Milk composition channges-a simple and non-invasive method of detecting ovulation in lactating women

OBJECTIVE: To assess the possibility of detecting ovulation through observing changes in composition of milk and using this as a simple and non-invasive method. METHOD: Twenty five normal lactating women [menstruating and non-menstruating], varying in age from 18-35 years and taking no hormonal contraceptives were included in this study. Hormonal estimation was done by radioimmunoassay and changes in milk composition were observed by measuring the concentration of Na+, Cl-, K+ and lactose. Changes were observed in milk composition of four menstruating women [ovulatory], characterized by significant increase in concentration of Na+ and Cl- and decrease in concentration of lactose and K+. However, in one non-menstruating woman who was found to have ovulation, these findings could not be observed. Results show that the determination of Na+, K+, Cl- and lactose in milk of lactating women have a high value for detection of ovulation

Preliminary study of androgen, thyroid & adrenal status in alcoholic men during deaddiction.

To evaluate the status of the testes, thyroid, and adrenals in male alcoholics during the period of voluntary abstinence and therapy, chronic male drinkers undergoing a 4 wk inpatient deaddiction programme in a social hospital were recruited. Levels of a few serum and urinary hormones/metabolites viz., serum testosterone, total triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) and urinary total 17-ketosteroids (17-KS), estrone, estradiol, and 17-hydroxy corticosteroids (17-OHCS) were assessed in alcoholics thrice during the treatment programme at hospital i.e., on the zero (day of admission), 10th, and 20th day and compared to those of non-alcoholic controls. Alcoholics registered elevated serum total T3, and reduced total T4 and testosterone levels at admission, which persisted even after 20 days of the rehabilitative programme. Markedly high urinary levels of total 17-KS, estrone, and 17-OHCS were observed on zero day of admission. Urinary estrone and 17-OHCS, unlike total 17-KS, showed a trend to return to the normal range during the 20 days period. Urinary estradiol levels, however, recorded no significant alteration. The results of this preliminary study are suggestive of alcohol-induced perturbations on the functional integrity of the testes, thyroid, and adrenal in male alcohol addicts, wherein 20 days period of total alcohol abstinence and rehabilitative programme failed to reverse alcohol-induced hypoandrogenization and altered thyroidal status, but only partially restored certain biochemical events associated with the excretion of steroid metabolites.

Metabolismo de hormônios esteróides nos recém-nascidos de termo e pré-termos: estudo da excreçäo urinária do estradiol e do estriol / Metabolism of steroid hormones in term and preterm newborns: urinary excretion values of oestradiol and oestriol

Este trabalho apresenta os resultados da pesquisa do perfil bioquímico de hormônios esteróides em recém-nascidos pré-termos e de termo, realizada no Hammersmith Hospital, Universidade de Londres, Inglaterra. Os autores, valendo-se das determinaçöes por RIA dos valores de excreçäo urinária dos hormôniosesteróides sexuais (estradiol total e estriol total), em 12 recém nascidos de termo e 11 pré-termos, chegaram às seguintes conclusöes: As concentraçöes urinárias detectáveis de estradiol e estriol, no 7§ dia de vida, em nascituros de termo, säo desprezíveis, enquanto que os pré-termos apresentam, näo só no 7§ dia, mas um mês de vida, valores urinários apreciáveis desses estrogênios. A análise estatística mostrou ser a diferença significativa (p<0,05 e p<0,02). Observamos que a idade gestacional e o peso no nascimentto, nos dois grupos de recém-natos, estäo em correspondência direta com a excreçäo urinária de estradiol e estriol. A análise do comportamento metabólico da excreçäo do estradiol e do estriol, em recém-nascidos de termo e de pré-termo, confirma a hipótese de imaturidade do fígado em prematuros, impedindo-os de metabolizar o excesso de hormônios estrogênicos. Acreditamos poder ressaltar, atraves de nosso estudo, que a prematuridade näo deva ser temida somente em funçäo do inadequado desempenho pulmonar. Outros órgäos e sistemas, como o hepático, sofrem os efeitos adversos do nascimento em idade gestacional näo apropriada