Acromegaly is associated with a distinct oral and gut microbiota

Pituitary - Our aim was to investigate the changes in the composition of oral and gut microbiota in patients with newly diagnosed acromegaly and their relationship with IGF-1 levels. Oral and fecal...     

The effects of 12 months of growth hormone replacement therapy on cardiac autonomic tone in adults with growth hormone deficiency

OBJECTIVES: Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) in adults is associated with a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors. Some abnormalities of cardiac structure and function have been reported in adult patients with GHD, but there are few data related to cardiac autonomic tone. Non-invasive assessment of cardiac autonomic status can be achieved by heart rate variability (HRV), which can be measured by using time-domain or frequency-domain variables. To our knowledge, short-term (6 months) effects of GH replacement therapy (GHRT) on HRV in a limited number of patients have been evaluated prospectively in only two previous studies. The present study was therefore designed to investigate the effects of GHD and 12 months of GHRT on cardiac autonomic tone in a larger number of adult patients with severe GHD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: HRV measurement, by using time-domain variables, was performed in 22 patients with GHD (eight men, 14 women; mean age 45.4 +/- 2.4 years) and 22 healthy controls (nine men, 13 women; mean age 40.8 +/- 1.8 years) at baseline. The time-domain variables (sympathetically influenced parameters SDNN and SDANN and parasympathetically influenced parameters RMSSD and PNN50) were derived from 24-h electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings. In the patient group, cardiac autonomic tone was re-evaluated after 6 and 12 months of GHRT. RESULTS: Mean baseline values of SDNN and SDANN were significantly higher (higher values mean lower sympathetic activity) in GHD patients than in healthy controls (P < 0.05), but mean baseline values of RMSSD and PNN50 did not differ significantly in healthy controls and patients. After 6 and 12 months of GHRT, mean SDNN and SDANN were decreased significantly when compared with the baseline values before GHRT (P < 0.05). However, mean RMSSD and PNN50 did not differ significantly from baseline. When SDNN and SDANN measurements were evaluated individually for each patient, after 12 months of GHRT both of the sympathetically influenced parameters decreased in 90% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that sympathetic tone is decreased in adult patients with severe GHD. Additionally, an increment in sympathetic activity and normalization of sympathovagal balance have been demonstrated after 6 and 12 months of GHRT. This result suggests that, at least at the doses used in this study, GHRT improves sympathetic tone, without an obvious arrhythmogenic effect.     

Prostatic adenocarcinoma metastasis in the thyroid gland

Metastasis from prostate to thyroid gland is very uncommon. Here we report a 77-year-old man who was admitted to the hospital because of a nodular goiter. A fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the nodule showed metastatic prostatic adenocarcinoma. This is the second case of a metastatic prostate carcinoma to the thyroid gland.     

Endocrine disrupting chemicals: exposure,effects on human health,mechanism of action,models for testing and strategies for prevention

Reviews in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders - Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) are a global problem for environmental and human health. They are defined as “an exogenous chemical, or...     

Arg-Phe-amide-related peptides influence gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons

The hypothalamic Arg-Phe-amide-related peptides, gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone and orthologous mammalian peptides of Arg-Phe-amide, may be important regulators of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal reproductive axis. These peptides may modulate the effects of kisspeptins because they are presently recognized as the most potent activators of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis. However, their effects on gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons have not been investigated. In the current study, the GT1-7 cell line-expressing gonadotropin-releasing hormone was used as a model to explore the effects of Arg-Phe- amide-related peptides on kisspeptin activation. Intracellular calcium concentration was quantified using the calcium-sensitive dye, fura-2 acetoxymethyl ester. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone released into the medium was detected via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results showed that 100 nmol/L kisspeptin-10 significantly increased gonadotropin-releasing hormone levels (at 120 minutes of exposure) and intracellular calcium concentrations. Co-treatment of kisspeptin with 1 μmol/L gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone or 1 μmol/L Arg-Phe-amide-related peptide-1 significantly attenuated levels of kisspeptin-induced gonadotropin-releasing hormone but did not affect kisspeptin-induced elevations of intracellular calcium concentration. Overall, the results suggest that gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone and Arg-Phe-amide-related peptide-1 may have inhibitory effects on kisspeptin-activated gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons independent of the calcium signaling pathway.     

Investigation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis and changes in the size of adrenal glands in acute brucellosis

The aim of the study was to investigate the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis by ACTH stimulation test and the changes in adrenal size in acute brucellosis before and after therapy in a prospective study. Sixteen patients with acute brucellosis and 15 healthy subjects were included in the study during the last two years. Cortisol levels were assessed before, 30 and 60 minutes after ACTH (250 microg i.v.) injection and the size of the adrenals was measured in both groups. Mean basal cortisol levels in the patients before the therapy and after the therapy were 22.1 +/- 6.9 microg/dL and 11.3 +/- 6.0 microg/dL, respectively. The difference was statistically significant (p<0.001). There was also statistically significant difference for basal cortisol levels between the healthy subjects (12.2 +/- 4.6 microg/dL) and the patients before the therapy (p<0.001). Peak cortisol responses to ACTH were higher before the therapy in the patients with acute brucellosis (39.3 +/- 10.7 microg/dL) than in the healthy subjects (30.4 +/- 4.8 microg/dL, p = 0.014). However, there was no significant difference for peak cortisol levels in the patients before and after the therapy (32.7 +/- 8.0 microg/dL). Mean basal cortisol levels and peak cortisol responses to ACTH between the patients after the therapy and the healthy controls were similar. Both the maximum width of the adrenal glands and the width of the adrenal limbs were significantly greater before the therapy compared to healthy subjects and post-treatment period. We concluded that the HPA axis is activated and the adrenal glands are enlarged in acute brucellosis, which is reduced after appropriate therapy.     

Effects of PCBs 52 and 77 on Th1/Th2 balance in mouse thymocyte cell cultures

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are industrial chemicals that have been released into the environment, resulting in widespread and persistent contamination. PCBs exist as 209 different congeners depending on the chlorine substitution on the biphenyl rings, and the physical properties and toxic effects of different PCB congeners are structure-dependent. We have tested an ortho-substituted, noncoplanar congener, 2,2',5,5'-tetrachlorobiphenyl (PCB 52), and a non-ortho-substituted coplanar congener, 3,3',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl (PCB 77), for their effects on the T helper 1 (Th1) and T helper 2 (Th2) lymphocyte balance. The experiments were performed in 10 microg/ml concanavalin A (Con A)-stimulated and nonstimulated thymocytes for determination of cytokine production profiles. Interferon-gamma (produced by Th1 cells) and interleukin (IL)-10 (produced by Th2 cells) concentrations were measured in the supernatants at 12 and 24 hr after treatment with PCBs. PCBs 52 and 77 caused significant increases in interferon-gamma levels at 12 and 24 hr in both Con A-stimulated and nonstimulated media. IL-10 levels were significantly reduced at two interval periods by PCBs 52 and 77 in cultures with and without Con A. Our results show that the cytokine production profile was significantly shifted to Th1 by both ortho-substituted and coplanar PCB congeners in mouse thymocyte cultures.     

Prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents in Thessaloniki-Greece and Kayseri-Turkey

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents in the city of Thessaloniki, Greece and in the Kayseri area of Turkey and compare the results. For this purpose, data concerning the weight and height of 2458 Greek school children aged 6-17 years (1226 6-10 years, 1232 11-17 years) and 3703 Turks (1032 6-10 years, 2671 11-17 years) were collected. BMI was calculated. The prevalence of overweight Greek schoolchildren was 22.2% while that of Turks was 10.6%. The obesity prevalence was 4.1% and 1.6%, respectively (total overweight and obese children 26.3% and 12.2%, respectively). In the analyses, the estimations of the prevalence of overweight and obesity are based on the international BMI percentile curves and cut-off points in subjects aged 2-18 years recently established. A significant gender difference was found, males being more overweight and obese compared to females. Finally, the prevalences for both Greeks and Turks were higher in children when compared to adolescents. In conclusion, Greece (as represented by the Thessaloniki area) has one of the highest prevalences of overweight schoolchildren recorded in Europe while Turkey (as represented by Kayseri area) one of the lowest recorded among developed and developing countries. Differences in lifestyle and socioeconomic status in the two regions are most probably responsible for these results.     

Homocysteine-induced enhancement of spontaneous contractions of myometrium isolated from pregnant women

BACKGROUND: Although many associations have been demonstrated between hyperhomocysteinemia and pregnancy complications, such as spontaneous abortion, preterm labor, preeclampsia and low birthweight, it is still not clear whether hyperhomocysteinemia is the cause or the consequence of these pregnancy complications. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of homocysteine on the spontaneous contractility of isolated pregnant human myometrium. METHODS: Myometrium samples obtained from women undergoing elective caesarean section were suspended in a jacketed organ bath containing Krebs' solution at 37 degrees C (pH 7.4), continuously gassed with 95% O2 and 5% CO2. After manifestation of spontaneous contractions under 2 g of resting tension, homocysteine was applied to the organ bath, and amplitude and frequency of contractions were evaluated at 20-min intervals. Statistical analysis of amplitude and frequency of the contractions was performed using the Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance test. RESULTS: Application of 0.1 mm homocysteine had no significant effect on either frequency (4.63 +/- 0.42 vs. 4.01 +/- 0.53 for the control period; p > 0.05) or amplitude (3.20 +/- 0.07 g vs. 3.15 +/- 0.07 g; p > 0.05) of spontaneous contractions, while 1 and 2 mm homocysteine significantly increased the frequency (8.54 +/- 0.62 vs. 3.9 +/- 0.44, p < 0.02, and 12.32 +/- 0.72 vs. 3.96 +/- 0.51, p < 0.001, respectively) of spontaneous contractions but caused only a modest change in amplitude (2.92 +/- 0.04 g vs. 2.87 +/- 0.05 g, p > 0.05, and 3.02 +/- 0.06 g vs. 2.93 +/- 0.05 g, p > 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION: Results from this study indicate for the first time that homocysteine causes enhancement of spontaneous contractions of myometrium derived from pregnant women.