Running in mice increases the expression of brain hemoglobin-related genes interacting with the GH/IGF-1 system.

The beneficial effects of exercise are partly mediated via local or systemic functions of the insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) system. As IGF-1 increases local brain hemoglobin beta (Hbb) transcripts, we hypothesized that exercise could have similar effects. Mice were single-housed with free access to running wheels for seven days.

A Nonlinear Relation between Body Mass Index and Long-Term Poststroke Functional Outcome-The Importance of Insulin Resistance, Inflammation, and Insulin-like Growth Factor-Binding Protein-1.

Both high serum insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 (s-IGFBP-1) and insulin resistance (IR) are associated with poor functional outcome poststroke, whereas overweight body mass index (BMI; 25-30) is related to fewer deaths and favorable functional outcome in a phenomenon labeled "the obesity paradox". Furthermore, IGFBP-1 is inversely related to BMI, in contrast to the linear relation between IR and BMI. Here, we investigated s-IGFBP-1 and IR concerning BMI and 7-year poststroke functional outcome.

Brain tissue haemoglobin expression in saline-perfused vs non-perfused rodents.

Haemoglobin beta () and delta-aminolevulinate synthase 2 () messenger RNA (mRNA) is mainly found in immature red blood cells, reticulocytes, and not in mature erythrocytes. However, these are also expressed in other tissues such as brain cells, mostly neurons. Therefore, exact quantification of neural tissue homogenates may be confounded by remaining blood in the brain vasculature that may give falsely high values of expression.

Serum IGFBP-1 Concentration as a Predictor of Outcome after Ischemic Stroke-A Prospective Observational Study.

Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) regulates insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) bioactivity, and is a central player in normal growth, metabolism, and stroke recovery. However, the role of serum IGFBP-1 (s-IGFBP-1) after ischemic stroke is unclear. We determined whether s-IGFBP-1 is predictive of poststroke outcome.

Growth Hormone Increases BDNF and mTOR Expression in Specific Brain Regions after Photothrombotic Stroke in Mice.

Aims: We have shown that growth hormone (GH) treatment poststroke increases neuroplasticity in peri-infarct areas and the hippocampus, improving motor and cognitive outcomes. We aimed to explore the mechanisms of GH treatment by investigating how GH modulates pathways known to induce neuroplasticity, focusing on association between brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in the peri-infarct area, hippocampus, and thalamus.

Methods: Recombinant human growth hormone (r-hGH) or saline was delivered (0.

Circulating granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and functional outcome after ischemic stroke: an observational study.

: While granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) has shown beneficial effects in experimental ischemic stroke (IS), these effects have not been reproduced clinically. Small-to-medium-sized observational studies have reported varying associations for G-CSF with stroke severity and post-stroke functional outcome, prompting their investigation in a larger study.: Endogenous serum G-CSF (S-GCSF) was measured in the acute phase and after 3 months in patients with IS (N = 435; 36% females; mean age, 57 years) from the Sahlgrenska Academy Study on Ischemic Stroke (SAHLSIS).

Insulin-Like Growth Factor-II and Ischemic Stroke-A Prospective Observational Study.

Insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) regulates prenatal brain development, but the role in adult brain function and injury is unclear. Here, we determined whether serum levels of IGF-II (s-IGF-II) are associated with mortality and functional outcome after ischemic stroke (IS). The study population comprised ischemic stroke cases (n = 492) and controls (n = 514) from the Sahlgrenska Academy Study on Ischemic Stroke (SAHLSIS).

Myocardial expression of somatotropic axis, adrenergic signalling, and calcium handling genes in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

Aims: Limited data are available regarding cardiac expression of molecules involved in heart failure (HF) pathophysiology. The majority of the studies have focused on end-stage HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) without comparison with healthy subjects, while no data are available with regard to HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). HFpEF is a condition whose multiple pathophysiological mechanisms are still not fully defined, with many proposed hypotheses remaining speculative due to limited access to human heart tissue.

Growth Hormone and Neuronal Hemoglobin in the Brain-Roles in Neuroprotection and Neurodegenerative Diseases.

In recent years, evidence for hemoglobin (Hb) synthesis in both animal and human brains has been accumulating. While circulating Hb originating from cerebral hemorrhage or other conditions is toxic, there is also substantial production of neuronal Hb, which is influenced by conditions such as ischemia and regulated by growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), and other growth factors. In this review, we discuss the possible functions of circulating and brain Hb, mainly the neuronal form, with respect to the neuroprotective activities of GH and IGF-I against ischemia and neurodegenerative diseases.

Metabolic Effects of Cortisone Acetate vs Hydrocortisone in Patients With Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency.

Context: Pharmacokinetic properties of cortisone acetate (CA) and hydrocortisone (HC) differ because CA needs to be converted into cortisol to become active.

Objective: This work analyzed the metabolic consequences of switching CA to an equivalent daily dose of HC in patients with secondary adrenal insufficiency (SAI).

Design: This was a post hoc analysis from a prospective study including individuals with hypopituitarism receiving growth hormone replacement.

Effect of growth hormone treatment on circulating levels of NT-proBNP in patients with ischemic heart failure.

Aims: Growth hormone (GH) therapy in heart failure (HF) is controversial. We investigated the cardiovascular effects of GH in patients with chronic HF due to ischemic heart disease.

Methods: In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we randomly assigned 37 patients (mean age 66 years; 95% male) with ischemic HF (ejection fraction [EF] < 40%) to a 9-month treatment with either recombinant human GH (1.

Growth Hormone Treatment Promotes Remote Hippocampal Plasticity after Experimental Cortical Stroke.

Cognitive impairment is common after stroke, and disturbances in hippocampal function are often involved, even in remote non-hippocampal injuries. In terms of hippocampal function, growth hormone (GH) is known to affects plasticity and cognition. We aimed to investigate whether GH treatment after an experimental cortical stroke could enhance remote hippocampal plasticity and the hippocampal-dependent visual discrimination task.

Relationship between Levels of Pre-Stroke Physical Activity and Post-Stroke Serum Insulin-Like Growth Factor I.

Physical activity (PA) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) have beneficial effects for patients who have suffered an ischemic stroke (stroke). However, the relationship between the levels of PA and IGF-I after stroke has not been explored in detail. We investigated the pre-stroke PA level in relation to the post-stroke serum IGF-I (s-IGF-I) level, at baseline and at 3 months after the index stroke, and calculated the change that occurred between these two time-points (ΔIGF-I).

Growth Hormone Promotes Motor Function after Experimental Stroke and Enhances Recovery-Promoting Mechanisms within the Peri-Infarct Area.

Motor impairment is the most common and widely recognised clinical outcome after stroke. Current clinical practice in stroke rehabilitation focuses mainly on physical therapy, with no pharmacological intervention approved to facilitate functional recovery. Several studies have documented positive effects of growth hormone (GH) on cognitive function after stroke, but surprisingly, the effects on motor function remain unclear.

Circulating levels of vascular endothelial growth factor and post-stroke long-term functional outcome.

Objectives: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) acts in angiogenesis and neuroprotection, although the beneficial effects on experimental ischemic stroke (IS) have not been replicated in clinical studies. We investigated serum VEGF (s-VEGF) in the acute stage (baseline) and 3 months post-stroke in relation to stroke severity and functional outcome.

Methods: The s-VEGF and serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) concentrations were measured in patients enrolled in the Sahlgrenska Academy Study on Ischemic Stroke (SAHLSIS) at the acute time-point (median 4 days, N = 492, 36% female; mean age, 57 years) and at 3 months post-stroke (N = 469).

Effects of peripheral administration of GH and IGF-I on gene expression in the hippocampus of hypophysectomised rats.

Objective: Growth hormone (GH) increases insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) production and both hormones affect hippocampal plasticity. We have previously shown that Hbb and Alas2 in the rat hippocampus were robustly regulated by GH-infusions for six days, whereas other transcripts were weakly affected. Here, we explored the effects of prolonged GH administration on transcripts linked to neuroprotection and investigated whether serum IGF-I administration may exert similar effects.

Growth Hormone Deficiency Is Frequent After Recent Stroke.

The incidence of pituitary dysfunction after severe ischemic stroke is unknown, however given the increasing attention to pituitary dysfunction after neurological injuries such as traumatic brain injury, this may represent a novel area of research in stroke. We perform an arginine and human growth hormone releasing hormone challenge on ischemic stroke patients within a week of symptom onset. Over the study period, 13 patients were successfully tested within a week of stroke (baseline NIHSS 10, range 7-16).

Altered levels of circulating insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) following ischemic stroke are associated with outcome - a prospective observational study.

Background: Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) has neuroprotective effects in experimental ischemic stroke (IS). However, in patients who have suffered IS, various associations between the levels of serum IGF-I (s-IGF-I) and clinical outcome have been reported, probably reflecting differences in sampling time-points and follow-up periods. Since changes in the levels of post-stroke s-IGF-I have not been extensively explored, we investigated whether decreases in the levels of s-IGF-I between the acute time-point (median, 4 days) and 3 months (ΔIGF-I, further transformed into ΔIGF-I-quintiles, ΔIGF-I-q) are associated with IS severity and outcome.

Growth Hormone Improves Cognitive Function After Experimental Stroke.

Background And Purpose: Cognitive impairment is a common outcome for stroke survivors. Growth hormone (GH) could represent a potential therapeutic option as this peptide hormone has been shown to improve cognition in various clinical conditions. In this study, we evaluated the effects of peripheral administration of GH at 48 hours poststroke for 28 days on cognitive function and the underlying mechanisms.

Mode of GH administration and gene expression in the female rat brain.

The endogenous secretion of growth hormone (GH) is sexually dimorphic in rats with females having a more even and males a more pulsatile secretion and low trough levels. The mode of GH administration, mimicking the sexually dimorphic secretion, has different systemic effects. In the brains of male rats, we have previously found that the mode of GH administration differently affects neuron-haemoglobin beta () expression whereas effects on other transcripts were moderate.

Growth Hormone Deficiency Is Associated with Worse Cardiac Function, Physical Performance, and Outcome in Chronic Heart Failure: Insights from the T.O.S.CA. GHD Study.

Background: Although mounting evidence supports the concept that growth hormone (GH) deficiency (GHD) affects cardiovascular function, no study has systematically investigated its prevalence and role in a large cohort of chronic heart failure (CHF) patients. Aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of GHD in mild-to-moderate CHF and to explore clinical and functional correlates of GHD.

Methods: One-hundred thirty CHF patients underwent GH provocative test with GHRH+arginine and accordingly categorized into GH-deficiency (GHD, n = 88, age = 61.