Gender identity disputed in the court of justice: a story of female to male sexual transformation in the hellenistic period, described by Diodorus Siculus.

Cases of sexual reassignment in Greco-Roman antiquity, presenting as a pubertal female to male gender transformation, are described in the "classical"literature. Textual evidence concerning a case of androgynism, garnered by Diodorus Siculus, among other similar accounts, as an odd story of gender dispute in a court of justice, is provided in the present study. A medical interpretation of the data pertaining to this case has been attempted and is herein reported. The spontaneous virilization and post-pubertal gender inversion of the specific individual appears to have been caused by a defect either in 5α-reductase type 2 or in 17ß hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase genes and consequent deficient enzymatic activity.

The effect of prolonged aerobic exercise on serum adipokine levels during an ultra-marathon endurance race.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of prolonged intensive aerobic exercise and acute energy deficit (180 km ultra-marathon race) on serum leptin, adiponectin, resistin and visfatin levels and their association and interaction with serum cortisol and insulin levels in highly trained ultra-endurance runners. DESIGN: The study included 17 highly trained ultra-endurance male athletes (mean age 51.29±6.84 years and body mass index (ΒΜΙ) 23.51±1.90) participating in the 5th Olympian Race held in Greece on May 2010. Anthropometric values were assessed; Serum cortisol, insulin, leptin, adiponectin, resistin and visfatin levels were measured at baseline, post-exercise and ~20 hours after the end of the race. RESULTS: All hormonal values of the post-exercise and recovery status were corrected for plasma volume changes. The estimated energy deficit during the ultra-endurance event was about 5000 Kcal. At the end of the race serum resistin levels were elevated (p<0.001) and serum leptin levels were reduced (p<0.001) and failed to reach pre-exercise levels, although showing a tendency towards restoration. No significant changes were noted in serum adiponectin and visfatin levels. CONCLUSIONS: Ultra-endurance aerobic exercise and acute negative energy balance lead to an up-regulation of serum resistin levels and a down-regulation of serum leptin levels.

Increased plasma viscosity in young women with polycystic ovary syndrome using an oral contraceptive containing 35 µg ethinyl estradiol and 2 mg cyproterone acetate.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the influence of 6 months of treatment with an oral contraceptive (OC) containing 35 µ g ethinyl estradiol and 2 mg cyproterone acetate on plasma viscosity (PV) in young women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). DESIGN: Patients with PCOS were assessed for PV before and after 6 months of treatment with an OC containing 35 µg ethinyl estradiol and 2 mg cyproterone acetate. PV was determined by a viscometer Type 53610/I SCHOTT-Instruments, Mainz at 37°C. SETTINGS: Subjects were recruited from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology at the University Hospital of Patras, Greece. PATIENTS: The study included 66 young women with PCOS. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: PV. RESULTS: In PCOS women as a whole, PV at baseline was 1.249 ± 0.049 mm(2)/s (n = 66). After 6 months of treatment with an OC containing 35 µg ethinyl estradiol and 2 mg cyproterone acetate, PV was increased to 1.268 ± 0.065 mm(2)/s (p = 0.038). The difference between PV before and after 6 months of treatment with an OC containing 35 µg ethinyl estradiol and 2 mg cyproterone acetate (Δviscosity) was 0.01864 ± 0.071452 mm(2)/s. ΔViscosity was related to ?fibrinogen (r = 0.270, p = 0.046), to Δhematocrit (r = 0.514, p = 0.09) and to Δtriglycerides (r = 0.292, p = 0.021). CONCLUSION: Young women with PCOS presented an increased PV under OC treatment with 35 µg ethinyl estradiol and 2 mg cyproterone acetate.