[A dose-response study of the chronic effect of ketoconazole on androgen and cortisol secretion in women with hyperandrogenism]. / Estudio dosis-respuesta de la acción crónica del cetoconazol sobre la secreción androgénica y de cortisol en mujeres con hiperandrogenismo.

We have previously shown that ketoconazole may inhibit the androgen synthesis, but the risk to induce a blockade in the cortisol synthesis and/or hepatic abnormalities makes it mandatory to look for the least dose that is able to inhibit androgen production without inducing other abnormalities. To this end, we studied the levels of 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone (17, alpha-OH-P), dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S), delta 4-androstenedione (delta 4-A), total (tT) and free (fT) testosterone, and the cortisol response to ACTH in 13 women with hyperandrogenism, before and after ketoconazole therapy at dosages of 400, 600, and 800 mg/day. Although with the 400 mg regimen a reduction in the levels of androstenedione and free and total testosterone was already observed, it was of small amount and it was not until the 600 mg regimen that androgen levels became normal. Thus, DHEAS-S was reduced from 3.672 +/- 1.013 to 2.216 +/- 756 ng/ml (p less than 0.05); delta 4-A was reduced from 392 +/- 80 to 283 +/- 79 ng/ml (p less than 0.01); tT was reduced from 1.5 +/- 0.78 to 0.7 +/- 0.1 ng/ml (p less than 0.05), and fT from 5.5 +/- 1.0 to 2.7 +/- 1.3 pg/ml (p less than 0.001). By contrast, 17 alpha-OH-P increased from 1.7 +/- 1.3 to 4.7 +/- 1.3 ng/ml (p less than 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Familial incidence of bilateral anorchia. Study of three siblings (author's transl)]. / Incidencia familial de anorquismo bilateral. Estudio de tres hermanos.

Three siblings consulted because of hypogonadism. Physical examination revealed absence of secondary sexual characteristics and infantile genitalia. Increased serum concentrations of LH and FSH were found with abnormal high response to the stimulus with 100 Ug LH-RH. Plasma testosterone concentrations were 0.7, 0.5, and 0.3 ng/ml, respectively; no change in these values was observed after administering 5.000 UI HCG per day during 1 week. Patients underwent a laparotomy but no testicular tissue remnants were found. Whether vascular anomalies, trauma, infectious processes or other factors are responsible is not known. The possibility that genetic abnormalities could be involved in the pathogenesis of this entity is suggested.

[Differences found in serum serotonin between a group of normal and subjects of obese patients following intravenous tolbutamide administration]. / Diferencias halladas en la serotonina sérica entre un grupo de normales y otro de obesos con tolbutamida intravenosa

We have studied the effect of the i.v. administration of 1 g tolbutamide upon glycemia, insulinemia and serotoninemia in normal subjects and obese patients. We have seen an elevation of the last two variables in direct relationship with the previous blood sugar levels. The baseline serotonin level in obese people is higher than in normals, but the tolbutamide induced elevation is of a lesser magnitude. We believe this fact is due to the competitive action of insulin, as our obese patients have shown to have a "hyperinsulinism" with "disinsulinism".

[Dynamics of growth hormone secretion in patients with primary hypothyroidism, before and after treatment with thyroideal hormones]. / Dinámica de secreción de hormona de crecimiento en pacientes con hipotiroidismo primario, antes y después del tratamiento con hormonas tiroideas

Growth hormone (GH) secretion was studied in a group of alut controls and a series of patients with primary hypothyroidism before and after treatment with thyroid hormones. Intravenous insulin-induced hypoglycemia was the stimulus used (0,1 UI/kg body weight). It is concluded that in primary hypothyroidism, GH secretion is almost absent due to relative inactivity of the somatotropic cells and/or lack of GH-RH. This decreased secretory response becomes rapidly normal after treatment with physiological doses of thyroid hormones.