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Biomedical subjects

G Tolis

Publications and source records attributed to G Tolis.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Prolonged amenorrhea and oral contraceptives.

Of 106 consecutive women referred for secondary amenorrhea of more than 1 year's duration, 65 were diagnosed as having functional amenorrhea. Of these 65, 29 had amenorrhea directly following discontinuation of oral contraceptives (OC group) and 36 had never used oral contraceptives (NOC group). There was no difference in the incidence of prior menstrual irregularity in either group. Similarly, there was no difference in the resting serum estrone, estradiol, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and prolactin levels between the OC and NOC groups. Nor was there a difference between the OC and NOC groups in response to medroxyprogesterone acetate, clomiphene citrate, or luteinizing hormone-releasing factor. Of 106 patients, 17 were proven to have prolactinomas. Eight patients had a prior history of OC use, whereas nine did not. With the exception of elevated serum prolactin levels, there were no significant differences in biochemical tests or history of oral contraceptive use between the prolactinoma group and patients with prolonged "functional" amenorrhea (OC plus NOC groups). The lack of historical or biochemical difference between the OC and NOC subjects indicates homogeneity between groups, and does not support the existence of a "postpill" syndrome.

Adult↗

Seminal fluid prolactin: studies in normal subjects and in hypergonadotropic oligospermia.

A sensitive radioimmunoassay was developed for the determination of seminal plasma prolactin levels. Prolactin added to normal or oligospermic seminal plasma was fully recoverable, indicating that the seminal plasma of oligospermic patients did not contain interfering substances. A gradient between seminal plasma blood serum prolactin was found in 54 health fertile subjects. No gradient was demonstrable among 13 infertile oligospermic patients who had normal levels of serum testosterone and luteinizing hormone but elevated levels of follicle-stimulating hormone.

Follicle Stimulating Hormone↗

Prolactin-secreting tumors and hypogonadism in 22 men.

We studied 22 men with prolactin-secreting pituitary tumors and hypogonadism. Twenty complained of impotence, nine had visual impairment, and three experienced galactorrhea. None of the 17 patients undergoing operation or radiotherapy, or both, were subsequently normoprolactinemic. In all 13 patients treated with bromocryptine major clinical improvement was associated with a decrease in serum prolactin levels and in nine with an increase in serum testosterone. Two patients receiving testosterone replacement therapy showed improved potency only after bromocryptine was administered. The results indicate that hyperprolactinemia frequently induces hypogonadism in men, that bromocryptine ameliorates symptoms of disease previously unchanged by operation or radiotherapy, and that the impotence observed may not be solely the result of hypogonadism.

Adenoma, Acidophil↗

Clinical, biochemical, and radiologic reversibility of hyperprolactinemic galactorrhea-amenorrhea and abnormal sella by thyroxine in a patient with primary hypothyroidism.

A case of primary hypothyroidism associated with postpartum galactorrhea-amenorrhea is reported. The configuration of the sella was compatible with pituitary adenoma, but prolactin dynamics did not support an autonomous secretory state. Replacement therapy with thyroxine led to complete reversal of clinical, radiologic, and biochemical abnormalities.

Adult↗

Pituitary hyperthyroidism. Case report and review of the literature.

A 58 year old woman with an enlarged sella turcica was found to have hyperthyroidism with a supranormal concentration of serum thyrotropin. Transsphenoidal microsurgery resulted in the removal of a chromophobe adenoma comprised mainly of thyrotropes. Postoperatively, serum thyrotropin, thyroxine and triiodothyronine levels fell within normal limits, and the patient maintained normal thyroid and pituitary function.

Adenoma, Chromophobe↗

Opiates, prolactin, and the dopamine receptor.

The administration of a dopamine antagonist, chlorpromazine, and two opiates, morphine and methadone, resulted in a significant rise in serum PRL within 90-150 min. Prior administration of dopamine receptor agonists (apomorphine, levodopa, aand bromocriptine) blocked this effect. In contrast, cyproheptadine, a serotonin antagonist, did not. We suggest that the opiates induce hyperprolactinemia in man via dopamine receptor blockade.

Apomorphine↗

Acromegaly and galactorrhea-amenorrhea with two pituitary adenomas secreting growth hormone or prolactin. A case report.

A prolactinoma was removed from a nulliparous woman who had acromegaly, galactorrhea-amenorrhea, elevated serum growth hormone and prolactin, and hypogonadotropinism. Postoperatively galactorrhea decreased and cyclic vaginal bleeding ensued; serum prolactin concentration was normal but growth hormone remained elevated and the acromegalic complex was unchanged, even after subsequently administered bromocriptine. At a second transsphenoidal operation, an adenoma of somatotropes was removed; improvement in symptoms and signs and normalisation of pituitary function, including growth hormone, followed. The possible presence of distinctly separate pituitary adenomas should be considered in patients with galactorrhea associated with acromegaly.

Acromegaly↗

The TRH test: its value in the diagnosis of Graves' ophthalmopathy.

When a goiter or hyperthyroidism is absent, the diagnosis of ophthalmic Graves' disease is often difficult. We evaluated the thyrotropin (TSH) response to intravenously administered thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) in fourteen patients presenting with proptosis or lid retraction. All of them had normal results with routine thyroid function tests and in most a T3 suppression test and orbital ultrasonography were performed. We found an absent or impaired response to TRH in the patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy which correlates well with their having a non-suppressible thyroid gland. Patients with orbital tumours, pseudotumours or congenital lid retraction responded normally to TRH. The TRH test was easier and as reliable as the T3 suppression test in the investigation of a patient with suspected Graves' disease.

Adolescent↗

Renal vein plasma adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate in renovascular hypertension.

The concentration of plasma adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP) and plasma renin activity (PRA) were measured concomitantly in blood from both renal veins and in arterial blood in 22 hypertensive patients. In the nine patients with true renovascular hypertension the concentration of plasma cyclic AMP was greater in the venous effluent of the kidney affected by the renal artery stenosis than in that of the unaffected or less affected kidney. The arteriovenous difference in cyclic AMP concentration was less on the affected side in all but one patient. The arteriovenous differences in PRA identified the affected kidney as the source of hyper-reninemia and showed that renin release from the other kidney was suppressed. In the 13 patients with hypertension associated with but unrelated to renal artery stenosis there were no consistent patterns of cyclic AMP concentration or PRA in the venous effluent of the kidneys or of their arteriovenous differences. In renovascular hypertension the venous effluent of the kidney affected by renal artery stenosis contains not only more renin but also more cyclic AMP, owing to either increased cyclic AMP production or decreased excretion or extraction of cyclic AMP by the affected kidney. This unilateral increase in cyclic AMP concentration may become a complementary diagnostic feature of true renovascular hypertension.

Cyclic AMP↗

Pheochromocytoma presenting with pulmonary edema and hyperamylasemia.

A 28-year-old woman was admitted to hospital with acute pulmonary edema, mild abdominal discomfort and hyperamylasemia. From the 2nd hospital day hypertensive episodes occurred daily. The furosemide screening test for renovascular hypertension revealed elevated plasma renin activity (PRA) but an intravenous pyelogram revealed a right suprarenal mass and no evidence of renovascular compression. Elevated values of plasma and urinary catecholamines indicated a pheochromocytoma, and a single chromaffin tumour was resected. It is important to monitor left ventricular filling pressure during operative removal of a pheochromocytoma. Postoperatively the patient had normal blood pressure and PRA. Decreased urinary amylase clearance and abnormal pancreatic and salivary amylase isoenzymes were found.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗

Elevated serum concentrations of thyroxine-binding globulin and caeruloplasmin in methadone-maintained patients.

Patients on a methadone-maintenance program had high serum concentrations of thyroxine-binding globulin. This resulted in elevated serum thyroxine and triiodothyronine levels and low triiodothyronine uptake values. Their free thyroxine index was normal, as was serum thyroxine and triiodothyronine when related to thyroxine-binding globulin concentration. Serum caeruloplasmin concentration was also increased in methadone-treated patients.

Adult↗

Response of several adrenal steroids to ACTH stimulation in essential hypertension.

Plasma concentrations of progesterone (P), deoxycorticosterone (DOC), 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OH P), corticosterone (B), deoxycortisol (S), cortisol (F), and aldosterone were measured in 8 control subjects and in 10 patients with low and normal renin essential hypertension (EH) before and 4 and 8 h after an iv infusion of 25 units of ACTH. Secretion rates of 18-hydroxy-11-deoxycorticosterone (18-OH DOC) were measured for the 24 h prior to and the day of the ACTH infusions. The hypertensive patients had significantly higher plasma levels of aldosterone, DOC and S after ACTH than the controls, whereas plasma B levels were significantly lower. The low renin subgroup considered separately had significantly higher plasma levels of aldosterone and DOC than controls, and higher levels of B and lower levels of F than the normal renin subgroup in response to ACTH. Although not significantly different, the plasma levels of P and the secretion rate of 18-OH DOC tended to be higher, and plasma 17-OH P and F levels lower after ACTH in patients with EH than in controls. The low renin subgroup tended to have the highest plasma S levels and 18-OH DOC secretory rates and lowest F levels. Estimations of adrenal 11beta-hydroxylating efficiency in response to ACTH in patients and controls by plasma steroid ratios revealed significantly lower B/DOC ratios in both low and normal renin patients compared to controls, supported by somewhat lower F/S ratios in these patients, especially those in the low renin subgroup. Altered 17-hydroxylating efficiency seen by significantly lower 17-OH P/P ratios were also found in those with EH, supported by somewhat lower F/B and S/DOC ratios in these patients, agian especially in the low renin subgroup. These data are compatible with a pattern of altered adrenocortical steroid biosynthesis in essential hypertension bearing features similar to adrenal 11beta and 17alpha-hydroxylation deficiencies.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

Ineffectiveness of pyridoxine (B6) to alter secretion of growth hormone and prolactin and absence of therapeutic effects on galactorrhea-amenorrhea syndromes.

The acute effect of pyridoxine (B6) on serum GH and PRL levels and its chronic effects on galactorrhea in nine subjects (group I, n=4, idiopathic galactorrhea with normal PRL levels and normal menses; Group II, n=5, galactorrhea-amenorrhea with increased PRL levels) have been studied. Pyridoxine did not acutely alter GH or PRL levels. There was no decrease in galactorrhea, no resumption of menses and no decrease in PRL following tow months of B6 therapy. In contrast, bromocriptine was effective in suppressing galactorrhea and restoring normal menses in group II subjects and remains the therapy of choice for this purpose.

Amenorrhea↗