The phenotypes and gene frequencies of three serum protein systems--Hp, GC and C3--were studied in 184 consecutive patients from all over Greece with colon cancer. Healthy Greeks studied previously in our department served as controls. No significant differences were found between patients and controls concerning GC and C3. Significant differences were found in the Hp system; the frequencies of the Hp*1 gene and the Hp 1-1 phenotype were significantly higher in patients than in controls.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Adrenal hyperresponsiveness to ACTH stimulation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: an adrenarchal type of response.

Adrenal responsiveness to ACTH stimulation (1 mg, i.m.) was assessed by measuring cortisol (Cort) and 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP) at 0, 30, 60, and 90 minutes and progesterone (P), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), delta 4-androstenedione (delta 4A), and testosterone (T) at 0, 60, and 90 minutes post-ACTH in 30 women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCO). The results were compared with those from 12 normally menstruating women. Three distinct patterns of responses of the adrenal steroids were observed in PCO patients, while cortisol response was similar to that of normal controls: (a) normal responders (n = 9, 30% of PCO patients), in whom a delta max response similar to that of normals was observed, although basal delta 4A and T levels were found to be elevated; (b) 21-OH dysfunction group (n = 6, 16.6%), in whom delta max 17OHP levels and delta max 17OHP to delta max Cort ratio were significantly higher than those of normals and the other PCO groups, indicating a dysfunction at the 21-hydroxylase level; (c) adrenarchal type of response group (n = 16, 53%), in whom statistically significant (P less than .0001) hyperresponsiveness of DHEA and, in 11 of them, of delta 4A, with high delta max delta 4A to delta max DHEA to delta max Cort ratios were found, indicative of a selective overproduction of the steroids during steroidogenesis. Moreover, the significantly higher delta max delta 4A to delta max 17OHP ratio found in group c is a further indication of increased 17,20-lyase efficiency, as is encountered during adrenarche.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Complement activation in atherosclerosis: effect of angiography and surgery.

Complement activation in the plasma of patients with severe atherosclerosis (arterial occlusive or aneurysmatic disease) was investigated in this study. The effects of angiography and reconstructive arterial surgery (RAS) were also assessed. Atherosclerosis was not found to be associated with systemic complement activation. Angiography resulted in high levels of C3 breakdown products. Surgery caused a significant degree of systemic complement activation in both patients with atherosclerosis and controls. Post-operative levels of C3 breakdown products were significantly higher in atheromatic patients than in controls, most likely due to the insertion of dacron arterial prostheses in the first group.

Angiography↗