Clinical diagnosis of pituitary adenoma.

Clinical symptoms, signs, endocrine examinations, image diagnosis of GH cell adenoma, prolactin cell adenoma, TSH cell adenoma and nonsecreting pituitary adenoma are discussed.

Hypothalamic hormones: clinical aspects.

Clinical aspects of TRH, GHRH, Somatostatin (SS) and CRH as well as an effect of glucocorticoid on GH secretion are reported.

[Islet cell carcinoma associated with concurrent Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and Cushing's syndrome].

A tissue specimen taken from the pancreatic tumor of a patient suffering from Zollinger-Ellison syndrome associated with a concurrent Cushing's syndrome was investigated both morphologically and immunohistochemically. Histologically, the tumor cells were found to be arranged in a cord or ribbon pattern. An immunohistochemical study revealed that the tumor nodule contained both gastrin and ACTH.

[Changes in endocrine status in cancer patients and the effect of chemotherapy on endocrine functions].

Changes in serum growth hormone (GH) concentrations before and after TRH injection, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), L-dopa, CB-154 and LHRH administration were investigated in 78 gastric, 32 hepatocellular, 23 colonic, 20 pulmonary, 11 esophageal, 9 pancreatic and 9 other types of cancer patients. In addition, the effect of 5-FU or tegafur on thyroid function was studied in 39 gastric, 12 colonic, 8 hepatocellular, 5 pancreatic and 8 other types of cancer patients. The results obtained were as follows.

Effect of acrylonitrile on the rat pituitary: enlargement of Golgi region in prolactin cells, crinophagy in prolactin cells and growth hormone cells.

Since it has been shown that acrylonitrile prevents the appearance of spontaneous pituitary adenomas, we have investigated its effect in acute experiments on rat pituitaries by histology, immunocytochemistry, electron microscopy and morphometry; in addition, serum prolactin and growth hormone levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. Electron microscopy of prolactin cells revealed hypertrophy of the Golgi region without significant change in volume densities and diameters of forming and storage granules. In the 24 h group, crinophagy was observed in prolactin cells and growth hormone cells.

Low T3 syndrome in cancer patients in relation to weight loss, intravenous hyperalimentation therapy and age.

In order to investigate the relation of weight loss and intravenous hyperalimentation therapy to low T3 syndrome, serum T3, T4. rT3 and TBG were determined by radioimmunoassay in 105 cancer patients. The cancer patients were classified into 3 groups, Group I, II and III depending on the grade of weight loss, ranging up to a 5% change in weight loss from a healthy condition, from 5 to 9%, and more than 10%, respectively.

Molecular cloning and nucleotide sequence of the cDNA for rat peroxisomal enoyl-CoA: hydratase-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase bifunctional enzyme.

For the studies on the mechanism of induction of peroxisomal beta-oxidation enzymes and biogenesis of the organelle, we have isolated cDNA clones for rat peroxisomal enoyl-CoA: hydratase-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase bifunctional enzyme. On blotting experiments with liver RNA, the cDNAs hybridized to a 3.0-kilobase RNA which was increased 5-7-fold by the administration of di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate to rats.

Membrane lipid environment of carp brain and liver mitochondrial monoamine oxidase.

Delipidation of carp liver mitochondria by treatment with methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) or Triton X-100 and then perchlorate greatly reduced MAO activities. Treatment with only Triton X-100 resulted in less reduction in activity. The Km values of the remaining activities were similar regardless of these treatments.

Carboxyphenyl chloroanthranilic acid (CCA) in the modulation of immune response in mice.

A study to elucidate the immunopharmacological mechanisms of carboxyphenyl chloroanthranilic acid (CCA) was carried out, employing as a parameter the rosette formation of mouse spleen and thymus cells with red blood cells of sheep. The immunopharmacological properties of CCA and levamisole (LMS) were compared. In C57BL/6 mice, the immune response was either suppressed or enhanced by LMS, whereas CCA caused a suppression of rosette formation.

Sex difference in the paradoxical response of serum GH to thyrotrophin releasing hormone in cancer patients.

It was demonstrated that thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) elicited a paradoxical increase in basal GH levels in cancer patients. Out of 94 cancer patients, 50 were found to be GH responders and this phenomenon was more frequently recognized in female than in male cancer patients. In cancer patients under 59 years of age, the GH response to TRH was significantly greater in females than in males, although there was no sex difference in the GH response in patients above 60 years of age.

Hemodynamics and monoamine oxidase activity in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).

The relationship between the onset of hypertension and changes in monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity in the brains and hearts of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were studied. After 7-weeks-old, blood pressure of SHR increased rapidly and reached a level of 170 to 180 mmHg; but following 4 weeks of propranolol treatment (10 mg/kg/day), blood pressure decreased significantly compared to that of untreated SHR. Heart/body weights ratio of SHR was higher than that of normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY).

Inhibition of carp liver mitochondrial monoamine oxidase by some commonly-used detergents.

The inhibitory effects of some detergents commonly used in biochemical research on carp liver mitochondrial monoamine oxidase were examined. Sodium dodecylsulfate, octyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside, sodium cholate and Triton X-100 at relatively low concentrations caused strong dose-dependent inhibition of the activity towards tyramine, but digitonin caused only weak inhibition. Sodium dodecylsulfate, octyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside and sodium cholate caused almost complete inhibition of activity in the concentration ranges tested.

A new type of mitochondrial monoamine oxidase distinct from type-A and type-B.

The characteristics of mitochondrial monoamine oxidase (MAO) in carp liver were studied with MAO inhibitors and substrates. This enzyme was thermolabile, but was stabilized in the presence of bovine serum albumin. With clorgyline and deprenyl, single-sigmoidal curves for inhibition of the activity towards tyramine or 5-hydroxytryptamine were obtained; the sensitivities to the two inhibitors were identical.

Pharmacokinetics of amikacin and cephalothin in bedridden elderly patients.

The pharmacokinetics of amikacin (5.5 mg/kg intramuscularly) and cephalothin (1000 mg/body intravenously) in bedridden elderly patients were studied in comparison with those in healthy volunteers. The eliminations of amikacin and cephalothin from the plasma followed the course of a one-compartment open model.

Effect of cimetidine on prolactin secretion in normal controls and hyperthyroid patients.

Nine healthy female controls and 10 hyperthyroid female patients were studied. The intravenous administration of 200 mg cimetidine, an H2-receptor antagonist, was followed by a significant and marked rise in serum prolactin levels in all control subjects. There was no significant difference in serum PRL response to cimetidine injection between the euthyroid controls and hyperthyroid patients.

A case with isolated ACTH deficiency accompanying chronic thyroiditis.

An unusual case of isolated ACTH deficiency with coexisting chronic thyroiditis in a 53-year-old man is reported. The patient was admitted with a 2-year history of generalized fatigue, a 13-kg weight loss, muscular weakness, and frequent hypotensive and hypoglycemic attacks. On admission serum thyroxine and triiodothyronine were significantly elevated.

Effects of local anesthetics on monoamine oxidase, and their membrane effects.

The effects of various local anesthetics on rat brain and liver monoamine oxidase (MAO) and their antihemolytic and local anesthetic effects were studied. All local anesthetics tested at 1 x 10(-7) M to 1 x 10(-3) M inhibited MAO activity in rat liver mitochondria with 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) as substrate. The order of potency was tetracaine>procaine>dibucaine>lidocaine>prilocaine.