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Biomedical subjects

A Caufriez

Publications and source records attributed to A Caufriez.

35 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Somatomedins and steroids.

Somatomedin levels measured by radioreceptor assay, competitive protein-binding assay or radioimmunoassay are normal in hypercortisolism; the decrease of somatomedin activity consistently found in this condition is due to an increase in circulating somatomedin inhibitors resulting in an inhibition of somatomedin action. Progestagens could possibly have a direct stimulatory effect on somatomedin-C (Sm-C) production. During puberty, the increase of Sm-C is correlated with the increase in plasma estradiol and testosterone. In young subjects, relatively low doses of estrogens and of testosterone enhance Sm-C secretion, and in adult menstruating women, a positive relationship is found between testosterone and Sm-C values. An inhibitory effect of estrogens on Sm-C is observed with higher doses and/or in older subjects. Thus, somatomedin levels might be modulated by variations of sex steroids.

Estrogens↗

Modulation of immunoreactive somatomedin-C levels by sex steroids.

Among 28 menstruating women tested once randomly during the cycle, somatomedin-C (Sm-C) values were lower in the 10 women in normal follicular phase than in the 10 women in normal luteal phase or the 8 women with hyperandrogenism. Among these 28 subjects, Sm-C showed a positive correlation with testosterone and a positive correlation of borderline significance with oestradiol. A positive correlation was also evidenced between Sm-C and in progesterone among the 20 women of this group who were not hyperandrogenic. In 5 other normal women investigated daily throughout an entire menstrual cycle, Sm-C concentrations were higher during days +4 to +9 of this cycle (luteal phase) than during days -3 to -8 (follicular phase). In another group of 21 healthy women, Sm-C values were increased during medroxyprogesterone acetate (150 mg trimestrially) treatment. In 7 normal men, Sm-C decreased during ethinyl-oestradiol (1 mg daily for 5 days) administration. These findings suggest that circulating Sm-C levels are modulated by variations of sex steroids which occur during the menstrual cycle as well as by pharmacological doses of oestrogens and progestagens.

Adult↗

Menstrual disorders associated with hyperprolactinemia.

In hyperprolactinemia, menstrual disorders ranging from irregular bleeding, insufficient luteal phase, spanio-amenorrhea, to anovulatory cycles and amenorrhea, are frequent. Multiple mechanisms are involved in these disorders: hyperprolactinemia could act at the hypothalamic level on LHRH secretion and directly on LH and sex steroids secretion. Hyperprolactinemia could also act by impairing fertilization or implantation at the endometrial level.

Female↗

Relations between immunoreactive somatomedin C, insulin and T3 patterns during fasting in obese subjects.

Plasma glucose, immunoreactive somatomedin-C (Sm-C), GH, insulin (IRI) and T3 were measured daily in 20 obese subjects before and during a 9-day fast. Control levels of Sm-C were normal and exhibited no significant correlation with any of the other parameters investigated. During fasting there were no consistent variations in GH, but significant decreases occurred in blood glucose, IRI, T3 and Sm-C levels. While individual Sm-C patterns varied widely, as a group the fasting Sm-C values showed a positive correlation with the fasting IRI and T3 levels, and with control body weight. These findings suggest that the decrease in Sm-C which occurs during caloric deprivation may be the result of concomitant decreases occurring in T3 and IRI levels.

Adolescent↗

Exploration of hirsutism: elements for a strategy.

50 women complaining of hirsutism were investigated in order to establish an optimal strategy for hirsutism exploration. Basal hormonal evaluations were of great value, especially serum testosterone and, to a lesser degree, DHA-S and LH. LH response to LHRH stimulation appeared of little diagnostic value. ACTH stimulation tests may be useful in detecting enzyme deficiencies in patients with normal basal values. The origin of hyperandrogenism can hardly be detected by the inhibition tests. However, these tests allow to determine whether the androgen secretion is still under ACTH and/or LH control.

Adolescent↗

Dopaminergic regulation of prolactin secretion in the hyperprolactinemic syndrome.

The prolactin responses to an oral challenge of L-dopa (0.5 g) and bromocriptine (2.5 mg) were studied in 31 hyperprolactinemic females without radiological abnormalities of pituitary fossa, in 12 hyperprolactinemic patients with minor radiological evidence suggesting the presence of a pituitary adenoma and in 16 normal volunteers in the early puerperium with physiological hyperprolactinemia. Administration of bromocriptine was followed by a similar suppression of prolactin secretion in the functional as well as the adenomatous hyperprolactinemic patients. By contrast, a significantly blunted response to L-dopa was noted in the patients with pathological hyperprolactinemia (with and without radiological abnormalities of the pituitary fossa). These results suggest that the L-dopa suppression test might serve as a reliable indicator to detect prolactin-secreting microadenomas in patients with persistent hyperprolactinemia and radiologically normal pituitary fossae.

Adenoma↗

Prolactin secretion in Cushing's disease.

PRL secretion was evaluated in 11 patients with Cushing's disease (7 women, 4 men). Basal morning levels were elevated when compared to normal subjects. PRL reactivity to TRH and hypoglycemia was normal in most patients. The 24-h mean PRL levels were elevated, with partial or total alteration of the nyctohemeral rhythm. Cure of Cushing's disease by selective pituitary adenomectomy restored a normal PRL secretion.

Adenoma↗

[Secretion of prolactin: the value of dynamic studies].

Human prolactin blood levels were determined by radioimmunoassay in basal condition and in response to various inhibiting and/or stimulating agents (levodopa, water overload, insulinic hypoglycaemia, synthetic TRH, sulpiride) in cases of disturbed hypothalamo-pituitary axis (failure to lactate, prolactin-secreting pituitary adenomas, acromegaly, other pituitary tumours, clinical panhypopituitarism). A blunted prolactin response to suckling was evidenced in 2 post-partum women who were unable to breast feed. Hyperprolactinaemia, whether related to the existence of a prolactin-producing adenoma or not, was associated with the disappearance of the normal circadian pattern of prolactin secretion and with a blunted relative response to TRH; the latter phenomenon occurred also in acromegaly regardless of the basal prolactinaemia, and during the last trimester of pregnancy. Water overload was unsuccessful to suppress prolactin during the last trimester of pregnancy while the acute administration of levodopa was quite effective in about half of the patients with pituitary tumour. Therefore none of the dynamic tests presently studied allowed us to attribute a hyperprolactinaemia to a pituitary tumour rather than to a functional disturbance. On the contrary, stimulation tests can help to locate the level of a defect in cases of hypopituitarism.

Breast Feeding↗

Prolactin secretion in anorexia nervosa.

Twenty-nine anorectic female patients were subdivided in three groups: group I when primary amenorrhoea; group II when secondary amenorrhoea together with a weight (for their height) equal or above the 10th percentile of the ratio of total water over body weight (TW/B Wt); group III when secondary amenorrhoea was associated with a weight below this 10th percentile. Despite very low mean oestradiol levels (respectively 22, 36 and 32 pg/ml), prolactin secretion remained normal both in basal conditions as well as after 200 micrograms TRH iv. For group III patients, a delay in the peak prolactin response to TRH was observed but it was not statistically significant.

Adolescent↗

[Clinical evolution of LH-RH reactivity in gynecology (author's transl)].

Impaired LH response to LH-RH has been found in 2/4 cases of primary amenorrhoea, in 2/8 cases of psychogenic secondary amenorrhoea, in 2/4 cases of secondary amenorrhoea associated to a pituitary tumour and in 1/5 cases of iatrogenic secondary amenorrhoea post hormonal contraception. Therefore, this test appears not to differentiate these pathologic conditions.

Female↗

Amenorrhoea, sterility and hyperprolactinaemia. Importance of complex movement tomographic x-ray study and follow-up of the sella turcica.

In a 24 y.o. woman complaining of primary amenorrhoea and infertility, hyperprolactinaemia and clearly enlarged sella turcica on standard x-rays in 1975 led to the diagnosis of a pituitary prolactin-producing adenoma, later confirmed surgically. Galactorrhoea never occurred spontaneously and could not be provoked at physical examination. In the course of a previous investigation in 1967, the standard x-ray of the sella turcica, although showing already a minor duplication of the anterior wall of the sella, had been misinterpreted as being normal. It is clear from the present observation that repeated, for example at yearly intervals, radiological examinations and prolactin determinations (not available before 1971) would allow an early diagnosis. It is furthermore stressed that a tomographic radiological examination using complex movement (spiral or hypocycloidal) should be mandatory in any case of amenorrhoea with hyperprolactinaemia in order to assess or not the possible existence of a prolactin-producing pituitary adenoma. Indeed, dynamic studies of anterior pituitary secretions cannot allow a differential diagnosis between tumoural and functional hyperprolactinaemia.

Adult↗