Endocrinology: Gonadotrophins and prolactin rise after bilateral oophorectomy for benign conditions

The aim of this study was to analyse the changes in folliclestimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and prolactinconcentrations in the 3 months following oophorectomy in pre-menopausalwomen operated on for benign gynaecological conditions. Includedin this analysis were 21 women (mean age 47 years, range 46–52)who underwent bilateral oophorectomy plus hysterectomy for fibroidsor ovarian cysts. Plasma concentrations of FSH, LH and prolactinwere measured before and on days 2, 4, 6, 14 and 30 after surgery;in 10 cases measurements were made on day 60, and in five caseson day 90 after surgery. Hormone concentrations were measuredin duplicate daily samples, and immunoenzymatic assay kits wereused for all the immunoassays. The FSH and LH concentrationsincreased constantly after surgery. Mean prolactin concentrationsalso increased from 12.1 ng/ml before surgery to 31.5 ng/mlon day 14 after bilateral oophorectomy, but decreased thereafterto 18.2 ng/ml on day 30, 10.9 ng/ml on day 60 and 6 ng/ml onday 90. In conclusion, transient (2–3 weeks) increasedprolactin concentrations are observed after surgical castration.     

Influence of complement on sperm motility

Isolated sperm from normo-, oligo- and astheno-spermic men were incubated for 20 h in medium supplemented with 8% heat-inactivated or untreated human serum, and in medium with heated or untreated serum deficient in complement factor C3. Before and after incubation, sperm motility was assessed by means of a computer-assisted semen analyser. The results did not show significant differences between the motility of sperm incubated in heated or untreated serum. It is concluded that heating of homologous serum is not necessary for preserving sperm motility and in some cases may even be disadvantageous.     

主动吸入药物烟对大鼠一氧化氮的影响

目的　探讨主动吸入药物烟对大鼠NO的影响。方法　制备大鼠主动吸烟模型 ,采用硝酸还原酶法测定各组大鼠血清、肺、心肌及脑组织的NO含量。结果　非药物烟组大鼠血清、肺、心肌及脑组织中NO含量明显低于非给烟对照组 ,药物烟高、中剂量组NO含量明显高于非药物烟组 ,接近非给烟对照组。结论　吸烟对大鼠血液、肺、心肌及脑组织有不同程度的损伤作用 ,使NO含量降低 ;药物烟具有一定的保护和防止NO含量降低的作用。     

服用左炔诺孕酮滴丸和妈富隆1年对血压、血糖和血脂的影响

目的：观察第二、三代口服避孕药(COC)对育龄妇女体重指数、血压、血糖和血脂的影响。方法：将自愿服用COC避孕1年的妇女105例随机分为两组，其中54例给予第二代COC(EE／LNG组)，51例给予第三代COC(EE／DG组)。并对研究前后所有病例的体重指数(BMI)、血压、血糖和血脂代谢指标进行比较分析。结果：EE／LNG组：BMI、收缩压、舒张压、甘油三酯(TG)、总胆固醇(TC)、低密度脂蛋白(LDL)和载脂蛋白B(ApoB)水平均升高，高密度脂蛋白(HDL)水平下降，血糖、载脂蛋白AI(ApoAI)水平无明显改变。EE／DG组收缩压、TG、HDL水平升高，BMI、舒张压、血糖、TC、LDL、ApoAI和ApoB均未发生显著变化。以上所有测量指标均未超出正常范围。结论：使用1年第二、三代COC对妇女BMI、血压和血脂代谢都有微弱的影响，对空腹血糖无明显影响。第三代COC对妇女BMI、收缩压、舒张压、TG、TC、LDL、HDL水平和ApoB的不利影响小于第二代，更加安全可靠。     

Respiratory tract infections due to different rhinovirus serotypes and the influence of maternal antibodies on the clinical expression of the disease in infants.

Rhinoviruses were isolated from nasopharyngeal secretions of 49 children hospitalized because of severe respiratory tract infection. The isolates were typed using 90 type-specific antisera. No obvious relation between certain serotypes and the severity of illness was found. Serum samples were drawn from all children simultaneously with the nasopharyngeal secretions and screened for the presence of type-specific neutralizing antibodies. Children aged 1 week to 6 months had higher neutralizing antibody titers and revealed a lower degree of morbidity than older children. The decline of neutralizing serum antibodies with increasing age was correlated with a higher incidence of severe disease in those aged 7-12 months. Nevertheless, also in this age group children with mild clinical courses of disease were observed despite a low concentration or an absence of neutralizing serum antibodies. This indicates that not only neutralizing serum antibodies, but other factors also influence the clinical expression of RHV-induced disease.     

Prolactin responses to haloperidol in drug-free and treated schizophrenic patients

Summary The prolactin response to 5 mg haloperidol i.m. was studied in 12 schizophrenic patients in a drug-free state and after a month treatment with haloperidol, as a possible index of dopamine receptor sensitivity and occupancy. Blood samples were taken at times 0, 60, 90 and 120 minutes. The increase in PRL observed in the drug-free state disappeared after drug treatment. The PRL plasma levels after treatment with 60 mg haloperidol per os were higher than the maximal PRL responses after 5 mg i.m. The increases in baseline PRL caused by the treatment correlated positively to the reduction in the BPRS score. The test was also performed in a group of 11 patients chronically treated with haloperidol during a daily dose of 60 mg, and 15 days after reduction of the dose to 30 mg. PRL increases after 5 mg haloperidol i.m. were observed only after reduction of the dose. It is suggested that the prolactin response to haloperidol is an index of the occupancy of receptors that are involved in the PRL releasing mechanisms, and could be used to verify their blockade by the neuroleptics, especially in patients that do not respond positively to drug treatment.     

缺锌对大鼠力竭性游泳前后睾酮和锌水平变化的影响

本实验动态观察了缺锌和缺锌后补锌对大鼠力竭性游泳前后辜丸和血清睾酮、锌水平以及游泳能力的影响。结果显示：缺锌造成大鼠游泳能力大大降低，补锌后明显增加。不论安静时还是力竭性游泳后１２小时内，缺锌大鼠的血清和辜丸锌含量均显著低于对照和补锌大鼠。与对照和补锌大鼠相比，缺锌大鼠的血清和睾丸酮含量，安静时均较低，力竭性游泳后也呈现不同程度的降低。缺锌还造成大鼠辜丸重量的明显下降。结果表明，锌营养不良将损害运动能力。     

奶茶对大鼠体重和血清胆固醇含量的影响

目的 :探讨奶茶对大鼠体重和血清胆固醇含量的影响。方法 :将大鼠随机分为对照、脂对照、奶、茶和奶茶五组 ;高脂饲养的同时分别用水、奶、茶和奶茶进行灌胃 ,定期测定大鼠的血清胆固醇 (TC)。结果 :实验期间奶茶组大鼠体重的增长量高于其他三个高脂饲料组 ,且明显高于对照组 (P <0 .0 5 ) ;高脂饲料组大鼠的血清胆固醇含量明显增加 ,但增长量在高脂饲料组间差异无显著性 (P >0 .0 5 )。结论 :本实验浓度的奶茶对高脂饲料诱导的大鼠血清胆固醇升高未见有降低作用     

Elevated serum levels of the apoptosis related molecules TNF-α, Fas/Apo-1 and Bcl-2 in oral lichen planus

BACKGROUND: The serum circulatory levels of apoptosis related molecules measured in patients with oral lichen planus (OLP) and healthy individuals in order to investigate possible alterations associated with the clinical forms of OLP. METHODS: Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, soluble Fas (sFas) and Bcl-2 studied by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in whole blood samples in 13 OLP reticular, 13 OLP atrophic-erosive form patients and 26 healthy subjects. RESULTS: Significantly elevated levels of TNF-alpha and sFas detected in OLP patients as compared with controls. Serum concentrations of Bcl-2 although increased in 17/26 patients, they were not statistically significant. Reticular OLP exhibited slightly elevated TNF-alpha and significantly elevated Bcl-2 serum levels, compared with erosive OLP. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that a putative dysfunction in the Fas/FasL mediated apoptosis might be involved in the OLP pathogenesis. A downregulation of Bcl-2 serum levels in the atrophic-erosive OLP may be associated with promotion of the disease activity.