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Journal Article 2014; 35(7): 640-644 PubMed PMID: 25617889 Citation  Keywords:  Adiponectin:blood, Adult, Blood Pressure:physiology, Blood Vessels:physiology, Brachial Artery:physiology, Humans, Hyperemia:blood, Hypogonadism:blood, Leptin:blood, Male, Resistin:blood, Testosterone:blood, Young Adult,.   

OBJECTIVE: Hypogonadism has major effects on the urogenital system, in addition to other systems, the cardiovascular system in particular. There have been few studies conducted on markers of atherosclerosis, such as flow mediated dilatation (% FMD), carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and adipocytokine levels in idiopatic hypogonadotropic hypogonadal (IHH) males mostly in adult patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between androgens and adipocytokines and parameters of vascular functions in hypogonadal men.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population consisted of 11 treatment naive IHH patients (group 1) and 15 age-matched healthy control males (group 2). A fasting blood sample was obtained for leptin, adiponectin and resistin. The endothelial functions were evaluated by studying % FMD and CIMT by high resolution B-mode ultrasound.

RESULTS: No significant differences in age, body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were recorded between the two groups. The leptin level was significantly higher in group 1, whereas adiponectin and resistin levels were same between two groups. There was a negative correlation between total testosterone and carotid intima-media thickness (r=-0.656, p=0.008), and a negative correlation between total testosterone and leptin level (r=-0.794, p<0.001). No correlation was found between leptin and CIMT (p=0.184).

CONCLUSION: Testosterone deficiency in hypogonadal men is associated with vascular parameters of atherosclerosis. The findings may establish indications for testosterone replacement therapy in hypogonadal men....

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Journal Article 2014; 35(1): 73-79 PubMed PMID: 24625916 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Chromatin:genetics, DNA Fragmentation, Female, Flow Cytometry, Follicle Stimulating Hormone:blood, Humans, Infertility, Male:blood, Luteinizing Hormone:blood, Male, Spermatozoa:growth & development, Testosterone:blood,.   

OBJECTIVE: Having an offspring is the most important human biological goal, which is necessary for survival of the human species. Lack of offspring is a phenomenon concerning approximately 15% of married couples in Poland. In a half of the cases, a causative agent is the male factor infertility problem. There is evidence that certain male fertility problems are related with disorders of the process of spermatogenesis. The course of normal spermatogenesis depends on proper pituitary secretion of folliculostimulin (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), as well as testicular secretion of testosterone. It is considered that in approximately 20% of patients with idiopathic infertility an elevated level of sperm DNA fragmentation may be the cause of failure in reproduction. The objective of the present study was determination of the relationship between FSH, LH and testosterone levels, and the occurrence of sperm DNA fragmentation.

METHODS: The present study was conducted in the year 2012 in the Non-Public Health Care Unit 'Ovum Reproduction and Andrology' in Lublin, and covered 186 men treated for infertility. For inclusion into the study group we qualified males aged 25-35, who have been treated for infertility for more than 1 year, with no pathological features observed in the female partner. The structure of sperm chromatin was evaluated using the technique of flow cytometry-Sperm Chromatin Structure assay (SCSA). The result of the examination was a sperm DNA Fragmentation Index (DFI), i.e., the percentage of sperm with DNA lesions (DNA fragmentation). A morning blood sample (5 mL volume) was obtained and sent to an authorized laboratory to assess serum levels of testosterone, LH and FSH.

RESULTS: An intensified sperm DNA fragmentation co-occurred with both extremely low and extremely high levels of FSH and LH. Sperm DNA fragmentation was negatively correlated with testosterone level....

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Comparative Study 2014; 35(1): 50-57 PubMed PMID: 24625910 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Antipsychotic Agents:pharmacology, Benzodiazepines:pharmacology, Body Mass Index, Estradiol:blood, Humans, Insulin:blood, Male, Middle Aged, Prolactin:blood, Risperidone:pharmacology, Schizophrenia:blood, Testosterone:blood, Time Factors,.   

OBJECTIVE: A sufficient amount of testosterone (T) is essential for adequate sexual functioning but also for cognitive and psychological well-being. Most recent studies have demonstrated that higher BMI and other symptoms of metabolic syndrome are associated with alterations in sex steroid hormone concentrations. Although, neuroleptics are known to cause a significant and sustained weight excess, the relationships between body mass index and the level of testosterone in psychiatric patients have not been thoroughly studied. The main purpose of the present study was to examine the correlations between testosterone, estradiol BMI, and insulin in male patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and treated with olanzapine or risperidone.

METHODS: The study included 78 males diagnosed with schizophrenia according to the DSM-IV diagnostic classification hospitalized in psychiatric inpatient units (42 on risperidone and 36 on olanzapine). The initial and final evaluation of testosterone (T), estradiol, prolactin (PRL) and insulin serum levels were performed at week 3 and 8 after the onset of the new treatment, respectively.

RESULTS: At week 3, the mean serum prolactin was markedly higher, whereas testosterone level was lower in risperidone patients compared to those treated with olanzapine. T level was negatively affected by the studied medication (risperidone), increased prolactin and a higher BMI. At week 8, the mean serum prolactin level was markedly higher in risperidone patients. Higher values of BMI and serum insulin were the most prominent factors independently associated with decreased plasma testosterone levels at that measurement point. Individual changes of T level between week 3 and 8 were positively correlated with the corresponding changes in estradiol levels.

CONCLUSIONS: T serum levels appear to be independently linked with BMI, insulin and prolactin in both investigated neuroleptics. Further research is needed to elucidate the relationship between reproductive hormones and metabolic parameters in patients with schizophrenia under neuroleptic treatment....

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Comparative Study 2012; 33(5): 525-529 PubMed PMID: 23090271 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Estradiol:blood, Female, Humans, Loneliness, Male, Psychology, Adolescent, Saliva:metabolism, Sex Characteristics, Surveys and Questionnaires, Testosterone:blood,.   

OBJECTIVE: Loneliness is one of the psychological characteristics in adolescence, during which sex hormones are elevated. The elevation of sex steroid hormones is known to sculpture and remodel neuronal circuits, which cause behavioral characteristics in adolescence. The aim of the present study is to investigate the relationship between loneliness and sex steroid hormones, testosterone (T) and 17β-estradiol (E2).

METHODS: Fifty-eight adolescents (28 boys and 30 girls) participated in this study. The salivary levels of T and E2 were measured by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Loneliness was assessed by the UCLA loneliness scale, which is widely used as a self-administered questionnaire.

RESULTS: The results showed that Salivary E2 levels had positive relevance to loneliness in females, whereas there was no relationship in males. Salivary T level was not shown to be relevant with loneliness in either sex group.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that E2 has gender specific effects on loneliness in adolescent females....

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Journal Article 2010; 31(4): 483-488 PubMed PMID: 20802443 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Analysis of Variance, Autistic Disorder:blood, Body Mass Index, Child, Humans, Male, Testosterone:blood, Young Adult,.   

OBJECTIVE: Research on the biological pathophysiology of autism has found some evidence that alterations in androgenic hormones may play a role in the pathophysiology of that disorder. We studied morning concentrations of serum testosterone in a very homogenic group of postpubertal youngsters with autism and a group of normal controls.

METHODS: This study examines the serum testosterone concentration on 9 consecutive time points between 08.00 AM and 12.00 AM in 18 high- functioning male youngsters with autism (age 12-18) and 22 healthy volunteers participated in this study. All subjects passed the onset of puberty (Tanner-stage III-IV) and were of the Caucasian race.

RESULTS: Repeated measures ANOVA revealed a significant time effect, with a decline in the testosterone concentration during the test and time X diagnosis interaction.The total testosterone concentration was significantly lower in the autism group compared to the group of normal controls.

CONCLUSIONS: The significant decrease in serum testosterone concentration in male youngsters with autism suggest that the turnover of testosterone may take part in the pathophysiology of autism. Suggestions for further research are discussed....

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Journal Article 2010; 31(4): 577-581 PubMed PMID: 20802442 Citation  Keywords:  Educational Measurement, Female, Humans, Hydrocortisone:blood, Male, Radioimmunoassay, Statistics, Nonparametric, Students, Testosterone:blood, Universities,.   

OBJECTIVES: After dominance-related encounters, testosterone levels increase in winners and decrease in losers. In humans, many exceptions have been described. It is possible that the complicated patterns in humans result from the methods limitations--measurement of hormone concentrations in simulated competitive events or sport instead in real-life situations.

METHODS: Here we studied changes in hormonal levels and self-estimated attractivity in real situations, namely in students after written exams.

RESULTS: We observed that the testosterone and cortisol increased or decreased in relation to the number of wrong answers on the exam. The number of wrong answers was a better predictor of the hormonal changes (increase of both testosterone and cortisol in successful, decrease in unsuccessful students) than the self-estimated number of wrong answers or a subjectively opinionated impression from the exam. On the contrary, the concentration of hormones before the exam and self-estimated attractivity were better predictors of the subjective impression from the exam than the number of wrong answers.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the students' subconsciousness, which directly influences the concentration of hormones, is able to objectively estimate results of an exam better than their consciousness....

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Journal Article 2008; 29(4): 475-481 PubMed PMID: 18766148 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Animals, Female, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Male, Neuroprotective Agents:metabolism, Reaction Time:physiology, Rh-Hr Blood-Group System:metabolism, Testosterone:blood, Toxoplasma:metabolism, Toxoplasmosis:physiopathology,.   

BACKGROUND: The biological function of RhD protein, a major component of the Rh blood group system, is largely unknown. No phenotypic effect of RhD protein, except its role in hemolytic disease of newborns and protective role against Toxoplasma-induced impairment of reaction times in men, has been described.

METHODS: Here we searched for a protective effect of RhD positivity against Toxoplasma-induced prolongation of reaction times in a set of 110 male and 226 female students of the Faculty of Science tested for latent toxoplasmosis and concentration of testosterone in saliva.

RESULTS: RhD-positive subjects have been confirmed to be less sensitive to the influence of latent toxoplasmosis on reaction times than Rh-negative subjects. While a protective role of RhD positivity has been demonstrated previously in four populations of men, the present study has shown a similar effect in 226 female students. Our results have also shown that the concentration of testosterone in saliva strongly influences (reduces) reaction times (especially in men) and therefore, this factor should be controlled in future reaction times studies.

CONCLUSIONS: The observed effects of RhD phenotype could provide not only a clue to the long-standing evolutionary enigma of the origin of RhD polymorphism in humans (the effect of balancing selection), differences in the RhD+ allele frequencies in geographically distinct populations (resulting from geographic variation in the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii), but might also be the missing piece in the puzzle of the physiological function of the RhD molecule....

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Journal Article 2008; 29(2): 201-204 PubMed PMID: 18404141 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging:blood, Alopecia:blood, Child, Child, Preschool, Cohort Studies, Czech Republic, Dihydrotestosterone:blood, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Longevity:physiology, Male, Middle Aged, Prostatic Diseases:blood.   

OBJECTIVE: The dihydrotestosterone:testosterone ratio seems to be an important factor in the expression of androgenic activity, especially in the prostate and pilosebaceous unit. Whereas the decline of testosterone (T) in aging men is well known, controversial data can be found in literature concerning the age dependence of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels. Data from the database of the Institute of Endocrinology served as the basis for the definition of the life span curve for the ratio dihydrotestosterone : testosterone.

METHODS: The results of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone obtained immunoassays from 10 251 male patients were used in the construction of the curve.

RESULTS: The data show that after a peak of DHT:T in infancy and a subsequent decrease in puberty, the ratio of both androgens remains practically without change from approx. 20 years of age till old age.

CONCLUSION: High DHT:T ratio in infancy decreases at puberty and throughout the entire reproductive period of life this ration remains practically constant....

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