Low growth hormone secretion associated with post-acute sequelae SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) neurologic symptoms: A case-control pilot study.

Objective: To determine if patients that develop lingering neurologic symptoms of fatigue and "brain fog" after initial recovery from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have persistent low growth hormone (GH) secretion as seen in other conditions with similar symptom etiology.

Design: In this case-control observational pilot study, patients reporting lingering neurologic post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC, n = 10) symptoms at least 6 months after initial infection were compared to patients that recovered from COVID-19 without lingering symptoms (non-PASC, n = 13). We compared basic blood chemistry and select metabolites, lipids, hormones, inflammatory markers, and vitamins between groups.

Growth Hormone Alters Brain Morphometry, Connectivity, and Behavior in Subjects with Fatigue after Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.

Pituitary dysfunction with reduced growth hormone (GH) secretion is common in patients following traumatic brain injury (TBI), and these patients often develop chronic symptoms including fatigue and altered cognition. We examined 18 subjects with a history of mild TBI, fatigue, and insufficient GH secretion. Subjects received GH replacement in a year-long, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study, and were assessed for changes in physical performance, body composition, resting energy expenditure, fatigue, sleep, mood, and neuropsychological status.

Proteomic investigation of human skeletal muscle before and after 70 days of head down bed rest with or without exercise and testosterone countermeasures.

Introduction: Long-term head-down bed rest (HDBR) results in musculoskeletal losses similar to those observed during long-term space flight. Agents such as testosterone, in addition to regular exercise, are effective countermeasures for reducing loss of skeletal muscle mass and function.

Objective: We investigated the skeletal muscle proteome of healthy men in response to long term HDBR alone (CON) and to HDBR with exercise (PEX) or exercise plus testosterone (TEX) countermeasures.

Efficacy of Testosterone plus NASA Exercise Countermeasures during Head-Down Bed Rest.

Introduction: Prolonged confinement to head-down bed rest (HDBR) results in musculoskeletal losses similar to those observed during long-duration space flight. Exercise countermeasures by themselves have not completely prevented the deleterious losses in muscle mass or function in HDBR or space flight.

Purpose: The objective was to investigate the safety and efficacy of intermittent, low-dose testosterone treatment in conjunction with NASA exercise (SPRINT) countermeasures during 70 d of 6° HDBR.

A randomized trial of adjunct testosterone for cancer-related muscle loss in men and women.

Background: Cancer cachexia negatively impacts cancer-related treatment options, quality of life, morbidity, and mortality, yet no established therapies exist. We investigated the anabolic properties of testosterone to limit the loss of body mass in late stage cancer patients undergoing standard of care cancer treatment.

Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase II clinical trial was undertaken to assess the potential therapeutic role of adjunct testosterone to limit loss of body mass in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix or head and neck undergoing standard of care treatment including chemotherapy and chemoradiation.

Functional Changes after Recombinant Human Growth Hormone Replacement in Patients with Chronic Traumatic Brain Injury and Abnormal Growth Hormone Secretion.

We explored the effects of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) replacement on physical and cognitive functioning in subjects with a moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) with abnormal growth hormone (GH) secretion. Fifteen individuals who sustained a TBI at least 12 months prior to study enrollment were identified as having abnormal GH secretion by glucagon stimulation testing (maximum GH response less than 8 ng/mL). Peak cardiorespiratory capacity, body composition, and muscle force testing were assessed at baseline and one year after rhGH replacement.

A randomized pilot study of monthly cycled testosterone replacement or continuous testosterone replacement versus placebo in older men.

Context: Cycling androgens has been reported by athletes to improve physical performance by enhancing muscle mass and strength, a paradigm that has not been studied, and may have clinical value in older men being treated with testosterone.

Objective: We investigated the efficacy of a monthly cycled testosterone regimen that uses half the testosterone dose as the current standard of care continuous therapy on body composition and muscle strength in older men.

Design, Setting, And Patients: Twenty-four community-dwelling older men 70 ± 2 yr of age with total testosterone levels below 500 ng/dl were randomized at the Institute for Translational Sciences-Clinical Research Center into a 5-month double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

Serum IGF-1 concentrations in a sample of patients with traumatic brain injury as a diagnostic marker of growth hormone secretory response to glucagon stimulation testing.

Objective: The diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency (GHD) in adults is established through growth hormone (GH) stimulation testing, which is often complex, expensive, time-consuming and may be associated with adverse side effects. The decision to perform GH provocative testing is influenced by clinical findings, medical history and biochemical evidence. We report in this study our experience using the glucagon stimulation test (GST) in assessing GHD in adult patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) as it relates to baseline serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) concentrations.

Effect of growth hormone replacement therapy on cognition after traumatic brain injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major public health issue, and yet medical science has little to offer for the persistent symptoms that prevent many of these individuals from fully re-entering society. Post-traumatic hypopituitarism, and specifically growth hormone deficiency (GHD), has been found in a large percentage of individuals with chronic moderate to severe TBI. Presently, there are no published treatment studies of hormone replacement in this population.

Effect of recombinant growth hormone replacement in a growth hormone deficient subject recovering from mild traumatic brain injury: A case report.

Objective: To assess the effects of growth hormone (GH) replacement in an individual who sustained mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) as an adult and was found to have GH deficiency by glucagon stimulation testing.

Participant: A 43-year old woman who sustained a mild TBI at age 37 years. She was 6.

Amino acid supplementation increases lean body mass, basal muscle protein synthesis, and insulin-like growth factor-I expression in older women.

Context: Inadequate dietary protein intake has been implicated in sarcopenia.

Objective And Design: The objectives of this study were to determine whether: 1) chronic essential amino acid (EAA) supplementation improves postabsorptive muscle protein fractional synthesis rate (FSR), lean body mass (LBM), and one-repetition maximum muscle strength, and androgen receptor and IGF-I muscle protein expression; and 2) the acute anabolic response to EAA ingestion is preserved after a 3-month supplementation period. Using a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled design, older women (68 +/- 2 yr) were assigned to receive either placebo (n = 7), or 15 g EAA/d [supplemented treatment group (SUP)] (n = 7) for 3 months.

Aerobic capacity and growth hormone deficiency after traumatic brain injury.

Context: GH deficiency occurs in approximately 20% of all individuals who suffer from a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury.

Objective: This study determined whether GH deficiency secondary to traumatic brain injury had an effect on aerobic capacity.

Design: Subjects were screened for GH deficiency by the glucagon stimulation test and performed a maximal treadmill exercise test.

Effects of raloxifene on insulin sensitivity, beta-cell function, and hepatic insulin extraction in normal postmenopausal women.

Objective: To investigate the effect of raloxifene on insulin sensitivity, beta-cell function, hepatic insulin clearance, and glucose tolerance in postmenopausal women.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Texas.

Androgen therapy induces muscle protein anabolism in older women.

Context: Normal healthy men and women undergo a gradual loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength with advancing age. While androgens are protein anabolic in older men, the metabolic effects in older women are poorly understood.

Objective And Design: The objective of this study was to determine whether oral administration of a synthetic derivative of testosterone [oxandrolone, Oxandrin (OX)] (7.

Testosterone administration to older men improves muscle function: molecular and physiological mechanisms.

We investigated the effects of 6 mo of near-physiological testosterone administration to older men on skeletal muscle function and muscle protein metabolism. Twelve older men (> or =60 yr) with serum total testosterone concentrations <17 nmol/l (480 ng/dl) were randomly assigned in double-blind manner to receive either placebo (n = 5) or testosterone enanthate (TE; n = 7) injections. Weekly intramuscular injections were given for the 1st mo to establish increased blood testosterone concentrations at 1 mo and then changed to biweekly injections until the 6-mo time point.