Male hypogonadism: The unrecognized cardiovascular risk factor.

Normal levels of male sex hormones are essential to men's health. Many studies demonstrate that hypogonadal men are at higher risk for developing a host of metabolic derangements, including dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, and hypertension. We examined the most recent studies supporting this notion of hypogonadism as a cardiac risk factor by reviewing all relevant PubMed data.

Diagnosing adrenal insufficiency: which test is best--the 1-microg or the 250-microg cosyntropin stimulation test?

Objective: To review the available literature on the low-dose cosyntropin stimulation test (CST) for the diagnosis of primary and secondary adrenal insufficiency in both nonstressed and acutely ill patients.

Methods: We performed a MEDLINE search of all English-language literature, published between 1965 and 2007, in which the 1-microg and the 250-microg CSTs were compared in patients with primary and secondary adrenal insufficiency.

Results: The majority of published evidence suggests that the 1-microg CST is more sensitive than the 250-microg CST for the diagnosis of secondary adrenal insufficiency in nonstressed patients.

Bisphosphonates induce inflammation and rupture of atherosclerotic plaques in apolipoprotein-E null mice.

The apolipoprotein E knockout (Apo-E-/-) mouse is a well-known model of atherosclerosis. Bisphosphonates, through their affinity to hydroxyapatite, are known to reduce arterial calcification in several animal models. Thus, we examined the effect of two therapeutically used oral bisphosphonates, alendronate and risedronate, on plaque formation in the Apo-E-/- mouse.

Experiences with three different fiber supplements in weight reduction.

Background: Fiber supplements added to a caloric diet have additional effects on weight reduction in overweight subjects. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of various commercial fiber supplements (glucomannan, guar gum and alginate) on weight reduction in healthy overweight subjects.

Material/methods: One hundred and seventy six men and women were included to receive either active fiber substance or placebo in randomized placebo-controlled studies.

Fibrous pleural tumor with hypoglycemia: case study.

Many neoplastic tumors exhibit paraneoplastic syndromes manifested by endocrinopathy. This is particularly true of intrathoracic tumors such as lung cancers, thymomas, carcinoid tumors and mediastinal germ cell neoplasm. Fibrous tumors of the pleura are rare intrathoracic tumors, which are usually benign and often grow to huge size.