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Clinical Trial 2007; 28(6): 727-733 PubMed PMID: 18063933 Citation  Keywords:  Acromegaly:drug therapy, Adult, Antineoplastic Agents:administration & dosage, Blood Glucose:metabolism, Delayed-Action Preparations, Drug Administration Schedule, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Homeostasis:drug effects, Human Growth Hormone:blood, Humans, In.   

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the short-term effects of Lanreotide Autogel on insulin sensitivity markers among acromegalic patients with pituitary tumors.

DESIGN: Prospective clinical trial with six months of follow-up.

SETTING: A tertiary endocrinology clinic.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Naïve patients (patient No. 1 and patient No. 3) and patients who experienced prior somatostatin analogue treatment (patient No. 2, patient No. 4, and patient No. 5) were included. Before and after 6 months of Lanreotide Autogel therapy, insulin sensitivity in each subject was determined using homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance and beta-cell function formula. Euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp test was also performed to evaluate whole insulin sensitivity and was indicated as an 'M' index.

RESULTS: All patients experienced reduction in their HOMA-beta. We noted major HOMA-beta decreases accompanied by pronounced increases in M indices for patients Nos. 1, 2 and 3 (1.03 vs. 8.22, 2.98 vs. 4.70, and 5.09 vs. 13.09, respectively). The increases in M indices of these patients were with marked decreases in GH levels (34.20 vs. 15.30 microg/l, 4.25 vs. 0.74 and 5.0 vs. 0.66 ng/mL, respectively). Minor decline in HOMA-beta and worsened M index and almost stable GH were observed in patients Nos. 4 and 5. Except for patient No. 3, all participants showed declining HOMA-IR.

CONCLUSIONS: Short-term Lanreotide Autogel treatment has been observed to improve M indices of acromegalic patients whose GH levels exhibited marked reduction. This amelioration seemed to be related to decreases in GH levels rather than to a direct drug effect....

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Journal Article 2001; 22(1): 53-73 PubMed PMID: 11393163 Citation  Keywords:  Adrenal Glands:physiology, Animals, Biological Clocks, Blood Pressure:physiology, Chronobiology Disorders:physiopathology, Chronobiology Phenomena, Chronotherapy, Circadian Rhythm:physiology, Drug Administration Schedule, Genomics, Homeostasis, Humans, Pi.   

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Comparative Study 2005; 26(4): 337-341 PubMed PMID: 16136013 Citation  Keywords:  Adrenocorticotropic Hormone:blood, Adult, Biomarkers:blood, Cystinyl Aminopeptidase:blood, Female, Homeostasis:physiology, Humans, Immunoassay, Pregnancy:blood, Pregnancy Trimester, First, Pregnancy Trimester, Second, Pregnancy Trimester, Third,.   

INTRODUCTION: Normal function of the hypothalamo-adrenal axis is important for the regulation of feto-maternal intrauterine homeostasis including immunomodulating activity and may influence the timing of parturition. ACTH is produced during pregnancy by mother pituitary gland and by trophoblast cells, which are the place of oxytocinase production. Oxytocinase is basically secreted by syncytiotrophoblast cells and rises progressively during pregnancy until the labor. Oxytocinase may play a role as one of the main factors suppressing uterine contractions, controlling the vascular resistance and the volume of the retroplacental blood pool.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 102 patients with pregnancy following infertility treatment. The assessment was provided longitudinally in six selected groups progressively according to the gestational age. Immunoassay was used to measure ACTH plasma concentration. Oxytocinase plasma activity was established using l-cystine-di-beta-naphthylamide as a substrate.

RESULTS: Significantly increased oxytocinase plasma level was identified during pregnancy, progressive rise was observed beginning with the first trimester of pregnancy, until the labor. ACTH plasma concentration was observed to be at comparable level in the first and second trimester of pregnancy, while sudden statistically significant increase of ACTH plasma level was noted beginning with 28th week of gestation.

CONCLUSIONS: The assessment of ACTH and oxytocinase plasma concentration might be useful for the evaluation of pregnancy development....

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Journal Article 2005; 26(4): 342-346 PubMed PMID: 16136012 Citation  Keywords:  Abortion, Spontaneous:blood, Adrenocorticotropic Hormone:blood, Cystinyl Aminopeptidase:blood, Female, Homeostasis:physiology, Humans, Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System:physiology, Pituitary-Adrenal System:physiology, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Trimester, First,.   

INTRODUCTION: The labor at term finishes normal pregnancy. Both labor at term and first trimester spontaneous abortion are connected with increasing cytotoxic immune response within decidua. Th1 cytokines including IL-2 and INF-gamma are able to exert an effect on HPA axis and result in ACTH secretion. Oxytocinase serum level during pregnancy rises with the fetal development and arrest of oxytocinase serum growth might indicate the its development impairment, what might result in spontaneous abortion.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 27 patients with clinical symptoms of missed abortion. A control group consisted of 89 pregnant women, who were successfully treated because of infertility. Immunoassay was used to measure ACTH plasma concentration. Oxytocinase plasma activity was established using l-cystine-di-beta-naphthylamide as a substrate.

RESULTS: In the present study, significant increase in ACTH plasma concentration was observed during first trimester of spontaneous abortion. These patients were not characterized by significant increase of oxytocinase plasma level.

CONCLUSIONS: The observed ACTH rise during spontaneous abortion might be also related to the alterations at the maternal-fetal interface and the response of HPA axis to the growing cytotoxic activity....

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Journal Article 2005; 26(4): 397-400 PubMed PMID: 16136002 Citation  Keywords:  Acid Phosphatase:blood, Animals, Antigens, CD13:blood, Cathepsin D:blood, Cathepsin L, Cathepsins:blood, Cysteine Endopeptidases:blood, Esterases:blood, Female, Ghrelin, Homeostasis:drug effects, Hydrolases:blood, Lipase:blood, Lysosomes:enzymology, Pepti.   

OBJECTIVES: Observing the changes of activity of some lysosomal enzymes in blood serum of female rabbits subjected to injection of 10 microg of ghrelin/kg of body weight.

METHODS: In the blood serum the activity of cathepsins D and L, alanine aminopeptidase, acid phosphatase, lysosomal lipase and lysosomal esterase was determined.

RESULTS: As a result of ghrelin injection the activity of all the enzymes examined in blood serum increased markedly.

CONCLUSION: Changes of lysosomal enzymes activities in the blood serum caused by the effects of ghrelin should be regarded as the response of the lysosomal system....

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Journal Article 2002; 23(Suppl 2): 37-42 PubMed PMID: 12163846 Citation  Keywords:  Aging:metabolism, Animals, Estrogen Replacement Therapy, Estrogens, Non-Steroidal:therapeutic use, Female, Homeostasis:physiology, Humans, Isoflavones, Menopause:physiology, Neurosecretory Systems:metabolism, Phytoestrogens, Plant Preparations, Receptors,.   

: Endocrine modulation by natural and synthetic chemicals and the eventually resulting beneficial or adverse effects for human and animal health are controversially debated not only among scientists but particularly in the public. Most information is available on so-called environmental estrogens, however the amount of information on substances interfering with other hormonal axes steadily increases, particularly on those exhibiting (anti)androgenic activities. The aim of this paper is to summarize existing data and to give an overview on the potential pathways leading to interferences of environmental hormones with homeostasis and eventually resulting health effects. Experimental evidence suggests the hypothesis that fetal and neonatal organisms may be at risk if exposed to environmental estrogens. In contrary, it appears as if phytoestrogens, particularly those with selective estrogen receptor modulator- (SERM-)like activities have the potential to be useful in medical application, both as dietary means and as pharmaceuticals. Lacking valid information about the detailed analysis of the molecular mode of action for environmental estrogens, the possibility for an ultimate classification of environmental estrogens in "dangerous endocrine disruptors" and phytoestrogens in "useful pharmaceuticals" cannot be supported conclusively. Nevertheless both activities are likely....

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Journal Article 2002; 23(Suppl 1): 111-117 PubMed PMID: 12019363 Citation  Keywords:  Adrenergic Fibers:metabolism, Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists, Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Antagonists, Adrenergic alpha-Agonists:pharmacology, Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists:pharmacology, Animals, Female, Homeostasis, In Vitro Techniques, Norepinephri.   

BACKGROUND: Norepinephrine is the main neurotransmitter controlling melatonin secretion in the mammalian pineal gland. Presynaptic autoregulation of norepinephrine release from the sympathetic nerve fibers in the pineal gland is poorly known.

METHODS: Uptake and depolarization-evoked release of (3)H-norepinephrine were investigated in vitro using pieces of the pig pineals. Specific antagonists and agonists of alpha(2)-adrenoceptors were employed for the characterization of alpha(2)-adrenoceptors involved in the autoregulation of depolarization-evoked release of norepinephrine in the pig pineal.

RESULTS: The level of neuronal uptake of norepinephrine in the pig pineal was 3.5+/-0.9 pmol/h/mg of wet tissue and represented about 77% of the total tissue radioactivity. Potassium ions at concentration of 60 mM significantly evoked tritium release. This effect was abolished in the absence of extracellular Ca(2+) and was diminished in the presence of Cd(2+). Antagonists of alpha(2)-adrenoceptors increased depolarization evoked tritium release. The order of its potency (based on pED(30)) was rauwolscine > phentolamine > BRL 44408 > WB 4101> RS 79948 = yohimbine > prazosin > imiloxan. alpha(2)-agonists decreased K(+) evoked release of tritium with the order of potency: UK14,304 > norepinephrine = guanfacine > oxymetazoline.

CONCLUSION: The processes of neuronal uptake and depolarization-evoked release of norepinephrine from the sympathetic nerve endings in the pig pineal gland have been demonstrated. The studies with the use of adrenergic antagonists and agonists indicate that the sympathetic nerve fibers in the pig pineal gland possess functional presynaptic alpha(2)-adrenoceptors, which are involved in norepinephrine release inhibition. Due to the pharmacological properties these receptors closely resemble the subtype alpha(2A)....

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Journal Article 2002; 23(2): 105-108 PubMed PMID: 12011794 Citation  Keywords:  Acetylglucosaminidase:metabolism, Animals, Anti-Inflammatory Agents:pharmacology, Antigens, CD13:metabolism, Cathepsin D:metabolism, Cathepsin L, Cathepsins:metabolism, Cysteine Endopeptidases, Enzyme Activation:drug effects, Homeostasis:drug effects, Hyd.   

OBJECTIVES: Changes in the activity of cathepsin D and L, alanine aminopeptidase, leucine aminopeptidase, N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase, lysosomal arylesterase and lysosomal lipase in the liver and kidney of unselected and selected mice, subjected to 7.5 mg/kg b.w. of hydrocortisone injection for 4 and 8 days.

METHODS: The homogenates of the liver and kidney were subjected to differentiated centrifuging and determination of studied enzymes.

RESULTS: Injection of hydrocortisone caused an increase in the activity of all investigated lysosomal enzymes in the liver and kidney of mice.

CONCLUSION: The reactions of selected mice were stronger in comparison with unselected ones. The highest increase in the activity investigated enzymes was observed after 8 days of hydrocortisone injection....

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