Alprazolam (a benzodiazepine activating GABA receptor) reduces the neuroendocrine responses to insulin-induced hypoglycaemia in humans.

Objective: Alprazolam (ALP), a benzodiazepine-activating GABAergic receptor, possesses clear centrally mediated inhibitory effects on ACTH and cortisol secretion that could reflect an inhibitory influence on CRH- and/or AVP-secreting neurones. An inhibitory effect of ALP on catecholamine release has also been shown while its effect on GH secretion is unclear. To further clarify the neuroendocrine actions of ALP, we studied the ALP effects on the neurohormonal responses to hypoglycaemia in a group of normal subjects.

Thyroid function and anti-thyroid antibodies in MS patients screened for interferon treatment. A multicenter study.

Interferon beta (IFNB) treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS) has been associated with thyroid disorders (TD), in particular in patients with subclinical TD or anti-thyroid (AT) autoantibodies (autoAb) before starting treatment. TD and AT autoAb frequency was reported increased in MS. To determine whether MS patients have subclinical thyroid function abnormalities or anti-thyroid autoimmunity predisposing to develop TD, we performed a prospective multicenter screening of thyroid function and autoimmunity in 152 relapsing-remitting (RR) MS patients selected to receive IFNB treatment and in 437 healthy normothyroidal controls.

Autoimmune events during interferon beta-1b treatment for multiple sclerosis.

Autoimmune events, although rarely reported during interferon beta-1b (IFNB) treatment of relapsing-remitting (RR) multiple sclerosis (MS), may be more frequent than expected due to the many immunologic abnormalities associated with this disease. We report the prospective two-year follow-up of autoimmune events in 40 RR MS patients treated with IFNB and in 21 untreated MS controls. Thyroid and liver function and serum level of 12 autoantibodies (autoAbs) against organ- (thyroid, gastric, pancreatic) and non-organ-specific antigens were serially monitored.

Effect of galanin on basal and stimulated secretion of prolactin, gonadotropins, thyrotropin, adrenocorticotropin and cortisol in humans.

Galanin enhances both baseline and growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH)-induced GH secretion both in animals and in man. Although galanin has a clear influence on the secretion of other anterior pituitary hormones in animals, in man it increases prolactin (PRL) slightly but does not affect spontaneous thyrotropin (TSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) or adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) secretion. The aim of our study was to verify the effect of galanin on basal and releasing hormone-stimulated release of gonadotropins, PRL, TSH, ACTH and cortisol secretion.

Serum thyroid hormone changes in head and neck cancer patients treated with microwave hyperthermia on lymph node metastasis.

Eleven patients with head and neck cancer (ten men, one woman; mean age, 65 years) (larynx, six; oropharynx, two; tongue, one; skin, one; thyroid, one) with regional lymph node enlargements either in contiguity or firmly adherent to the vascular structures of the neck have been treated by means of external microwaves (915, 434 MHz) applicators. All patients were treated by hyperthermia (42-45 degrees C) alone (ten sessions, twice a week, each lasting 30 minutes). Thyroid hormones (T4, T3, FT4, FT3, rT3, thyroid stimulating hormone less than obTSH]) were evaluated during sessions 1, 2, 3, and 8, just before the session (time [t] = 0) and at 10-minute intervals during the heating (t = 10, t = 20, t = 30).