Slower cortisol response during ACTH stimulation test in autistic children.

Autism is a hereditary, pervasive neurodevelopmental disorder that starts early in life. The main characteristics of the autism are impairment in social interactions, difficulties in adapting to novel environmental situations and improper reaction to stress. Since the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenocortical (HPA) axis plays a key role in the response to stress and because the previous research found abnormalities in HPA system, we conducted a study to test several elements of the HPA axis. Because autism is a heritable disorder, autistic subjects were studied as well as their parents. Cortisol circadian rhythm, cortisol daily secretion and its suppression response to dexamethasone had been measured from saliva or urine samples of the autistic children and their parents. Cortisol secretion response after ACTH stimulation was done with the autistic children only. The cortisol elevation after ACTH stimulation among the autistic individuals was slower (P = 0.017) than in healthy controls. No differences were found in salivary cortisol circadian rhythm or suppression response, as well as in cortisol daily excretion. These data indicate that, compared to healthy subjects, autistic individuals have fine differences in cortisol response to ACTH stimulation or possibly to other types of stress.

Role of insulin-like growth factor-1 in colon cancerogenesis: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Our aim was to establish whether individuals who developed colon cancer have elevated blood levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). METHODS: This was a case/control study in which 52 patients with colon cancer and a corresponding control group were investigated. Data on age, weight, height, and sex of subjects were recorded and levels of IGF-1 and growth hormone, as well as insulin and C-peptide levels, were measured in the morning before eating, 90 min after breakfast and again 90 min after lunch. RESULTS: We found significantly higher levels of IGF-1 in blood of colon cancer patients compared to the control group. No differences in the levels of growth hormone, insulin and C-peptide in blood were found between colon cancer patients and the control group. It was found that the increase of IGF-1 level was followed by a 3.15-fold increased risk for developing colon cancer. There were no differences in the levels of IGF-1 in blood in all three measurements in the group of colon cancer patients, whereas differences were found in the control group. We found differences in the levels of insulin and C-peptide in blood in all three measurements in both groups of patients. No differences were found in the levels of growth hormone in blood in all three measurements in both groups of patients. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest a positive correlation between the increased levels of IGF-1 and colon cancer and are thus consistent with the hypothesis that the level of IGF-1 plays an important role in the development of colon cancer.

Insulin increase in colon cancerogenesis: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Our aim was to establish whether individuals who develop colon cancer have elevated blood insulin concentrations. METHODS: This was a case-control study in which 56 normoglycemic patients with colon cancer and a corresponding control group were investigated at the Clinical Hospital Split from April 1998 to April 1999. Data on age, weight, height, and sex of examinees were recorded and concentrations of glucose, insulin, and C-peptide were measured first in the morning before breakfast and again 90 min after breakfast. RESULTS: In the male group of colon cancer patients, we found statistically significant higher blood insulin concentrations 90 min after breakfast (median 34.7 mIU/L, range 3.3-162.6 mIU/L) in comparison to male control group (median 20.7 mIU/L, range 3.1-122.1 mIU/L) (p=0.044). Concentration of C-peptide in blood 90 min after breakfast (median 3.28 nmol/L, range 0.38-6.1 nmol/L) was higher in the male group of colon cancer patients than in male control group (median 1.68 nmol/L, range 0.26-4.26 nmol/L) (p=0.001). No difference was found in concentrations of insulin, C-peptide, and glucose in blood measured in the morning before breakfast between the male group of colon cancer patients and male control group. Ratio of insulin 90 min after breakfast with respect to insulin in the morning before breakfast was higher in the male group of colon cancer patients (median 4.65, range 0.83-22.1) than in male control group (median 1.78, range 0.38-8.75) (p=0.005). Ratio of C-peptide 90 min after breakfast with respect to fasting C-peptide was higher in the male group of colon cancer patients (median 3.22, range 0.74-11.9) than in male control group (median 1.42, range 0.54-6.0) (p=0.001). Women with colon cancer also had statistically significant higher ratio of insulin and C-peptide with respect to female control group. In the female group of colon cancer patients, median for ratio of C-peptide was 2.42 (range 0.43-8.87), while in female control group it was 1.19 (range 0.62-15.4) (p=0.025). Median for ratio of insulin in the female group of colon cancer patients was 4.23 (range 0.25-8.54), while in female control group it was 1.17 (range 0.29-26.89) (p=0.007). CONCLUSIONS: There was a higher increase of insulin 90 min after breakfast in the group of patients with colon cancer than in control group.

Lower cortisol and higher ACTH levels in individuals with autism.

Blood concentrations of pituitary hormones adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), prolactin, growth hormone, and adrenal hormone-cortisol were measured in 36 autistic and 27 control individuals. Individuals with autism had significantly lower serum concentrations of cortisol (p < 10(-6)), and significantly higher concentrations of ACTH (p = 0.002) than control age- and sex-matched subjects. Also, prolactin concentrations in autistic patients with epilepsy were significantly higher when compared with normal subjects. The observed hormonal changes may indicate dysfunction of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis in individuals with autism.