Protein kinase Cε regulates proliferation and cell sensitivity to TGF-1β of CD4+ T lymphocytes: implications for Hashimoto thyroiditis.

We have studied the functional role of protein kinase Cε (PKCε) in the control of human CD4(+) T cell proliferation and in their response to TGF-1β. We demonstrate that PKCε sustains CD4(+) T cell proliferation triggered in vitro by CD3 stimulation. Transient knockdown of PKCε expression decreases IL-2R chain transcription, and consequently cell surface expression levels of CD25.

Glucoreceptors located in the brain mediate NPY release induced by hypoglycemia in normal men.

The NPY secretory pattern after an insulin tolerance test (ITT) (0.15 IU/kg body weight) was evaluated in 8 normal men. They were infused with normal saline (control test), glucose or fructose.

Naloxone decreases the inhibitory effect of alprazolam on the release of adrenocorticotropin/cortisol induced by physical exercise in man.

What Is Already Known About This Subject: • Alprazolam (ALP), a benzodiazepine activating GABAergic receptors, is involved in ACTH secretion.

What This Study Adds: • This study demonstrates a partial opioid influence in the inhibitory effect of ALP on the release of ACTH/cortisol during physical exercise.

Aims: To establish the possible involvement of alprazolam (ALP) and/or opiates in the mechanism underlying the ACTH/cortisol response to physical exercise.

Naloxone decreases the inhibitory effect of somatostatin on GH release induced by cigarette smoking in man.

To establish whether somatostatin (SRIH) exerts its inhibitory effect on the nicotine-induced release of GH by interacting with an opioid pathway, normal volunteers were treated with naloxone during (2 no-filter) cigarettes smoking and with SRIH. Nicotine significantly increased serum GH levels about 3.5 fold.

Increased arginine-vasopressin response to hypertonic stimulation and upright posture in idiopathic hyperprolactinemia.

To evaluate the possible influence of idiopathic hyperprolactinemia on the arginine-vasopressin (AVP) response to osmotic and pressure-volumetric stimuli, 14 idiopathic hyperprolactinemic women and 13 normoprolactinemic women were studied during a hypertonic saline infusion test (0.51M NaCl infusion for 2h) and an orthostatic test (standing upright and maintaining an orthostatic position for 20min). In both experimental conditions, the AVP response was significantly higher in women with idiopathic hyperprolactinemia than in normal normoprolactinemic women.

Oxytocin does not modify GH, ACTH, cortisol and prolactin responses to Ghrelin in normal men.

Background: In order to test the possible effect of Oxytocin (OT) on Ghrelin-stimulated GH, PRL, ACTH and cortisol, ten healthy normal men were studied.

Tests: Ghrelin (0.2 μg/kg body weight (BW)) as an iv bolus; Ghrelin plus OT (2 IU as bolus plus 0.

Inhibitory effect of dexamethasone on arginine-vasopressin release induced by physical exercise in man.

To establish whether glucocorticoids inhibit the arginine-vasopressin (AVP) response to physical exercise, 10 healthy men underwent bicycle ergometer tests until exhaustion (exercise control test, exercise plus dexamethasone [2 or 4 mg in an intravenous bolus]). Physiological and biochemical variables were similar in all tests. Pretreatment with dexamethasone (2 or 4 mg) partially but significantly decreased the AVP response induced by physical exercise.

Effect of naloxone on the inhibitory effect of melatonin on the release of arginine-vasopressin induced by physical exercise in man.

This study was performed in order to establish whether endogenous opioids play a role in the inhibitory effect of melatonin on arginine-vasopressin (AVP) response to physical exercise. Seven healthy men underwent four bicycle ergometer tests until exhaustion [exercise control test, exercise plus naloxone (2mg injected plus 5mg infused intravenously), exercise plus melatonin (6mg), exercise plus melatonin plus naloxone]. Plasma AVP concentrations, non endocrine physiological parameters (NEPP) and biochemical parameters were evaluated during all tests.

Effect of physical training on age-related reduction of GH secretion during exercise in normally cycling women.

Objective: To evaluate whether prolonged physical activity (25 km/week running for 8 years) modifies GH decline.

Design: The GH response to maximal exercise on bicycle-ergometer was tested in younger (26-30 years) and older (42-46 years) healthy women. Each age group included 2 subgroups of 10 sedentary and 10 runners, which were compared.

A case report of Sheehan's syndrome with acute onset, hyponatremia and severe anemia.

Sheehan's syndrome is a well-known cause of panhypopituitarism secondary to pituitary apoplexy, that generally occurs after an intra- or postpartum bleeding episode characterized by severe hypertension or hemorrhagic shock. The diagnosis can be difficult and is often formulated after some years from the syndrome occurrence. We report the case of a woman with an early diagnosis of early-onset Sheehan's syndrome associated with severe hyponatremia following dystocic childbirth complicated by postpartum hemorrhage.

Oxytocin inhibits the stimulatory effect of ghrelin on circulating neuropeptide Y levels in humans.

Unlabelled: Oxytocin (OT) effect on ghrelin-stimulated neuropeptide Y (NPY) secretion was evaluated in 12 normal men.

Tests: ghrelin (1 microg/kg B.W.

Effects of moderate ethanol drinking on the GH and cortisol responses to physical exercise.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of moderate amounts of ethanol on the GH and cortisol responses to physical exercise.

Methods: Ten normal men underwent three bicycle ergometer tests. Test were carried out in basal conditions (control test) or after drinking 0.

Adrenocorticotropic hormone/cortisol response to physical exercise in abstinent alcoholic patients.

Background: Alterations in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in alcoholic patients have been reported in various experimental conditions.

Methods: To establish whether alcoholism affects the HPA axis activation during physical exercise, 10 recent abstinent alcoholic patients (age range: 33-45 years; duration of alcohol dependence: range 4-6 years) were tested by exercising on a bicycle ergometer. Ten age-matched healthy nonalcoholic men participated as controls.

Effects of ghrelin on circulating neuropeptide Y levels in humans.

Objective: Ghrelin is a 28 amino-acid peptide with a strong GH-releasing activity and a complex role in regulation of appetite, fuel utilization, body weight and composition. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a well-known stimulator of pathways favouring food intake and energy storage. Recently, studies in rodents suggested a possible mediation of ghrelin action by NPY.

Different plasma neuropeptide Y concentrations in women athletes with and without menstrual cyclicity.

The circulating levels of leptin and neuropeptide Y, which are both involved in the control of feeding and reproduction, were measured in amenorrheic and normal cycling highly trained women athletes, and in normal cycling sedentary controls. Leptin showed similar low values in all athletes, whereas neuropeptide Y levels were significantly higher in normal cycling athletes than in the other groups, suggesting the possibility of a protective role of neuropeptide Y in the maintenance of the menstrual cycle in highly trained athletes.

Adrenocorticotropin/cortisol and arginine-vasopressin secretory patterns in response to ghrelin in normal men.

This study was performed in order to establish the secretory patterns and the possible relationships between the adrenocorticotropin (ACTH)/cortisol and arginine vasopressin (AVP) responses in normal men to the systemic administration of ghrelin, an endogenous ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue receptor. For this purpose, a bolus of 1 microg/kg ghrelin was injected intravenously in 9 normal men. AVP, ACTH and cortisol significantly rose in response to ghrelin injection; however, in all subjects the AVP rise preceded the ACTH/cortisol responses.

Is steroid therapy needed in the treatment of destructive thyrotoxicosis induced by alpha-interferon in chronic hepatitis C?

Objective: Treatment with interferon (IFN) of patients affected by chronic hepatitis C (CH-C) may produce alterations in thyroid function, such as hypothyroidism, Graves'-like hyperthyroidism and destructive thyrotoxicosis (DT). IFN-induced DT is characterized by suppressed serum TSH levels, normal or elevated FT4 and FT3 concentrations, with the presence or absence of thyroid peroxidase antibodies and antithyroglobulin antibodies, the absence of thyroid receptor antibodies and radioactive iodine uptake suppressed or <5%.

Design: IFN-induced DT is a mild clinical disease, because thyroid-destructive processes last for a short time and involve a small portion of the gland.

Inhibition of growth hormone secretion in mild primary hyperparathyroidism.

Introduction: Impairment in growth hormone (GH) secretion has been reported to occur in primary hyperparathyroidism (PHP) with strikingly elevated (>150 pg/ml) plasma PTH and free Ca levels. Patients with these characteristics are relatively few, whereas the great majority of patients with biochemically diagnosed PHP are asymptomatic and show borderline or slightly elevated plasma PTH and Ca levels. We wondered whether also patients in these latter conditions show a defective GH secretory pattern.

Glucoreceptors located inside the blood-brain barrier mediate hypoglycemia-induced LH inhibition in man.

Objective: To establish the role of hyperinsulinemia and hypoglycemia during the insulin tolerance test (ITT) in the regulation of luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion and the location with respect to the blood-brain barrier (BBB) of the glucosensitive areas controlling LH release.

Methods: The LH-secretory pattern during an ITT (0.15 IU/kg body weight) was evaluated in 8 normal men during infusion with normal saline (control test), glucose or fructose.

The nocturnal serum thyrotropin surge is inhibited in patients with adrenal incidentaloma.

Background: Alterations in hypothalamic-pituitary function have been described in patients with incidentally discovered adrenal adenomas and have been attributed to their subtle hypercortisolemic status.

Methods: To establish whether the central control of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis is altered in these endocrine conditions, the nocturnal (10:30 PM-2:00 AM) serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) surge (measured by dividing the difference between nighttime and morning TSH values by the morning TSH value and then multiplying by 100), the TSH response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (200 microg as an intravenous bolus) and serum free thyroid hormone levels were evaluated in patients with adrenal incidentaloma (experimental group) and in normal controls (control group). Urinary free cortisol concentrations were also measured.