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Case Reports 2006; 27(6): 737-739 PubMed PMID: 17187000 Citation  Keywords:  Acute Disease, Akathisia, Drug-Induced:diagnostic imaging, Antipsychotic Agents:adverse effects, Benzodiazepines:adverse effects, Cerebellum:diagnostic imaging, Fluorodeoxyglucose F18, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Positron-Emission Tomography:methods, Radio.   

OBJECTIVES: Akathisia is a clinical important symptom, frequently induced by neuroleptic treatment. Despite its clinical importance, less is known about its pathophysiology.

METHODS: Using [18]-FDG-PET, imaging patterns of cortical metabolic activity were obtained in a patient during olanzapine-induced akathisia and after recovery.

RESULTS: Akathisia was characterized by a reduced metabolic activity in thalamus and cerebellum. After discontinuing medication akathisia disappeared, reflected by a recovery of metabolic activity in these brain areas.

CONCLUSION: [18]-FDG-PET may be useful to identify cortical regions mediating clinical aspects of drug-induced akathisia, thereby offering a deeper insight into the pathophysiology of this serious side effect....

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Journal Article 2006; 27(6): 758-762 PubMed PMID: 17186999 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Age Factors, Androstenedione:blood, Atherosclerosis:blood, Blood Glucose:analysis, Cholesterol:blood, Coronary Disease:blood, Estrogens:blood, Female, Gonadal Steroid Hormones:blood, Humans, Incidence, Lipoproteins, HDL:blood, Lipoproteins, LDL:blo.   

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to investigate the relationship between the incidence of coronary heart diseases in premenopausal women and plasma level of total and free testosterone, estrogen, androstenedione and sex hormone binding globulin with coronary risk factors: fasting plasma concentration of glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, high and low density lipoproteins.

METHODS: The study was conducted in Faculty of Medicine, Jordanian University of Science/Irbid Jordan and Technology and department of cardiology in Queen Alia Heart Institute/Amman Jordan during the period from April 2003 to March 2004. Serum sex hormones levels were measured in fifty-three premenopausal women; 25 women with coronary heart disease who had hypertension and/or diabetes mellitus and 28 women without coronary heart disease. Ages ranged from 34 to 48 years. Blood samples were collected just before performing coronary angiography and serum was obtained and frozen at -70 degrees C until use.

RESULTS: We found that the mean triglyceride, fasting blood sugar total cholesterol, and low density lipoprotein concentration were significantly higher in coronary heart disease patients than in patients with normal coronaries. We also found that the low levels of sex hormone binding globulin and high levels of free testosterone are associated with development of coronary heart disease. No significant correlation could be established between other plasma sex hormones level and coronary heart disease.

CONCLUSION: In young women, in the presence of coronary risk factors and normal level of serum estrogen, the high levels of serum free testosterone and low levels of serum sex hormone binding globulin are associated with development of atherosclerosis and increased incidence of coronary heart disease....

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Case Reports 2006; 27(5): 569-572 PubMed PMID: 17159826 Citation  Keywords:  Adenoma:complications, Aged, Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone:analogs & derivatives, Goserelin:therapeutic use, Humans, Male, Neoplasms, Multiple Primary:diagnosis, Pituitary Apoplexy:etiology, Pituitary Neoplasms:complications, Prostatic Neoplasms:complica.   

: LHRH analogs have become a promising modality in prostate cancer therapy as an alternative to surgical castration, and the use of these agents is generally considered to be safe. Since now, only few cases of an apoplexy of previously undiagnosed pituitary adenoma (usually gonadotropinoma) at the beginning of therapy have been described in the medical literature. We present a case of a 74 year old patient who was diagnosed of prostate cancer at the age of 68. There was no evidence of metastatic disease. Radical prostatectomy was performed and LHRH analog gosereline (Zoladex 3.6 mg s.c.) was administered. During the first day after gosereline injection the patient developed headaches that became more severe over the next 3 days. Then the patient experienced nausea and vomiting, double vision and eyelid ptosis. On the 5th day the patient temporarily lost consciousness and was admitted to hospital. Imaging (computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging) revealed the presence of a pituitary tumor and hemorrhage within the gland. There was no evidence of pituitary dysfunction in hormonal studies. Neurosurgical intervention was postponed for 5 days after admission. Pathological mass with signs of recent hemorrhage was removed via transsphenoidal route. The tumor had negative immunohistochemical GH, ACTH and PRL staining. Neurological impairment resolved within 9 months after the operation. As a result the patient required adrenal and thyroid replacement. During 6 years of follow-up there was no evidence of prostate cancer recurrence....

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Journal Article 2006; 27(5): 665-668 PubMed PMID: 17159824 Citation  Keywords:  Administration, Cutaneous, Administration, Oral, Adult, Antithrombin III:analysis, Cross-Over Studies, Estradiol:administration & dosage, Estrogen Replacement Therapy:methods, Female, Fibrinogen:analysis, Humans, Lipoproteins:blood, Middle Aged, Postmenop.   

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the present study was to determine changes of biochemical risk factors of thromboembolism especially of TFPI during the use of oral versus transdermal administration of early estrogen replacement therapy.

METHODS: In a 12-week prospective, randomized, cross-over trial, oestradiol was administered orally in a dose of 2 mg daily or transdermally in an equivalent dose of 0.05 mg daily. Forty-five healthy early postmenopausal women were included into the study within 12 weeks after the hysterectomy and ovariectomy (surgical castration). Forty-one women completed the study and their data were analyzed. The average age was of 49+/- 6 years.

RESULTS: After an oral therapy, the average value of TFPI decreased significantly (p < 0.0001) from 87.5 +/- 38.5 ng/ml to 68 +/- 37 ng/ml but remained stable in transdermal group (81.9 +/- 36.8 ng/ml). No significant changes occurred in D-dimers. In both groups AT-III and fibrinogen decreased without exceeding their physiological ranges.

CONCLUSIONS: The oral therapy reduced significantly TFPI levels compared to transdermal route of administration. The results confirm more pronounced impact of oral estrogen on hemostasis variables....

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Clinical Trial 2006; 27(5): 659-664 PubMed PMID: 17159819 Citation  Keywords:  Estradiol:administration & dosage, Female, Follicle Stimulating Hormone:blood, Humans, Hydrocortisone:blood, Luteinizing Hormone:blood, Melatonin:blood, Middle Aged, Postmenopause:blood, Time Factors,.   

OBJECTIVES: It has been well-documented that serum melatonin levels are insensitive to estrous or menstrual ovarian steroid variations in the female rat or the human. However, a negative coupling has been already demonstrated between the nocturnal serum melatonin peak and serum E2 concentration during the late premenopausal period in the woman. The objection of the present study was designed to determine if diurnal serum melatonin values can be also lowered by a single administration of estrogen.

METHODS: We performed a detailed analysis of variations of serum estradiol, LH, FSH, melatonin and cortisol after one single I.M. injection of 2 mg of a conjugated estrogen, delestrogen (estradiol valerate) in 0.1 ml of oil. A 15 ml blood collection was done at 8:00 a.m. before the injection, and at 8:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, and 4:00 p.m. 17beta-estradiol, LH and FSH were determined by microparticle enzyme immunoassays kits. Melatonin determination was made using a RIA kit and cortisol was assayed by a RIA method.

RESULTS: A significant rise in serum 17beta-estradiol was already seen by one hour after the injection of estradiol valerate. Then, an almost linear increase was observed up to at last eight hours after the injection of estradiol valerate. A significant decrease in serum LH was not seen before four hours after the injection of estradiol valerate. Overall, there was a trend toward a decline in serum melatonin and cortisol concentration. The decreasing trend of cortisol serum level was tested as significant over time (p< 0.001). However, the decrease in serum concentration did not reach a significant level for melatonin.

CONCLUSION: Overall, these results show that after menopause an acute administration of estrogen during the early diurnal period of the day leads to a significant rapid decrease in cortisol serum values, but to only a partial non significant decrease in melatonin serum values....

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Journal Article 2006; 27(4): 487-492 PubMed PMID: 16892005 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Coumestrol:pharmacology, Follicle Stimulating Hormone:blood, Hormones:blood, Luteinizing Hormone:blood, Male, Organ Size:drug effects, Phytoestrogens:pharmacology, Rats, Rats, Wistar, Spermatogenesis:drug effects, Testis:drug effects, Testosteron.   

INTRODUCTION: Phytoestrogens are a wide variety of chemical compounds, mainly isoflavonoids, from a vegetable source. Their name makes reference to their ability to induce estrogenic responses in mammals. Coumestrol is a phytoestrogen that can be found in high concentrations in the dietary elements of cattle. Some endocrine alterations have been reported for cows and ewes after ingestion of vegetables with high concentrations of coumestrol. However, these studies have been made mainly in females.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze some features of the masculine endocrine response in rats after several doses of the phytoestrogen coumestrol.

DESIGN: Adult male rats were injected with several doses of coumestrol. Plasma gonadotrophins (LH/FSH) and testosterone levels were assessed. In addition, morphology of the testicles was analyzed.

SETTING: Experiments were done in the facilities of the neurosciences area at the University.

RESULTS: No significant changes were observed in gonadotrophin levels after the administration of coumestrol. Testosterone levels showed a significant decrease with the higher doses. Morphological analysis showed an inhibitory effect on spermatogenesis expressed mainly in the right testicle. Testicular volume decreased and the tubular area increased significantly after coumestrol treatment.

CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the endocrine effect of coumestrol is mainly expressed in peripheral targets in male rats. In addition, the possible mediation of estrogen beta receptors is discussed....

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Journal Article 2006; 27(4): 517-522 PubMed PMID: 16892003 Citation  Keywords:  Adenocarcinoma:metabolism, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Antibody Specificity, Cell Nucleus:metabolism, Cytoplasm:metabolism, Humans, Immunohistochemistry, Male, Middle Aged, Prognosis, Prostate:metabolism, Prostatic Hyperplasia:metabolism, Prostatic Neoplasms.   

BACKGROUND: Ubiquitin is a low molecular weight protein which has been detected in a variety of normal and cancerous tissues. It is involved in many regulatory processes including protein proteolysis. It has been implicated in tumor pathogenesis. The role of ubiquitin in human prostate gland is investigated in this study.

METHODS: In this study, we utilized immunohistochemistry technique to localize ubiquitin in human prostate gland and correlate it with different pathological conditions of the prostate.

RESULTS: Ubiquitin was localized in normal, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostatic adenocarcinoma with variations in the distribution and intensity. In BPH, ubiquitin immunoreactivity was localized mainly in the nuclei while in the adenocarcinoma was localized mainly in the cytoplasm.

CONCLUSION: The presence of ubiquitin mainly in the nuclei and in the cytoplasm of BPH and prostatic adenocarcinoma, respectively, may suggest a role of ubiquitin in the development of the above mentioned conditions. Ubiquitin could be used as a potential marker for the diagnosis and prognosis of pathological conditions of the prostate....

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Journal Article 2006; 27(4): 439-444 PubMed PMID: 16891992 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Choice Behavior:physiology, Decision Making:physiology, Economics, Humans, Impulsive Behavior:metabolism, Male, Nonlinear Dynamics, Risk-Taking, Saliva:metabolism, Surveys and Questionnaires, Testosterone:metabolism, Time Factors,.   

OBJECTIVES: Although impulsivity has been associated with androgens (e.g., testosterone), little is known regarding the relationship between testosterone levels and impulsivity in intertemporal choice (delay discounting). This study was aimed to examine the relationship between delay discounting of gains and losses and testosterone levels, which is of interest in neuroendocrinology and neuroeconomics.

METHODS: We assessed degrees to which delayed monetary gains and losses were discounted (hyperbolic discounting rate) in healty male students (age: 22.4+/-2.67). Participants' salivary testosterone levels were also assessed by utilizing liquid chromatography/mass spectroscopy (LC/MS) method.

RESULTS: Non-linear curve fitting analysis showed an inverted-U relationship between delay discounting of gains and salivary testosterone levels; while no relationship between salivary testosterone levels and delay discounting of losses was observed.

CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that (i) testosterone may enhance delay discounting rate of gains in non-impulsive subjects, (ii) testosterone may have an opposite (reducing) effect on delay discounting rate of gains in impulsive subjects, and (iii) testosterone is unrelated to subject's sensitivity to future bad outcomes. Implications for evaluating the effects of testosterone treatment and anti-androgenic therapy on impulsive behavior often observed in psychiatrics (e.g., pathological gambling, credit card debt, substance misuse, and needle-sharing) are discussed....

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