Serum free fatty acid levels in PCOS patients treated with glucophage, magnesium oxide and spironolactone.

To assess the effect of glucophage, magnesium oxide and spironolactone in altering free fatty acids (FFAs), 36 PCOS women were randomly divided into three groups. Group 1 (n = 14) was treated with 500 mg glucophage po bid, group 2 (n = 10) was treated with 400 mg magnesium oxide po bid and group 3 (n = 12) was treated with 50 mg spironolactone po bid for 12 weeks. A glucose tolerance test with 75 g glucose load was performed before and after treatment, collecting blood at 0, 1 and 2 h for insulin, glucose, FFA and aldosterone.

Sulfatase activity in normal and neoplastic endometrium.

Background: Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) is metabolized to active androgens and estrogens, which may have a role in the development of endometrial cancer.

Methods: We studied DHEAS conversion to dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in normal and neoplastic endometrium utilizing gas chromatography-mass spectral (GC-MS) analysis. Endometrial homogenate was incubated with known amounts of DHEAS for 4 h at 37 degrees C.

Type 2 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity in human ovarian cancer.

In the ovary cortisol-cortisone inter-conversion is catalyzed by the enzyme 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11beta-HSD). Its role in carcinomas of human ovary is unknown. The majority of ovarian cancers are derived from ovarian surface epithelium and the inflammation caused by successive ovulation seems to a play a role in the development of cancer.

11beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity in pregnancies complicated by hydatidiform mole.

Problem: 11beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11beta-HSD) plays an important role in regulating active glucocorticoid reaching the fetus. In normal pregnancy, placental 11beta-HSD functions primarily in oxidative direction. Placental tissue of patients with pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia exhibit significantly lower type 1 and 2 11beta-HSD activities and significantly high cortisol level in cord blood suggesting fetal exposure to higher level of active glucocorticoids.

NAD dependent 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity in human endometrium and endometrial tumors.

Background: The isoforms of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11beta-HSD) types 1 and 2, regulated by ovarian steroids, catalyze the interconversion of glucocorticoids and their 11-keto metabolites. The role of these enzymes in malignancies of human endometrium is unknown. We compare NAD dependent 11beta-HSD (type 2) activity levels among normal human endometrium and endometrial carcinomas of differing grades and histologies.

Type 2 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity in human fallopian tube and correlation of enzyme levels with endometrial histopathology.

Problem: The inter-conversion of hormonally active cortisol and inactive cortisone is catalyzed by 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11beta-HSD). This conversion controls the level of active glucocorticoid concentration in tissues. As the fallopian tube plays a major role in the process of fertilization, we wanted to investigate whether 11beta-HSD is present in the human fallopian tube to control the glucocorticoid levels as in other tissues.

11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase inhibitor carbenoxolone stimulates chorionic gonadotropin secretion from human term cytotrophoblast cells differentiated in vitro.

Problem: To investigate the effect of altering local glucocorticoid concentration on human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) production by cultured placental trophoblast cells.

Method Of Study: Human placental trophoblasts were isolated from fresh placentas. Cytotrophoblasts were purified and placed into 24-well multiplates.