Citral and testosterone interactions in inducing benign and atypical prostatic hyperplasia in rats.

Citral is a monoterpene in wide use as an aromatic supplement in the cosmetics and food industries. Previous studies in our laboratory have shown that cutaneous application of citral on adolescent rats may induce benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)-like and even atypical hyperplastic changes in the ventral lobes. In the present study we investigate the possible interactions between citral and serum testosterone levels on the induction of hyperplastic changes in the ventral prostate of adolescent rats. In addition, the study includes a comparative analysis of normal intact rats showing circadian variations of serum testosterone levels and rats in whom this rhythmic pattern was abolished either by excessive supplementation of exogenous androgen or by castration. Our results demonstrate an induction of benign as well as atypical prostatic hyperplasia following citral application. The most severe atypical changes were noted in the citral-treated rats with high serum testosterone levels. Although the mechanism of action of citral is yet unknown, the present results suggest a synergism between citral and testosterone resulting in hyperplastic changes in the rat ventral prostate. In addition, the results reconfirm that serum testosterone levels fluctuate according to a circadian rhythm in intact young and adolescent male rats. The application of citral tends to lower the morning circadian peaks, and the circadian pattern was abolished in orchiectomized rats and in those treated with testosterone implants.

The effects of chronic industrial noise exposure on urinary cortisol, fatigue and irritability: a controlled field experiment.

This quasiexperimental field study explored the effect of noise attenuation on urinary cortisol excretion (sampled three times, at 6:30 and 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM) and reported fatigue and postwork irritability among 35 healthy industrial workers chronically exposed to high ambient noise levels (> 85 dB [A]) without using ear protectors. The results indicated that under conditions of chronic noise exposure the cortisol level at the end of the workshift was high and almost reached the morning level. This elevation in cortisol excretion was accompanied by high levels of accumulated fatigue and postwork irritability. Attenuating the noise reaching the eardrum by 30 to 33 dB, by fitting the same workers with earmuffs for a period of 7 working days, resulted in a significant improvement in both psychological and physiological stress reactions. Besides decreasing noise intensity, no other changes were made, either to ongoing work activities or to the other characteristics of the ambient noise. The cortisol level declined steadily during the workshift and exhibited the normal cortisol diurnal rhythm. At the end of the workshift, this level was significantly lower (P < .05) than that observed under the chronic noise-exposure condition. There was also a concomitant reduction in reported fatigue (P < .05) and postwork irritability (P < .01). These findings demonstrate the "net" contribution of ambient noise to elevating stress reactions to regular work demands.

Severe sexual impairment produced by morbid obesity. Report of a case.

A 45-year-old man, was admitted for investigation of severe sexual impairment. During 20 years of marriage, he had had no normal sexual intercourse and the couple was childless. Physical examination disclosed a severely obese man (weight 300 kg, height 1.75 m), with a relatively small and invaginated penis and small (5 ml) soft testes. Laboratory examinations disclosed the following: low serum testosterone (1 ng/ml), with a reduced response to HCG (3.8 ng/ml). Sex hormone binding globulin was at the lower limit of normal (0.38 microgram/dl), serum free testosterone was low (0.98% of total testosterone) as well as non-SHBG bound testosterone (22% of total testosterone). Daily total urinary estrogen excretion was increased (107 micrograms), the plasma estrone (78 pg/ml) and estradiol (74 pg/ml) were elevated. The gonadotropins were normal and responded adequately to LRH. Plasma growth hormone was decreased, prolactin, T4 and adrenal steroids were normal and responded normally to stimuli and inhibitors. Chromosomal constitution was 46XY. Thus, in this man the marked obesity produced a significant increase in estrogens which subsequently induced a severe decrease in testosterone and its free counterpart in excessive impairment of sexual function.

The phenomenon of leukergy: induction and detection of leukocyte aggregation in whole human blood.

Leukocyte aggregation is involved in the generation of vascular damage during various inflammatory conditions. So far, in vitro leukocyte aggregation has been studied by mixing patients' plasma or serum with leukocytes of a normal donor in a platelet aggregometer. We evaluated the leukergy phenomenon, that is, the occurrence of aggregated leukocytes in peripheral blood of patients with inflammatory disorders, as an alternative tool to the former method. Leukocyte aggregation could be induced by zymosan-activated plasma, phorbol myristate acetate, and formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine, as well as by the calcium ionophore A23187 in vitro in whole human blood. This aggregation was blocked by various lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase pathway inhibitors. Leukergy was diagnosed in peripheral blood of patients with inflammatory disorders and was generally not associated with elevated concentrations of immune complexes, lactoferrin, C3a des Arg, or C5a des Arg. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on leukocyte aggregation studies performed in whole blood. Such study permits evaluation of the aggregation phenomena of leukocytes in their natural milieu. Furthermore, it is possible with this method to obtain direct visualization of leukocytic aggregates in the peripheral blood of patients. The significance of our results and their possible implications are discussed in light of the pertinent literature.

Steroid receptors in renal cell carcinoma: relevance to hormonal therapy.

The relevance of the presence of steroid receptors in the response to hormonal therapy was examined in 19 patients with renal cell carcinoma who were treated by surgery and progestins. Estrogen and progesterone receptors were determined in tissue samples obtained from the tumors, and normal (autologous) and control kidneys. The tumoral tissues had the lowest content of estrogen and progesterone receptors, and the lowest percentage of samples positive for receptor. Autologous kidneys had a higher percentage of positive estrogen and progesterone receptors compared to tumoral tissues, and a lower estrogen receptor content compared to control kidneys. The 18-month survival rate under progesterone therapy for 9 patients with stages I and II tumor was 86 per cent and for 10 with stage IV tumor it was 8 per cent. The low content of progesterone and estrogen receptors in patients with renal cell carcinoma may explain the poor response rate of these patients to hormonal therapy.

Clinical evaluation of the effects of combined treatment with bromocriptine and spironolactone in two women with the polycystic ovary syndrome.

Two women with the polycystic ovary syndrome were treated with bromocriptine (15 to 20 mg/day) in combination with spironolactone (100 mg/day). In the first woman the combined therapy induced a marked reduction of hirsutism, with ensuing ovulation and pregnancy. In the second woman, who had hyperthecosis and had been refractory to treatment with clomiphene and wedge resection, the combined therapy resulted in abolition of hirsutism, normalization of blood pressure, weight reduction, and improvement in glucose intolerance. In this patient fertility could not be established by the above treatment, but the symptomatic amelioration was so great that she accepted no further attempt to induce ovulation. In view of the marked amelioration of the polycystic ovary syndrome induced by combined bromocriptine and spironolactone treatment, this mode of therapy should receive further consideration.

Biosynthesis and operating mechanism of estrogens in ovariectomized animals under the effect of -SH groups.

This paper is part of a series aimed to investigate the mechanism of the action of Folcysteine, a substance that has the capacity to release in the body active -SH groups and has been proved to be effective in the control of menopausal troubles. As an experimental model the ovariectomized rat, rather similar, from the viewpoint of the hormonal balance, to the aged female, has been considered. Under these conditions, the effect, at the uterine and adrenalian level of the treatment with two different doses of estradiol with Folcysteine alone as well as associated with estradiol, has been investigated. Our results indicate that the active -SH groups released by Folcysteine intensify the effect of estrogens upon the uterine tissue and stimulate the estrogen biosynthesis at adrenalian level.