[Cardiovascular effects of growth hormone deficiency in adults].

The role of growth hormone (GH) in maintaining normal cardiovascular function and the influence of GH deficiency and GH replacement therapy on cardiovascular risk are presented.

Circadian rhythm of melatonin in postmenopausal asthmatic women with hormone replacement therapy.

Objective: The aim of the study was to check if in postmenopausal women such a disease as asthma and use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) influence daily melatonin (MEL) secretion.

Material And Methods: Studies were performed in 55 asthmatics (treated and not treated with glucocorticosteroids) and 20 healthy postmenopausal women (aged 48-60) before HRT and after 6 months of transdermal 17beta-estradiol and medroxyprogesterone acetate treatment (cyclical method). During the circadian study blood samples for the measurement of MEL were collected every 3 hours during the day.

Circadian rhythm of melatonin in patients with colorectal carcinoma.

Objective: The aim of the study was pineal gland function assessment on the base of daily rhythm study and mean daily melatonin (MEL) concentrations in serum in patients with colorectal carcinoma.

Material And Methods: Studies were performed in 12 women at the age of 63.17+/-5.

Does the negative correlation found in breast cancer patients between plasma melatonin and insulin-like growth factor-I concentrations imply the existence of an additional mechanism of oncostatic melatonin influence involved in defense?

Background: Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is probably involved in promoting both normal and neoplastic cell growth, neoplastic transformation processes, angiogenesis, and neoplasma progression. On the other hand, one possible mechanism of the oncostatic action of melatonin is its influence on the action and/or release of the growth factors that stimulate neoplastic cell growth. Quantitative changes in melatonin and IGF-I, as well as an imbalance between melatonin and IGF-I, may affect the growth of breast cancer cells and exacerbate the disease.

The influence of pinealectomy and melatonin administration on the dynamic pattern of biochemical markers of bone metabolism in experimental osteoporosis in the rat.

Background And Objectives: There have been suggestions in literature that characteristic changes of bone mass in osteoporosis may be related to the melatonin (Mel): The aim of this study was to demonstrate whether pinealectomy and Mel administration can affect postmenopausal osteoporosis processes induced in female rats by way of ovariectomy.

Methods: The study included 198 animals; 6 remained intact (0), 96 were ovariectomized (Ox), and the remaining ones underwent a sham operation (SOx). Two weeks after surgery, the rats were divided into eight groups: 1) SOx + SPx, 2) SOx + SPx + Mel, 3) Ox + SPx, 4) Ox + SPx + Mel, 5) SOx + Px, 6) SOx + Px + Mel, 7) Ox + Px, 8) Ox + Px + Mel.