Depression of plasma testosterone levels in men with norethindrone

This preliminary study demonstrates the ability of norethindrone (NET) to depress plasma levels of testosterone (T) in men. A single oral dose of 25 mg of NET had no effect on the T levels despite peak plasma levels of NET of about 80 ng/ml. A daily dose of 25 mg of NET given orally for three weeks resulted in plasma levels of NET of 10–20 ng/ml when measured about 12 hours after the intake of the tablet. After four to five days of this treatment the plasma levels of T had decreased to 1–2 ng/ml, but were not further depressed below this level. After discontinuing the NET treatment, normal plasma levels of T were reached within four to five days. The daily treatment with 25 mg of NET for three weeks followed by 25 mg once a week decreased the total sperm count and increased the percentage of abnormal spermatozoa. The treatment had no effect on libido or potency.     

Reported coital activity of men and levels of plasma testosterone

The frequency of reported sexual contacts and levels of plasma testosterone were determined in 67 normospermic men, 55 men with a varicocele, 91 men with a noneunuchoid variant of Klinefelter's syndrome, and 41 men with chromatin-positive eunuchoidism. All subjects were evaluated as part of a sterility work-up. Although average values of circulating testosterone were significantly higher in the control group than in the three groups with a pathological somatosexual condition, differences in reported coital activity were not significant. Under favorable conditions of social environment, an adequate coital activity can take place even in men with eunuchoid testosterone values around 3 ng/ml of plasma. The decisive factor seems to be the adequate responsivity of peripheral tissues to the effect of testosterone.     

高脂饲料诱导肥胖及肥胖抵抗大鼠的瘦素、胰岛素水平

目的:探讨高脂饲料肥胖诱导大鼠的瘦素、胰岛素水平与肥胖抵抗的关系。方法:将50只雄性Wistar大鼠随机分为肥胖诱导组和正常对照组,分别喂以高脂饲料和基础饲料8周,观察体脂含量的变化,第8周末根据体重增加量筛选出膳食诱导肥胖(DIO)组大鼠和膳食诱导肥胖抵抗(DIO-R)组大鼠,采用酶法测定血脂4项,酶联免疫法测定瘦素和胰岛素水平并进行比较。结果:高脂饲料喂养导致肥胖组和肥胖抵抗组大鼠的血清总胆固醇、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇、瘦素和胰岛素水平均显著高于正常对照组,也使肥胖组大鼠体重显著高于肥胖抵抗组与正常对照组大鼠,肥胖抵抗组大鼠体重和正常对照组比较没有差异。结论:高脂饲料诱导肥胖抵抗大鼠不易产生瘦素抵抗和胰岛素抵抗,但伴有一定程度的血脂代谢紊乱。     

A high-legume low-glycemic index diet reduces fasting plasma leptin in middle-aged insulin-resistant and -sensitive men

Fasting leptin and ghrelin levels were measured in 36 insulin-sensitive (IS) and 28 insulin-resistant (IR) men who consumed a legume-enriched low-glycemic index (LG) diet or healthy American (HA) diet in a randomly ordered cross-over feeding study consisting of two 4-week periods. Weight remained stable over the entire study. Fasting plasma leptin was significantly reduced from pre-study levels by both the LG (18.8%, P < 0.001) and HA (16.1%, P < 0.001) diets, whereas fasting ghrelin did not change. By subgroup analysis according to prestudy insulin status, leptin was reduced in IR subjects after both the LG (17.1%, P < 0.01) and the HA (33.3%, P < 0.001) diets, whereas IS subjects responded only after the LG diet (23.1%, P < 0.01). Thus, a legume-rich LG index diet may be a beneficial strategy for reducing circulating leptin concentrations, even under conditions of weight maintenance.     

Plasma testosterone levels in homosexual men

Plasma testosterone levels were measured in 28 homosexual men and correlated with psychological variables. The overall mean testosterone level for the homosexuals was somewhat lower than for a group of heterosexual controls, but the range of values for the two groups showed considerable overlap. Among the homosexuals, the 13 with some heterosexual experience had higher testosterone levels than the 15 with none. Testosterone level was not related to relative masculinity or femininity or to any other psychological variable measured.     

二甲双胍治疗肥胖型和非肥胖型多囊卵巢综合征的疗效观察

目的 探讨二甲双胍改善肥胖型和非肥胖型多囊卵巢综合征（PCOS）患者内分泌和生殖功能的效果.方法 84例PCOS患者给予二甲双胍1 500 mg/d,治疗3个月经周期;肥胖组48例,非肥胖组36例.比较治疗前后临床变化和内分泌变化.记录排卵率和妊娠率,与用克罗米芬促排卵治疗的35例PCOS患者（18例肥胖患者和17例非肥胖患者）比较.结果 二甲双胍治疗3个月经周期肥胖组患者体质指数（BMI）、腰臀比（WHR）、总睾酮、空腹胰岛素和黄体生成素/卵泡刺激素均较治疗前下降,差异均有统计学意义（P＜0.05,P＜0.01）;而非肥胖组治疗前后比较,各项指标虽有改变,但差异均无统计学意义（P＞0.05）.3个月经周期后,不论是肥胖组还是非肥胖组患者,用二甲双胍治疗后累积排卵率高于用克罗米芬,但差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）.肥胖组用二甲双胍和克罗米芬治疗后累积妊娠率分别是54.17％ （26/48）和27.78％（5/18）;非肥胖组用二甲双胍和克罗米芬治疗后累积妊娠率分别是58.33％（21/36）和29.41％（5/17）,二甲双胍累积妊娠率高于克罗米芬,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）.结论 二甲双胍能改善PCOS患者内分泌状态,促进排卵,提高妊娠率.     

肥胖儿童血浆瘦素水平与早期喂养方式关系的研究

【目的】观察学龄前肥胖儿童血浆瘦素水平与婴儿早期喂养方式之间的关系。【方法】用酶联免疫吸附试验(enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,ELISA)对40例3~6岁的单纯性肥胖儿童及按性别、年龄1∶1配对的40例正常儿童进行了血浆瘦素水平检测,并通过查询儿保门诊记录及询问母亲或主要扶养人确定婴儿6个月内喂养方式及断奶月龄。【结果】肥胖儿童血浆瘦素水平[(2 2.2 6±2.3 0)μg/L]显著高于正常儿童[(3.3 6±0.2 3)μg/L](P<0.001);肥胖组儿童在婴儿早期的母乳及混合喂养率(30.0%)明显低于正常组(80.0%)(P<0.001)。喂养方式与血浆瘦素的关系显示,母乳及混合喂养组血浆瘦素水平[(10.22±1.56)μg/L和(11.30±1.28)μg/L]均较人工喂养组[(15.19±1.15)μg/L]降低(P<0.05),母乳喂养持续时间与儿童体质指数(body mass index,BMI)及血浆瘦素水平之间均呈显著负相关。【结论】婴儿期母乳喂养可以降低儿童期血浆瘦素水平,有助于预防肥胖的发生。     

Changes of ghrelin and leptin in response to hypocaloric diet in obese patients

OBJECTIVE: Hypocaloric diet-induced weight loss produces a coordinated decrease in plasma leptin levels and an increase in plasma ghrelin levels. The aim of the present study was to determine whether subjects who lose significant weight experience changes in circulating ghrelin and leptin levels. METHODS: A population of 66 obese patients was analyzed. Leptin, active ghrelin blood levels, and other cardiovascular risk factors were measured before and after 3 mo of a hypocaloric diet. RESULTS: Sixty-six patients (17 male, 49 female) gave informed consent and were enrolled in the study. Forty-six patients did not lose 5% of initial weight (group I, weight loss 1.4 +/- 2.5 kg) and 20 patients lost weight (>5% of initial weight; group II, weight loss 7.1 +/- 2.6 kg). In group I, active ghrelin levels increased (7.40 +/- 8 versus 19.40 +/- 32 pg/mL, P < 0.05) and leptin levels decreased (102.6 +/- 86 versus 89.30 +/- 76 ng/mL, P < 0.05). In group II, leptin levels also decreased significantly (69.80 +/- 67 versus 53.50 +/- 59 ng/mL, P < 0.05). Active ghrelin in this group did not show differences (24.20 +/- 41 versus 10.30 +/- 12 pg/mL, NS). In the multivariate analysis with a dependent variable (change in active ghrelin levels, pg/ml) in group II adjusted by age and sex, only basal fat mass and basal intake of protein remained in the model. In the multivariate analysis with a dependent variable (change in leptin levels, pg/ml) in group II adjusted by age and sex, only basal fat mass and BMI remained in the model. CONCLUSION: Patients with weight loss secondary to a hypocaloric diet did not change active ghrelin levels and decreased leptin levels after treatment.     

Effect of long-term changes in diet and exercise on plasma leptin concentrations

BACKGROUND: Although it is known that plasma leptin concentrations correlate with the amount of adipose tissue in the body, little information is available on the long-term effects on leptin concentrations of changes in diet and exercise. OBJECTIVE: We wanted to examine whether changes in dietary energy sources and exercise-mediated energy expenditure, alone or in combination, affect plasma leptin concentrations. DESIGN: In a randomized, 2 x 2 factorial trial, 186 men with metabolic syndrome were divided into 4 groups: diet, exercise, a combination of diet and exercise, and control. Data on dietary intake, physical fitness, and demographics were collected and plasma leptin concentrations were measured before and after a 1-y intervention period. RESULTS: Plasma leptin concentrations, body mass index, and fat mass decreased in association with long-term reductions in food intake as well as increased physical activity. By adjusting for either body mass index or fat mass, we observed a highly significant reduction in plasma leptin concentration after both the diet and the exercise interventions. There was no interaction between the interventions, suggesting a direct and additive effect of changes in diet and physical activity on plasma leptin concentrations. CONCLUSION: Long-term changes in lifestyle consisting of decreased intake of dietary fat and increased physical activity reduced plasma leptin concentrations in humans beyond the reduction expected as a result of changes in fat mass.     

Plasma testosterone levels of sexually functional and dysfunctional men

Plasma testosterone levels in a group of 341 men with sexual dysfunction were compared to those in 199 men with normal sexual function. All subjects were participants in a 2-week intensive conjoint sex therapy program at the Masters & Johnson Institute. Testosterone determinations were made using radioimmunoassay methods after column chromatography; all blood samples were obtained on the second day of therapy between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m. after an overnight fast. Circulating levels of testosterone in men with normal sexual function (mean 635 ng/dl) were not significantly different from testosterone values in sexually dysfunctional men (mean 629 ng/dl). However, men with primary impotence (N = 13) had significantly higher testosterone levels than men with secondary impotence (N = 180), with mean levels of 710 and 574 ng/dl, respectively (p<0.001). The mean testosterone level for men with ejaculatory imcompetence was 660 ng/dl (N = 15), while for men with premature ejaculation the mean was 622 ng/dl (N = 91). Plasma testosterone concentrations were not related to therapy outcome but were correlated negatively with age of patients. This article was presented at the Eastern Association for Sex Therapy, Fifth Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, March 23–25, 1979.     

温州城区≥18岁居民代谢综合征流行特征分析

  目的  了解中老年男性部分雄激素缺乏症（PADAM）与血糖及血脂的关系,为PADAM的预防控制提供参考依据。  方法  于2011年1月 — 2015年10月在浙江省温州医科大学附属第一医院体检中心整群抽取7 153名≥20岁男性体检者,本研究抽取其中4 291名≥40岁男性体检者作为研究对象,按照测定的血清睾酮（T）水平并结合临床症状分为PADAM病例组和对照组,比较2组人群T水平以及血糖和血脂相关指标差异,分析PADAM与血糖及血脂相关指标的关系。  结果  4 291名≥40岁男性体检者中,病例组PADAM患者754例（17.57 %）,对照组非PADAM者3 537人（82.43 %）;病例组PADAM患者的血糖（GLU）、甘油三酯（TG）、非高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（non-HDL-C）、血浆致动脉硬化指数（AIP,× 100对数值）、动脉硬化指数（ASI）平均水平分别为5.70 mmol/L、2.02 mmol/L、3.87 mmol/L、2.29、3.57,均高于对照组非PADAM者的5.50 mmol/L、1.60 mmol/L、3.78 mmol/L、2.14、3.27 （均P < 0.05）,而T、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL-C）平均水平分别为9.67 nmol/L、2.84 mmol/L,均低于对照组非PADAM者的15.35 nmol/L、 2.96 mmol/L （均P < 0.01）;相关分析结果显示,T水平与GLU、TG、non-HDL-C、AIP（× 100对数值）和ASI均呈负相关（均P < 0.001）,与HDL-C呈正相关（r = 0.17,P = 0.002）;多因素logistic回归分析结果显示,年龄、GLU和AIP（× 100对数值）是PADAM患病的危险因素。  结论  PADAM与血糖及血脂具有相关性,T水平低下会导致GLU、TG、non-HDL-C、AIP（× 100对数值）和ASI水平升高而HDL-C水平降低。     

Effect of prolonged moderate and severe energy restriction and refeeding on plasma leptin concentrations in obese women.

BACKGROUND: Plasma leptin in humans is subject to both long- and short-term regulation; it correlates with indexes of body fat that can only change slowly. However, short-term fasting causes large and rapid decreases. OBJECTIVE: We tested the interactions between energy intake and fat loss on plasma leptin during prolonged moderate and severe energy restriction, with a view to understanding mechanisms of control. DESIGN: Postabsorptive leptin was measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay specific for the human peptide in 21 obese women aged 41 +/- 3 y (weight: 102 +/- 4 kg; 48 +/- 1% body fat) after 1 wk of a weight-maintaining diet and then weekly for 4 wk during a total fast (group 1); a 1.9-MJ/d all-protein, very-low-energy diet (VLED) (group 2); or a low-energy, balanced-deficit diet (BDD) providing 50% of maintenance energy (group 3). In groups 1 and 2, leptin was also measured after 1 wk of refeeding with a diet equivalent to the BDD. RESULTS: Mean leptin decreased markedly by up to 66% (P < 0.001) at week 1 of energy restriction and then gradually thereafter. The change in leptin per kilogram fat mass correlated with that in glucose concentrations [r = 0.538 (P = 0.012) at week 1 and r = 0.447 (P = 0.042) at week 4] but not with that in fat mass. During refeeding postfasting, leptin increased (P = 0.008), despite an ongoing loss of fat mass and correlated positively with changes in resting energy expenditure. At times with comparable cumulative energy restriction and fat loss between diets, the percentage change in leptin paralleled that in glucose. CONCLUSIONS: In obesity, changes in energy intake over days to weeks are a primary modulator of plasma leptin concentrations that are related to the change in glycemia and are able to override the regulatory influence of fat mass.     

Oral levo-norgestrel - testosterone effects on spermatogenesis, hormone levels, coagulation factors and lipoproteins in normal men

Four healthy men volunteered to be treated for eight to nine months with daily oral levo-norgestrel (250 micrograms) and oral testosterone (200-600 mg) as a possible contraceptive. This was followed by a recovery phase of 5-10 months. The oral steroid combination significantly decreased sperm count in 3 of 4 subjects, and significantly increased abnormal spermatozoa, serum LH was decreased during treatment but serum FSH remained constant, except for one volunteer. Serum testosterone was decreased except for 2 daily peaks associated with the oral testosterone. During the recovery period, sperm counts and morphology, serum testosterone and serum LH returned to normal, whereas serum FSH levels were increased. Platelet aggregability induced by ADP, increased in 3 volunteers during treatment as did fibrinolytic activity and fibrinolytic capacity (2 of 3 subjects). There was a reduction in the hepatic triglyceride lipase activity but no change was seen in serum triglycerides, serum cholesterol, serum LDL, serum HDL, peripheral lipoprotein lipase activity and the intravenous fat tolerance test. No other toxicological side effects were seen.     

Fat diet affects leptin receptor levels in the rat cerebellum

ObjectiveThe role of leptin receptors (Ob-Rs) within the hypothalamus in the control of energy expenditure has well been established. However, their role and regulation in other brain areas, including the cerebellum, is largely unexplored. In the present study we examined whether Ob-R levels in the rat cerebellum are influenced by a high-fat diet and if these changes are sexually divergent during adolescence.MethodsThe fat diet (45% energy from fat) was applied from weaning to puberty (postnatal days [P] 22–42), from weaning to adulthood (P22–90), and from puberty to adulthood (P42–90) in female and male Wistar rats. Ob-R levels were detected by western blotting and the data from pubertal and adult rats were analyzed by two-way analysis of variance for the effects of diet and sex.ResultsThe fat diet affected Ob-R long isoform levels in a sexually dimorphic manner. In the cerebellum of all fat-fed male groups, Ob-R levels were reduced compared with their chow-fed counterparts (P < 0.05). In contrast, in female rat Ob-R levels were reduced only in the adult P22–90 group.ConclusionOur data show for the first time that Ob-R levels in the rat cerebellum are subject to diet-induced alterations and that these changes are sexually dimorphic.     

The acute effects of psyllium on postprandial lipaemia and thermogenesis in overweight and obese men

Overweight and obesity is one of the risk factors for developing CVD. At present, very little is known about the acute effects of dietary fibre on lipids, glucose and insulin, resting energy expenditure and diet-induced thermogenesis in overweight and obese individuals. This study examined the postprandial metabolic effects of dietary fibre in overweight and obese men. Ten overweight and obese men consumed a mixed meal accompanied by either a high-fibre or low-fibre supplement on two separate visits, in a random order, 1 week apart. Two isoenergetic breakfast meals with similar composition were consumed by ten overweight/obese men. The meals contained either a low (3 g) or high (15 g) amount of fibre, low-fibre meal (LFM) and high-fibre meal (HFM) respectively. Analysis was carried out using paired t test and ANOVA. Serum TAG incremental area under the curve during 6 h of the postprandial period was significantly lower after the consumption of HFM compared with LFM. At the first hour of the postprandial period, plasma apo B48 concentration after consumption of HFM was significantly lower compared with LFM. The resting energy expenditure and diet-induced thermogenesis after both meals was similar during 6 h of the postprandial period. Collectively, these findings suggest that a single acute dose of dietary fibre in the form of psyllium supplement can decrease arterial exposure to TAG and modify chylomicron responses in the postprandial period.