The Cushing Reflex: Oliguria as a Reflection of an Elevated Intracranial Pressure.

Oliguria is one of the clinical hallmarks of renal failure. The broad differential diagnosis is well known, but a rare cause of oliguria is intracranial hypertension (ICH). The actual knowledge to explain this relationship is scarce.

Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System Activation and Metabolic Profile in Young Children: The ABCD Study.

Background: In adults, increased sympathetic and decreased parasympathetic nervous system activity are associated with a less favorable metabolic profile. Whether this is already determined at early age is unknown. Therefore, we aimed to assess the association between autonomic nervous system activation and metabolic profile and its components in children at age of 5-6 years.

Maternal prepregancy BMI and lipid profile during early pregnancy are independently associated with offspring's body composition at age 5-6 years: the ABCD study.

Background: There is growing evidence that disturbances in maternal metabolism and, subsequently, intrauterine conditions affect foetal metabolism. Whether this has metabolic consequences in offspring later in life is not fully elucidated. We investigated whether maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (pBMI) is associated with offspring's adiposity at age 5-6 years and whether this association is mediated by the mother's lipid profile during early pregnancy.

Akt2/LDLr double knockout mice display impaired glucose tolerance and develop more complex atherosclerotic plaques than LDLr knockout mice.

Aim: To characterize the phenotype of Akt2/low-density-lipoprotein receptor double knockout (dKO) (Akt2/LDLr dKO) mice with respect to insulin resistance and features of atherosclerotic plaque progression.

Methods And Results: Metabolic profile and atherosclerotic plaque progression were compared between LDLr KO mice and Akt2/LDLr dKO mice. Total cholesterol, glucose, and insulin levels were significantly higher and oral glucose tolerance test (GTT) was more impaired in Akt2/LDLr dKO mice than in LDLr KO mice.

Infusion of a lipid emulsion in healthy men decreases the serotonergic response.

Subjects with obesity and insulin resistance display a low response to a serotonergic challenge test. One of the hallmarks of obesity and insulin resistance is elevated plasma free fatty acids (FFAs). We hypothesize that increasing plasma FFA by infusion of a lipid emulsion, may be a contributing component leading to decreased serotonergic responsivity in healthy young men.

Functional consequences of prolactin signalling in endothelial cells: a potential link with angiogenesis in pathophysiology?

Prolactin is best known as the polypeptide anterior pituitary hormone, which regulates the development of the mammary gland. However, it became clear over the last decade that prolactin contributes to a broad range of pathologies, including breast cancer. Prolactin is also involved in angiogenesis via the release of pro-angiogenic factors by leukocytes and epithelial cells.

Microcirculation and atherothrombotic parameters in prolactinoma patients: a pilot study.

Atherothrombosis is a multifactorial process, governed by an interaction between the vessel wall, hemodynamic factors and systemic atherothrombotic risk factors. Recent in vitro, human ex vivo and animal studies have implicated the hormone prolactin as an atherothrombotic mediator. To address this issue, we evaluated the anatomy and function of various microvascular beds as well as plasma atherothrombosis markers in patients with elevated prolactin levels.

Prolactin and venous thrombosis: indications for a novel risk factor?

Objective: Several acquired risk factors for venous thrombosis (VT) are associated with high prolactin levels. Our goal was to investigate VT risk for different levels of prolactin.

Methods And Results: We used data of a case-control study on leg vein thrombosis conducted between September 1999 and August 2006 at the Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

The prolactin receptor is expressed in macrophages within human carotid atherosclerotic plaques: a role for prolactin in atherogenesis?

Atherosclerotic vascular disease is the consequence of a chronic inflammatory process, and prolactin has been shown to be a component of the inflammatory response. Additionally, recent studies indicate that prolactin contributes to an atherogenic phenotype. We hypothesized that this may be the result of a direct effect of prolactin on atherogenesis through activation of the prolactin receptor.

Should anterior pituitary function be tested during follow-up of all patients presenting at the emergency department because of traumatic brain injury?

Context: A wide range (15-56%) of prevalences of anterior pituitary insufficiency are reported in patients after traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, different study populations, study designs, and diagnostic procedures were used. No data are available on emergency-department-based cohorts of TBI patients.

Prolactin fragmentation by trophoblastic matrix metalloproteinases as a possible contributor to peripartum cardiomyopathy and pre-eclampsia.

Although peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare disease, it has very serious consequences for both mother and child. No single cause has been held responsible for the pathogenesis. Recent studies have indicated that increased proteolytic cathepsin D activity in cardiomyocytes results in16kDa prolactin fragments with anti-angiogenic and apoptotic properties, which may contribute to the development of PPCM.

Pregnancy in women suffering from familial hypercholesterolemia: a harmful period for both mother and newborn?

Purpose Of Review: The present review aims to highlight the consequences for mother and child of profound hypercholesterolemia during pregnancy of women with familial hypercholesterolemia.

Recent Findings: Familial hypercholesterolemia is increasingly diagnosed in younger patients due to the existence of screening programs and more widespread cholesterol testing. Increasing numbers of young female patients with familial hypercholesterolemia raise the issue of pregnancy and its consequences for the familial hypercholesterolemia patient herself but also for her offspring.

Hormones and cardiovascular disease: a shift in paradigm with clinical consequences?

Several endocrine disorders have been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality. In addition, even subtle hormonal disturbances may modulate the function of cardiovascular organs. In this article, we discuss in detail the contribution of thyroid hormones, cortisol, the somatotropic hormones, and prolactin in the development of CVD.

Prolactin does not affect human platelet aggregation or secretion.

Platelets play an important role in the development of plaque formation and in the events after rupture of the atherosclerotic plaque, leading to atherothrombosis. Multiple hormones, either in excess or when deficient, are involved in the development of atherothrombotic disease, but, to which extent such hormones affect platelet function, is still controversial. It was the objective of this study to assess the ability of the pituitary hormone prolactin to affect platelet functions.

Hypercoagulable state in Cushing's syndrome: a systematic review.

Context: It has been debated whether an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) exists in patients with Cushing's syndrome.

Objective: We aimed to summarize published literature on the effects of endogenous hypercortisolism on coagulation and fibrinolysis, as well as on the clinical outcome of VTE.

Data Sources: We searched the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases up to July 2008.

High-density lipoprotein as a key component in the prevention of premature atherosclerotic disease in the insulin resistance syndrome.

The occurrence of insulin resistance syndrome (IRS), which is also called the metabolic syndrome, has rapidly increased over the last decade. IRS involves such major clinical features as premature atherosclerosis and its related complications. The major proatherogenic phenotype includes elevated plasma levels of apolipoprotein B-containing lipid particles.

Mechanistic insights and clinical relevance of the interaction between acute coronary syndromes and lipid metabolism.

As part of the acute phase reaction, lipid metabolism is significantly altered in patients with unstable coronary syndromes. The clinical relevance and the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are discussed in this article. Cholesterol reduction takes place in the first hours of an acute coronary event; thus, plasma levels determined at this point should be interpreted with caution.