Effects of different training intensities on the cardiopulmonary baroreflex control of forearm vascular resistance in hypertensive subjects.

We recently reported that ambulatory blood pressure decreased during the awake period after training at low intensity but not after training at moderate intensity in subjects with mild to moderate hypertension. The reasons for the failure of moderate-intensity training to reduce blood pressure are not clear. In the present article, we report the effects of different training intensities on cardiopulmonary baroreflex control of forearm vascular resistance, left ventricular function, vascular reactivity, and resistive vessel structure.

Inhibitory effect of a steroidal antiestrogen (EM-170) on estrone-stimulated growth of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary carcinoma in the rat.

Recently, compounds having pure antiestrogenic activity have become available. In this study, we examined the activity of the new steroidal antiestrogen EM-170 (N-n-butyl, N-methyl-11-(16' alpha-chloro-3',17' alpha-dihydroxy-estra-1',3',5'-(10')-trien-7' alpha-yl) undecanamide) on the growth of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary carcinoma stimulated by treatment with estrone (E1), a steroid known to play an important role as precursor of 17 beta-estradiol (E2), especially in postmenopausal women. Twenty-five days after ovariectomy (OVX), tumor volume in control OVX animals decreased to 51.

Multihormonal regulation of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfotransferase messenger ribonucleic acid levels in adult rat liver.

Hydroxysteroid sulfotransferases (DHEA ST) represent a family of enzymes that catalyze the conversion of dehydroepiandrosterone and other 3 beta-hydroxysteroids into more hydrophilic water-soluble sulfate conjugates. The present study was designed to investigate the regulation of hepatic DHEA ST expression by sex steroids and pituitary hormones, namely GH and PRL, in both male and female rats. DHEA ST mRNA levels were measured by dot blot hybridization using a 332-basepair fragment of rat DHEA ST (ST-20) cDNA as a probe.

Mechanism of action and pure antiandrogenic properties of flutamide.

Although treatment of intact adult male rats with the pure antiandrogen flutamide or a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist alone leads to partial inhibition of ventral prostate weight, maximal inhibition is achieved by combination of the two drugs. Potentializing effects of the two compounds were observed even on prostatic ornithine decarboxylase activity. Because LHRH agonists are widely used to achieve medical castration in men treated for prostate cancer, it is of interest to observe that in the dog, known for being the best model for studies of the action of LHRH agonists, flutamide does not interfere with the potent desensitizing action of the LHRH agonist on pituitary LH secretion, thus supporting the combined use of flutamide with an LHRH agonist for maximal androgen blockade without loss of efficiency of the LHRH agonist.

Risk factors of corneal graft failure.

Purpose: To measure the association between potential risk factors and corneal graft failure. Two failure outcomes are compared: those with and those without a prior immune allograft reaction.

Methods: Based on a single-center observational study design, 539 adult recipients of a corneal graft were followed for a median time of 30 months.

Subunit identity of the dimeric 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase from human placenta.

Human placental 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase has been purified with a new rapid procedure based on fast protein liquid chromatography, yielding quantitatively a homogeneous preparation with high specific activity catalyzing the oxidation of 7.2 mumol of estradiol/min/mg of enzyme protein at 23 degrees C, pH 9.2.

Incidence of liver toxicity associated with the use of flutamide in prostate cancer patients.

Purpose: The incidence of flutamide-related liver toxicity was studied in 1,091 consecutive patients treated for stage C or D prostate cancer with the antiandrogen flutamide and the luteinizing hormone-releasing factor (LHRH) agonist [D-Trp6, des-Gly-NH2(10)] LHRH ethylamide.

Patients And Methods: Liver function tests, namely measurement of serum aspartate amino-transferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GT), and prothrombin and thromboplastin times, were performed at 4, 8, and 12 weeks and every 3 months thereafter. Clinical signs and symptoms of liver dysfunction were also sought.

Molecular cloning and characterization of a factor that binds the human glucocorticoid receptor gene and represses its expression.

The human DNA binding factor GRF-1, which associates with the promoter region of the glucocorticoid receptor gene (hGR gene), is a repressor of glucocorticoid receptor transcription. The GRF-1 cDNA was cloned using polyclonal antibodies against the purified protein. The deduced amino acid sequence from the cDNA sequences show the presence of three sequence motifs characteristic of a zinc finger and one motif suggestive of a leucine zipper in which 1 cysteine is found instead of all leucines.

Association between corneal allograft reactions and HLA compatibility.

The purpose of this follow-up study is to measure the association between corneal allograft reactions and donor-recipient HLA-A and HLA-B compatibility. Four hundred thirty-eight consecutive adult recipients of corneal grafts with known donor-recipient HLA matching were observed for allograft reactions and failures. Most of the recipients under observation (91%) were well matched for HLA-DR.

Treatment of hirsutism with the pure antiandrogen flutamide.

The effectiveness of the antiandrogen flutamide in combination with an oral contraceptive was studied in 20 patients with moderate to severe hirsutism. Eight patients had no previous therapy, whereas 12 had failed to respond to oral contraceptives, spironolactone, or dexamethasone therapy. Treatment with the antiandrogen flutamide (250 mg twice daily) and an oral contraceptive (Ortho 1/35) resulted in a particularly rapid and marked decrease in the total hirsutism score, which reached the normal range at 7 months.

Effect of factors unrelated to tissue matching on corneal transplant endothelial rejection.

We examined 348 consecutive adult recipients of a corneal transplant for clinical signs of an endothelial rejection episode in a single-center follow-up study. The variables studied included primary diagnosis, number of previous corneal transplants, previous transplant failures from rejection episodes, transplant size, recipient corneal vascularization, donor age, recipient age and sex, past blood transfusions, and number of pregnancies. Five important risk factors were identified: primary diagnosis of herpetic, interstitial, or traumatic keratitis; transplant size 8 mm and larger; more than one previous corneal transplant; recipients younger than 60 years of age; and the presence of recipient corneal vascularization.