Plasma steroid and protein hormone concentrations in patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy and in normal men

Summary Serum levels of testosterone, FSH, LH and prolactin were measured by RIA in patients with BPH (benign prostatic hypertrophy) and in control men. The testosterone concentrations in the BPH group were significantly lower than that of the control group. Serum concentrations of FSH, LH, prolactin and estradiol, did not differ significantly in the 2 groups.     

Palliative effect of gelatine in benign prostatic hypertrophy

Résumé. La consommation journalière de 25 g de gélatine soulage rapiderment les symptomes urinaires accompagnant l'hypertrophie prostatique bénigne. La gélatine peut être trés utile dans le traitement de ce désordre.     

Plasma hormone levels in normal and lead-treated pregnant mice

Summary Dietary lead (0.5%) was given to mice which, after mating, exhibited a vaginal plug. Estradiol, progesterone and prostaglandins E and F 2 were determined in, the plasma by radioimmuno assay at different times thereafter. The increase in estradiol and decrease in prostaglandins prior implantation are not greatly altered by lead treatment, whereas the subsequent increase in progesterone and later in estradiol is abolished. It is concluded that the lower number of pregnancies seen in lead-treated mothers is due to a maternal hormonal imbalance caused by lead.Supported by contract 038-74-7 ENV B of the E.C. Environmental Research Program. Publication No. 1394 of the Euratom Biology Division.     

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone does not inhibit lysine vasopressin-induced growth hormone secretion in normal men

Summary In order to establish whether thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) inhibits lysine-vasopressin (LVP)-induced growth hormone (GH) release, six normal men were tested with LVP alone or in combination with TRH. LVP strikingly increased serum GH levels; this response was not altered by TRH. These results indicated that in man TRH is not involved in the control of GH secretion in response to LVP.     

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone does not inhibit lysine vasopressin-induced growth hormone secretion in normal men

In order to establish whether thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) inhibits lysine-vasopressin (LVP)-induced growth hormone (GH) release, six normal men were tested with LVP alone or in combination with TRH. LVP strikingly increased serum GH levels; this response was not altered by TRH. These results indicate that in man TRH is not involved in the control of GH secretion in response to LVP.     

Plasma testosterone and dihydrotestosterone in normal and abnormal pregnancy

Summary The concentration of plasma testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) was determined in 2 groups of nonpregnant and pregnant women. The 1st group consisted of normal women and the 2nd of women with recurrent pregnancy disorders of unknown etiology. Significantly higher concentration of plasma DHT in nonpregnant women from the 2nd group was found (44.9±22 ng/100 ml) as compared to nonpregnant normals (24.2±5.2 ng/100 ml), p<0.01. There was no difference in the concentration of plasma T between the groups studied (p=0.165).Acknowledgment. The authors thank Prof. A. Draani, Mrs Lj. Vukeli and Mrs Z. Tomakovi for their collaboration in this study. This study was supported by the Scientific Fund of SR Croatia (Zagreb), SIZ V.     

Plasma prostaglandin levels in fed and starved lean, normal and obese women.

The plasma obtained from fed and starved lean, normal and obese women was estimated, by a radio-immunoassay method, for prostaglandins, owing to their implication in the regulation of adipose tissue lipolysis and the development of obesity. No significant differences were found due to nutritional status or body-build. However, a significantly higher plasma concentration of prostaglandins of the E-type than of the F-type, was found consistently. The very low levels of prostaglandins observed (a range of 0.10--0.15 ng ml-1 for E-type and a range of 0.05--0.07 ng ml-1 for the F-type) may be due, in part, to the activity of a plasmatic prostaglandin metabolizing system.     

Structure of podecdysone C,a steroid with moulting hormone activity from the bark ofPodocarpus elatus R. Br.

Résumé Le Podecdysone C, un stérol extrait de l'écorce de l'arbrePodocarpus elatus R. Br. et qui fonctionne comme hormone de mue est identique au THE-III (26-hydroxy--ecdysone, II) extrait du ver du tabacManduca sexta.     

Myocardial concentrations of high energy phosphates in normal mini-pigs and dogs

Zusammenfassung Die Gewebskonzentrationen an ATP, ADP, ATP+ADP, Kreatinphosphat, Kreatin und Kreatinphosphat + Kreatin sind unter vergleichbaren Bedingungen im linken Ventrikel von Mini-pig-Herzen kleiner als im Hundeherzen. Die Unterschiede in den Koeffizienten (ATP/ADP und Kreatinphosphat/Kreatin) dürfen narkosebedingt sein. Sämtliche Messgrössen sind nicht mit dem Entnahmeort der Biopsien (apikal, basal) korreliert.

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Supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (Grant Nr. 3.484).     

Plasma growth hormone in the rabbit fetus. Relation to maturation of the liver and lung]

Day 25 after insemination is a date of peculiar importance in the maturation of several organs in the Rabbit fetus. From day 25 onward the fetal liver stores increasing amounts of glycogen and the lung stores increasing amounts of lecithins, concomitant with sudden rise in the activity of lung phosphatidic-acid phosphohydrolase. Earlier studies on decapitated fetuses established that glycogen storage in the liver is dependent on a dual hormonal control, comprising a pituitary hormone like growth hormone or prolactin (some placental hormones share the same activity) and corticosteroids (Jost, 1961). Since the variations in endogenous corticosteroids do not seem to herald these liver or lung changes (Mulay et al., 1973), a study was made of growth hormone. Plasma immunoreactive growth hormone--determined with a heterologous Rat system (Kervran et al., 1976)--increases eightfold between days 23 and 25. During the same time plasma prolactin does not change according to McNeily and Friesen, 1978, and to unpublished data obtained with Dr McNeilly. In preliminary assays, Rat growth hormone was seen to increase phosphorylase "a" activity in the lung of 18.5 day-old Rat fetuses, thus anticipating normal development. We suggest that growth hormone plays a role in initiating liver and lung maturation.     

Plasma adrenocorticosteroid concentrations immediately after birth in the rat,rabbit and guineapig

Résumé On a mesuré le taux de cortisol et de corticostérone dans le plasma du jeune rat, du lapin et du rat d'Amérique aussitôt après la mise bas et jusqu'à 14 jours après. Dans toutes ces espèces, la concentration de l'adrénocorticostéroide principal était élevée les premiers jours et diminuait regulièrement par la suite.     

Plasma prostaglandin levels in fed and starved lean,normal and obese women

Summary The plasma obtained from fed and starved lean, normal and obese women was estimated, by a radio-immunoassay method, for prostaglandins, owing to their implication in the regulation of adipose tissue lipolysis and the development of obesity. No significant differences were found due to nutritional status or body-build. However, a significantly higher plasma concentration of prostaglandins of the E-type than of the F-type, was found consistently. The very low levels of prostaglandins observed (a range of 0.10–0.15 ng ml^–1 for E-type and a range of 0.05–0.07 ng ml^–1 for the F-type) may be due, in part, to the activity of a plasmatic prostaglandin metabolizing system.Acknowledgments. The authors are grateful to Dr D.C. Williams for his support and encouragement and to the Upjohn Company for the generous gift of standard prostaglandins.     

Amino acid concentrations in blood of patients with an acute myocardial infarction

Summary Levels of essential and nonessential amino acids in blood of patients with an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) were found in general not to differ from values obtained from non-AMI patients. This is in contrast to blood taurine levels which are elevated in the AMI patients.