Bulimia nervosa--a primary defect in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis?

Bulimia nervosa has been associated with impaired satiety, decreased resting metabolic rate and abnormal neuroendocrine regulation. The aim of this study was to investigate the diurnal cortisol secretion and the pituitary-adrenal response to corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) in subjects suffering from bulimia nervosa. Eight female subjects with remitted bulimia nervosa, ages 24-56, and 8 sex- and weight-matched controls volunteered to participate.

Causes of secondary hyperparathyroidism in a healthy population: the Tromsø study.

Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) develops as a compensatory mechanism when the body is in calcium deficit. SHPT may be harmful and has been associated with elevated blood pressure. The cause of SHPT could be low calcium intake, reduced intestinal calcium absorption, or increased excretion.

Neuropsychological function and symptoms in subjects with subclinical hypothyroidism and the effect of thyroxine treatment.

Objective: Our objective was to examine the relation between neuropsychological function and subclinical hypothyroidism (SHT), defined as serum TSH of 3.5-10.0 mIU/liter and normal serum free T4 and free T3 levels, and to study the effect of T4 supplementation.

Left ventricular dysfunction in subjects with mild secondary hyperparathyroidism detected with pulsed wave tissue Doppler echocardiography.

Aims: To assess left ventricular function by conventional and pulsed wave tissue Doppler (PWTD) echocardiography in subjects with mild secondary hyperparathyroidism, and to evaluate whether PWTD would be more sensitive than conventional echocardiography in detecting subtle changes in LV systolic and diastolic function.

Methods: In the fifth Tromsø study (2001) serum PTH and calcium were measured in 7,954 subjects. One hundred subjects with secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT; serum PTH >6.

Serum parathyroid hormone as a predictor of increase in systolic blood pressure in men.

Background: In cross-sectional studies there appears to be a link between calcium metabolism and blood pressure, and most studies have found a positive association between serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) and hypertension.

Objective: To determine the prognostic value of serum PTH regarding a future increase in blood pressure.

Design: A prospective cohort study.

Fatigue in patients with lupus is not associated with disturbances in cerebral blood flow as detected by SPECT.

Objectives: Fatigue is a common complaint in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We investigated whether focal or general disturbances of cerebral blood flow (CBF), as assessed by SPECT, were associated with the presence of fatigue in an unselected group of SLE patients.

Methods: Fifty-six patients were included.

Endogenous sex hormones in relation to age, sex, lifestyle factors, and chronic diseases in a general population: the Tromsø Study.

The role played by endogenous hormones in many diseases makes it important to understand factors influencing their levels. This study examined the distribution of total and free estradiol, FSH, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) by age and sex and associations of these hormones with body mass index (BMI), lifestyle factors, and chronic diseases. Plasma samples taken from 1555 men and 1952 women 25-84 yr of age in 1994-1995 Tromsø Study were analyzed in 2001.

Waist circumference and testosterone levels in community dwelling men. The Tromsø study.

To examine the relationship of total and free testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) with central obesity in men, we studied 1548 men aged 25-84 years that took part in the 1994--1995 survey of the Tromsø study. Total testosterone and SHBG were measured by immuno-assay and the free testosterone fraction was calculated. These measurements were analyzed in relation to anthropometric data and lifestyle factors.

Serum parathyroid hormone level is associated with body mass index. The 5th Tromsø study.

Objective: To study whether serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) and serum calcium are associated with body mass index (BMI), and their predicting role in obesity.

Design: Population based, cross-sectional study.

Methods: In 2001 a population-based health survey was held in Tromsø, North Norway.

Serum parathyroid hormone levels predict coronary heart disease: the Tromsø Study.

Background: Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is associated with hypertension, coronary atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases. We aimed to evaluate serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels as an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD) in subjects with serum calcium within the reference range.

Design: Population-based cross-sectional study.

123I-beta-CIT SPECT demonstrates increased presynaptic dopamine transporter binding sites in basal ganglia in vivo in schizophrenia.

Rationale: The dopamine hypothesis for schizophrenia postulates overactivity of dopamine transmission in the basal ganglia. Most effective antipsychotic drugs block postsynaptic dopamine receptors, but in-vivo imaging studies have not been able to show changes in these receptors in drug-naive schizophrenics.

Objectives: The presynaptic dopamine transporter (DAT) is thought to be an important regulator of synaptic dopamine concentration.

The associations of age, lifestyle factors and chronic disease with testosterone in men: the Tromsø Study.

Objective: To study whether lifestyle factors and/or chronic disease are associated with the age-related decline of total and free testosterone in men, or if these factors might be associated with the variation of total and free testosterone but not with their age-related decline.

Design: A population-based, cross-sectional study was used.

Methods: Total testosterone and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) levels were analyzed and free testosterone levels were calculated in 1563 men participating in the Tromsø study in 1994/1995.

Seasonal variation of testosterone and waist to hip ratio in men: the Tromsø study.

Studies of seasonal variation in male testosterone levels show contradictory results. We report here a cross-sectional study of the seasonal variation in total and free testosterone, LH, and SHBG levels in 1548 men living in north Norway, a population exposed to a wide seasonal variation in temperature and daylight. Total testosterone showed a bimodal seasonal variation (P < 0.

The effects of calcium supplementation to patients with primary hyperparathyroidism and a low calcium intake.

Background: In patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) a low calcium intake might cause increased bone loss and thus aggravate osteoporosis, and a high intake might increase serum calcium level and the risk of nephrolithiasis.

Aim Of The Study: Generally, guidelines recommend a normal calcium intake, and accordingly, those with a low intake might benefit from a modest calcium supplementation. This hypothesis was tested in the present study.

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in the night eating syndrome.

The typical neuroendocrine characteristics of the night eating syndrome have previously been described as changes in the circadian rhythm by an attenuation in the nocturnal rise of the plasma concentrations of melatonin and leptin and an increased circadian secretion of cortisol. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that night eaters have an overexpressed hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis with an attenuated response to stress. Five female subjects with the night-eating syndrome and five sex-, age-, and weight-matched controls performed a 120-min corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) test (100 microg iv).