Benserazide effects on growth hormone, prolactin, and thyrotropin in normal and acromegalic man.

The effect of benserazide administration on the secretion of GH, PRL, and TSH has been considered as an index of dopamine regulatory actions. Nine acromegalic patients and nine normal subjects were given a single 125 mg oral dose of benserazide, and serum GH, PRL, and TSH were determined by RIA methods every 30 min for 4 h. Benserazide did not alter GH values either in normal subjects or in acromegalic patients. A significant increase of serum PRL was found in both groups, and the increase was similar in normoprolactinemic and in hyperprolactinemic acromegalic patients. A significant increase in TSH levels was found only in acromegalic patients. Thus, a decrease in dopamine outside the blood-brain barrier did not affect GH secretion, whereas PRL secretion was changed in the acromegalic as well as in the control group.

[The use of an immunofluorescence technic in the control of chronic HBV hepatitis]. / L'impiego della tecnica dell'immunofluorescenza nel controllo delle epatiti croniche da HBV.

The direct and indirect immunofluorescence technique has been used to study liver biopsies in children affected by different forms of chronic HBsAg positive Hepatitis. The method allows to study the long run changes of the antigens correlated to HBV and of the related immunological phenomena both in serum (autoantibodies) and in the tissue (immunoglobulins and immunocomplexes in the liver). The results obtained are satisfactory.

[Evaluation of pituitary functional periodicity by harmonic analysis. I) Circadian somatotropin secretion in acromegaly]. / Valutazione della periodicità funzionale dell'ipofisi mediaute analisi armonica. I) - La secrezione circadiana di somatotropo nell'acromegalia.

STH circadian secretion has been investigated in 11 acromegalic patients. The physiological STH nocturnal surge is not present in acromegaly, but when data are evaluated by Fourier's cosines analysis, a rhythmicity is however found also in acromegaly. The characteristics of harmonics, namely periodicity, amplitudes and phases, are largely different in respect to pattern of normal subjects, where the rhythmicity is represented by an harmonics with 24-hour periodicity.

[Evaluation of pituitary functional periodicity by harmonic analysis. II) Circadian prolactin secretion in acromegaly]. / Valutazione della periodicitià' funzionale dell'ipofisi mediante analisi armonica. - II) La secrezione circadiana di prolattina nell'acromegalia.

PRL levels over 24 hours have been studied in 9 acromegalic patients (4 men and 4 women). Hormone levels were found significantly higher than age and sex matched normal subjects in 4 cases (2 males and 2 females). PRL and STH levels were significantly correlated in men, but not in women. A 24-hour periodicity of PRL secretion was found in 4 cases, however in 2 of them the phase was anticipated in respect to the control group. In 4 of the remaining subjects the hormone secretion is made up by a succession of episodes with higher frequency than in the control group. Only in one case no significant periodicity of secretion was observed.

[Evaluation of functional periodicity of the pituitary gland by harmonic analysis.--IV) Circadian prolactin secretion in women with breast cancer]. / Valutazione della periodicita'funzionale dell'ipofisi mediante analisi armonica.--IV) La secrezione circadiana della prolattina in donne affette da carcinoma mammario.

Secretory periodicity of prolactin (PRL) is preserved in women with breast cancer in spontaneous or surgical menopause. Hormone titres occurring during the day may be occasionally significantly higher in respect to the ones observe in normal controls at the same hours. The periodicity features calculated by the Fourier's method show however normal indices, namely mesor (mean PRL titres in the 24 hours) phase, amplitude and frequency of oscillations.

[Evaluation of functional periodicity of the pituitary gland by harmonic analysis.--III Circadian prolactin secretion in subjects with prolactin-secreting adenoma]. / Valutazione della periodicita' funzionale dell'ipofisi mediante analisi armonica.--III) La secrezione circadiana di prolattina in soccetti con adenoma prolattino-secermente.

The 24-hour periodicity of PRL secretion in 7 prolactinoma subjects of both sexes has been studied by means of the Fourier's harmonic analysis. In all cases elevated PRL titres have been found, that did not show the physiological changes due to sleep and wake. In most of the cases could not be demonstrated either a significant secretory periodicity or secretory episodes occurred with a frequency higher than in the control groups. Such secretory features may depend on changes in the neoplastic cells' receptors for regulating neurotransmitters.

Neuroendocrinological and clinical data upon trazodone treatment in depressed patients.

Prolactin and somatotropin secretory rhythmicity was studied in 7 inhibited depression male patients, evaluated by the Hamilton Rating Scale for depression, before and after trazodone (400 mg i.v. once daily) treatment. The mean 24-hour hormone levels of the patients were comparable to the controls. Trazodone enhances the prolactin value, increasing chiefly the titres during sleep which were lower in respect to controls before treatment. The drug decreases the mean 24-hour somatotropin levels, mainly the values during sleep. A serotoninergic effect is possibly involved. An improvement of mood has been observed in all cases.