Serum androgen levels in hyperthyroid women

PURPOSE: We retrospectively evaluated the results of combined phacoemulsification and trabeculectomy through scleral tunnel incision in comparison with those of goniotrephination alone. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 27 eyes of 20 patients (78.3 +/- 7.45 years) underwent a combined trabeculectomy and phacoemulsification with IOL-implantation (PT-group). The trabeculectomy was performed by excision of 2 mm middle part of the lower tunnel lip. In comparison with the TP-group 29 eyes of 28 patients (69.3 +/- 8.1 years) underwent a goniotrephination (Fronimopoulos), (G-group). The median of follow up was 8 weeks. RESULTS: In both groups a significant reduction of the IOP was achieved; in the PT-group the IOP was reduced from 31.0 +/- 5.42 to 15.0 +/- 4.5 mm Hg, in the G-group from 31.4 +/- 6.3 to 11.6 +/- 4.12 mmHg. In the PT-group the visual acuity increased significantly from 0.25 +/- 0.14 to 0.37 +/- 0.27 and decreased significantly from 0.46 +/- 0.28 to 0.32 +/- 0.25 in the G-group. 3 patients (= 11%) needed topical medication in the PT-group and 6 (= 24%) in the G-group. Four patients (= 15%) of the PT-group underwent a secondary surgery and 7 (= 24%) of the G-group. CONCLUSIONS: The combined phacoemulsification and trabeculectomy is a successful method of IOP control and visual rehabilitation. Due to the decrease of visual acuity and a higher frequency of secondary surgery after goniotrephination alone the combined procedure should be preferred even in presence of a moderately visual acuity reducing cataract.     

Effect of aging on detrusor function in males

Some of the most dramatic advances in the treatment of cancer have used the immune system in combination with conventional or transplantation chemotherapy. Adoptive immunotherapy has been used for relapses after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, and it has been particularly effective for chronic myeloid leukemia. Adoptive immunotherapy also has been used for Epstein-Barr virus-related lymphomas developing after allogeneic marrow transplantations. Cellular therapy, including the infusion of tumor-reactive immune cells, has been used to mediate response of established solid tumors. This has been used for therapeutic benefit for renal cell carcinoma, melanoma, lung cancer, and breast cancer. Current research is focusing on reducing the toxicity of these approaches as well as further defining the appropriate target tissue.     

Conservation in elderly males: An emprirical investigation.

Explored the hypothesis that there is a decline in the ability to engage in operational thought in the elderly. Two samples of 25 and 17 elderly males were tested for their ability to conserve mass, surface area, and volume. The conservation of mass problem was passed by 100% of both samples. Surface area was conserved by 96 and 76% of the 2 samples, respectively, and 92 and 94% conserved volume. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of gonadotropins on androgen levels in rete testis fluid of the ram

Effects of gonadotropins on androgen levels in rete testis fluid (RTF) of the ram were investigated. Injection of 750 IU human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) or 1 mg luteinizing hormone (LH) caused an increase in the concentration of both RTF androgens. The elevation of androgen levels in RTF was smaller, occurred later and persisted for a longer period of time than did the increase in peripheral testosterone concentration. There was a significant negative correlation an .05) between pretreatment levels of testosterone and the LH- or HCG-induced elevation in plasma and RTF androgen levels. Injections of 5 or 10 mg follicle stimulating hormone was ineffective in altering the androgen levels in RTF ata indicate that gonadotropins can cause acute changes in the androgen levels in seminiferous tubules and suggest that the androgen levels in seminiferous tubules and suggest that the androgen concentrations in the is much more stable than that in the peripheral plasma.     

Studies of androgen production and binding in 13 male pseudohermaphrodites and 13 males with micropenis

We studied androgen production by morphologic and biochemical criteria plus androgen binding by skin fibroblasts in 13 male pseudohermaphrodites and 13 males with micropenis, none of whom had evidence of androgen insensitivity. Seventeen of the 26 patients had evidence of deficient androgen production, suggesting this as the cause of their incomplete virilization in utero. Fibroblasts from all 26 patients demonstrated normal androgen binding and affinity of the steroid for the receptor. Although these results exclude a deficiency of androgen binding in these individuals, other end organ defects are possible. Guidelines for diagnosis and management of such patients are presented.     

Acceleration of renal dysfunction with ageing by the use of androgen in Wistar/Tw rats

Age-related changes in the renal functions were examined in rats of the Wistar/Tw strain. In male rats, renal plasma flow (RPF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) began diminishing at 13 and 16 months of age, respectively. Filtration fraction increased markedly at 13 months of age. Urine: plasma osmolality ratio decreased gradually after 10 months of age. Fractional water excretion (FEH2O) at 13-16 months of age was significantly greater than those at younger ages. These results indicate that the renal function in male Wistar/Tw rats begins to attenuate at about 10 months of age and the dysfunction becomes conspicuous at 16 months. On the basis of these data, the effect of androgen on the kidney was examined by estimating the renal clearance rates in castrated male rats and ovariectomized female rats treated with testosterone propionate (TP). Water intake, GFR and RPF in 13-month-old castrated male rats were less than those in age-matched normal male rats. On the other hand, in 7-month-old ovariectomized female rats treated with TP for 6.5 months, RPF and GFR became greater than those in age-matched control female rats. These results suggest that long-term exposure to androgen accelerates the renal dysfunction with ageing, resulting in the earlier development of polydipsia and polyuria in male rats than in female rats.     

Effect of ageing on properties of pressure vessel steels

Manganese-molybdenum-nickel steels are used in the fabrication of nuclear pressure vessels operating at temperatures up to 350°C. In this work the effects of thermal ageing in the temperature range 300–550°C for durations up to 2 × 10⁴ h have been studied in conventionally quenched and tempered, and simulated heat-affected-zone (HAZ) microstructural conditions. Quantitative fractography and Auger spectroscopy have been used to relate changes in mechanical properties with associated changes in fracture mode and grain boundary chemistry. The results show that ageing increases the ductile-brittle transition temperature by an amount dependent on material, prior heat treatment, ageing temperature and time. Embrittlement was associated with the segregation of phosphorus to grain boundaries and was successfully modelled using McLean's approach to equilibrium segregation. The embrittling potency of phosphorus was highly dependent on prior heat treatment; largest in the coarse-grained, higher hardness simulated HAZ condition, and least in the conventionally quenched and tempered conditon.     

Study on the relationship between plasma prolactin levels and androgen metabolism in man

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of hyperprolactinemia on the metabolism of androgens in man. A group of 6 normal men was treated for 4 consecutive days, on separate periods, with Sulpiride which is known to raise plasma prolactin (PRL) concentration. The effect of the treatment on plasma steroids was verified in basal conditions and under stimulation by HCG. In the controls, a parallel rise in testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) was observed in response to HCG stimulation. In experimental hyperprolactinemia, the rise in T in response to HCG, similar to that of the controls, was accompanied by a markedly diminished rise in DHT. Similar results were observed in a patient with hyperprolactinemia following apparent accidental section of the pituitary stalk. These data demonstrate the interference of increased levels of PRL in the metabolism of testosterone into the active DHT form by 5alpha-reductase. They suggest that this mechanism could possibly impair the gonadal function in man.     

Effect of ethinyl estradiol-dienogest combination on serum androgen concentrations

Antiandrogens or progestins with an antiandrogenic component usually have only a weak antigonadotropic activity. It is thus possible that the antiandrogenic effect on the cellular level is cancelled or at least reduced by an increased ovarian androgen production. The aim of the four submitted clinical studies of the progestin and antiandrogen dienogest alone (0.5-2 mg/day) or of a combined regimen of ethinylestradiol (0.03 mg) plus dienogest (2 mg) (EE/DNG) was to examine the influence on the serum androgen and SHBG concentrations as well as on the serum FSH, LH, progesterone and 17 beta-estradiol concentrations in young women. Like the progesterone derivatives, dienogest has a relatively low antigonadotropic activity. Inhibition of ovulation is mainly produced by peripheral mechanisms such as the reduction of preovulatory 17 beta-estradiol secretion. Dienogest alone has no significant effects on the serum SHBG and androgen concentrations. Unlike this, the combination of EE plus DNG markedly increases SHBG concentrations (to 2.1-3.7 fold the basal levels). The decrease in serum androgens with total testosterone (by 17 and 40%), free testosterone (by 48 and 54%) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (by 51%) corresponds to the values shown in the literature for other oral contraceptives with modern progestins. EE/DNG does not affect the serum concentrations of 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT), although the marker of the peripheral transformation from T to DHT, androstanediol glucuronide, is distinctly reduced (by 38%). In a double-blind comparison no differences are found between EE/DNG and a regimen combining 0.02 mg of ethinylestradiol and 0.150 mg of desogestrel. Solely the SHBG concentrations, with EE/DNG, as expected, are significantly higher. In a sequential regimen, dienogest, chlormadinone acetate and desogestrel (progestins without binding to SHBG) enhance the inhibitory effect of ethinylestradiol sulfonate on free testosterone, whereas norethindrone acetate and levonorgestrel (progestins with a strong binding to SHBG) reduce this effect of the estrogen significantly. These results exclude the possibility that the very distinct antiandrogenic effect of dienogest on a cellular level is neutralised or reduced by an increased systemic supply of androgen.     

Effect of prolonged bran administration on serum levels of cholesterol, ionized calcium and iron in the elderly

A significant lowering of serum cholesterol, ionized calcium and iron levels was demonstrated in 27 elderly patients given 10 or 20 gm of unprocessed wheat bran daily in the diet for six weeks.     

Elevated plasma testosterone and gonadotropin levels in infertile males with hyperthyroidism

During the time period, 1 July 1969-30 June 1974, a total of 7056 patients were moved on the C-9A Nightingale on an "urgent" or "priority" basis. In support of the request for urgent airlift, an average of 21 C-9A aircraft were launched monthly. The domestic aeromedical evacuation missions were highly flexible and productive, yet inexpensive when compared with other means of moving patients. A means for determining precedence for the pickup and movement of patients is essential for an aeromedical evacuation system. When the patient is properly evaluated and the urgency for flight movement determined, unnecessary, costly, hazardous, or special flights are avoided. More than 50% of the "urgent" patients airlifted during this 5-year span originated in the central part of the United States. The Northeast and Far West were each responsible for less than 10% of the patients requiring urgent evacuation over the same period. More than 50% of the urgent patients moved were in the categories of newborn complications, burns, and neurological problems. During this period, no patient was moved on an urgent basis for a psychiatric problem--aeromedical evacuation simply becomes a very effective tool in ensuring complete health care for seriously ill patients.     

Fluid and electrolyte homeostasis in the elderly: physiological changes of ageing and clinical consequences

Characteristic of the normal ageing process are changes in the renal, hormonal and thirst regulatory systems involved in the control of sodium and water balance. In the presence of disease or drug use, the ageing changes put the elderly person at increased risk of either sodium retention or loss and of water retention or loss. Clinically, these alterations in water and sodium balance are commonly expressed as either hyponatraemia or hypernatraemia with central nervous system dysfunction as the symptomatic expression. Thus, the impaired homeostasis of the many systems affecting fluid balance in the elderly is readily influenced by many of the disease states and medications which are often present in the elderly with resultant adverse clinical consequences. Awareness of these age-associated circumstances can allow the physician to anticipate the impact of illnesses and drugs and to implement a rational approach to therapeutic intervention and management.     

Effect of physical activity on the distensibility of the aortic wall in healthy males

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Diethylenetriamine penta acetic acid (99mTc-DTPA), a substance which indicates glomerular filtration, is distributed equally in blood and tissue after a bolus intravenously injection. Ambulatory Renal Monitor (ARM) is a portable and non invasive device which monitors extracorporeally the clearance of intravenously injected 99mTc-DTPA. We examined correlation between half-time of clearance estimated by ARM and glomerular filtration rare, and clinical usefulness of ARM for a renal function monitoring. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The purposes of this paper are to describe the results obtained through basic analysis experiments and reproducibility in normal control, and its clinical application for 9 renal transplant patients, three drug-induced renal damage, one acute renal failure, one hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), two chronic nephritis, one donor of renal transplantation, one ureteral tumor, three renal tumors, two ureteral stones, one bilateral hydronephrosis and two normal controls. The half time of clearance of the tracer measured by an ARM. (ARM-HTC) is compared with the half time of clearance of the tracer measured by repeated blood sampling (Sampling-HTC) as a golden standard, serum creatinine and creatinine clearance. RESULTS: A significant correlation (linear) was detected when ARM-HTC was compared with Sampling-HTC (r = 0.91), 1/serum creatinine (r = 0.85) or creatinine clearance (r = 0.82), although ARM-HTC showed a delay compared with Sampling-HTC. CONCLUSIONS: The reason of this delay may be due to a difference in half-time when the tracer distributed in the blood and tissue. The results indicate that the estimation of 99mTc-DTPA clearance by ARM is valuable for renal function evaluation in wide ranges of renal function and in different origins of renal dysfunction such as in renal transplantation.     

Decreased immunoreactive androgen receptor levels are not the cause of isolated hypospadias

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate whether diminished levels of androgen receptor (AR) are the underlying cause for the development of hypospadias by determining AR levels in the foreskins of boys with hypospadias. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The content of AR was determined by a sensitive immunoblotting technique in extracts from preputial tissue obtained from 15 patients (mean age 2.5, SD +/- 1.5 years) with hypospadias and from seven controls (mean age 2.5, SD +/- 1.5 years). Immunoreactivity of the protein was measured by densitometry. RESULTS: No significant difference in mean AR content was found between those boys with hypospadias (2.1 +/- 0.9 fmol/mg protein, +/- SD) and the age-matched control group (2.2 +/- 0.3 fmol/mg protein). Stratification by the severity of hypospadias (distal and proximal on the shaft, and penoscrotal hypospadias) showed that the severity was not related to tissue AR levels. CONCLUSION: It is unlikely that hypospadias is caused by a decreased expression of AR.     

时效温度对2.25Cr1Mo钢断裂行为的影响

通过系列冲击试验,结合晶界偏聚理论,研究时效温度对经980.℃淬火和3个不同的温度时效后的2.25Cr1Mo钢的韧脆转变温度的影响.由系列冲击试验结果知,2.25Cr1Mo钢的韧脆转变温度随时效温度的降低而升高.据平衡晶界偏聚理论,说明时效温度越低,磷的平衡偏聚量越大,而对应试样的韧脆转变温度越高,断裂形态由解理方式转变为沿晶方式.     

Effect of ageing on pancreatic hyperplasia after 90% proximal small bowel resection

PURPOSE: A longitudinal study to ascertain the attitudes toward, and habits of, substance use among a single class of medical students. METHOD: A single class from a northeastern medical school was surveyed in both its first year (February 1991, 176 students) and its third year (May 1993, 170 students). The students were asked to report how frequently during the prior year they had used drugs or alcohol, and whether their use of each substance had increased, decreased, or remained the same since entering medical school; to identify any family members with histories of alcohol or drug problems; and to report any incidence during the prior year of ten behaviors associated with substance dependence. The students were also asked to indicate their agreement or disagreement with 11 attitudinal statements. Additional attitudinal items asked the students to identify three major deterrents to the abuse of drugs and alcohol, and what they had done if they had become aware of a classmate with a drug or alcohol problem. Chi-square analysis and two-tailed t-tests were used to compare data from the two surveys. RESULTS: The response rates in the first and second surveys were 96.9% and 81.8%, respectively. Use of licit and illicit substances was comparable to that of chronological peers and prior national studies of medical trainees. Most of the students admitted to using alcohol at least once in the prior year (91.8% and 95%, respectively). In both years marijuana was the illicit drug used most often. Although there was a slight increase over time in the use of benzodiazepines (2.4% to 5.8%) and a decrease in the use of marijuana (29.4% to 21.7%), these changes were not significant. Few of the students in their third year reported using any substance other than alcohol more than once a month. In general, a greater percentage of the students reported a decrease rather than an increase in the use of a substance since entering medical school; the primary exception was for wine. As they progressed in their training, the students became less concerned about the effect of substance use on their performance and more likely to be embarrassed about admitting to an addiction. Although in each year a few of the students appeared to be at risk for substance dependence (8.9% and 3.5%, respectively), no student came to the attention of the administration because of problems related to substance use. While most of the students were unaware of any classmate who had a problem, half of those who were aware had done nothing, and the balance had rarely sought assistance from the faculty or administration. CONCLUSION: Although there was no evidence that substance use was a major problem, a few of the students appeared to be at risk for drug or alcohol dependence. Appropriate intervention, support, and referral systems should be identified for the few who may be at risk, and increased educational efforts are needed to help all students address this issue with their peers and, ultimately, with their patients.     

Testolactone-associated high androgen levels, a pharmacologic effect or a laboratory artifact?

Testolactone, an aromatase inhibitor, blocks conversion of androgens to estrogens. In familial male precocious puberty, slowing of pubertal progression and growth velocity occurs with testolactone and spironolactone. Girls with McCune-Albright syndrome, given testolactone, respond similarly. A 2-yr-old female (case 1) on testolactone for non-McCune-Albright gonadotropin independent precocious puberty had marked elevations of androstenedione (18 ng/mL, normal: 0.2-3.1) and testosterone (3.6 ng/mL, normal < 0.2) but no virilization. Investigations were undertaken to determine whether elevations in testosterone and androstenedione were caused by interference in these RIAs. After a single oral dose of testolactone (5 mg/kg in case 1; 4 mg/kg in case 2, a 3-yr-old boy with familial male precocious puberty; 10 mg/kg in a healthy postmenopausal control), serum testosterone and androstenedione were measured serially by RIA for 24 h. Androstenedione went from normal to a mean peak of 45.4 ng/mL at 1-2 h and returned to baseline by 24 h. Testosterone, undetectable at baseline (case 1 and control) or 1.8 ng/mL (case 2) rose to a mean peak of 6.9 ng/mL and returned to baseline by 24 h. Testolactone, in serial dilutions, cross-reacted in the testosterone assay. Testolactone significantly interferes in these serum RIAs, making their use unreliable in follow-up of patients treated with testolactone.     

Effect of 25-OH-vitamin D on fracture healing in elderly rats

The aim of this study was to assess the long-term effects of prematurity and growth during the first year on bone mineralization in prematurely born children. The study group consisted of 38 prematurely born Finnish children (17M, 21F) examined at the age of 6-7 y. After birth, all children were fed with banked human milk until discharge from hospital. Thereafter, 27 children were partially breastfed until the age of 5-7 months. Infants with gestational age (GA) < or = 33 weeks (n = 25) received calcium 45-50 mg/100 kcal, phosphorus 40-45 mg/100 kcal, vitamin A 1000 IU/d, vitamin C 2 mg/d and vitamin D 400 IU/d until 2.5 kg. Infants born > 33 weeks received only vitamin D 400 IU/d. Bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) of the lumbar spine (L2-L4) at 6-7 y of age. At examination, all children had normal height and weight. BMD values were within the confidence interval of the Finnish reference values. In regression analysis bone area, present weight, GA and weight at 1 y were the most significant factors explaining 77.1% of the variance of BMC. After adjusting for other independent variables the prematurely born children who were thinner at 1 y of age subsequently had higher BMC values when examined at the age of 6-7 y. This study shows that growth patterns during the first year of life have long-term effects on bone mineralization.     

Sexually selected vigilance behaviour of the grey partridge is affected by plasma androgen levels

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) diagnostic methods have rarely been used in epidemiologic studies of Shigella and enteroinvasive Escherichia coli (EIEC) infections. In this study, amplification of the invasion plasmid antigen H (ipaH) gene by PCR and standard culture methods was used to identify Shigella species or EIEC among 154 patients with dysentery, 154 age-matched controls, and family contacts in Thailand. The ipaH PCR system increased the detection of Shigella species and EIEC from 58% to 79% among patients with dysentery and from 6% to 22% among 527 family contacts; 75% of infections in family members were asymptomatic. Detection of the ipaH gene was statistically associated with dysentery. Household contacts of patients with shigellosis diagnosed only by PCR had significantly higher rates of shigellosis than household contacts of patients who did not have Shigella or EIEC infections. Detection of the ipaH gene by PCR is far more sensitive than detection by standard culture and is highly correlated with evidence of Shigella transmission among family contacts.