Diagnostic performance of basal free cortisol/18-hydroxy-11-deoxycorticosterone (18-OH-DOC) ratio in endogenous depression: comparison with the dexamethasone suppression test.

We assessed the 8:00 AM ratio of free cortisol/18-hydroxy-11-deoxycorticosterone (18-OH-DOC) in 56 endogenous depressive inpatients and in 22 normal volunteers. A ratio higher than 40 was associated with a diagnostic sensitivity for endogenous depression of 75%, a specificity of 95.5%, and a diagnostic confidence of 97.

Changes in fetal and maternal blood levels of prolactin, cortisol, and cortisone during eutocic and dystocic childbirth.

The changes in blood levels of prolactin, total and free cortisol, and cortisone were studied and compared in 51 mother-infant pairs, 30 with eutocic delivery and 21 with dystocic delivery. Regardless of the type of delivery, the newborn at term showed significantly higher prolactin and cortisone serum levels than their mothers, and significantly lower levels of free and total cortisol. In fetal distress of short duration, free cortisol levels were significantly raised in both the mother and the child, while prolactin and cortisone levels were significantly higher only in the child.

[The role of plasma alpha 1-glycoprotein acid in the binding of aminopyrine].

Under certain pathological conditions the binding of various substances by serum proteins is altered. The plasma concentrations of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, also known as orosomucoid are reported to be elevated in stressful situation and in certain disease states like acute myocardial infarction. The binding of aminopyrine to serum proteins and alpha 1-acid glycoprotein was determined using equilibrium dialysis.

A simple, direct radioimmunoassay for salivary progesterone determination during the menstrual cycle.

We describe a direct radioimmunoassay for progesterone in saliva. Results for extracted and unextracted samples agree well, showing that extraction with petroleum ether is unnecessary. The direct assay is specific and accurate, and detects as little as 2 pg of progesterone per tube (12 pmol/L).

[Free salivary steroids and plasma hormones in women].

The use and limitations of steroid assay in saliva are presented and discussed. Salivary cortisol was well correlated with unbound cortisol plasma, the only biological active fraction of total cortisol. Assay of salivary cortisol is particularly useful in patients taking oral contraceptives or during pregnancy.

Prediction of cortisol response to dexamethasone from age and basal cortisol in normal volunteers: a negative study.

The dexamethasone suppression test (1 mg at 23 h and 4 P.M. blood collection) was performed in 22 normal subjects.

[Circadian and seasonal changes of the inducer:suppressor ratio (OKT4+:OKT8+) in venous blood of healthy adults].

Circadian and seasonal variations in the T helper: T suppressor-cytotoxic ratio were investigated in peripheral blood from five healthy young men. Mononuclear cells were isolated on Ficoll-Paque gradient, then incubated with OKT4 and OKT8 monoclonal antibodies. Plasma cortisol was determined in four of these seven time series.

Diagnostic performance of the thirty-four hour dexamethasone suppression test.

The performance of the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) in the diagnostic confirmation of endogenous depression was compared according to two times of blood collection--1600 hr on day 2 (usual sample) and 0800 hr on day 3 (34 hr after dexamethasone intake)--in 14 endogenous depressives and in a control group of 17 psychiatric inpatients with other diagnoses. For the day 2 (1600 hr) sample, a 5 micrograms/dl cortisol concentration represented the best cut-off score, with sensitivity of 57% specificity of 88%, and diagnostic confidence of 80%. For the day 3 (0800 hr) sample, the best cut-off score was 20 micrograms/dl, with the same sensitivity (57%) but there was a decrease of both specificity (to 76%) and diagnostic confidence (to 67%).

Use of saliva cortisol in the dexamethasone suppression test.

In a sample of 26 inpatients (15 primary endogenous depressives and a heterogeneous comparison group of 11 psychiatric patients), results of the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) for endogenous depression were compared when cortisol was measured in plasma (total and free) and in saliva. Results showed a close linear relationship among plasma total and free cortisol, plasma total cortisol, and saliva cortisol, and between free plasma and saliva cortisol. A saliva cortisol cutoff point of 70 ng/dl achieved the same sensitivity (67%), specificity (91%), and diagnostic confidence (91%) as the best cutoff scores of plasma total cortisol (5 micrograms/dl) and plasma free cortisol (0.

Plasma hormone levels in women receiving new oral contraceptives containing ethinyl estradiol plus levonorgestrel or desogestrel.

The changes in plasma hormone levels were evaluated in matched healthy female volunteers investigated before and after 6 months' use of three new oral contraceptives (OCs): TrigynonR (n = 13), a triphasic OC containing low doses of ethinylestradiol (EE) + levonorgestrel (LNg); MarvelonR (n = 14), a monophasic OC containing low doses of EE + desogestrel (DOG, a new progestogen derived from LNg); and OvidolR (n = 10), a sequential OC containing higher doses (50 micrograms) of EE + DOG. Serum levels of FSH, LH, estradiol and progesterone were decreased in all cases to levels incompatible with ovulation. Prolactin concentrations were unchanged.

Adrenocortical hormones, ageing and mental condition: seasonal and circadian rhythms of plasma 18-hydroxy-11-deoxycorticosterone, total and free cortisol and urinary corticosteroids.

The circannual rhythms of plasma 18-hydroxy-11-deoxycorticosterone (18-OH-DOC), total and free cortisol have been documented on a circadian basis in January, March, June and October in seven young men (24 years old), six elderly men, six elderly women and six elderly demented subjects, both men and women, in their eighties. Blood samples were drawn every 4 h over a 24-h period at each sampling session and urine samples were collected at 4-h intervals only from the young men. A circadian rhythm of 17-hydroxy-corticosteroids (17-OH-CS), 17-ketosteroids (17-KS), urinary free cortisol and 18-OH-DOC was defined for each of the four seasons with stable acrophases throughout the year and the same excretory profiles.

Inhibitory influence of exogenous oxytocin on adrenocorticotropin secretion in normal human subjects.

Oxytocin has been suggested to have behavioral effects opposite to those of vasopressin, and exogenous vasopressin is known to induce ACTH release in man. Thus, we tested the influence of exogenous oxytocin on blood levels of ACTH and cortisol during insulin-induced hypoglycemia and after vasopressin injection. Our results demonstrate an inhibitory effect of exogenous oxytocin on ACTH release and support the hypothesis of a reciprocal, balanced modulation of behavioral and neuroendocrine function by the two closely related neurohormones, vasopressin and oxytocin.

Adrenal circadian system in young and elderly human subjects: a comparative study.

Circadian changes in plasma 18-hydroxy-11-deoxycorticosterone (18-OH-DOC), total and unbound cortisol were studied in four groups: seven healthy young men, six elderly men, six elderly women and six elderly demented patients of both sexes. The daily activities of the subjects were synchronous; blood samples were taken every 4 h and 4 hourly urine samples were collected only from the young men. A circadian rhythm was defined for plasma 18-OH-DOC, total and unbound cortisol in all groups; the secretory patterns of these steroids were parallel, as were the profiles of urinary 18-OH-DOC and unconjugated cortisol.

Serum CBG, free and total cortisol and circadian patterns of adrenal function in normal pregnancy.

Parameters of cortisol metabolism were studied in pregnancy and early post partum and in non pregnant women. Total serum cortisol was measured by a specific radioimmunoassay and its unbound- and CBG-bound fractions by equilibrium dialysis at 37 degrees C. CBG was measured directly, by an immunodiffusion method (true CBG) and indirectly, by the Scatchard analysis of its interaction with labelled cortisol (PT).