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G Massa

Publications and source records attributed to G Massa.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Validity of single-weight measurements to predict current malnutrition and mortality in children.

In this cross-sectional study of a random cluster sample of 4238 rural Zairian children aged 0-5 y, we assessed underweight and wasting, defined as weight-for-age < 75%, and weight-for-height < 80% of the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics reference median, respectively. We determined the diagnostic validity of underweight and wasting for protein-energy malnutrition, taking a low arm circumference and clinical signs of muscle loss as criteria. Both underweight and wasting had low sensitivity in recognizing low arm circumference, any clinical muscle loss and even severe marasmus, especially in the weaning period of 12-30 mos. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed that the diagnostic validity of weight-for-height can be improved by using a cutoff for wasting at Z-score -0.75 instead of Z-score -2 or 80% of reference median. ROC analysis of 30-mo mortality revealed a poor prognostic validity of weight-for-height and weight-for-age and better performances of arm circumference (cm) and of age. These data suggest that nutritional intervention programs targeted at wasted or underweight children can have only a limited effect on the prevalence of protein-energy malnutrition in the community or on the long-term mortality associated with it.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed1996

Body weight in children with Turner syndrome treated with growth hormone.

OBJECTIVE: As overweight is a major concern in many children with Turner syndrome, we studied the effect of growth-promoting treatment with human growth hormone (hGH) on body weight indices. DESIGN: Longitudinal study of the effect of hGH on weight indices over time in a cohort of Turner girls of different ages. SUBJECTS: An index group of 199 hGH treated girls and a reference group of 569 untreated girls. METHODS: Turner-specific weight-for-age, weight-for-height and body mass index-for-age (BMI) values were computed. In order to take account of regression to the mean, we studied spontaneous changes of these variables in the reference group. References for spontaneous changes over 3, 6, 12 or 24 months were constructed. Observed changes in the index group were corrected by subtracting the expected spontaneous change. Corrected changes were compared between overweight, normal and underweight children. RESULTS: Treatment with hGH leads to a temporary decrease of weight indices during the first six months. This decreasing effect was not seen in overweight children. Treatment increases BMI in overweight children over 24 months, but not in normal or underweight children. BMI at start of hGH treatment did not modify long-term growth response. CONCLUSION: hGH treatment does not help to improve BMI in Turner syndrome children with a tendency to overweight.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Long-term preservation of vascular endothelium and smooth muscle.

This study was performed in organ baths on 400 ring segments of infrarenal aorta taken from 40 Sprague-Dawley rats that had been randomized into five groups. Contractility was tested with the thromboxane analogue U-46619. Acetylcholine was used to elicit endothelium-dependent relaxing factor (EDRF). The results obtained from vessels preserved at 4 degrees C for 6, 12, 24, and 36 hours were compared with those from autologous vessels studied immediately after harvesting. Vessels preserved in Euro-Collins solution showed a 46% (p < 0.01) decrease in contractility after 12 hours of storage; after 24 hours only weak contractions could be elicited, and after 36 hours they had lost their ability to contract. The EDRF function was slightly reduced after 12 hours and could not be investigated after 24 and 36 hours. With the University of Wisconsin solution (UW) and the low-potassium-dextran-glucose solution Perfadex no decrease in contractility was seen in the first 24 hours, but at 36 hours the vessels preserved in UW had lost 40% (p < 0.01) and those preserved in Perfadex 30% (p < 0.05) of their contractility. The EDRF function was significantly reduced by about 15% after 6, 12, and 24 hours in both the UW and the Perfadex groups. At 36 hours, vessels stored in Perfadex had lost 41% (p < 0.001) and those stored in UW 17% (p < 0.01) of their EDRF function.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1995

Perfadex is superior to Euro-Collins solution regarding 24-hour preservation of vascular function.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare Perfadex with Euro-Collins solution regarding 24-hour preservation of endothelium-dependent relaxation and vascular smooth muscle function. METHODS: The infrarenal aorta of 72 isogenic rats was studied in organ baths as fresh controls, after 24 hours of cold (4 degrees C) storage, and after 24-hour storage followed by transplantation and examination after 7 or 30 days. The thromboxane A2 analogue U-46619 was used to test contractility. Acetylcholine chloride was used to elicit endothelium-dependent relaxation and papaverine hydrochloride, to elicit endothelium-independent relaxation. RESULTS: With both solutions, all grafts were patent after 7 and 30 days. Vessels preserved in Euro-Collins solution for 24 hours lost 95% (p < 0.001) of their contractility compared with fresh controls; 7 days after transplantation, they had regained 40% of initial contractility, and after 30 days, there was no significant decrease in contractility. Vessels preserved in Perfadex manifested no significant decrease in contractility at any time. Endothelium-dependent relaxation could not be evaluated in vessels stored for 24 hours in Euro-Collins solution because they had lost almost all contractility; 7 days after transplantation, endothelium-dependent relaxation was reduced by 65% (p < 0.001), but at 30 days after transplantation, there was no significant decrease in endothelium-dependent relaxation. Vessels preserved in Perfadex for 24 hours lost 17% (p < 0.05) of endothelium-dependent relaxation, but 7 and 30 days after transplantation, there was no significant decrease in endothelium-dependent relaxation. CONCLUSIONS: Perfadex, but not Euro-Collins solution, has the capacity to preserve vascular function after 24 hours of storage followed by in vivo reperfusion.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Treatment with two growth hormone regimens in girls with Turner syndrome: final height results. Dutch Growth Hormone Working Group.

In 1987 a multicentre trial of recombinant human growth hormone (GH) was started in girls with Turner syndrome. Fifty-four patients were randomly assigned to receive GH, 8 IU/m2 3 times/week (group 1), or 4 IU/m2 6 times/week (group 2). In addition, the 35 patients older than 12 years received ethinyloestradiol, 100 ng/kg body weight/day, and after 2 years GH therapy was increased to 6 IU/m2 6 times/week. Recombinant human GH treatment was stopped when the height increment during the previous 6 months of treatment was less than 0.5 cm. Treatment has so far been stopped in 48 patients: treatment was stopped early in 2 patients due to lack of motivation, 1 patient died suddenly and the treatment protocol was completed in 45 patients. The last height measurement obtained, which was considered as (near) final height, was 152.3 +/- 5.3 cm (mean +/- SD) in these patients, which is higher (p < 0.001) than the adult height of 147.0 +/- 6.3 cm reported in 63 untreated adult Dutch patients with Turner syndrome. No differences in outcome were found between the two dose regimens.

Body Height↗
PubMed1995

[Growth hormone receptor and binding protein: roles in cellular responsiveness to growth hormone].

In most species, the structure of the growth hormone-binding protein (GH-BP) is identical to that of the growth hormone receptor (GH-R). The affinity (Ka) of the GH-BP is however 10 x lower than that of the receptor. Two mechanisms of production of the GH-BP have been described: in the human and the rabbit, the GH-BP is cleaved near the cellular membrane by proteolysis and shed into the extracellular compartment while in murine species, the serum GH-BP is produced by alternative splicing of the gene coding for the GH receptor. The GH-BP prolongs the 1/2 life of plasma GH, dampening the free GH levels during peaks and maintaining free hormone levels during troughs via the slow dissociation of GH from the complex GH-GHBP. By controlling free GH levels within and between peaks, GH-BP would thus play an important role in modulating GH action at the cellular level. In several physiological and physiopathological conditions, GH-BP and GH-R are coordinately regulated. However, there are situations such as during pregnancy or certain periods of development where these 2 proteins are not co-expressed. Therefore, GH-BP circulating levels do not necessarily represent cellular GH-R concentrations. In the rat, GH-BP and GH-R are regulated by nutritional and endocrine factors, among those are GH, insulin and gonadal steroids. In the human, the mechanism responsible for the increase of the circulating GH-BP during infancy is still unknown. Finally, the eventual role of GH-BP in transmitting the intracellular message of GH following its binding to the receptor is still unknown.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Endothelium-dependent relaxation after short-term preservation of vascular grafts.

As the integrity of graft endothelium seems to be essential to successful long-term patency in coronary operations, its preservation demands the utmost care. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of currently used solutions on endothelium-dependent relaxation after short-term storage of vessels at room temperature or at 4 degrees C. The infrarenal rat aorta was selected for study because its use enabled standardization of the investigation, which was performed in organ baths on 672 vessel segments from 112 Sprague-Dawley rats. Stable vasoconstriction was obtained with the thromboxane analogue U-46619. Acetylcholine was used to elicit endothelium-dependent relaxation. The results obtained for vessels preserved for 2 hours were compared with those for autologous vessels studied immediately after harvesting. Vessel contractility was unaffected by the preservation solutions, except in the Ringer's acetate group, where it was reduced by 50% (p < 0.05). Endothelium-independent relaxation, tested with papaverine, was unaffected in all groups. Ringer's lactate, Krebs solution, and Perfadex (a low-potassium-dextran-glucose solution) did not significantly affect endothelium-dependent relaxation either at room temperature or at 4 degrees C, although a tendency to impaired relaxation was seen in these three groups after cold storage. Standard Ringer's solution and fresh heparinized blood each significantly reduced endothelium-dependent relaxation in vessels stored at room temperature (p < 0.05), but not in those stored at 4 degrees C. Endothelium-dependent relaxation was significantly reduced after storage in normal saline solution (p < 0.05) and in Ringer's acetate (p < 0.01), both at room temperature and at 4 degrees C.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Safe lung preservation for twenty-four hours with Perfadex.

The function of six porcine left lung allografts was studied after pulmonary (140 mL/kg) and bronchial (50 mL/kg) artery perfusion with Perfadex (Kabi Pharmacia, Uppsala, Sweden) at room temperature, followed by 24-hour storage of the lungs in an atelectatic state in 6 degrees to 8 degrees C Perfadex, which is a low-potassium-dextran solution. Left lung transplantation was done followed by right pneumonectomy, thereby making all the animals 100% dependent for their survival on the transplanted lungs. The pigs (mean weight = 56 kg, range = 51 to 58 kg, n = 18; 6 donors, 6 recipients, and 6 sham operated) were ventilated with a volume-controlled ventilator (20 breaths/min, 500 mL tidal volume, 8 cm H2O positive end-expiratory pressure, inspired oxygen fraction = 0.5). All the transplanted animals were in good condition throughout the 24-hour observation period with arterial oxygen tensions around 25 kPa (188 mm Hg) and arterial carbon dioxide tensions around 5 kPa (38 mm Hg). The mean pulmonary arterial pressure was around 30 mm Hg, and the pulmonary vascular resistance around 500 dyn.s.cm-5; neither showed any tendency to change with time. After 24 hours the inspired oxygen fraction was increased to 1.0 and the arterial oxygen tension increased to 43.3 +/- 5 kPa (325 +/- 38 mm Hg) (mean +/- standard error of the mean; n = 6). A sham operation (bilateral thoracotomy, right pneumonectomy) was done in 6 pigs, which were followed up for 24 hours.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Growth hormone therapy in Turner's syndrome: one versus two daily injections.

In 44 girls with Turner's syndrome, aged 4.0-15.3 yr, the effects of biosynthetic GH (25 U/m2.week) given as once daily or twice daily injections were compared. During 1 yr of treatment, the growth rate increased similarly by 3.5 +/- 1.3 cm/yr in the once daily group and 2.7 +/- 1.8 cm/yr in the twice daily group. Although pretreatment height velocity was negatively related to age, the increase in height velocity during therapy was not. The mean progression in bone age (TW2-RUS method), during therapy was 1.3 yr in both groups. No significant change in the median insulin secretory response to an oral glucose tolerance test was found. Serum cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations did not change significantly throughout the study in either treatment group. Thyroid hormone concentrations remained within normal limits. Normal increments in left ventricular wall thickness and left ventricular mass for age and body surface were observed after 1 yr of GH treatment. We conclude that division of the daily GH dose given to Turner's syndrome patients into two injections does not result in either a significantly different growth response or different side-effects from once daily treatment during the first year of therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Growth hormone-binding proteins during human pregnancy: maternal, fetal and neonatal data.

Serum levels of growth hormone-binding protein (GHBP) were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) gel filtration in serum of 30 pregnant women and in cord serum of 69 preterm and term infants. In pregnant women, the mean +/- SD serum level of GHBP was 32.4% +/- 5.6%. Polynomial regression analysis showed a significant (P = 0.01) second-order relationship between the duration of pregnancy and serum GHBP levels, with increasing levels during the first half of pregnancy and decreasing levels thereafter. In cord serum, the mean +/- SD serum level of GHBP was 3.1% +/- 1.4% (n = 51) in preterm and 4.2% +/- 1.3% (n = 18) in term neonates. Serum GHBP concentrations were related to gestational age (r = 0.35; P < 0.005) and to intrauterine nutritional state as evaluated by the ponderal index (r = 0.30; P < 0.02). In four term neonates, serum levels of GHBP were measured before and after an exchange transfusion (ET). Before the ET the serum GHBP level was 6.7% +/- 2.4% and at the end it was 25.3% +/- 2.6%. Thereafter, serum GHBP levels decreased slowly. Analysis of the elimination curve by exponential stripping showed a biexponential elimination pattern: GHBP (%) = 40.e(-5.1E-03 x time) + 64.e(-2.5E-04 x time). The serum half-life of the GHBP complex was estimated to be about 2 days.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

In vivo effects of thymustimulin on hematopoiesis of mice treated with cyclophosphamide.

This study reports on the in vivo effects of thymustimulin (TST), a thymic extract, on the hematopoiesis of mice treated with cyclophosphamide (CTX). Peripheral blood counts and both bone marrow pluripotent (spleen colony-forming units, CFU-S) and committed (granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming units, CFU-GM; erythroid burst-forming units, BFU-E) hematopoietic progenitor cells were assayed by in vitro methods. Administration of CTX alone was associated with severe hemotoxicity, which was followed by a gradual recovery of hematopoiesis. Hematotoxic effect of CTX was less pronounced when TST was administered in association with CTX. All the studied parameters were higher in TST + CTX-treated animals than those in CTX-treated animals, especially after Day 5 from the beginning of treatment for blood leukocytes, bone marrow cell counts, and packed red cell volume, and at Day 10 or 15 for CFU-S, CFU-GM, and BFU-E. These findings suggest that, in this experimental model, the simultaneous administration of TST reduces the myelosuppressive activity of CTX in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Serum levels of growth hormone-binding protein and insulin-like growth factor I in children and adolescents with type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus.

Serum levels of insulin-like growth factor I are reduced in patients with Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus. To evaluate the role of the hepatic growth hormone receptor in the decreased serum concentrations of insulin-like growth factor I, serum levels of the high affinity growth hormone-binding protein, which is qualitatively and quantitatively related to the hepatic growth hormone receptor, and of insulin-like growth factor I were measured in 70 children and adolescents with Type 1 diabetes and 105 healthy control children. Analysis of variance revealed a significant negative effect of Type 1 diabetes on serum levels of the growth hormone-binding protein and of insulin-like growth factor I. In the diabetic patients, serum levels of the growth hormone-binding protein were positively related to body mass index and to insulin dose per kg body weight, and were not influenced by pubertal stage, gender, or plasma levels of haemoglobin A1c. Serum levels of insulin-like growth factor I increased during early puberty reaching peak levels at mid-puberty and decreasing thereafter. No relationship was found between serum levels of growth hormone-binding protein and of insulin-like growth factor I. Our data suggest that decreased liver somatogenic receptor levels, as reflected by the concentrations of circulating growth hormone-binding protein, play a minor role in the suppressed concentrations of circulating insulin-like growth factor I. Post-growth hormone receptor defects or changes in the insulin-like growth factor binding proteins probably contribute more to the lower serum levels of insulin-like growth factor I.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Endothelium-dependent relaxation in pulmonary arteries after lung preservation and transplantation.

Pulmonary hypertension is frequently seen after lung transplantation. To study how the release of the endothelium-dependent relaxing factor is affected by lung preservation and transplantation, porcine pulmonary arteries were investigated in organ baths. The arteries (1 mm in diameter) were taken from fresh nonperfused lungs (group I), lungs immediately after flush-perfusion with a low-potassium-dextran solution (group II), non-perfused lungs stored for 12 hours in low-potassium-dextran solution (group III), flush-perfused lungs stored for 12 hours in low-potassium-dextran solution (group IV), and group IV lungs after left lung transplantation and right pneumonectomy followed by 24 hours of reperfusion (group V). Stable contractions were induced with the thromboxane A2 analogue U-46619. Acetylcholine was used to stimulate the release of endothelium-dependent relaxing factor. In vessel segments where the endothelium had been removed, acetylcholine elicited no response. In segments with intact endothelium, acetylcholine induced concentration-dependent relaxation; the maximum relaxation obtained was 91% +/- 3% (I), 86% +/- 3% (II), 85% +/- 3% (III), 69% +/- 5% (IV), and 69% +/- 9% (V). Relaxation was significantly reduced in groups IV (p < 0.01) and V (p < 0.05) as compared with group I. Stable moderate pulmonary hypertension was present in all the transplanted lungs throughout the 24-hour observation period. It is concluded that the endothelium-mediated relaxation is significantly reduced after flush perfusion combined with 12 hours of storage in low-potassium-dextran solution. Lung transplantation, followed by 24 hours of reperfusion did not further impair the endothelium-dependent relaxation.

15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5↗
PubMed1993

Safe pulmonary preservation for 12 hours with low-potassium-dextran solution.

The function of porcine left lung allografts was studied after perfusion with (150 mL/kg) and storage for 12 hours in a 4 degrees to 6 degrees C low-potassium-dextran solution (Perfadex; Kabi Pharmacia AB, Uppsala, Sweden). After a left lung transplantation, an artificial lung in the form of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was established. The artificial lung has a "biological" heparin-coated surface (Carmeda AB, Stockholm, Sweden), and there is no need for systemic anticoagulation. Immediately thereafter, pneumonectomy of the normal right lung was done. All the animals were weaned from the artificial lung within 1 hour after the pneumonectomy. Six animals were followed up for 24 hours. They were in good condition throughout the 24-hour observation period with arterial oxygen tensions around 200 mm Hg (inspired oxygen fraction = 0.4) and arterial carbon dioxide tensions around 40 mm Hg. This study demonstrates a reliable method for continuous evaluation of the function of a transplanted lung immediately after transplantation and over the ensuing postoperative period. Safe 12-hour lung preservation can be obtained with the low-potassium-dextran solution Perfadex.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Five-year follow-up of growth hormone antibodies in growth hormone deficient children treated with recombinant human growth hormone.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to investigate the long-term evolution of circulating growth hormone antibodies (GH-AB) during and after treatment with methionyl-recombinant human growth hormone (met-rhGH). DESIGN AND PATIENTS: The investigation was performed on serum samples of 46 growth hormone deficient children, treated for at least 12 months with met-rhGH. Twenty patients had never been treated with hGH (previously untreated patients, Group I). Twenty-six subjects were previously treated with pituitary extracted hGH (treated patients, Group II). MEASUREMENTS: Serum levels of GH-AB were measured by radioimmunoassay using charcoal precipitation of free ligand. RESULTS: Fifteen patients (75%) of Group I and three patients (12%) of Group II developed GH-AB. In 15 GH-AB positive patients the antibodies became detectable during the first year of treatment with met-rhGH. In three patients, however, the GH-AB appeared during the second year. Once present, the GH-AB remained detectable throughout the period of treatment with met-rhGH. In six patients in whom treatment with met-rhGH was stopped, GH-AB levels decreased rapidly. In nine patients in whom treatment with met-rhGH was changed to rhGH, the levels of GH-AB decreased and ultimately became undetectable. In two patients GH-AB remained present during administration of rhGH. No effect of GH-AB on the growth-promoting effect of met-rhGH could be documented, either during the first or during the second year of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the high immunogenicity of met-rhGH, especially in patients not treated earlier with hGH. Once present, the GH-AB remain detectable throughout the period of treatment with met-rhGH. After stopping met-rhGH treatment or changing to rhGH the GH-AB disappear rapidly in most patients. No effect of GH-AB on the growth-promoting effect of rhGH could be documented.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Influence of spontaneous or induced puberty on the growth promoting effect of treatment with growth hormone in girls with Turner's syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to evaluate the effect of 3 years treatment with recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) on height velocity and height in girls with Turner's syndrome (TS) and to study to influence of spontaneous or induced puberty on the growth promoting effect of rhGH. PATIENTS AND DESIGN: The investigation was performed in 36 girls with Turner's syndrome treated for 3 years with rhGH in a dose of 1 IU/kg week, administered as daily subcutaneous injections. Fifteen patients remained prepubertal throughout the observation period (Group 1). During the first 2 years of rhGH therapy, four girls developed puberty spontaneously (Group 2). During the 3rd year of rhGH treatment puberty was induced with 100 ng/kg day ethinyl oestradiol orally in 17 girls requesting pubertal development and with a bone age of at least 11 'years' (Group 3). RESULTS: During the first year of rhGH therapy height velocity increased significantly in all patients. Mean +/- SD height velocity was higher in the four patients with Turner's syndrome who developed spontaneous puberty than in 17 age-matched girls with Turner's syndrome without puberty (8.9 +/- 1.2 vs 7.4 +/- 1.2 cm/year; P < 0.05). During the second and third year of rhGH treatment height velocity decreased in all patients but remained above baseline levels. The induction of puberty with 100 ng/kg day ethinyl oestradiol in the patients of Group 3 did not lead to an acceleration of height velocity, but seemed in contrast to decelerate height velocity. After 3 years of rhGH treatment, 21 out of 36 patients have obtained a height at or above the initially calculated projected adult height and five girls are already taller than 150 cm. CONCLUSIONS: The onset of spontaneous puberty during the first years of rhGH treatment seems to have an additive effect to rhGH on height velocity. Induction of puberty with oral administration of 100 ng/kg day ethinyl oestradiol did not have any beneficial effect on height velocity and seems therefore not to be the optimal way to induce puberty with an adequate pubertal growth spurt in girls with Turner's syndrome under rhGH therapy. Different doses and routes of oestrogen administration have to be evaluated in order to mimic the growth promoting effect of spontaneous puberty as well as possible.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Effect of oestrogen status on serum levels of growth hormone-binding protein and insulin-like growth factor-I in non-pregnant and pregnant women.

OBJECTIVE: Since there appears to be a relationship between circulating oestrogens and growth hormone, we have investigated the effect of the oestrogen status of adult women on serum levels of GHBP and IGF-I. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: The investigation was performed on serum samples of 14 spontaneously menstruating women, 10 women taking oral contraceptives containing 20-50 micrograms ethinyloestradiol, and 30 pregnant women at different stages of pregnancy. MEASUREMENTS: Serum levels of GHBP were measured by HPLC gel filtration and IGF-I levels were measured by RIA after acid-ethanol extraction. RESULTS: In the spontaneously menstruating women the mean +/- SD serum level of GHBP was 34.6 +/- 6.7% and of IGF-I 30 +/- 7 nmol/l. Serum GHBP levels were negatively (r = -0.67; P < 0.01) and IGF-I levels were positively related (r = 0.69; P < 0.01) to serum oestradiol concentrations. In the women taking oral contraceptives serum levels of GHBP were 47.0 +/- 7.4%. This was significantly (P < 0.001) higher than in spontaneously menstruating women. In contrast, IGF-I levels were not different from those obtained in spontaneously menstruating women. In the pregnant women, the mean +/- SD serum level of GHBP was not different from that observed in non-pregnant spontaneously menstruating women. Polynomial regression analysis, however, showed a significant (P = 0.01) second-order relationship between the duration of pregnancy and serum GHBP levels, with increasing levels during the first half of pregnancy and decreasing levels thereafter. Serum concentrations of IGF-I increased during the second half of pregnancy and were significantly (P < 0.005) elevated in the third trimester. CONCLUSIONS: In non-pregnant women the endogenous oestrogen status seems to modulate negatively GHBP levels and positively IGF-I levels, whereas oral oestrogen administration, in contrast, increases serum levels of GHBP without modification of IGF-I levels. During pregnancy serum GHBP levels increase slightly during the first half of pregnancy and decrease thereafter, whereas IGF-I concentrations increase during the second part of pregnancy. The oestrogen status of women has a complex effect on serum concentrations of GHBP and IGF-I and has therefore to be taken into account when evaluating serum levels of GHBP and IGF-I.

Administration, Oral↗