Cortical Hormones Research Articles

Clinical features of 75 cases with hand-foot-and-mouth disease

Objective The purpose of this study was to help diagnose severe Hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD) cases at early stage. Methods This research employed a retrospective analysis approach and analyzed a number of severe HFMD cases based on the clinical records. Results The results showed that 86. 7% of severe HFMD cases happened among infants under the age of three,and there were more boys than girls; patients' conditions tended to deteriorate within one to five days after its outbreak,the rashes were not typical,and they were mostly small and few,sometimes none,the complications mostly concerned the nervous system and clinically manifested as Meningitis, brain stem encephalitis,acute flaccid paralysis,and neurogenic pulmonary edema etc. at the early stage of HFMD, 73. 3% of the cases involved symptoms of quivering of the pantomimes or hyperarousal,69. 3% of the cases showed listlessness,coma,or fidget,37. 3% of the cases invloved increase of peripheral cytometry,30.0% of the cases involved vomiting,20. 0% involved rising of respiration and cardiac rates, 15. 0% involved eclampsia, 10.0% involved coldness of the four limbs,6.5% involved constant high fever. The analysis showed that at the early stage of the disease, methylprednisolone and megadoses of IVIC could effectively contain .patients' conditions, and the cure rate reached as high as 93. 3%. Conclusions Complications concerning the nervous system usually happened to severe HFMD infected infants. Once there was early-stage clinical symptoms of nervous complications, and appropiate doses of adrenal cortical hormone and IVIG intervention could effectively block or defer the conditions. Key words: Hand,foot and mouth disease; Methylprednisolone; Immunoglobulins,intravenous

Progress of response gene to complement-32

Response gene to complement-32(RGC-32)as one of important response genes to complement,involves in many biological functions. Recent studies found that many factors could induce the expression of RGC-32 such as membrane attack complex,cortical hormones,growth factors, luteinizing hormone and transforming growth factor-β and so on. The expression products of RGC-32 play a key role in cell proliferation, differentiation, inflammation, tumor metastasis and other processes, thus to participate in the occurrence of many diseases' development processes. However, it has not be clarified in its exact cell biological function, subcellular localization, gene regulation mechanism. This article will make a brief review on gene structure, functions and roles in cell biology as well as the relationship between human diseases for RGC-32. Key words: RGC-32; Membrane attack complex; Proliferation and differentiation; Transforming growth factor-β; Renal tubular epithelial-mesenchymal transition

Adrenal Cortical Hormone Regulates Parathyroid Hormone-Like Hormone in the Kidney of Female and Male Mice.

Adrenal Cortical Hormone Regulates Parathyroid Hormone-Like Hormone in the Kidney of Female and Male Mice.

Pregnancy outcome in women with lupus nephritis

Objective To study the outcome of pregnancy with lupus nephritis. Methods The clinical data of 9 pregnancies with lupus nephritis were retrospectively malyzed. Results Hypertension,proteinuria,injured renal function and abnormal serological marker were complicated with nine patients with lupus nephritis in pregnancy. The outcome of pregnancy was as following:abortion 2 cases,stillbirth 1 case,premature delivery 4 cases,term delivery 2 cases. All neonate survived without malformation. There was no postpartum hemorrhage or death. Patients with active SLE had very high fetal mortality( 100% ). And SLE got worsen in 50% of them. However,fetal mortality rate in pa-tients with controlled or quiescent SLE was 11.1% ,which was much lower than it in other patients(P<0.05). Con-clusion Lupus nephritis should be controlled before pregnancy. Pregnancy outcome could be improved by careful multidisciplinary monitoring and proper usage of adrenal cortical hormone. Key words: Pregnancy complications; Lupus nephritis; Pregnancy Outcome; Time management

Adrenal cortical hormones in the spermatic vein of 95 patients with left varicocele.

Adrenocortical hormones were measured in the peripheral and spermatic venous blood samples, taken simultaneously at the time of a high vasoligation for left varicocele in 95 patients. Our results do not confirm the hypothesis of MacLeod that the deleterious effects of a varicocele on male fertility are caused by an higher local concentration of adrenocortical hormones, due to venous reflux through incompetent valves. If this is the case it occurs only in a minority of patients.

Development during the First Seven Days Post-hatching

The neonate has basic needs that must be satisfied at the time of hatching if survivability and maximum potential are achieved. Some of these basic needs are fresh air, clean water, proper feed, and heat. The developmental state at hatching of the neonate differs among all avian species (Nice, 1962). The post-hatching period for altricial neonates is more critical than for precocial birds because they hatch in a less mature state. Differing amounts of maternal care are therefore essential for each species (Nice, 1962). Although embryonic growth among species is very similar, no two physiological systems seem to mature at the same rate (Ricklefs and Starck, 1998). In addition, maturity may be a function of the egg conductance constant (Ar and Rahn, 1978), which is determined by egg mass, eggshell conductance (or functional properties) and the length of the incubation period (see Box 1 later), all of which may constrain neonatal maturity. When viewed energetically, the difference between maturity types resides in the different water concentrations in eggs and hatchlings, in the density of chemical potential energy in the dry matter of true hatchlings, and in the different amounts of energy transferred from the egg to the spare yolk (Ar et al., 1987). On the basis of species comparisons of posthatching growth of all birds (Lilja, 1983; Ricklefs, 1987), it has been suggested that the rate of growth after hatching is at least partially determined by the pattern of organ growth. It appears that a high rate of growth is correlated to early growth of ‘‘supply organs’’ (oesophagus, proventriculus, gizzard, intestines, heart and liver) at the expense of ‘‘demand organs’’ (breast, wings, legs and feathers). These changes begin very early in development (Lilja and Olsson, 1987), and Schmalhausen (1930) hypothesised that growth and organ function come into conflict when growth occurs too slowly or too rapidly. Even under the most optimum conditions, a newly hatched bird is not free from stress. This is impossible because the absence of stress is death (Selye, 1951). However, hatchlings possess abilities to cope with stress via adrenal cortical hormones (Davis and Siopes, 1989). Hatchlings have different blueprints for growth and maturation that must occur within a predetermined time frame. Many times this blueprint does not include adjustments that need to occur in maturational and growth processes in an imperfect environment. The objective of this paper is to define a ‘‘physiologically normal’’ hatchling and to describe the principles involved in the maturation and growth of several organ systems during the initial stages of life. At least six physiological systems exist that require maturation during the last week of incubation or, in the case of altricial species, the initial days of life outside the shell. These systems are: (1) the circulatory system (heart and blood); (2) the kidney and body fluids system; (3) the digestive system; (4) body temperature regulation; (5) the respiratory system; and (6) the immune system. These systems are discussed here using published data to help clarify important points.

Testosterone-inducible Regulator Is a Kinase That Drives Steroid Sensing and Metabolism in Comamonas testosteroni

The mechanism of gene regulation by steroids in bacteria is still a mystery. We use steroid-inducible 3alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/carbonyl reductase (3alpha-HSD/CR) as a reporter system to study steroid signaling in Comamonas testosteroni. In previous investigations we cloned and characterized the 3alpha-HSD/CR-encoding gene, hsdA. In addition, we identified two negative regulator genes (repA and repB) in the vicinity of hsdA, the protein products which repress hsdA expression on the level of transcription and translation, respectively. Recently, a positive regulator of hsdA expression, TeiR (testosterone-inducible regulator), was found by transposon mutagenesis, but the mode of its action remained obscure. In the present work we produced a TeiR-green fluorescent fusion protein and showed that TeiR is a membrane protein with asymmetrical localization at one of the cell poles of C. testosteroni. Knock-out mutants of the teiR gene revealed that TeiR provides swimming and twitching motility of C. testosteroni to the steroid substrate source. TeiR also mediated an induced expression of 3alpha-HSD/CR which was paralleled by an enhanced catabolism of testosterone. We also found that TeiR responds to a variety of different steroids other than testosterone. Biochemical analysis with several deletion mutants of the teiR gene revealed TeiR to consist of three different functional domains, an N-terminal domain important for membrane association, a central steroid binding site, and a C-terminal part mediating TeiR function. Finally, we could demonstrate that TeiR works as a kinase in the steroid signaling chain in C. testosteroni. Overall, we provide evidence that TeiR mediates steroid sensing and metabolism in C. testosteroni via its steroid binding and kinase activity.

Acupuncture Treatment for Optic Nerve Contusion

Optic nerve contusion is a commonly-seen eye injury, which is mostly caused by traffic accident, collision, and falling. Early diagnosis and timely emergency treatment can make such patients restore vision to a certain extent. Otherwise, there may appear optic atrophy or loss of vision. At present, in the treatment of this disease, cortical hormone, dehydrating agent, vasodilator, vitamin, energy mixture and neurotrophic agent, or surgical operation can all give certain therapeutic effect. In the recent 5 years, the Department of Ophthalmology of the Hospital Affiliated to Hubei College of Traditional Chinese Medicine has adopted acupuncture for treatment of optic nerve contusion, and obtained quite good therapeutic results. Some typical cases are reported in the following.

Conversion from Latent to Symptomatic Sheehan's Syndrome by Pegylated Interferon Therapy for Chronic Hepatitis C

A 58-year-old woman with chronic hepatitis C was admitted to our hospital to receive interferon (IFN) therapy. Twenty years earlier she had received blood transfusion because of obstetric hemorrhage. Blood test showed mild hypothyroidism and a relatively elevated eosinophil count. Therapy with pegylated IFNalpha-2a was started, and two days later she complained of nausea and severe malaise. Blood test showed hyponatremia, and plasma prolactin, growth hormone and cortisol levels were all decreased. A simultaneous administration test of lutenizing hormone releasing-, corticotrophin releasing-, growth hormone releasing- and thyrotropin releasing-hormones revealed that only adrenocorticotropic hormone was responsive. Magnetic resonance imaging showed atrophy of anterior lobe of pituitary gland. We diagnosed that IFN therapy disclosed latent Sheehan's syndrome due to previous obstetric hemorrhage. Following supplementation of thyroid and adrenal cortical hormones, we were able to complete IFN therapy. Thus, before IFN therapy for woman patients it is important to suspect latent Sheehan's syndrome when the patient had a history of obstetric hemorrhage.

Application of adrenal cortical hormone in cardiovascular crisis diseases

Application of adrenal cortical hormone in cardiovascular crisis diseases

Extrasynaptic GABAA receptors in the crosshairs of hormones and ethanol

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the main chemical inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. In the central nervous system (CNS) it acts on two distinct types of receptor: an ion channel, i.e., an “ionotropic” receptor permeable to Cl− and HCO3− (GABAA receptors) and a G-protein coupled “metabotropic” receptor that is linked to various effector mechanisms (GABAB receptors). This review will summarize novel developments in the physiology and pharmacology of GABAA receptors (GABAARs), specifically those found outside synapses. The focus will be on a particular combination of GABAAR subunits sensitive to ovarian and adrenal cortical steroid hormone metabolites that are synthesized in the brain (neurosteroids) and to sobriety impairing concentrations of ethanol. These receptors may be the final common pathway for interactions between ethanol and ovarian and stress-related neurosteroids.

Characterization of a new model of reduced adrenal hormones

Previous rat models for the study of adrenal cortical hormones either completely remove the adrenal glands or use somewhat nonspecific receptor antagonists. This laboratory has created a new model of reduced adrenal hormones by performing a unilateral adrenalectomy and freezing the outer layer of the remaining gland. The current study aimed to characterize the model’s response to physiological stimulators. Methods: Male Wistar Kyoto rats underwent a sham surgery, or a right adrenalectomy and freezing of the outer layer of the left gland. Eight weeks later the rats either underwent an acute procedure (infusion of saline or angiotensin II), or were decapitated. Results: Aldosterone (ng/dL) was lower in the frozen rats than sham for both the stressed (saline infused) (13.9±3.9 vs. 47.0±5.7) and unstressed rats (decapitated) (1.5±0.5 vs. 4.2±1.0). Corticosterone (ng/mL) was lower in the frozen stressed rats (154.1±22.6 vs. 445.4±80.7), but was not different in the unstressed rats. Surgical stress increased both hormones above unstressed levels in both groups, but angiotensin II infusion did not further increase aldosterone levels. Conclusion: Aldosterone, but not corticosterone, was reduced in the unstressed rats by the freezing procedure. The cryo-treated adrenal gland responds to physiological stimulators, but at lower levels than sham rats. Supported by the MSU Department of Biological Sciences.

Sequence of pituitary–adrenal cortical hormone responses to low-dose physostigmine administration in young adult women and men

We previously demonstrated greater HPA axis activation in adult men compared to adult women following low-dose administration of the anticholinesterase inhibitor, physostigmine (PHYSO). Because blood sampling was done infrequently following PHYSO, the rise times of AVP, ACTH 1–39, and cortisol could not be determined. In the present study, we determined the sequence of hormone increases by frequent blood sampling following PHYSO. Twelve adult women and 12 adult men underwent three test sessions 5–7 days apart: PHYSO, saline control, and repeat PHYSO. As in the earlier study, PHYSO produced no side effects in half the subjects and mild side effects in the other half, with no significant female–male differences. None of the hormone responses was significantly correlated with the presence or absence of side effects. In both women and men, the AVP increase preceded the ACTH 1–39 increase, which in turn preceded the cortisol increase. The AVP and ACTH AUCs were significantly positively correlated in both women and men, supporting AVP as an acute stimulus to ACTH secretion. Also as in the earlier study, the AVP response to PHYSO was more than twice as great in men as in women, but the difference was not statistically significant. We therefore analyzed the results of both studies combined ( N = 26 women and 26 men). The men had a significantly greater AVP response and a trend toward a greater ACTH 1–39 response compared to the women. These findings further support the concept of sexual diergism (functional sex difference) in the influence of CNS cholinergic systems on HPA hormone secretion.

Adrenal cortical responses to low- and high-dose ACTH 1–24 administration in major depressives vs. matched controls

Increased hypothalamo–pituitary–adrenocortical (HPA) axis activity occurs in 30–50% of patients with major depression. This includes normal-to-increased adrenal cortical hormone (cortisol) secretion in spite of reduced corticotropin (ACTH) stimulation. A possible explanation is increased adrenal responsiveness to ACTH. Supporting this possibility is the finding of increased adrenal volume, which reverts to normal with successful treatment. Eight female and six male patients with major depression, and eight female and six male individually matched controls, underwent two test sessions 5–7 days apart. On the first day, a low ACTH 1–24 dose (0.014 μg/kg i.v.), equivalent to 1 μg in a 70-kg individual, was given. On the second day, a supramaximal stimulating dose (250 μg i.v.) was given. Serial blood samples were analyzed for immunoreactive (IR-)ACTH, ACTH 1–39, and cortisol. There were no significant sex or patient–control differences in IR-ACTH areas under the curve (AUCs) following low-dose ACTH 1–24, and the correlation between patient and matched control AUCs was + 0.71, indicating good correspondence in the amount of circulating ACTH 1–24 available for adrenal stimulation. There were no significant sex or patient–control differences in cortisol response and no significant interaction between dose and subject group, indicating that patients did not differ from controls in their cortisol responses to either low- or high-dose ACTH 1–24. These findings do not indicate increased adrenal cortical responsiveness in patients with major depression. Neurochemical/neurohormonal and neural stimulatory factors other than ACTH might be responsible for the increased adrenal gland size and cortisol secretion, in spite of reduced pituitary ACTH secretion, that has been reported in this illness.

Regulation or Permission?

Regulation or Permission?

Growth Hormone Responses to Low-Dose Physostigmine in Elderly vs. Young Women and Men

Background: Growth hormone (GH) secretion is a sensitive measure of CNS cholinergic neurotransmission, and GH decreases considerably with age. Cholinesterase inhibitors, which increase acetylcholine concentrations, have been used in elderly subjects to investigate the neuroendocrine effects of aging and Alzheimer’s disease. However, there have been only a few studies of a potential sex difference in GH responses to cholinesterase inhibitors in elderly subjects, with mixed results. Objective: We therefore administered low-dose physostigmine (PHYSO), a cholinesterase inhibitor, to normal, non-hormone-replaced, elderly women and men, to ascertain a potential sex difference in GH response. We hypothesized: (1) elderly women and men would have similar hormone responses, because of relatively low circulating estrogen in the women, and (2) the elderly women would have significantly lower baseline GH and GH responses to cholinergic challenge than the young women we studied previously. Methods: Normal elderly women and men ≧65 years of age meeting stringent inclusion and exclusion criteria were studied on three test days, 4–7 days apart, by serial blood sampling for several hours for baseline GH, followed by administration of low-dose PHYSO (first and third days) or saline (second day) at 18:00 h. Frequent blood sampling was continued for several hours. Plasma GH and hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal cortical hormones were measured in each sample. Results: PHYSO administration produced no side effects in about half the elderly subjects and mild side effects in the other half, with no significant female-male differences and no significant relationship between the presence or absence of side effects and GH response. PHYSO significantly increased GH compared to saline, to a similar degree in the elderly women and men. The elderly women had a significantly greater GH response to PHYSO than did the young women, whereas GH responses were similar in the elderly and young men. Conclusions: These results indicate similar GH responses to low-dose PHYSO in elderly women compared to elderly men, and a significantly greater GH response in elderly women compared to young women. A likely mechanism is increased sensitivity of central cholinergic systems that inhibit somatostatin and/or enhance GHRH release from the hypothalamus.

Sex Difference in the Relationship between the Hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal Axis and Sex Hormones in Obesity

This study was carried out to investigate the role of sex in the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and its relationship with testosterone levels in male and female obesity. Twenty-two obese men (OB-M) and 29 obese women (OB-W) participated in the study. Two groups of normal weight men (NW-M) and women (NW-W), respectively, served as controls. In basal conditions, blood concentrations of major androgens, sex hormone-binding protein, and gonadotropins were assessed, and the free androgen index (testosterone x100/sex hormone-binding globulin) was calculated. All subjects underwent a combined corticotropin-releasing hormone plus arginine-vasopressin stimulation test. OB-M and NW-M had higher basal adrenal cortical tropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol levels than their female counterparts. In addition, ACTH, but not cortisol basal, levels were significantly higher in obese than in normal weight controls in both sexes. OB-W had a higher response than OB-M to the combined corticotropin-releasing hormone plus arginine-vasopressin test of both ACTH and cortisol [expressed as incremental percentage of area under the curve (AUC%)]. The same finding was present between NW-W and NW-M. Basal luteinizing hormone levels were negatively correlated to ACTH(AUC%) in both OB-W and OB-M. In the OB-W, however, a positive correlation was found between cortisol(AUC%) and testosterone (r = 0.48; p = 0.002), whereas a tendency toward a negative correlation was present in OB-M. In conclusion, we have shown a significant positive relationship between the activity of the HPA axis and testosterone in obese women, which suggests a partial responsibility of increased HPA axis activity in determining testosterone levels. In addition, it clearly seems that, as reported in normal weight subjects, a sex difference in the HPA axis activity still persists even in the presence of obesity.

On the Evolution of Pediatrics and the Emergence of Pediatric Nephrology

Pediatrics is a relatively new discipline; it came into existence at the end of the nineteenth century, when the number practitioners of medicine interested in the study and teaching of pediatrics grew in proportion to research in diseases of children. The study of two childhood diseases was instrumental in the very emergence of nephrology. The first disease was diarrheal dehydration of infants, the study of which in the first decades of the twentieth century provided much of the body of knowledge of water and electrolyte metabolism that formed the foundations of renal physiology. The second disease was the nephrotic syndrome of children, the successful treatment of which became possible after the Second World War with the use of adrenal cortical tropic hormone and steroids. The prohibitive cost of obtaining these new miracle drugs then led to the foundation in 1948 of the Nephrosis Foundation, which became the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) in 1950-the first organization in the United States dedicated to the support and dissemination of knowledge on diseases of the kidney. The Scientific Advisory Board of the NKF was the nidus around which the discipline of nephrology then evolved and, after the availability of maintenance hemodialysis, flourished. Pediatric nephrology, which emerged from these beginnings, closes the circle that began with the emergence of nephrology from its foundations in pediatric studies of childhood diarrhea and treatment of the nephrotic syndrome.

Application of blood purification combining cortical sugar hormone to sever acute pancreatitis

目的 探讨大剂量激素联合血滤治疗重症急性胰腺炎的疗效.方法将38例重症急性胰腺炎患者随机分为常规综合治疗组和大剂量激素联合血滤组,对其治疗效果及血浆炎症因子水平进行对比分析.结果治疗组腹痛缓解、血淀粉酶恢复正常、临床治愈时间以及并发MODS率、死亡率,治疗10 d后血浆TNFα及IL-1的下降水平均显著优于对照组.结论重症急性胰腺炎患者应用大剂量激素联合早期血液滤过能有效缓解临床症状,改善重症急性胰腺炎的预后。

Hyperemesis gravidarum, a literature review

Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is a condition causing severe nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy often resulting in hospital admission. The incidence of HG is approximately 0.5% of live births, said to be higher in multiple pregnancies, hydatidiform mole and other conditions associated with increased pregnancy hormone levels. Both the aetiology and pathogenesis of HG remain unknown. We conducted a literature review (1966-now) to summarize the current evidence on the aetiology and pathogenesis of HG. The potential role of pregnancy-related hormones such as progesterone, estrogen and HCG has been widely studied; however, various other hormones such as leptin, placental growth hormone, prolactin, thyroid and adrenal cortical hormones have been implicated in the aetiology of HG. In addition to endocrinological hypotheses, the rationale and evidence considering infectious, immunological, psychological, metabolic and anatomical causes for HG have been analysed here. Many studies suffer from the low number of patients included, the variable definition used for HG and varying assay methodology used in studies of hormone measurement. This review highlights the need for more extensive studies addressing the pathogenesis and aetiology of HG.