Development of automated assays for anticardiolipin antibodies determination: addressing antigen and standardization issues.

The lack of reliable standardization tools as well as the poorly defined nature of the "Cardiolipin antigen" makes the development of the anticardiolipin antibody (ACA) assays (for anti-IgG and IgM detection) highly challenging. This article describes how several issues have been solved during the development of an automated ACA immunoassays, based on a technology that includes paramagnetic microbeads as solid-phase reagents and chemiluminescence as a signal. The technology is adapted to an automatic immunoanalyzer, called LIAISON, which performs, in an automatic manner, the whole assay, starting from the primary tube of the bleeding to the display of the assay result.

Climacteric symptoms according to body weight in women of different socio-economic groups.

The people influence of body weight on the climacteric symptoms of 618 selected women in spontaneous post-menopause has been studied bases on data collected at a Geriatric Centre and subsequently incorporated into a postal questionnaire. These cases were divided into 3 groups according to the "obesity degree": (I) less than 5 kg (53.1% of the cases);(II) between 5 and 15 kg (31.

Partial remission of hyperprolactinemic amenorrhea after bromocriptine-induced pregnancy.

Clinical and/or biological improvement has been observed in 7 out of 17 patients with hyperprolactinemic amenorrhea followed for 6-15 months after the successful outcome of bromocriptine (Parlodel, Sandoz)- induced pregnancy. The ovulatory cycle was resumed in 2 out of these 7 patients (with subsequent spontaneous conception in 1); in 3 others the medroxyprogesterone acetate test became positive. In all cases, post-partum prolactin values were considerably reduced.

Effect of sulpiride on plasma prolactin levels in women with puerperal or pathological hyperprolactinaemia.

The effect of 100 mg im sulpiride on plasma Prl levels was studied in 10 normal females, 21 patients with galactorrhoea and normal plasma Prl, 10 women with puerperal hyperprolactinaemia and 27 patients with amenorrhoea-galactorrhoea and high plasma Prl levels. The response to sulpiride in patients with galactorrhoea but normal PRL was slightly higher (P < 0.05) than that observed in normal women, but only if expressed in per cent.

Hormone patterns during bromocriptine-induced pregnancy in hyperprolactinemic patients.

Plasma prolactin (PRL) and human placental lactogen (HPL), and urinary estriol and pregnanediol were studied during pregnancies induced with bromocriptine (Parlodel, Sandoz) in 10 cases of hyperprolactinemia. Previous selective adenomectomy or intrasellar implantation of radioactive gold (198Au) failed to induce a complete remission in 3 of these subjects. PRL rapidly increases after bromocriptine withdrawal, reaching values higher than those in normal women in the same stage of pregnancy within a few weeks.

Increased thyrotrophin secretion induced by sulpiride in man.

100 mg i.m. sulpiride (a dopamine-receptor-blocking drug) led to a significant rise in plasma TSH in normal womem, in female patients with galactorrhoea, and, to a much more marked degree, in male and female patients with primary hypothyroidism.

Inhibition of thyrotropin and prolactin secretion by dopamine in man.

The effect of dopamine on thyrotropin (TSH) and prolactin (PRL) levels was studied in 5 normal subjects, 7 women with galactorrhea, 9 acromegalics and 4 patients with primary hypothyroidism. Dopamine infused at the rate of 280 micrograms/min produced significant decrease in plasma TSH and PRL levels in all four groups, though a lower fall in TSH was noted in acromegalics. A similar reduction in PRL was also noted after 28 micrograms/min dopamine.

Long-term treatment with 2-Br-alpha-ergocryptine in acromegaly.

Thirty acromegalic subjects underwent chronic CB154 therapy (10-20 mg daily) for periods ranging from 3 months up to 2 years. In 18 out of 21 patients, who exhibited consistent HGH reduction following acute administration of the drug, there was also during chronic treatment, a suppression of the plasma HGH levels exceeding 50% of base line values, e.g.

Effect of dopamine on plasma growth hormone and prolactin levels in normal and acromegalic subjects.

In contrast with other dopaminergic drugs (L-dopa, apomorphine or bromocriptine) a 280 mug/min dose of dopamine infused for 120 min failed to induce an increase in plasma GH in 9 normal subjects. During dopamine infusion, no significant change in the GH response to arginine was also noted, whereas prolactin displayed a significant fall. In 15 acromegalic patients, on the other hand, the drug caused a marked fall in both GH (mean+/-SE; 71.

True hermaphroditism with XX/XY sex chromosome mosaicism: report of a case.

A case of true hermaphroditism with 46, XX/46, XY karyotype is reported. The propositus, reared as a male, showed ambiguous external genitalia with perineoscrotal hypospadias, and internal genitalia represented by bilateral ovotestes, normal uterus and tubes. Periodic menstrual bleedings appeared at puberty.

Changes in plasma growth hormone levels in normal and acromegalic subjects following administration of 2-bromo-alpha-ergocryptine.

2-Bromo-alpha-ergocryptine (CB-154), AN ERGOT ALKALOID THAT STIMulates dopaminergic receptors, caused a widely varying, but significant increase in plasma GH levels in normal subject whereas a marked and protractedfall in values was observed in some patients with acromegaly. It is suggested that these effects were mediated by activation of either hypothalamic or hypophyseal dopaminergic receptors. The fact that GH values fell to or near normal levels in 4/8 cases suggests that CB-154 may have therapeutic possibilities in acromegaly.