT, TREATMENT AND EVIDENCE FOR ADENOMA TSH BY MORPHOLOGICAL AND CELL CULTURE STUDIES
Authors: MASHITER K. , VAN NOORDEN SUSAN , FAHLBUSCH R. , FILL H. , SKRABAL K. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYA 36‐year‐old woman with recurrent hyperthyroidism, inappropriately elevated serum TSH, and an 8 mm pituitary microadenoma is described. Transsphenoidal adenomectomy rapidly reduced serum TSH to normal and restored the euthyroid state with retention of other anterior pituitary functions. Tissue removed at operation was examined by light and electron microscopy and cell culture. The tissue was neoplastic, composed of irregular often elongated cells which immunostrained positively only with antisera to β‐TSH. The cells contained small granules (100–170 nm) usually along the cell membrane. In cell culture TSH alone was secreted and the rate of secretion declined with time. We conclude that the patient had a TSH secreting microadenoma as a cause of her hyperthyroidism.
AN EVALUATION OF PLASMA EXCHANGE FOR GRAVES' OPHTHALMOPATHY
Authors: KELLY W. , LONGSON D. , SMITHARD D. , FAWCITT R. , WENSLEY R. , NOBLE JOAN , KEELEY JANE 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYEighteen patients with ocular manifestations of Graves' disease were treated by plasma exchange. Detailed clinical, ophthalmological and orthoptic assessments were made including computerized axial tomography and A + B scan ultrasound of the orbits. Seventeen different ocular parameters were separately rated for each patient. The changes recorded were small, statistically insignificant, and no patient was cured of ocular disease. There were no significant correlations between the ocular changes recorded and age, sex, duration of ophthalmic symptoms, the presence of thyroid antibodies, the number of exchanges, or the concurrent administration of azathioprine.
BIOASSAY OF THYROID‐STIMULATING IMMUNOGLOBULINS USING HUMAN THYROID CELL CULTURES: OPTIMIZATION AND CLINICAL ASSESSMENT
Authors: BIDEY S. P. , MARSHALL N. J. , EKINS R. P. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYPrimary monolayer cultures of human thyroid cells have been used to investigate the intracellular cyclic AMP response to thyroid‐stimulating immunoglobulins (TSIg) prepared from the sera of patients with Graves' disease. In particular, attention was directed towards dose‐response characteristics obtained under differing incubation conditions, and an optimized incubation procedure based upon conditions consistent with the maximal precision of TSIg measurement was developed.The magnitude of the cyclic AMP response to a tested TSIg preparation was shown to be greatest after the longest incubation period investigated, 16 h, for all doses of TSIg investigated. The greatest precision of TSIg measurement, as determined by the lowest relative error, was obtained at an immunoglobulin (Ig) dose of 1 mg/ml, and when incubated at this dose level for 16 h, all Ig‐enriched fractions prepared from the sera of 28 newly‐diagnosed patients with Graves' disease significantly (P<0.05) raised the intracellular cyclic AMP level of thyroid cell monolayers. After thionamide drug therapy, the incidence of TSIg detection declined to 42% (5 of 12 patients). TSIg bioactivity was also found in 9 of 14 (64%) patients with euthyroid exophthalmos and in 4 of 11 (36%) cases of non‐toxic goitre. In contrast, Ig's prepared from the sera of normal euthyroid volunteers were devoid of TSIg bioactivity.