Biomedical subjects

C Campino

Publications and source records attributed to C Campino.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Maternal melatonin effects on clock gene expression in a nonhuman primate fetus.

In the adult mammal the circadian system, which allows predictive adaptation to daily environmental changes, comprises peripheral oscillators in most tissues, commanded by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus. The external environment of the fetus is provided by its mother. In primates, maternal melatonin is a candidate to entrain fetal circadian rhythms, including the SCN rhythms of metabolic activity. We found in the 90% of gestation capuchin monkey fetus expression of the clock genes Bmal-1, Per-2, Cry-2, and Clock in the SCN, adrenal, pituitary, brown fat, and pineal. Bmal-1, Per-2, and the melatonin 1 receptor (MT1) showed a robust oscillatory expression in SCN and adrenal gland, whereas a circadian rhythm of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate was found in plasma. Maternal melatonin suppression changed the expression of Bmal-1, Per-2, and MT1 in the fetal SCN. These effects were reversed by maternal melatonin replacement. In contrast, neither maternal melatonin suppression nor its replacement had effects on the expression of Per-2 and Bmal-1 or MT1 in the fetal adrenal gland or the circadian rhythm of fetal plasma dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate. Our data suggest that maternal melatonin is a Zeitgeber for the fetal SCN but probably not for the adrenal gland.

ARNTL Transcription Factors↗

PubMed2006

New splicing mutation of MEN1 gene affecting the translocation of menin to the nucleus.

UNLABELLED: Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) is a syndrome inherited in an autosomal dominant trait caused by the inactivation of the tumor suppressor gene MEN1. OBJECTIVE: To communicate a family with a new heterozygous germ line mutation in the intronic region of MEN1 gene and to study its influence in the menin expression. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied 5 members of a family with symptomatic hyperparathyroidism (HPT). One of them had also a neuroendocrine pancreatic tumor, and 2 had non-functional multinodular cortical adrenal hyperplasia compatible with the diagnosis of MEN1. After the mutation was identified, HSP92II restriction enzyme was used to determine both zygosity and segregation of the mutation. RT-PCR from leukocyte's isolated mRNA and western blot from pancreatic tumor tissue were performed. In vitro studies were done in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells transfected with reporter minigenes carrying the coding regions spanning exon (EX)-intron 9 and EX10 with the mutant and the wild type sequences. RESULTS: We identified a heterozygous G-to-T substitution in the intron-EX junction (IVS9-1 G>T) of MEN1 gene in the index case and the family members. The mRNA from patient's leukocytes was larger (934 bp) in comparison to the normal transcript (717 bp). Immunoblot analysis demonstrated that wild type (67 kDa) and two additional mutant proteins (approximately 55 and approximately 90 kDa) were expressed in the pancreatic tissue. The in vitro study showed a 45% nuclear localization of the mutated menin signal and a 95% in the wild type protein. CONCLUSIONS: We identified a new intronic heterozygous germ line mutation (IVS9-1G>T) of MEN1 gene in a family affected by MEN1 syndrome. This mutation alters the splice acceptor site of intron 9 that promotes an incorrect splicing, generating aberrant proteins without the nuclear localization signals necessary for the normal menin translocation to the nucleus.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Plasma prolactin/oestradiol ratio at 38 weeks gestation predicts the duration of lactational amenorrhoea.

BACKGROUND: Fully breastfeeding women experience an amenorrhoea of variable duration. Our aim was to identify in pregnancy, endocrine markers that could predict the duration of subsequent lactational amenorrhoea. METHODS: We studied 17 healthy women at 34 and 38 weeks gestation, and 1 and 3 months post-partum. The women fully breastfed until 6 months post-partum. During pregnancy, prolactin (PRL), oestrogens (total oestradiol, unconjugated oestrone, unconjugated oestriol), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S), progesterone and placental lactogen, and during post-partum PRL, oestrogens and SHBG, were measured. Free oestradiol in pregnancy and post-partum was calculated. RESULTS: Ten women experienced long (>6 months) and seven experienced short (<6 months) lactational amenorrhoea. At 38 weeks gestation, the women who experienced a long lactational amenorrhoea had twice as much PRL, about half the total oestradiol, lower SHBG concentration (P < 0.05, Student's t-test, Bonferroni modification) and similar free oestradiol concentration, compared with those who experienced short lactational amenorrhoea. The difference in PRL concentration persisted in post-partum postsuckling samples. CONCLUSION: At 38 weeks gestation, the ratio PRL/oestradiol identified all individual women according to the subsequent duration of their lactational amenorrhoea, suggesting that duration of lactational amenorrhoea is conditioned during pregnancy.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

[Effect of low calcitonin doses on bone remodeling in postmenopausal women with high bone turnover rate].

BACKGROUND: Calcitonin is specially indicated for the treatment of osteoporosis in women that cannot receive estrogen replacement therapy or that have a high bone turnover rate. AIM: To study the effects of low intranasal calcitonin doses on bone remodeling in postmenopausal women with a high bone turnover. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty one healthy women aged 56 +/- 6 years old, with a mean lapse after menopause of 7.6 +/- 6.5 years and with a high bone turnover rate, evidenced by an urinary hydroxyproline (mg/dl)/creatinine (g/dl) ratio of 52.4 +/- 7.2, were studied. They were randomly assigned to receive 100 or 50 U/calcitonin thrice a week during 3 months or to a control group that received placebo. All received 500 mg/day calcium carbonate. Urinary hydroxyproline/creatinine ratio was measured a 0, 15, 30, 60 and 90 days. Plasma bone fraction of alkanine phosphatases was measured at 0, 30 and 90 days. RESULTS: Initial urinary hydroxyproline/creatinine ratio and plasma bone fraction of alkanine phosphatases were similar in all study groups and there was no change in these parameters during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Intranasal calcitonin in doses of 100 U thrice a week or less, does not modify accelerated bone turnover in postmenopausal women.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

PubMed1999

Norplant((R)) implants and progesterone vaginal rings do not affect maternal bone turnover and density during lactation and after weaning.

Bone density and turnover was assessed in a longitudinal study of healthy lactating women who initiated use of Norplant((R)) implants (NOR, n = 29), progesterone vaginal rings (PVR, n = 28) or Copper T 380A intrauterine devices (T-Cu, n = 51, control group) around day 60 postpartum. Bone density, serum calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatases, parathyroid hormone (PTH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), oestradiol and prolactin, and urinary hydroxyproline and creatinine were measured at postpartum months 1 (PM1), and 12 (PM12) and 6 or 12 months after weaning; at month 6 postpartum (PM6) serum and urine tests alone were performed. Baseline characteristics and lactation performance were similar between groups. Biochemical markers of bone turnover were higher at PM1, PM6 and PM12 than after weaning, with no differences between groups. Bone density in the lumbar spine (L2-L4) and femoral neck at PM1 and PM12 ( approximately 1.11 g/cm(2)) was similar in three groups. Lumbar spine values were found to be lower in lactating women than those present in non-lactating women, but increased after weaning to similar values. The two progestin-only contraceptives studied appear to have no deleterious effect upon bone density and metabolism in healthy lactating women.

Administration, Intravaginal↗

PubMed1999

Bioactivity of prolactin isoforms: lactation and recovery of menses in nursing women.

To assess whether plasma prolactin (PRL) characteristics relate to lactogenesis and absence or presence of menstrual cycles, we measured bioactive PRL (BIO-PRL) using the Nb2 assay, immunoreactive PRL (IR-PRL) by radio-immunoassay, calculated equations describing the BIO-PRL-IR-PRL relationship and separated charged PRL isoforms (by chromatofocusing) in five amenorrhoeic and five cycling nursing women at 6 months postpartum and in 10 cycling non-nursing women. Plasma samples were drawn before and 30 min after a suckling episode at 0800, 1600 and 2400 h in nursing women and at the same hours in non-nursing women. BIO-PRL and IR-PRL concentrations were highest in amenorrhoeic nursing women, intermediate in cycling nursing women and lowest in cycling non-nursing women. The BIO-PRL-IR-PRL relationship shows that a given amount of IR-PRL corresponds to equivalent amounts of BIO-PRL in cycling nursing and cycling non-nursing women, and to a larger extent in amenorrhoeic nursing women. IR-PRL was present in plasma as several charge isoforms. Bioactive isoforms eluting at pH 6.0-5.1 were found in amenorrhoeic and cycling nursing women, reaching similar concentrations after suckling. Bioactive isoforms eluting at pH 7.0-6.1 were found only in amenorrhoeic nursing women. We speculate that isoforms eluting at pH 6.0-5.1 may play a role in lactation and isoforms eluting at pH 7.0-6.1, in lactational amenorrhoea.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

[Hyperthyroxinemia and clinical euthyroidism. Report of one case].

The association of hyperthyroxinemia and euthyroidism is frequent and characterized by high plasma thyroxin concentrations, normal TSH values and absence of clinical signs of hyperthyroidism. We report an asymptomatic 28 years old male presenting with a serum total plasma thyroxin of 18.5 micrograms/dl (N 6.1-12.5), a free thyroxin of 2.9 ng/dl (N 0.8-1.4), a TSH of 3.4 microIU/ml (N 0.5-5), and a triiodothyronine of 128 ng/dl (N 80-180). Laboratory assessment did not find high thyroxin binding globulin, albumin or prealbumin concentrations or antithyroxin antibodies. The thyroxin binding capacity of albumin was elevated to 58.2 micrograms/dl (N 11.5-34.1). TSH responded normally to TRH stimulus and was suppressed with exogenous triiodothyronine, which caused an hyperthyroid syndrome. We concluded that this patient had a familial dysalbuminemia.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

[Detection of thyroglobulin autoantibodies and potential interference with serum thyroglobulin measurement].

BACKGROUND: Thyroglobulin measurement is useful for the follow up of patients subjected to total thyroidectomy for differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Thyroglobulin autoantibodies may interfere with its determination. AIM: To measure thyroglobulin autoantibodies and their interference with thyroglobulin determination. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The presence of thyroglobulin autoantibodies was investigated in 801 serum samples sent to the laboratory for measurement of thyroglobulin levels. A serum was considered positive for these autoantibodies when radioactivity corresponding to 125I-thyroglobulin bound to thyroglobulin autoantibodies, precipitated with human gamma globulin, exceeded in 1.4 times that of a negative sera pool. In positive sera, thyroglobulin autoantibody concentration was measured and its interference with thyroglobulin radioimmunoassay was assessed through a recuperation test using exogenous thyroglobulin. RESULTS: Thyroglobulin autoantibodies were detected in 149 sera (18.6%). Of these, 65 had a recuperation that fluctuated between 1 and 80%. Thyroglobulin autoantibody concentration was negatively correlated with recuperation percentages (r = -0.64; p < 0.001) but not with thyroglobulin concentrations (r = 0.08). Thyroglobulin was higher in positive sera with a recuperation over 80% than in sera with a recuperation of less than 80% (12.7 +/- 1.7 and 5.9 +/- 0.6 ng/ml, respectively; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Thyroglobulin autoantibodies interfere with thyroglobulin measurement by radioimmunoassay, sequestering variable amounts of thyroglobulin. The presence of these autoantibodies must be investigated prior to thyroglobulin determination.

Autoantibodies↗

PubMed1997

Post-suckling prolactin:oestradiol ratio--a potential index to predict the duration of lactational amenorrhoea in women.

To assess whether the duration of lactational amenorrhoea can be predicted in individual women, we studied the pre- and post-suckling concentrations of immune prolactin (IR-PRL) and of bioactive prolactin (BIO-PRL) and basal concentrations of oestradiol in ten amenorrhoeic fully nursing women at 3 months post-partum. The women were of similar age, weight and had infants of similar growth rate. Five of these women were to experience long amenorrhoea (>180 days) and the others short amenorrhoea (<180 days). Blood samples were drawn 30 min after a suckling episode initiated at 0800 h, 1600 h and 2400 h. BIO-PRL distinguished between groups of women at 0030 h but not at other times, while there was considerable overlap between values for IR-PRL and oestradiol at all times studied. At 1630 h, the ratios post-suckling BIO-PRL: oestradiol and post-suckling IR-PRL:oestradiol were above 2000 in the women that were to experience long amenorrhoea and below this threshold in the other women. The ratio post-suckling BIO-PRL:oestradiol provided more information since the difference between the lowest ratio in the long amenorrhoea and the highest ratio in the short was 699, while it was 520 for the IR-PRL:oestradiol ratio. The determination of these ratios may help to predict the duration of lactational amenorrhoea in individual fully nursing women.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Bone turnover and density in healthy women during breastfeeding and after weaning.

To investigate the changes in maternal bone density and turnover associated with lactation we ran a longitudinal study in fully breastfeeding women (age 26.3 +/- 4.1 years, mean +/- SD) at the first (stage I, n = 30) and sixth (stage II, n = 25) months postpartum and 6 months after weaning (stage III, n = 20), and in a contemporary control group of non-nursing women. At each time point bone density, serum calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatases, parathyroid hormone (PTH), osteocalcin, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol (E2), prolactin (PRL) urinary hydroxyproline and creatinine (OH-P/Cr) were measured in both groups. The daily calcium intake of nursing women (1479 +/- 590 mg/day at stage I) was higher than in non-nursing women (536 +/- 231 mg/day at stage I). Biochemical markers of bone turnover were higher (p < 0.05) in nursing than in non-nursing women at stages I and II, while in stage III only OH-P/Cr was elevated. The lumbar spine (L2-4) bone mineral density was similar in the two groups at the beginning of the study (1.148 +/- 0.111 g/cm2 in nursing women vs 1.211 +/- 0.102 g/cm2 in non-nursing women; p = 0.06), but it was lower in nursing women at stage II (1.144 +/- 0.110 g/cm2 vs 1.216 +/- 0.095 g/cm2 respectively; p < 0.05). Right femoral neck bone density decreased by 3% between stages I and II in nursing women but did not differ from values in non-nursing women (0.947 +/- 0.110 vs 0.973 +/- 0.108 in stage I and 0.918 +/- 0.114 vs 0.975 +/- 0.098 in stage II respectively; p < 0.05, ANOVA). After weaning, lumbar spine and femoral neck bone density increased by 6% and 8% respectively (p < 0.05, ANOVA). No correlation was found between changes in bone turnover markers or bone density and parity, frequency and duration of nursing episodes, body weight, body mass index, and plasma PRL, E2 and PTH levels. We conclude that in nursing women with a daily calcium intake at the recommended dietary allowance ( > 1200 mg/day), full breastfeeding extending over 6 months is characterized by increased maternal bone turnover and a transient bone loss which normalizes after weaning.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

PubMed1996

[Dissolution velocity of different calcium preparations used in the clinical field].

BACKGROUND: Prescription of calcium supplements is a frequent practice, considering that diet is insufficient to cover daily requirements of this mineral. AIM: To study the dissolution velocity in an acid solution, of different commercial calcium supplements. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Hydrochloric acid was added to distilled water in increasing amounts to obtain a final pH of 6.9, 3.0, 2.5, 2.0 and 1.5. Eighteen commercial calcium preparations were incubated in these solutions for 60 min and dissolution velocity was measured as the percentage of elemental calcium found in solution after this incubation period. RESULTS: Calcium carbonate preparations had a pH dependent dissolution velocity, ranging from 0.67 +/- 0.8% at pH 6.9 to 77.15 +/- 17.5% at pH 1.5. Using the solution with pH 1.5, the dissolution velocity of different preparations varied widely from 56 to 100%. Calcium acetate, followed by calcium citrate and dicalcic phosphate were the salts in tablets with better dissolution velocities. Among powders and effervescent preparations, those containing calcium lactogluconate and citrate had the better dissolution velocities (95 to 115%), that were independent of the solution's pH. A studied preparation with integral bone had a very low dissolution velocity, not surpassing 33 mg of calcium per tablet. CONCLUSIONS: The dissolution velocity of different calcium carbonate preparations varies greatly and, in conditions of achlorhydria, it is negligible. Calcium lactogluconate and citrate dissolution velocities are independent of the solution's pH.

Calcium↗

PubMed1995

Bioactive GH-like immunoglobulins G in active acromegaly: response to long-term treatment with bromocriptine.

In acromegaly, certain forms of circulating immunoreactive hGH are not true GH but IgGs which possess GH biological activity (bioactive GH-like IgGs). In this study, we tested the effect of bromocriptine on circulating bioactive GH-like IgGs in an acromegalic woman. Increasing doses of oral bromocriptine (2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 mg/day) were administered (for 2, 8 and 6 months respectively). TRH tests were performed before treatment and at the end of treatment with each dose. The patient was without detectable pituitary or extra-pituitary tumour by magnetic resonance imaging. Her serum contained bioactive GH-like IgGs equivalent to 240 mU/l of hGH and elevated insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I; 9500 U/l). Basal hGH was 12.8 mU/l and increased to 220 mU/l 15 min after TRH (200 micrograms, i.v.). In addition, in the basal samples of each test we measured total IgGs (radial immunodiffusion), bioactive GH-like IgGs (isolated by Sephadex and protein A affinity chromatography and assayed using the Nb2 cell assay) and IGF-I(RIA). Bromocriptine treatment gradually reduced serum levels of bioactive GH-like IgGs and IGF-I, with significant falls observed first at 10 months of treatment. Bioactive GH-like IgGs were 240, 240, 36.0 and < 0.124 mU/l and IGF-I levels were 9500, 8700, 4000 and 3100 U/l at 0, 2, 10 and 16 months of treatment, respectively. In contrast, IR-hGH response to TRH decreased after 2 months of treatment to 89 mU/l and to 49.2 mU/l at the end of the study while basal IR-hGH remained between 13 and 8.4 mU/l. Basal PRL fell to almost undetectable levels. Bromocriptine treatment decreased the GH response to TRH and the serum concentration of bioactive GH-like IgGs and IGF-I. The striking similarity between the pattern of decrease of serum bioactive GH-like IgGs and IGF-I supports the presence of an immuno component in our patient's acromegaly.

Acromegaly↗

PubMed1994

Prolactin bioactivity and the duration of lactational amenorrhea.

In our population, only half of fully nursing women remain amenorrheic 6 months postpartum. The other half recover their menstrual cycles between 90-180 days postpartum in spite of a high suckling frequency and elevated immunoreactive PRL (IR-PRL) concentrations. To further investigate the association of PRL with the recovery of ovarian function, we compared PRL bioactivity (BIO-PRL) 3-4 months postpartum in fully nursing amenorrheic women who subsequently experienced long (> 180 days; n = 5) or short (< 180 days; n = 5) lactational amenorrhea. In the present study, BIO-PRL in plasma was measured by the Nb2 lymphoma cell assay in samples taken before and 30 min after a suckling episode at 0800, 1600 and 2400 h. Women in the long amenorrhea group had higher overall mean BIO-PRL (mean +/- SE, 129.9 +/- 12.1 micrograms/L) than nursing women in the short amenorrhea group (66.6 +/- 5.2 micrograms/L; P < 0.05). Mean basal values were similar, but the women in the long amenorrhea group had more BIO-PRL in response to suckling (160.1 +/- 4.0 vs. 71.9 +/- 6.7 micrograms/L; P < 0.05). Compared with their respective basal values, nursing women in the long amenorrhea group demonstrated increased BIO-PRL in response to suckling, whereas the other group did not. The relationships between BIO-PRL and IR-PRL were similar in the two groups of nursing women before suckling. However, after suckling, the long amenorrhea group had significantly higher BIO-PRL levels than IR-PRL levels (P < 0.05, by likelihood test) than the short amenorrhea group. This suggests that suckling differentially changes in each group either the composition of PRL present or substances that may modify the bioactivity of PRL in plasma.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

[3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase defect: frequency of presentation in a sample of Chilean hirsute women].

The defect of 3 beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 beta HSD) is frequent among hirsute women and clearly dependent on the ethnic composition of the studied population. Our aim was to study the frequency of 3 beta HSD deficit in a group of Chilean hirsute women. Basal and post ACTH concentrations of cortisol, 17 hydroxyprogesterone and 17 hydroxypregnenolone were measured by RIA in 40 hirsute post puberal women and in 15 normal age matched female volunteers. Criteria for considering a 3 beta HDS deficit were 17 hydroxypregnenolone values and 17 hydroxypregnenolone/17 hydroxyprogesterone and 17 hydroxypregnenolone/cortisol ratios after ACTH stimulation over the 95% confidence intervals of normal women. Basal dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate and testosterone levels were also measured in hirsute women. All samples were obtained during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. ACTH stimulated hormone values and ratios were diagnostic for 3 beta HDS deficit in 7.5% of hirsute women. Basal testosterone was over 80 ng/dl in 47.5% and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate over 3.9 micrograms/ml in 52.5% of these women. There was no correlation between dehydroepiandrosterone or testosterone values and ACTH stimulated hormone values. It is concluded that 3 beta HSD is frequent in hirsute women and that its diagnosis requires the determination of ACTH stimulated 17 hydroxypregnenolone values and 17 hydroxypregnenolone/17 hydroxyprogesterone ratio.

17-alpha-Hydroxypregnenolone↗

PubMed1993

[Changes in the clinical presentation of primary hyperparathyroidism. Analysis of 84 cases].

During the last two decades, the clinical presentation of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHP) has changed due to the routine use of multiphasic biochemical screening tests. We assessed 84 patients with PHP treated in our service between 1977 and 1991. The yearly incidence increased from 1.6 to 7.6 patients/year with the introduction of multiphasic biochemical testing in our hospital in 1982; likewise the proportion of asymptomatic patients increased from 12.5 to 40.7%. The most frequent presenting symptoms were bone pain and renal colic. Nineteen percent of patients were over 70 years old and this age group had distinct clinical features. The plasma chlorine/phosphorus ratio was abnormal in 95% of cases; on the contrary only 7 of 18 patients had a urinary calcium excretion over 300 mg/day. Cervical ultrasound, performed in 45 patients had a positive predictive value of 78% to localize the lesion. Bone density was below fracture threshold in 50% of studied patients. The principal surgical finding was the presence of adenoma. Twenty one percent of patients had symptomatic hypocalcemia during the first week after surgery; however, only 2.5% of patients continued to have hypocalcemia one month after surgery. One patient had an inferior laryngeal nerve damage and two a cervical hematoma. It is concluded that the introduction of massive calcium measurements has allowed an early diagnosis of asymptomatic PHP, specially in elderly people.

Adenoma↗

PubMed1992

Growth hormone (GH) receptor antibodies with GH-like activity occur spontaneously in acromegaly.

Previous studies in our laboratory have identified a portion of big-big GH as actually being anti-GH receptor immunoglobulins. We now report the isolation of two types of anti-GH receptor antibodies from the serum of active acromegalic patients. One of them (patient A) interferes with the human GH RIA, thus overestimating the real plasma GH values. The other type of immunoglobulin G (IgG; patient B) was detected in an acromegalic patient with almost normal immunoreactive GH level. The main aim of the present study was to explore whether these anti-GH receptor IgGs possess GH-like biological activity. The IgGs of both patients were isolated by chromatography on Sephadex G-100 and then on protein-A-Sepharose. In the bioassay, cultured Nb2 lymphoma cells were incubated with hGH standards and serial dilutions of the purified IgGs, and cell proliferation was used as a measure of biological activity. The IgGs of both patients showed GH-like bioactivities, which, when calculated as equivalents of human GH, correspond to approximately 260 and 120 micrograms/L, respectively. The results suggest that biologically active anti-GH receptor antibodies may contribute in the pathology of some cases of acromegaly.

Acromegaly↗

PubMed1992

Serum osteocalcin in normal menstrual cycle.

Serum osteocalcin (OC) was serially measured along an ovulatory menstrual cycle in 4 healthy unmedicated volunteers (age 33-38 years). During the study the women maintained their normal diet and daily physical activity. Starting at days 4-5 of the cycle, blood samples were taken between 09-11 AM every 2 or 3 days for OC, FSH, LH, E2 and P determinations. Daily ultrasound assessment of ovulation was performed in all subjects between days 7-18 of the cycle. Hormone determinations and OC were performed by RIA. While blood levels of FSH, LH, E2 and P changed during the cycle, according to the expected ovulatory pattern, serum OC concentrations remained stable during the cycle in each subject. In conclusion, serum OC is independent of the gonadotropin and ovarian steroid variations during the normal menstrual cycle.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

[Polycystic ovary syndrome as expression of 3-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency].

Late-onset adrenal enzymatic deficiencies are a common cause of hirsutism. They can produce a PCO syndrome-like clinical course, underscoring the multi-causality of this condition. We report a 18 year old woman with secondary amenorrhea and hirsutism, whose serum levels of testosterone and DHEA-S were 175 ng/dl and 7.3 micrograms/ml and the LH/FSH ratio was 5.9. Dexamethasone decreased testosterone and DHEA-S levels, while the ACTH stimulation test increased the 17 hydroxypregnenolone serum concentration and the 17 hydroxypregnenolone/17 hydroxyprogesterone ratio to values considered diagnostic of 3 beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency.

3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases↗