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.

[Long-term controlled release of drugs].

The surveys of long-term controlled drugs supply systems have become recently one of more important branches of pharmacy. Many systems were elaborated. The systems differ from each other by the mechanism and time of drug release and the way of administering it.

[Hyperprolactinemia--unappreciated clinical problem].

In the study, in concise way, actual knowledge concerning hyperprolactinemia was presented. Its causes, clinical symptoms, diagnostic proceeding, methods of treatment and prognosis were discussed.

[Do enkephalins and other endogenous opioids participate in regulation of cancer growth?].

Attempts are interesting exploratory trend to define precisely relations between endogenous opioid system and neoplastic process development. Mechanism in which enkephalins and other endogenous opioides could influence on cancer growth is not clear. Several hypothesis were put and presented in the paper.

[Evaluation of selected parameters of collagen metabolism in patients with myopia].

Introduction: Myopia is a common condition of vision deprivation characterized by the excessive lengthening of the eye axis. There are hypotheses that the elongation of the eye is connected with the connective tissue disorder in which the scleral collagens are inappropriately remodelled. The most common type of collagen and the first to be discovered is type I and it is the dominating one in cornea and sclera.

[Growth hormone and its interactions with chosen parameters of hormonal state in pre-menopausal women after mastectomy for breast cancer on adjuvant chemotherapy].

It seems, that quantitative changes of growth hormone (GH) in blood and imbalance between GH and hormones can influence the breast cancer cells proliferation, and can be a favourable element in breast cancer progression. The procedure to normalize hormonal system can have a therapeutic action. The aim of the presented work is to asses the plasma GH levels in 24 pre-menopausal women after mastectomy for breast cancer on adjuvant chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil (CMF).

[Hormonal changes in male patients with primary open angle glaucoma].

Introduction: Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is the most common type of glaucoma, pathogenesis of which is not completely known. Several clinical studies show that glucocorticoid hormones may be implicated in the pathogenesis of POAG and ocular hypertension. Glucocorticoid receptors have been identified in human outflow tissue of the eye.

Is positive correlation between cortisol and met-enkephalin concentration in blood of women with breast cancer a reaction to stress before chemotherapy administration?

The role of stress in the course of neoplastic diseases has been emphasised over the past few years. Organism defence in form of increased release of hormones, corticosteroids and endogenous opioids should be assessed as a particular form of adaptation. Interactions between stress hormones and others which may influence the growth of breast cancer cells are possible.

[Insulin-like growth factor-I: pathophysiologic and clinical aspects].

The paper reviews the factors which affect synthesis and metabolic activity of the insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), its receptor and binding proteins as age, nutritional state, hormonal state and liver function. Attention is also focused on the role of IGF-I in pathogenesis of osteoporosis and neoplastic diseases.

ASSESSMENT OF BETA-ENDORPHIN AND MELATONIN CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS IN NORMOTENSIVE OBESE WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE.

We have evaluated the relationship between beta-endorphin (beta-EP) and melatonin (MEL) secretion as determined at 3 h intervals over a 24 h period in 27 normotensive obese women of different phenotypes (12 showing gynoid-type and 15 showing android-type of adipose tissue distribution) as well as in 12 healthy volunteers with normal body weight, aged 30 to 40 years. A considerable increase of mean 24 h beta-EP secretion (mainly due to elevated afternoon and evening levels) and total absence of beta-EP circadian rhythm were observed in all obese patients. Mean 24 h MEL concentrations were markedly higher (mainly due to increased daytime levels) in all obese patients while the disturbances of MEL secretion in the form of acrophase shift and (or) suppression of its rhythmicity were observed especially in obese women with android phenotype.

Assessment of bone metabolism in obese women.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the bone metabolism in obese women by the estimation of selected markers of bone formation. METHODS: The concentration of plasma parathyroid hormone (PTH) and selected markers of bone formation [osteocalcin (BGP) in plasma, carboxyterminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PICP) and alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity in blood serum] and bone resorption [cross-linked carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP) in blood serum and urinary excretion of calcium (Ca)] in 18 extremely obese women (BMI>40 kg/m2) with android phenotype (WHR>0.8) and in 20 healthy women with normal body weight.

Circadian variations of androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and free testosterone in obese women with menstrual disturbances.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the 24 h profile of androgenemia related to the androgens of both the ovarian and adrenal origin in obese women with menstrual disturbances. METHODS: The association of body mass and body fat distribution with circadian variations of selected androgens of ovarian and adrenal origin was examined in 16 obese women with menstrual disturbances (BMI between 38 and 51 kg/m2; WHR between 0.80 and 0.

The application of microspheres from the copolymers of lactide and epsilon-caprolactone to the controlled release of steroids.

The microspheres made of the copolymers of lactide and epsilon-caprolactone were used for the controlled release of progesterone and beta-estradiol. The copolymers contained 83-94% of l or d,l-lactide. The influence of the microstructure of lactidyl blocks in the copolymer chains on the drug release rate was studied.

[Liver and endocrine system. Part II: pituitary-gonadal axis and adrenal gland activity disturbances].

Up to date studies have demonstrated that more and more young people are affected by liver diseases. There is a close relationship between the liver and endocrine system as far as hormone inactivation and synthesis of protein binding hormones in the liver are related. Impairment of the hepatocyte function may lead to disturbed homeostasis of the endocrine system.

[Liver and endocrine system. Part I: pituitary-thyroid axis activity disorders].

Recent studies have demonstrated that more and more young people suffer from liver diseases. There is a close relationship between endocrine system and the liver, where the hormone inactivation and synthesis of protein binding hormones takes place. Impairment of hepatocyte function may lead to disturbed homeostasis of the endocrine system.

Assessment of the relationship between collagen metabolism and selected hormonal factors in extremely obese women before and after jejunoileostomy.

The majority of obese persons have hyperinsulinemia and disturbances in the secretion of melatonin, catecholamines and pituitary, thyroid, adrenal and gonadal hormones. These hormones play an important role in the regulation of collagen metabolism either by acting directly or by influencing IGF-I production. This study aimed at ascertaining whether, and to what degree, the changes in the concentration of hormones listed above as well as in the concentration of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) affect the metabolism of collagen as evaluated indirectly from the measurement of propeptides of type I (PICP) and type III procollagen (PIIINP) in blood serum and hydroxyproline in urine.

Diurnal rhythm of serum melatonin, ACTH and cortisol in asthma patients with long term glucocorticoid treatment.

Forty one patients (21 women and 20 men aged 35 to 45 years), with bronchial asthma were divided into two groups: those treated with glucocorticoids (with an equivalent daily dose of 8 mg prednisone) and those receiving no glucocorticoid preparations. The control group consisted of 27 healthy volunteers. The diurnal rhythm of serum melatonin, ACTH and cortisol was evaluated in all subjects.

[Glucocorticosteroids in bronchial asthma. II. Use of cortisol markers in various biological materials for evaluation of adrenocortical function].

Glucocorticosteroids (GS) being widely used in asthma treatment are sometimes applied in high doses and for long period. This treatment is often connected with adrenocortical suppression. Adrenocortical function assessment in GS treated patients with different doses and forms of drug is of great diagnostic and prognostic importance.

[Glucocorticosteroids in bronchial asthma. I. Mechanism of action and use in therapy].

Inflammation plays the main role in the pathogenesis of asthma. Glucocorticosteroids (GS), as the most effective anti-inflammatory drugs are widely used in asthma treatment. So far the mechanism of action, both molecular and on the level of tissues and organs has not been entirely explained.

[Evaluation of selected parameters of connective tissue metabolism in patients with primary open angle glaucoma].

Purpose: To evaluate the plasma concentration of P I CP and P III NP as markers of the connective tissue metabolism in human with and without POAG. The mechanical properties of the collagen could be one of the common factors involved in the pathogenesis of chronic open angle glaucoma.

Material And Methods: P I CP and P III NP were studied in serum in 20 patients with POAG and in 10 healthy subjects using RIA method.

Serum, salivary and urinary cortisol level in the evaluation of adrenocortical function in-patients with bronchial asthma.

56 patients with bronchial asthma (32 women and 24 men) and 31 healthy volunteers (19 women and 12 men) were investigated. The evaluation of the usefulness of salivary and urinary cortisol levels and urinary cortisol metabolites in 24-hr urine was conducted using the correlation coefficient between the cortisol level in the salivary or urine and that in blood serum. Very high correlation was found between the serum and salivary cortisol level (r=0.

Assessment of relationship between hypothalamo-pituitary dysfunction and peripheral endocrine function in normotensive and hypertensive obese men.

The relationship between hypothalamo-pituitary function and various hormonal factors (insulin, cortisol, thyroid hormones, sex steroid hormones, SHBG, IGF-I) was investigated in 34 obese men (16 normotensive and 18 hypertensive) and 15 healthy male volunteers aged 35 to 50 years. Hyperinsulinaemia in obese men was associated with altered hypothalamo-pituitary function as indicated by impaired GH, PRL and cortisol secretion in response to insulin induced hypoglycaemia. On the other hand, hyperinsulinaemia and disorders in GH, PRL and cortisol release were associated with lower levels of reverse triiodothyronine, gonadotropins, testosterone, 17-corticoids and SHBG and higher levels of triiodothyronine, estradiol, 17-hydroxycorticoids and IGF-I.

Circadian variations of salivary melatonin levels in women of reproductive and postmenopausal age with gynoid and android obesity.

Circadian variations of salivary melatonin (MEL) were examined in 81 women (48 of reproductive and 33 of postmenopausal age), 16 of them with moderate overweight, 32 showing gynoid obesity (BMI>30 kg/m[^2]; WHR<0.8) and 33 showing android obesity (BMI>30 kg/m[^2]; WHR>0.8).

Circadian oscillation of melatonin, gonadotropins, sex hormones and SHBG in post-menopausal women showing android and gynoid type obesity.

Many clinical manifestations shown by obese women point to the disturbances of secretory activity of hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary axis (h-p-o). Because of antigonadotropic activity of melatonin (MEL) it is essential to define this hormone participation in inducing the disturbances of the h-p-o axis. We evaluated the relationship between MEL secretion and circadian concentrations of LH, FSH, E[_2], P, TT, FT, SHBG as measured at 3 h intervals, in 9 obese women showing android type of adipose tissue distribution (BMI > 30 kg/m[^2]; WHR > 0.