[Zn-content of erythrocytes in overt and subclinical hyperthyroidism]. / Vörösvérsejt Zn-tartalom vizsgálata manifeszt és szubklinikus hyperthyreosisban.

Assaying the markers in blood reflecting thyroid hormone effect at peripheral tissue level previous data revealing a significantly decreased red-blood cell Zn-content in overt hyperthyroidism compared to euthyroid controls could be confirmed (p < 0.001). In patients with thyrotoxicosis during Metothyrin treatment the Zn-concentration of red-blood-cells normalised about 8 weeks later than the abnormally elevated serum thyroxine and triiodothyronine levels. On the basis of the present findings it is assumed that the Zn-concentration of red-blood cells reflects to a certain degree the circulating levels of thyroid hormones 2 to 3 months prior to the performed examination. The measurement of red-blood cell Zn-content does not seem to be a reliable method for the detection of a possible "tissue"-thyrotoxicosis in cases of subclinical hyperthyroidism.

[Zinc excretion in osteoporotic women]. / Cinkürítés osteoporosisos nökben.

Urinary zinc excretion was detected in 24 normal and 25 age matched osteoporotic women. The osteoporotic group was classified in two groups on the basis of bone mineral density (BMD) measurements. Urinary zinc excretion was 327 micrograms/g creat. in healthy subjects and 488 micrograms/g creat. in the "common porotic group". In the "trabecular porotic group" (decreased BMC with DEXA at the lumbar spine alone or together with the femoral neck, but with normal radius BMD) it was 455 micrograms/g creatinine while in the "cortical porotic group" (decreased BMD with SPA at the radius midshaft and/or all the sites measured) the zinc excretion was even higher, 588 micrograms/g creat. The difference between the normal and porotic groups was statistically significant, while within the porotic groups it was not, however the tendency was remarkable. A close significant correlation exists between BMC of radius and urinary zinc excretion. In the osteoporotic group the urinary calcium excretion was significantly higher, than in normal group (220.2 vs 145.2 mg/g creat, p < 0.01). The correlation between the urinary zinc and calcium excretion was not significantly statistically. Elevated urinary zinc excretion is characteristic in both types of involutional osteoporosis in women and therefore seems to be a potential new simple marker of bone resorption.

High serum bile acid level in obesity: its decrease during and after total fasting.

Elevated serum bile acid levels were observed in overweight subjects as compared to those with an ideal weight. Fasting for 14 days resulted in a gradual decrease to the normal level of serum cholic, chenodeoxycholic and deoxycholic acid concentrations. There was no change in the serum bile acid level during a two days refeeding period. The findings suggest that, in addition to the beneficial weight reduction, normalization of bile acid homeostasis can be achieved by fasting in obesity.

Effect of 131I therapy on serum calcitonin levels in patients with Graves' disease.

In a group of patients suffering from Graves' disease a transitory fall of serum calcitonin levels and an increase of triiodothyronine concentrations could be detected after 131I therapy. The transient decrease of the calcitonin values might be related to the high radiosensitivity of the parafollicular cells and to a consecutive impairment of calcitonin production, while the rise of triiodothyronine secretion could be explained by the radiation-induced destruction of the thyroid gland. The drop of serum calcitonin levels lasted for a short period only and did not affect serum Ca concentrations, thus the assumption is highly improbable that the temporarily altered calcitonin secretion involves late consequences for the skeletal system after 131I therapy.

Serum calcitonin in hyperthyroidism.

The mineral content of the radius was found to be lower in thyrotoxic than in euthyroid women, particularly in the case of elevated serum triiodothyronine levels. On examining the hormones influencing bone metabolism, the basal serum calcitonin level of thyrotoxic patients was identical with that of the controls. The Ca and calcitonin responses to i.v. Ca loading (3.64 mg CaCl2/kg/3 min) were identical in the euthyroid and hyperthyroid subjects. The results suggest that the calcitonin reserves in Graves' disease are normal and that the bone abnormalities typical of this disease are unrelated to any change in calcitonin secretion. The serum calcitonin levels of patients with subacute thyroiditis were identical with those of the controls. An acute fall in the serum calcitonin level occurred in hyperthyroidism, after radioiodine therapy a finding which might be connected with the high radiosensitivity of the parafollicular cells and with a consecutive impairment of calcitonin production.

Effect of intravenous calcium load on the serum calcium level in postmenopausal osteoporosis (a study of the pathogenesis, and diagnostic use of the test).

Analysis of calcium tolerance in suggested to represent a valuable diagnostic aid in osteoporosis, particulary in the menopause. The serum calcium level was found to exceed 11.0 mg/dl 60 min after the intravenous injection of 3.6 mg per kg body weight of Ca++ in all patients with osteoporosis, while the level was normal at that point of time in every subject without osteoporosis, including patients with bone disease other than osteoporosis. Administration of norandrosterone decanoate or dehydroepinandrosterone to patients with menopausal osteoporosis resulted in normalization of the post-load hypercalcaemia. Calcium tolerance of menopausal patients without osteoporosis was not affected by dehydroepiandrosterone.

Potentiation of glibenclamide-induced insulin release by calcium infusion.

The effect of calcium on glibenclamide-induced insulin release was studied in 14 diabetic patients. Two mg glibenclamide was given intravenously and calcium, blood glucose and IRI were determined in venous blood samples at predetermined intervals. The test was repeated 3-4 days later with the patients simultaneously receiving a calcium infusion into a contralateral vein. The decrease in blood glucose and the rise in IRI level were both significantly greater in the combined glibenclamide-calcium test. It is concluded that calcium may temporarily improve carbohydrate tolerance in diabetic patients by potentiating the glibenclamide-stimulated insulin secretion.

Postmenopausal osteoporosis: the effect of parathormone and large dose vitamin D3 on the serum calcium level in sex hormone deficient rats.

Rats deprived of adrenal and gonadel sex hormones are more sensitive than normal rats to the hypercalcaemic (osteolytic) effect of parathormone and toxic doses of vitamin D3. It is suggested that sex hormone deficiency and the consecutive decrease of calcitonin sensitivity in postmenopausal osteoporosis makes the patients unprotected against factors inducing increased bone resorption, and this leads over the years of osteoporosis.