The induction of antibodies to human luteinizing hormone by contaminated clinical pituitary hormone preparations

Three children with hypopituitarism had elevated LH levels measured by RIA which were incompatible with their stage of sexual maturation. Each of the children had been administered parenteral pituitary hormone preparations: one patient, human (h) GH for 3 2/1 yr; one patient, bovine TSH twice to evaluate thyroid responsiveness; and two patients, posterior pituitary extract by nasal insufflation for 7 5/12 ad 4 9/12 yr to treat diabetes insipidus. Each of these children had developed antibodies of the immunoglobulin G class which bound [125I]hLH in vitro in a displaceable fashion. In two of the patients, the antibody reacting with hLH was found after therapy with pituitary hormones of bovine or porcine origin and before treatment with hGH, while on child had received only hGH therapy. These antibodies interfered in the assay for hLH and were responsible for the spurious elevations of serum immunoreactive hLH. None of these children had undergone spontaneous puberty, including at least one who may not have been gonadotropin deficient. To reduce the risk of generating high potency neutralizing antibodies, only highly purified, monomeric pituitary hormone preparations or pure synthetic hormone preparations should be used for diagnosis and chronic replacement therapy.

Prostacyclin production by vein grafts in the arterial circulation: a study in rats

The in vitro production of prostacyclin by vein grafts was measured using vascular rings followed by radioimmunoassay of the medium. The grafts were prepared by interposing a segment of epigastric vein in a gap in the ipsilateral femoral artery of the rat. Measurements made over a period of 1 to 42 days showed a progressive rise from venous levels (less than 0.2 ng/ml) to values close to the arterial controls (10.9 +/- 2.2 ng/ml). This deficiency of prostacyclin synthesis during the "arterialization" of the graft may account for some of the early failures which can occur in vein grafting and suggests the possibility of pharmacological intervention to improve the success rate.

Prostaglandins and cannabis--IX. Stimulation of prostaglandin E2 synthesis in human lung fibroblasts by delta 1-tetrahydrocannabinol

Preliminary data [S. Burstein and S. A. Hunter, Biochem. Pharmac. 27, 1275 (1978)] showed that cannabinoids at levels of 1 microM or greater elevated the concentrations of prostaglandins in cell culture models. Further study [S. Burstein and S. A. Hunter, J. clin. Pharmac. 21, 240S (1981)] led to the suggestion that this effect was due to a stimulation of phospholipase A2 resulting in the release of free arachidonic acid which was then partly converted into the prostaglandin(s) normally synthesized by the particular target system. The present report gives detailed data on the cannabinoid-induced synthesis of prostaglandin E2 by te WI-38 fibroblast derived from human lung. The effect could be blocked by pretreatment with mepacrine, a phospholipase inhibitor, and aspirin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor. These findings lend support to the hypothesis that some of the in vivo actions of the cannabinoids are due to modulations in prostaglandin synthesis at various tissue sites.

Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis: reduced serum 26-hydroxycholesterol

Serum 26-hydroxycholesterol was quantitated by isotope dilution-mass spectrometry in normal individuals and in patients with cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis. In the normal individuals, the concentration of 26-hydroxycholesterol in serum ranged from 4.3 to 13.0 microgram/100 ml. In five patients with CTX, 26-hydroxycholesterol in serum ranged from 0 to 0.6 microgram/100 ml. The findings can be explained by reduced or absent mitochondrial C27 steroid 26-hydroxylase activity. The method is useful for detection of CTX and perhaps other disturbances of sterol and bite acid metabolism.

Hemoglobin A1 in hemolysates from healthy and insulin-dependent diabetic children, as determined with a temperature-controlled minicolumn assay

We report age-specific glycohemoglobin values for nondiabetic infants, children, and young adults. These values were determined with an ion-exchange "mini-column" in a specially designed and constructed water bath that maintains column temperature at 23 +/- 0.1 degrees C. Two in-house-prepared controls with glycohemoglobin content amounting to 6.36% and 11.87% of total hemoglobin, stored at -20 degrees C, were used to assess long-term analytical precision. Between-day precision (CV) was 1.4% and 1.65%, respectively. We found a significant correlation (r = 0.981, p less than 0.01) between the glycohemoglobin value and the physicians' independent assessment of clinical control in 129 insulin-dependent diabetics, ages 3-23 years. There were significant differences (p less than 0.05) between glycohemoglobin values between patients with well-controlled or poorly controlled diabetes and those with intermediate control. Reported studies of 20 patients over three to 12 weeks showed that changes in clinical control were paralleled by changes in glycohemoglobin values.

Hemoglobin A1 in hemolysates from healthy and insulin-dependent diabetic children, as determined with a temperature-controlled minicolumn assay

We report age-specific glycohemoglobin values for nondiabetic infants, children, and young adults. These values were determined with an ion-exchange "mini-column" in a specially designed and constructed water bath that maintains column temperature at 23 +/- 0.1 degrees C. Two in-house-prepared controls with glycohemoglobin content amounting to 6.36% and 11.87% of total hemoglobin, stored at -20 degrees C, were used to assess long-term analytical precision. Between-day precision (CV) was 1.4% and 1.65%, respectively. We found a significant correlation (r = 0.981, p less than 0.01) between the glycohemoglobin value and the physicians' independent assessment of clinical control in 129 insulin-dependent diabetics, ages 3-23 years. There were significant differences (p less than 0.05) between glycohemoglobin values between patients with well-controlled or poorly controlled diabetes and those with intermediate control. Reported studies of 20 patients over three to 12 weeks showed that changes in clinical control were paralleled by changes in glycohemoglobin values.

26-Hydroxycholesterol. Identification and quantitation in human serum

Using isotope dilution mass spectrometry, 26-hydroxycholesterol was identified in the serum of normal adults. Total values ranged from 9.2 to 25.6 micrograms/100 ml of which 31-35% was free sterol. Density gradient ultracentrifugation indicates that the steroid is distributed among the low and high density lipoproteins.

Prostaglandins and cannabis--VIII. Elevation of phospholipase A2 activity by cannabinoids in whole cells and subcellular preparations

The previously reported release of arachidonic acid by THC has now been demonstrated in murine Leydig cells and WI-38 human lung fibroblasts showing the generality of the effect. The release reaction could be antagonized by phospholipase A2 inhibitors such as quinacrine and quinine, suggesting that THC can stimulate the activity of this enzyme. Further evidence for this possibility was obtained by demonstrating the release effect on a subcellular fraction which contained the phospholipase A2 activity. The stimulation of this enzyme could have profound effects on prostaglandin synthesis and/or on the integrity of various membrane structures.

Bile acid synthesis. Metabolism of 3 beta-hydroxy-5-cholenoic acid in the hamster

Synthesis of 3 beta-hydroxy-5-[1,2-3H]cholenoic acid has permitted a study of its metabolism in bile-fistula hamsters that received the compound by intravenous infusion. Metabolites in bile were identified by reverse isotope dilution after their complete resolution by high pressure liquid chromatography using muPorasil. Recovery of administered radioactivity ranged from 21-60% in three animals. In each study, lithocholic acid (0.8-4.4%) and chenodeoxycholic acid (7.8-11.3%) were identified as metabolites of 3 beta-hydroxy-5-cholenoate and can be considered primary bile acids in the side-chain pathway of bile acid synthesis beginning with the oxidation of cholesterol to 26-hydroxycholesterol.

Early determination of androgen-responsiveness is important in the management of microphallus

Of fourteen boys with microphallus who were studied consecutively, nine had hypopituitarism that might otherwise have not been recognised. All fourteen were treated with low-dose, intramuscular testosterone enanthate administered in one or two 3-month courses. In each case, penile size was increased into the normal range without evoking either a significant increase in height velocity or an advancement of skeletal maturation. Before considering surgical sex reversal in infants and young children with microphallus, it is essential to assess whether treatment with intramuscular testosterone will induce clinically significant growth of the microphallus.

The work of worrying in children undergoing surgery

This study examined the relationship involving children's level of anxiety, defensiveness, and play patterns 1 week prior to, during, and 1 week after hospitalization for minor surgery. A 7-month follow-up was also conducted in order to assess the children's recall for hospital events and coping style. The results suggested that two classes of children could be identified. The children in one group distinguished themselves in terms of their disposition to engage in the "work of worrying" (i.e., were low defensive prior to hospitalization, actively played with stress-related toys prior to hospitalization, and reported minimal distress and anxiety following surgery). Those in the second group were highly defensive, avoided playing with stress-related toys, and reported most anxiety following surgery. The parallel between children and adults patterns of dealing with surgery was considered in terms of Janis's (1978) model of coping with psychological stress.

Demonstration by radioligand-binding assay of the structural similarity of a partially synthetic growth hormone recombinant molecule to its natural analog and to native human growth hormone

The recombinant resulting from the noncovalent interaction of a natural amino-terminal fragment of reduced and carbamoylmethylated human GH (residues 1-134) with a synthetic carboxyl-terminal fragment of reduced and carbamoyl-methylated human GH (residues 141-191) reacts in seven immunoassay systems and two receptor assay systems in a similar manner and with comparable potency to its naturally occurring analog, but with less avidity overall than does the native hormone. This similarity of reactivity is strong evidence for similarity of conformation among these molecules. The demonstration that a synthetic fragment can restore radioligand-binding properties to a proteolytic fragment of human GH implies that partially synthetic variant GH molecules have biological activity.

Cannabinoid inhibition of rat luteal cell progesterone synthesis

Progesterone production by isolated rat luteal cells was inhibited by exposure to various cannabinoids in concentrations from 3.0--16.0 microM. The available evidence points to the cleavage of cholesterol esters as the site of inhibition.

Immunoreactivity and receptor binding of mixed recombinants of human growth hormone and chorionic somatomammotropin

The behavior in six radioligand assays of the recombinant obtained by the noncovalent complementation of the reduced and carbamoylmethylated 134-residue amino-terminal fragment of human growth hormore with the reduced and carbamoylmethylated 51-residue carboxyl-terminal fragment of human chorionic somatomammotropin was compared to that of the analogous recombinant of the 133-residue amino-terminal fragment of human chorionic somatomammotropin and the 51-residue carboxyl-terminal fragment of human growth hormone. The determinants for the hepatic growth hormone receptor binding and for the lactogenic receptor binding of human growth hormone are on the amino-terminal fragments. The antigenic determinants for both a monospecific antiserum to human growth hormone and a monospecific antiserum to human chorionic somatomammotropin also are on the amino-terminal fragments of their respective antigens. The mixed recombinant of the amino-terminal fragment of human growth hormone with the carboxyl-terminal fragment of human chorionic somatomammotropin retains full radioimmuno- and radioreceptor activity after lyophilization.