High frequency of p53 expression in colo-rectal adenomatous polyps.

Previous studies on p53 protein expression in colonic adenomas showed controversial results. The present study evaluates the p53 expression in colonic adenomas, at different dysplasia degrees, by immunohistochemical analysis, using a newly introduced monoclonal anti-p53 antibody. Paraffin embedded sections of 48 colorectal adenomas, 5 colonic carcinomas and 11 normal colonic biopsies were studied by immunohistochemical analysis using a monoclonal mouse anti-p53 antibody (clone DO-1).

Adrenal incidentaloma, a five year experience.

Since 1989, 45 patients 26 females and 19 males, aged 19-79 years (median 58) bearing incidentally discovered adrenal masses were studied. Endocrine work-up included determination of urinary catecholamines and their metabolites, measurement of plasma renin activity and aldosterone levels in clino- and orthostatic posture, basal and dynamic (dexamethasone-suppression, o-CRH stimulation) evaluation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The most frequent finding was the reduction of DHEA-S levels below the 3rd percentile of controls in 19 (42%) patients.

Misdiagnosis of Cushing's syndrome in a patient receiving rifampicin therapy for tuberculosis.

We hereby describe a patient in whom chronic rifampicin treatment led to a misdiagnosis of Cushing's syndrome. He had long-standing insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and active tuberculosis resistant to conventional treatment. The course was complicated by muscle weakness, lower limb atrophy, unstable glycemic control and hypokalemia.

Circadian profile of serum melatonin in patients with Cushing's syndrome or acromegaly.

We evaluated the 24-h profile of serum melatonin (MT) in 16 patients with Cushing's syndrome (11 pituitary- and 5 adrenal-dependent) aged 38.1 +/- 13.8 years and in 19 patients with acromegaly due to GH-secreting pituitary adenoma aged 52 +/- 11.

Endocrine evaluation of incidentally discovered adrenal masses (incidentalomas).

Since 1989, 45 patients [pts; 26 females and 19 males, aged 19-79 yr (median, 58)] bearing incidentally discovered adrenal masses were studied. The aim of the study was to verify the prevalence of hormone activity in clinically silent adrenal masses. Endocrine work-up included determination of urinary catecholamines and their metabolites, measurement of PRA and aldosterone levels in clino- and orthostatic posture, and basal and dynamic [dexamethasone (dex) suppression and ovine CRH stimulation] evaluation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

Cyclic Cushing's syndrome due to ectopic ACTH secretion by an adrenal pheochromocytoma.

Pheochromocytoma is a rare cause of ectopic Cushing's syndrome. We report on such a patient in whom ectopic ACTH secretion displayed a cyclic pattern. A 35-year-old woman was referred to us with a diagnosis of ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome.

High prevalence of colonic polyps in patients with acromegaly. Influence of sex and age.

Background: An association between acromegaly and colonic polyps has been reported, although risk factors are still uncertain.

Methods: Full colonoscopy was performed with a fiberoptic colonoscopy on 31 acromegalic patients, 11 men and 20 women aged 27 to 85 years (mean, 52.2 years), and on 236 subjects, 127 men and 109 women aged 23 to 84 years (mean, 50.

Biochemical markers of bone and collagen turnover in acromegaly or Cushing's syndrome.

We evaluated serum bone Gla-protein (osteocalcin, BGP), carboxyterminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PICP) and aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIINP) in 15 patients with active acromegaly (6M aged 27-54, 4 PMF aged 39-51, 5MP aged 54-65 years), 12 with active Cushing's syndrome [(CS) 2M of 32 and 42 years; 4PMF aged 25-40; 6MF aged 50-64)] and controls evenly matched for age, sex and menstrual status. Patients with acromegaly were evaluated before and at regular intervals on octreotide treatment (50-150 micrograms t.i.

Evening administration of melatonin enhances the pulsatile secretion of prolactin but not of LH and TSH in normally cycling women.

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of exogenous melatonin on the spontaneous pulsatile release of PRL, TSH and LH in normal women.

Design: A double blind placebo-controlled protocol was designed to study seven subjects in the mid follicular phase of two non-consecutive cycles. Two mg of exogenous melatonin or placebo were given at 1600 and 2000 h, and blood samples were collected every 10 minutes from 1800 to 2400 h for hormone determination.

Serum levels of bone Gla protein (osteocalcin, BGP) and carboxyterminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PICP) in acromegaly: effects of long-term octreotide treatment.

We measured serum concentrations of bone Gla-protein (osteocalcin, BGP) and carboxyterminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PICP) in 14 patients with active acromegaly. Blood was collected at 0800 for measurement of bone Gla-protein (BGP), carboxyterminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PICP), and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I); growth hormone (GH) was then determined at 15-minute intervals for 3 hours and the integrated mean was calculated. The same protocol was repeated at regular intervals during treatment with the long-acting somatostatin analog, octreotide, 150-450 micrograms/day for 6-33 months (median 15).

Favorable response of metastatic adrenocortical carcinoma to etoposide, adriamycin and cisplatin (EAP) chemotherapy. Report of two cases.

The usefulness of non-specific chemotherapy for advanced adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is controversial. We report on 2 young female patients (25 and 19 yr) who presented with a clinical picture of Cushing's syndrome due to histologically confirmed ACC. The first patient underwent radical surgery, but after a disease-free interval of 6 months a local recurrence was apparent.

Similarity of the nocturnal profile of serum melatonin at early puberty and early adulthood.

In the present study we determined the nocturnal profile of serum melatonin (MT) concentrations in 10 short normal children at Tanner stage I-II of pubertal development (12.5-14.9 yrs) and in 6 young adults (24-29 yrs).

[Drugs and andrological side-effects].

Human sexual behaviour is determined by different regulatory systems. Central and peripheral nervous system, endocrine and vascular systems, all play a pivotal role in the modulation of male sexual activity. Therefore, many steps of possible drug interference can be recognized.

Exogenous melatonin enhances the TRH-induced prolactin release in normally cycling women: a sex-specific effect.

The aim of the present study was to analyze the effects of exogenous melatonin (MT) upon pituitary and adrenal responsiveness to releasing hormones in different phases of the menstrual cycle. We evaluated the response of FSH and LH to 100 micrograms gonadotropin releasing hormone, of TSH and prolactin (PRL) to 200 micrograms thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH), and of cortisol to 10 micrograms ACTH 1-17. We studied eight young women with normal ovulatory cycles in the early follicular (days 5-7) and luteal (days 22-24) phases.

Hyperthyroidism due to a pituitary adenoma composed of two different cell types, one secreting alpha-subunit alone and another cosecreting alpha-subunit and thyrotropin.

A 37-yr-old female presented with clinical signs and symptoms of mild hyperthyroidism, high serum levels of free T4 (24.2 pmol/L), free T3 (11.7 pmol/L), and sex hormone-binding globulin (157 nmol/L) as well as measurable (by immunofluorometric assay) serum TSH concentrations (1.

Melatonin and human cancer.

A number of studies performed in vitro and on experimental animals supported the view that pineal gland inhibits neoplastic growth. Data in humans are scanty and controversial. In the present study we measured serum melatonin (MT), prolactin (PRL) and growth hormone (GH) concentrations, at 08.

Morning to evening changes of human pituitary and adrenal responses to specific stimuli.

We performed a combined stimulation test with the simultaneous application of GnRH (100 micrograms), TRH (200 micrograms) and ACTH (10 micrograms) in 10 healthy adult males at two opposite clock timing, i.e. at 09:00 and 21:00 h.

24-hour profiles of blood pressure and heart rate in Cushing's syndrome: relationship between cortisol and cardiovascular rhythmicities.

We monitored the circadian profiles of cortisol, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) and heart rate (HR) in 33 matched normotensive subjects, 32 patients with essential hypertension and 16 patients with Cushing's Syndrome (8 pituitary adenomas, 6 adrenal adenomas and 2 adrenal carcinomas). Each subject underwent serial blood drawings at 4-hr intervals along the 24-hr cycle. BP and HR were automatically recorded every 30 min.

Circadian profile of serum melatonin in Cushing's disease and acromegaly.

We evaluated the circadian profiles of serum melatonin (MT) and cortisol in 6 patients with Cushing's disease while those of serum MT and GH were evaluated in 8 patients with acromegaly. The control group consisted of 15 healthy subjects in whom MT, cortisol and GH were determined. The presence of a circadian rhythmicity was validated by the cosinor method, while the diurnal and nocturnal amount of MT secretion were expressed in terms of area under the curve.

24-hour profiles of blood pressure and heart rate in Cushing's syndrome. Evidence for differential control of cardiovascular variables by glucocorticoids.

We monitored the circadian profile of cortisol, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP), heart rate (HR) in 33 normotensive subjects aged 20-40 years, 20 normotensive subjects aged 40-60, 32 patients with essential hypertension and 13 patients with Cushing's syndrome (6 pituitary adenomas, 5 adrenal adenomas and 2 adrenal carcinomas). All controls and patients underwent serial blood drawings at 4-h intervals during the 24-h cycle. BP and HR were recorded every 30 min by an automatic, room-restricted instrument.

Effects of long-term, low-dose, time-specified melatonin administration on endocrine and cardiovascular variables in adult men.

Six healthy adult male volunteers underwent serial blood drawings at 4-hour intervals over 24 hours for the definition of melatonin (MT), prolactin (PRL), cortisol, and testosterone circadian patterns. Serum levels of triiodotironine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) were determined at 0800. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate were automatically recorded every 30 minutes for 24 hours.