Syndrome X in women is associated with oestrogen deficiency

This study was undertaken to ascertain whether gynaecologicalhistory or a reduction in ovarian hormones are triggers of anginain menopausal women with a positive exercise test and normalcoronary arteries. The majority of patients with angina pectoris,a positive exercise test and normal coronary arteries are female,suggesting that the female gender may be important in the aetiology.We studied the gynaecological features of 107 women (age 53±9 years) with syndrome X, taken from a population of134 patients including 27 males. Cardiological investigationswere undertaken and detailed gynaecological history obtainedfrom all the female patients. Menopausal status was confirmedby plasma levels of oestradiol-17ß100 pmol. l^–1. In 95 of the 107 female patients, chest pain began either duringthe perimenopausal period (32) or after the menopause (63).Of the 63 menopausal patients, 43 had undergone hysterectomyat an average of 8 ± 6 years prior to the onset of chestpain. The incidence of hysterectomy in the study population(40%) was four times greater than that of an age-matched population.These findings confirm that the majority of patients with syndromeX are women in whom the chest pain began after the onset ofmenopause. Ovarian hormone deficiency may, therefore, play arole in the onset of syndrome X in female patients.     

Signals and molecular pathways involved in apoptosis, with special emphasis on human endometrium

Apoptosis is a selective process for deletion of cells in variousbiological systems. This event, similar to proliferation, istightly regulated, with both processes playing essential rolesin the homeostasis of renewable tissues. In human endometrium,proliferation and apoptosis occur at opposing poles of the menstrualcycle. The proliferative phase is marked by rapid growth ofthe endometrial epithelial lining, whereas progressive increasein apoptosis in this tissue is the hallmark of the secretoryand menstrual phases. The purpose of this review is to highlightsome of the signals and molecular events which are associatedwith and that may participate in apoptosis. This is followedby a review of the current literature regarding apoptosis inhuman endometrium.     

Mitotic counts in rat adenohypophysial thyrotrophs and somatotrophs: Effects of short-term thyroidectomy,thyroxine, and thyrotropin-releasing hormone

The question of whether thyroxine (T₄) and thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) affect mitoses in pituitary thyrotrophs (Tt) and somatotrophs (St) of hypothyroid rats was investigated. Fifteen day thyroidectomized (Tx) rats were used. Groups of Tx animals received T₄ or TRH or both. Except 6 and 24 h TRH groups, the animals were sacrificed 12 h after injections. Unoperated euthyroid rats served as controls. In Tx group adenohypophysial mitoses were significantly increased. T₄ diminished mitoses in Tx rats. Mitotic counts were decreased in 6 and 24 h Tx groups, but increased in 12 h TRH group. TRH plus T₄ in Tx animals had a synergistic effect on adenohypophysial mitoses. In unoperated controls few mitoses were observed in Tt and more mitoses in St. In Tx rats more mitoses were seen in Tt than in St. T₄ alone failed to reduce mitoses in Tt but increased them in St. We concluded that T₄ affects Tt and St replication. In normal rats mitoses occur mainly in St. In Tx rats mitotic activity increased in Tt. TRH plus T₄ have a synergistic motogenic effect on St. T₄ but not TRH affects St replication. It appears that the presence, of T₄ is necessary for St multiplication.     

Post graft development of short children treated with growth hormone before kidney graft

Sixteen prepubertal patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) were given daily recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) treatment (1.2 IU/kg per week) for 2.6±1.6 years until kidney transplant. Therapy was then discontinued and the patients followed for a further 3.5±1.4 years. During treatment, mean height increased from –3.0±0.9 standard deviation score (SDS) to –1.9±1.4 SDS (P<0.001) at the time of transplantation, corresponding to a mean height gain of +1.2±0.9 SDS. After discontinuation of rhGH therapy, prepubertal children continued a partial catch-up growth with a height gain of +0.5±0.8 SDS for the follow-up period. Conversely, negative changes of height were observed in pubertal transplanted children: –0.5±0.4 SDS in patients grafted at early stages of puberty (P2–P3) and –0.15±0.9 SDS in patients grafted at late stages of puberty (P4–P5). These data confirmed the benefit of rhGH therapy in CRF patients. Nevertheless, only early initiation of rhGH treatment led some of these patients to their target height at transplantation, thus preserving their potential growth. Reinitiation of rhGH therapy after transplantation should be considered in order to complete catch-up growth to target height in prepubertal children. Received: 23 July 1998 / Revised: 8 December 1998 / Accepted: 13 December 1998     

Historadioautographic localisation of oxytocin and vasopressin binding sites in the central nervous system of the merione (Meriones shawi)

The distribution of vasopressin and oxytocin binding sites in the central nervous system of the merione (Meriones shawi), a rodent adapted to desert life, was studied by means of conventional film radioautography at macroscopic scale and historadioautography at cellular level using radioiodinated ligands highly selective for either oxytocin or type V1 a vasopressin receptors. Both types of binding sites exhibited the same selectivity for endogenous peptides as in the rat. Distribution of oxytocin binding sites was similar in some structures (limbic system, spinal cord) to that described in the rat and in other rodents. Vasopressin binding sites were much more widely distributed in the merione than in the rat brain. In addition to locations common to most rodents (lateral septum and suprachiasmatic nucleus), in merione vasopressin binding sites occurred in several areas known to express oxytocin binding sites in the rat (olfactory system, hypothalamus). Colocalisation of vasopressin and oxytocin binding sites, which occurred in the CA1 and CA2 fields of Ammon's horns of the hippocampus, the caudate-putamen and the fundus striati of the merione, has so far not been reported in any other rodent.     

联合内分泌治疗对前列腺和睾丸的影响

目的 探讨抑那通和缓退瘤联合治疗对正常前列腺,增生的前列腺（ＢＰＨ）和前列腺癌以及睾丸的作用。方法 对１６例接受联合内分泌治疗至少３个月且有治疗前后病理资料的前列腺癌患者的标本进行了系统的病理学检查。对内分泌治疗后的睾丸标本与同龄未接受治疗的进行对照研究。结果 １４例内分泌治疗后的前列腺标本２例未见残存癌灶,９例对治疗有明显的反应;３例对治疗反应差,治疗并未降低前列腺癌的病理分期。３例内分泌治疗后     

Z-350, a new chimera compound possessing α1-adrenoceptor antagonistic and steroid 5α-reductase inhibitory actions

The effects of Z-350, (S)-4-[3-(4-{1-(4-methylphenyl)-3-[4-(2-methoxyphenyl)piperazine-1-yl]propoxy} benzoyl)indole-1-yl]butyric acid hydrochloride, a newly synthesized compound possessing α₁-adrenoceptor antagonistic and steroid 5α-reductase inhibitory actions, were studied in vitro. In functional experiments, Z-350 shifted the concentration/response curve for the phenylephrine-induced contraction of rabbit prostate, urethra and aorta to the right with pA₂ values of 8.04, 7.57 and 7.13, respectively. The binding affinity of Z-350 for α₁-adrenoceptors in rabbit prostate, urethra and aorta were estimated by the displacement of [³H]prazosin. The pK _i values for this action of Z-350 were 7.53, 7.95 and 7.62 for the prostate, urethra and aorta, respectively. α₁-Adrenoceptor subtype selectivities were studied in the submaxillary gland (α_1A) and liver (α_1B) of rat. Z-350 inhibited the specific binding of [³H]prazosin to α_1A and α_1B-adrenoceptors with pK _i values of 7.82 and 7.29, respectively. Z-350 inhibited rat prostatic steroid 5α-reductase non-competitively with a pIC₅₀ of 8.42. These results indicate that Z-350 is a α₁-adrenoceptor antagonist and is a steroid 5α-reductase inhibitor. It is expected that Z-350 will be a candidate drug for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Received: 26 January 1999 / Accepted: 2 March 1999     

Occupational exposure to hexachlorocyclohexane

Summary In a lindane (-hexachlorocyclohexane)-producing factory 54 male workers (mean age 40 years, mean duration of exposure 8 years) were studied with regard to their blood levels of testosterone, LH, and FSH. Twenty clerks of nearly the same age were examined for control purposes in the same way. Serum-LH concentrations of the exposed workers were significantly higher than in controls. Geometric mean values were 8.8 mIU/ml and 5.7 mIU/ml respectively. On the other hand, FSH levels were insignificantly higher. Concerning testosterone concentrations in serum, these were found to be slightly lower in the group of workers than in control persons but this difference could not be proved to be statistically significant.These results indicate certain perturbations in sex hormone regulation probably as a consequence of HCH-exposure. To judge the pathological significance of these alterations further investigation will be necessary.     

Family studies of the steroid 21-hydroxylase and coplement C4 genes define 11 haplotypes in classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia in The Netherlands

Two steroid 21-hydroxylase genes are normally present within the human major histocompatibility complex near the genes encoding the fourth component of complement (C4A and C4B). Steroid 21-hydroxylase is encoded by the CYP21 gene, while the highly homologous CYP21P gene is a pseudogene. We studied steroid 21-hydroxylase and complement C4 haplotypes in 33 Dutch patients (29 families) suffering form classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) and in their 80 family members, and also in 55 unrelated healthy controls, using 21-hydroxylase and complement C4 cDNA probes. Eleven different haplotypes, defined in terms of gene deletions, gene duplications, conversions of CYP21 to CYP21P, and long and short C4 genes, were found. In 23% of the patients' haplotypes, the CYP21 gene was deleted; in 12%, it was converted into a CYP21P pseudogene. In the remaining 65%, the defect was apparently caused by a mutation not detectable by this method. The most common haplotype (with one CYP21 and one CYP21P gene) was significantly more often observed in patients with simple virilizing CAH than in those with salt-losing CAH. Comparison of the 21-hydroxylase haplotypes found in CAH patients from several countries shows evidence for considerable genetic variation between the groups studied.     

Hormone levels of follicular fluids with and without oocytes in patients who received gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues and gonadotropins in an in vitro fertilization program

Background Are follicles where no oocytes are retrieved empty follicles?Methods The levels of estradiol (E₂), progesterone (P), testosterone (T), cortisol (F), and prolactin (PRL) of follicular fluids (FF) aspirated individually from 34 randomly selected IVF patients in whom no oocytes were recovered were compared with the respective hormone levels of FF obtained from the same patients when oocytes were retrieved. Two FF without oocytes of a 35th patient in whom no oocytes were retrieved were analyzed.Results Hormones did not differ significantly in the paired samples, while in the two FF of the 35th woman they were in agreement with cystic follicles.Conclusions It is necessary to differentiate aspirated follicles where no oocytes are retrieved from the empty follicle syndrome, which was not observed in the IVF series studied and should be rare in IVF patients.