Spontaneous growth hormone and somatomedin-C/insulin-like growth factor-I secretion in obese subjects during puberty.

It has been reported that adult obese subjects present a reduced growth hormone secretion. As no data are available in the pubertal period, which is characterized in lean subjects by an increased spontaneous growth hormone secretion, the growth hormone circadian concentration was studied in a group of 18 obese male subjects in different pubertal stages, and compared to 26 age-matched control subjects. The data observed evidenced no statistically relevant differences regarding LH and FSH circadian secretion and morning testosterone concentration.

[Changes in various indices of thyroid function in obese adults during diet therapy].

Modifications in thyroid function caused by changes in diet have been reported in the literature though the results are often conflicting. The present study was conducted on 48 obese adults divided into two groups: the first over 60% and the second under 60% above their ideal weight. A control group of healthy subjects of normal weight and comparable age was also studied.

Growth hormone and somatomedin-C response to synthetic human pancreatic tumor GH-releasing factor in hypopituitary and constitutionally short children.

GH and somatomedin-C response to acute hpGRF-44 iv administration (1 microgram/Kg bw) was studied in 16 patients with hypopituitarism (GHD) and in 7 constitutionally short subjects. GH-deficient patients evidenced a significant GH increase peaking between 15 and 60 min. (4.

Ultradian chronomodulation by melatonin of a Placebo effect upon human killer cell activity.

The effect of melatonin injection evaluated earlier with respect to placebo-treated controls is reevaluated, also with reference to spontaneous changes in natural killer cell activity. This effect consists, first, of stimulation of natural killer cell activity over and above any changes brought about by placebo (saline). After 6 h, the melatonin effect appears to be an inhibition as compared to values from placebo-treated subjects, or no effect as compared to values from untreated subjects.