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Effects of putative male pheromones on female ratings of male attractiveness: influence of oral contraceptives and the menstrual cycle.

Thorne F, Neave N, Scholey A, Moss M, Fink B.
Journal Article 2002; 23(4): 291-297 PubMed PMID: 12195229 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Adult, Axilla, Contraceptives, Oral:administration & dosage, Face, Female, Humans, Male, Menstrual Cycle:physiology, Sex Attractants, Sex Characteristics, Sexuality:drug effects,.   

: Previous research has revealed that natural and synthetic pheromones can enhance ratings of opposite sex attractiveness. The present study investigated the effects of exposure to male axillary secretions on female ratings of the sexual attractiveness of male stimuli. Thirty-two female undergraduates, half of whom were contraceptive pill users, rated male vignette characters and photographs of male faces on aspects of attractiveness. On two separate study days, corresponding to different phases of their menstrual cycle, stimuli were presented while exposed to male axillary pheromones and under a control condition (no pheromone). The order of testing was balanced with respect to pheromone/control condition and menstrual cycle phase. Pheromone exposure resulted in significantly higher attractiveness ratings of vignette characters and faces. Use of the contraceptive pill or menstrual cycle phase had equivocal effects on some vignette items and neither had any influence on female ratings of male facial attractiveness. The results of this study suggest that exposure to natural male axillary pheromones can significantly enhance female perceptions of various aspects of male attractiveness....

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Endocrine modulation and the fragile balance of homeostasis--an overview.

Vollmer G, Starcke S, Wober J, Zierau O.
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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Light and life--facts and research perspectives at the Cologne Light Symposium 2002.

Erren T, Piekarski C.
Editorial 2002; 23(Suppl 2): 4-6 PubMed PMID: 12163840 Citation  Keywords:  Congresses as Topic, Humans, Neuroendocrinology:organization & administration, Societies, Medical,.   

: The international meeting Light, Endocrine Systems and Cancer--Facts and Research Perspectives was convened because recent research suggests that ubiquitous light may have more serious cancer consequences than expected. Beyond the established causal link between (over) exposure to sunlight and skin cancer, many scientists consider a causal relationship between light, endocrine systems and internal cancers as biologically plausible. To identify options to turn biological plausibility of mechanisms into true understanding and to assess the possible public health relevance we chose to bring together leading specialists from clinical, experimental laboratory and epidemiological studies of these issues to stimulate a critical, multi-disciplinary discussion of published and new results. Presentations at the symposium covered the physics of light and evolutionary aspects and provided intriguing information about chronobiology, physiology and patho-physiology of endocrine systems and carcinogenesis. Experimental and epidemiological findings on light and skin cancer, and of very recent investigations of relationships between light and internal cancers such as breast cancer were presented. The meeting concluded with a lively discussion of future research options. The symposium's essence and constructive atmosphere are captured in these proceedings [Neuroendocrinol Lett 2002 Jul;23 Suppl 2:1-104] which contain: (i) original presentation papers [Vladimir Anisimov, David Blask, Roland Böni, George Brainard, Thomas Erren, Alexander Lerchl, Sidney Perkowitz, Chris Portier, Russel Reiter, Richard Stevens, Günter Vollmer]; (ii) abstracts of oral and poster presentations; (iii) four commentaries [Charles Poole, Chris Portier, Till Roenneberg and Rob Lucas, Vladimir Anisimov and Johnni Hansen] on the presentations at the meeting and possible implications for research and public health. In our view, the biological plausibility of mechanistic links between light and hormones and cancer can serve as a unique basis for syn-disciplinary research and we expect that investigations in this area will become a higher priority research focus....

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A new neuroimmunotherapeutic strategy of subcutaneous low-dose interleukin-2 plus the long-acting opioid antagonist naltrexone in metastatic cancer patients progressing on interleukin-2 alone.

Lissoni P, Malugani F, Bordin V, Conti A, Maestroni G, Tancini G.
Clinical Trial 2002; 23(3): 255-258 PubMed PMID: 12080288 Citation  Keywords:  Aged, Antineoplastic Agents:administration & dosage, Carcinoma, Renal Cell:drug therapy, Drug Therapy, Combination, Female, Humans, Injections, Subcutaneous, Interleukin-2:administration & dosage, Kidney Neoplasms:drug therapy, Lymphocyte Count, Male, Mid.   

OBJECTIVES: Recent advances in knowledge of Psychoneuroimmunology have shown that several neuroactive substances, including neurohormones and neuropeptides, may exert immunomodulatory effects. However, despite the great variety of potential neuroimmune interactions, at present we may recognize two major neuroendocrine systems exerting a physiological neuroimmunomodulatory function, consisting of the pineal gland and the brain opioid system, provided by immunostimulatory and immunosuppressive effects, respectively. Recent in human studies have demonstrated the possibility to amplify the biological activity of IL-2, the major anticancer cytokine, by pineal indoles.

MATERIALS & METHODS: The present study was carried out to draw some preliminary in human results on the possible immunomodulatory effects of the inhibition of the brain opioid activity by a long-acting opioid antagonist, naltrexone (NTX). The study was performed in 10 metastatic renal cell cancer patients, who had progressed on a previous immunotherapeutic cycle with IL-2 alone. Patients were treated with the same doses of IL-2 (6 million lU/day subcutaneously for 6 days/week for 4 weeks) plus an oral administration of NTX at a dose of 100 mg every 2 days.

RESULTS: The clinical response consisted of a partial response in 1 and a stable disease in 5 patients, whereas the other 4 patients progressed. Therefore, the percent of non-progressive disease was 6/10 (60%). Moreover, mean lymphocyte increase achieved during IL-2 plus NTX was significantly higher (P<0.05) than that obtained during the previous treatment with IL-2 alone.

CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that a blockade of the brain opioid system, which plays a physiological immunosuppressive role, may improve the anticancer effects of IL-2 in humans....

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Circadian rhythm of melatonin in postmenopausal asthmatic women with hormone replacement therapy.

Kos-Kudla B, Ostrowska Z, Marek B, Kajdaniuk D, Ciesielska-Kopacz N, Kudla M, Mazur B, Glogowska-Szelag J, Nasiek M.
Journal Article 2002; 23(3): 243-248 PubMed PMID: 12080286 Citation  Keywords:  Aged, Asthma:drug therapy, Circadian Rhythm, Estrogen Replacement Therapy, Female, Glucocorticoids:therapeutic use, Humans, Melatonin:metabolism, Middle Aged, Postmenopause:physiology,.   

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to check if in postmenopausal women such a disease as asthma and use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) influence daily melatonin (MEL) secretion.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Studies were performed in 55 asthmatics (treated and not treated with glucocorticosteroids) and 20 healthy postmenopausal women (aged 48-60) before HRT and after 6 months of transdermal 17beta-estradiol and medroxyprogesterone acetate treatment (cyclical method). During the circadian study blood samples for the measurement of MEL were collected every 3 hours during the day. MEL concentrations were assessed with the use of RIA methods. Statistical analysis of the circadian rhythm was performed with the use of cosinor test according to Halberg et al.

RESULTS: Existence of daily rhythm of MEL secretion was shown in all studied groups, before as well as after HRT. A significant decrease of mesor and amplitude's rhythm was observed in the group of women with asthma treated with glucocorticosteroids (GC) before and after HRT use in relation to women not treated with GC and the control group. Secretion of MEL in these patients was lower at nocturnal hours. A significant decrease of mean daily MEL secretion in relation to values before HRT use was shown in all groups.

CONCLUSIONS: Asthmatic postmenopausal women treated with GC show lowered circadian secretion of melatonin as a consequence of lowering its secretion at nocturnal hours. Hormonal replacement therapy causes a decrease of daily melatonin secretion in healthy as well as asthmatic women, not disturbing circadian rhythm of this hormone's secretion....

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Hypoxia alters testis development in neonatal rats.

Liu J, Du J.
Journal Article 2002; 23(3): 231-237 PubMed PMID: 12080284 Citation  Keywords:  Altitude, Animals, Animals, Newborn, Hypoxia:pathology, Male, Mitochondria:physiology, Organ Size, Rats, Rats, Wistar, Testis:chemistry, Testosterone:analysis,.   

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of continued hypoxia on postnatal development of the rat testis.

DESIGN: Wistar rats were exposed to simulated hypoxia from birth to postnatal day (PND) 45. Testosterone (T) in the plasma and the testis was measured in rats at PND 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 45 respectively. Testis histology and cellular ultrastructure were studied.

RESULTS: a) Hypoxia induced a significant arrest of testes weight gain after PND 28; b) T release was significantly attenuated after PND 21; c) Alterations in histology and cellular ultrastructure were found in the testis, showing the swelling of testis interstitium and the enlargement of mitochondria in Leydig cells.

CONCLUSION: Postnatal hypoxia stress alters testis development both in terms of function and structure, especially at the critical age of gonadal development....

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