The association between bone turnover markers and kyphosis in community-dwelling older adults.

Purpose: Hyperkyphosis, accentuated curvature of the thoracic spine, is often attributed to osteoporosis, yet its underlying pathophysiology is not well understood. Bone turnover markers (BTM) reflect the dynamic process of bone formation and resorption. This study examined the association between serum BTM levels and kyphosis in community-dwelling older adults.

Effect of impact exercise on bone metabolism.

Summary: Regular impact exercise in premenopausal women caused positive osteogenic effects associated to low basal serum parathormone (PTH) but had no effects on bone turnover markers PINP or TRACP5b. The low serum basal PTH levels during impact exercise may be a sign of increased incorporation of calcium to bone.

Introduction: This study aimed to determine the long-term effects of high-impact exercise on bone turnover and calciotropic hormones.

A 10-year follow-up of the effect of continuous-combined hormone replacement therapy and its discontinuation on bone in postmenopausal women.

Objective: To establish the effect on bone mineral density (BMD) of long-term (nine years) continuous-combined hormone replacement therapy (ccHRT) with estradiol valerate/medroxyprogesterone acetate (E(2)V/MPA) and follow-up one year after discontinuation of ccHRT.

Study Design: A total of 279 women were treated with daily dosages of E(2)V + MPA: 1 mg + 2.5 mg (n = 69), 1 mg + 5 mg (n = 70) or 2 mg + 5 mg (n = 140) (Indivina), Orion Pharma, Espoo, Finland) for 8.

Surface expression of GluR-D AMPA receptor is dependent on an interaction between its C-terminal domain and a 4.1 protein.

Dynamic regulation of the number and activity of AMPA receptors is believed to underlie many forms of synaptic plasticity and is presumably mediated by specific protein-protein interactions involving the C-terminal domain of the receptor. Several proteins interacting with the C-terminal tails of the glutamate receptor (GluR)-A and GluR-B subunits have been identified and implicated in the regulation of endocytosis and exocytosis, clustering, and anchoring of AMPA receptors to the cytoskeleton. In contrast, little is known of the molecular interactions of the GluR-D subunit, or of the mechanisms regulating the traffic of GluR-D-containing AMPA receptors.

Determinants of antagonist binding at the alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor subunit, GluR-D. Role of the conserved arginine 507 and glutamate 727 residues.

Previous structural and mutagenesis studies indicate that the invariant alpha-amino and alpha-carboxyl groups of glutamate receptor agonists are engaged in polar interactions with oppositely charged, conserved arginine and glutamate residues in the ligand-binding domain of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor. To examine the role of these residues (R507 and E727 in the GluR-D subunit) in the discrimination between agonists and antagonists, we analyzed the ligand-binding properties of homomeric GluR-D and its soluble ligand-binding domain with mutations at these positions. Filter-binding assays using [3H]AMPA, an agonist, and [3H]Ro 48-8587, a high-affinity antagonist, as radioligands revealed that even a conservative mutation at R507 (R507K) resulted in the complete loss of both agonist and antagonist binding.

A Bartter-like syndrome after jejunoileal bypass for obesity.

A case of an adult woman with a Bartter-like syndrome after jejunoileal bypass for obesity is described. Diarrhoea, hypokalaemia, high plasma renin activity, hyperaldosteronism, alkalosis, increased urinary prostaglandin E and hyperplasia of the juxtaglomerular apparatus with low or normal blood pressure were the major features. After corrective surgery the values turned only transiently towards normal, despite permanent disappearance of the diarrhoea.

Amniotic fluid beta-2-microglobulin in normal and complicated pregnancies. Correlation with gestational age, creatinine concentration and L/S ratio.

The beta-2-microglobulin concentrations in 127 aminotic fluid samples, obtained during weeks 32-42 of normal pregnancies (n = 58) and complicated pregnancies (n = 69), were measured and correlated with gestational weeks, amniotic fluid creatinine concentrations and L/S ratios. A significant (p less than 0.001) decrease of beta-2-microglobulin concentration occurred from week 32 to 34 of normal pregnancies, after which the beta-2-microglobulin level was unchanged.

The effect of oral thyrotropin-releasing hormone on thyroid function and the composition of breast milk in puerperal women.

To determine the effect of oral administration of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) on the thyroid function and on the composition of breast milk in the early puerperium, six lactating women were treated with a single dose of 40 mg of synthetic TRH and six women were treated with placebo. Serial serum samples taken before and between one and 25 hours after TRH administration were assayed with specific radioimmunoassays for thyrotropin (TSH), triiodothyronine (T3) and total thyroxine (T4). Milk samples were collected three times a day and their major fatty acids were determined by gas-liquid chromatography and were compared with those obtained from normal lactating women.

Effects of ritodrine and isoxsuprine with and without dexamethasone during late pregnancy.

beta-Adrenergic agents are used to inhibit preterm labor and glucocorticoids to accelerate fetal pulmonary maturation. A study was designed to investigate the metabolic effects of intravenous infusion of ritodrine (150 to 100 microgram/min) or isoxsuprine (200 to 150 microgram/min) in a series of 28 patients with gestations of 28 to 40 weeks, with and without concomitant dexamethasone therapy. Ritodrine was more potent than isoxsuprine in increasing the circulating levels of cyclic AMP, glucose, insulin, and triglycerides.

Effects of intravenous isoxsuprine and ritodrine, with and without concomitant dexamethasone, on fetoplacental and pituitary hormones and cyclic adenosine monophosphate during late pregnancy.

Beta sympathomimetic drugs are used to inhibit preterm labor and glucocorticoids to accelerate fetal pulmonary maturation. A study was designed to investigate the hormonal effects of intravenous infusion of isoxsuprine 150 to 200 mcg. per minute or ritodrine 100 to 150 mcg.

Adrenocorticotrophic hormone during the first day of life.

The plasma concentration of ACTH (by radioimmunoassay) was measured in 56 healthy parturients and their newborns. Umbilical cord and maternal venous blood were collected immediately after delivery. In addition one venous blood sample was taken from 50 newborns at the age of 15, 30, 60 min, 2, 6, 12, or 24 h.

ACTH levels in maternal, fetal and neonatal plasma after short-term prenatal dexamethasone therapy.

The effect of prenatal dexamethasone therapy (12, 8 and 4 mg doses given intramuscularly on three consecutive days) on ACTH levels in maternal plasma (n=33), mixed umbilical cord plasma (n=31) and plasma from the newborn (n=29) was studied, and the results were compared with those obtained in 56 healthy parturients and 50 of their newborn. Maternal ACTH after delivery was significantly lower in the mothers treated with dexamethasone than in the control group. Cord ACTH values were similar in the two groups.

ACTH levels in amniotic fluid during pregnancy.

The fetal pituitary-adrenal axis plays an important role in the role in the regulation of fetal development. In order to obtain information about fetal ACTH secretion at different gestational ages, a total of 109 amniotic fluid ACTH determinations was performed by radioimmunoassay. There was a significantly higher level of ACTH during 26 to 30 weeks of pregnancy (429 +/- 180-4 pg/ml) than in early (208-7 +/- 90-6 pg/ml) and in late (172-7 +/- 97-4 pg/ml) pregnancy; fetal sex, uterine contractions and maternal complications in pregnancy did not affect levels.

Comparison between serum estriol and urinary estrogens as indices of fetoplacental function.

In order to compare the predictive efficacies of serum estriol and urinary estrogen excretion in early diagnosis of fetal distress, 255 patients with normal (N = 128) or complicated (N = 127) pregnancies were monitored with simultaneous determinations of serum estriol (radioimmunoassay) and urinary estrogen excretion/24 h (colorimetric method) after the 32nd week of pregnancy. There was no difference in the efficacies of these tests. Out of all 43 fetal distress cases, 40% were predicted by serum estriol and 33% urinary estrogens.

The effect of electric convulsion therapy on the circulating concentrations of pituitary hormones, cortisol and cyclic adenosine monophosphate.

In order to evaluate the effect of electroconvulsive therapy on the human pituitary-adrenal function, serial plasma samples were assayed for FSH, LH, TSH, HGH, ACTH, cortisol and cyclic AMP before and after nine shocks in five subjects. A prominent finding was the rapid stimulation of the ACTH-cortisol production in all subjects, while no consistent changes in FSH, LH, TSH, HGH or cyclic AMP were found.

The effect of labour on ACTH and cortisol levels in amniotic fluid and maternal blood.

Levels of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol were measured in amniotic fluid during labour and in maternal blood during and after labour. There was a significant rise of maternal ACTH and cortisol levels during labour and a significant decrease after delivery in all 14 patients studied. There were no significant changes in amniotic fluid ACTH and cortisol levels during labour.

Follicle stimulating hormone, thyrotrophin, human growth hormone and prolactin in hyperemesis gravidarum.

To investigate the functional capacity of the anterior pituitary gland in hyperemesis gravidarum, the serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), thyrotrophin (TSH), human growth hormone (HGH) and prolactin were measured before and after the combined administration of gonadotrophin and thyrotrophin releasing hormones, (GnRH, TRH), and insulin in seven normal pregnancies, nine with hyperemesis and eight nonpregnant subjects. There was no difference between normal pregnancy and hyperemesis for FSH and TSH, but the basal level of HGH was lower and that of prolactin higher in hyperemesis although their responses following stimulation were similar. Thus there seems to be no hypofunction of the anterior pituitary gland in hyperemesis gravidarum.

The placental and fetal response to the intra-amniotic injection of prostaglandin F2alpha in midtrimester abortions.

The placental and fetal response to the intra-amniotic injection of prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha) for midtrimester abortions was evaluated. Maternal blood samples for radioimmunological determinations of serum progesterone, human placental lactogen (HPL) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) were taken before and serially until 24 hours after the injection of 40 mg (nine patients) or 75 mg (seven patients) of PGF2alpha. Fetal heart action was monitored ultrasonically during the same period.

The function of the anterior pituitary-adrenal cortex axis in hyperemesis gravidarum.

In order to study the function of the pituitary-adrenal axis, serum ACTH and cortisol levels were estimated before and after insulin induced hypoglycaemia in nine women with hyperemesis gravidarum, seven women in normal early pregnancy and in eight non-pregnant controls. Before hypoglycaemia, the basal ACTH level in the hyperemesis group (102-4+/-62-9 pg/ml) was higher than in normal early pregnancy (67-5+/-19-2 pg/ml; p less than 0-05) or in non-pregnant controls (54-8+/-25-2 pg/ml; less than 0-01). Correspondingly, the mean cortisol value in hyperemesis (0-47+/-0-16 mumol/l) was higher than in normal early pregnancy (0-39+/-0-10 mumol/l; p greater than 0-05) or in non-pregnant controls (0-32+/-0-13 mumol/l; p less than 0-01).

Serum tri-iodothyronine, thyroxine, and thyrotrophin concentrations in newborns during the first 2 days of life.

The serum concentrations of tri-iodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), and thyrotrophin (TSH) were measured in 10 term newborn infants between birth and the age of 2 days by radioimmunoassay. The mean concentration of T3 in maternal serum was 1.62 mug/l, and it increased from the low cord blood level of 0-63 mug/l to the peak value of 1-76 mug/l within the first 2 hours of life.