THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS OF ACTH AND CORTISONE IN RHEUMATIC FEVER: CARDIOLOGIC OBSERVATIONS IN A CONTROLLED SERIES OF 100 CASES

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1956 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-28
Author(s):  
T. N. Harris ◽  
Sidney Friedman ◽  
Herbert L. Needleman ◽  
Herbert A. Saltzman

The therapeutic effects of ACTH and cortisone have been studied in a series of 100 patients with acute rheumatic fever, with special emphasis on cardiologic observations. This series involved cyclical alternation among hormone-treated patients and control patients. The latter received symptomatic and supportive therapy, but not salicylates in large doses. Observations on such patients during the period of hospitalization (did not indicate any significant difference between hormone-treated and control subjects in terms of the appearance or disappearance of cardiac murmurs, the degree of transmission of apical systolic murmurs, incidence and duration of pericarditis, or other cardiologic phenomena recorded. Rates of occurrence of "rebound" phenomena and of complications of the hormone therapy have also been reported.

1974 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
pp. 401-407 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Mahoudeau ◽  
A. Delassalle ◽  
H. Bricaire

ABSTRACT Plasma levels of testosterone (T) and 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) were determined by radioimmunoassay in 29 patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) and in 56 control men of various ages. No significant difference was found in T, DHT nor DHT/T ratio between BPH and control subjects of similar age. Plasma DHT was higher in the prostatic than in the peripheral veins in 8/9 patients with BPH during laparotomy, indicating a prostatic secretion of DHT. No difference in the mean T nor the mean DHT was found in peripheral plasma before and after adenomectomy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. e244469
Author(s):  
Zak Michael Wilson ◽  
Katie Craster

A 24-year-old fit and well Caucasian man was referred to acute hospital via his General Practitioner with chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath and an antecedent sore throat. Investigations revealed pericardial and pleural effusions, pericardial thickening on MRI, mild mitral regurgitation on echocardiogram and a raised Antistreptolysin O (ASO) titre.He was treated as acute rheumatic fever (ARF) with a prolonged course of penicillin, supportive therapy with bisoprolol and colchicine with lansoprazole cover. The patient made a full recovery and subsequent cardiac MRI showed resolution of all changes.


Author(s):  
Mustafa Can ◽  
Muhammet Kocabaş ◽  
Melia Karakose ◽  
Hatice Caliskan Burgucu ◽  
Zeliha Yarar ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose: In our study, we aimed to determine the frequency of thyroid nodules in patients with acromegaly according to the American College of Radiology (ACR) Thyroid Imaging, Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS) classification and its relationship with acromegaly disease activity. Methods: A total of 56 patients with acromegaly and age, sex, and body mass index matched with 56 healthy control subjects were included in our study. Thyroid-stimulating hormone, free thyroxine, and anti-thyroperoxidase antibody levels of patients and control subjects were measured. In addition, patients and healthy controls were evaluated by ultrasonography to determine thyroid structure, thyroid volume, and thyroid nodules and to make ACR TI-RADS classification. Results: Thyroid nodules were present in 31 (55.4%) of 56 patients in the acromegaly group and 20 (35.7%) of 56 subjects in the control group, and the frequency of thyroid nodules was significantly higher in the acromegaly group (p=0.038). The mean number of nodules in the acromegaly group and control group was 1.27±1.43 and 0.48±0.73, respectively, and the mean number of nodules was significantly higher in the acromegaly group (p=0.003). The number of patients with TI-RADS 1, TI-RADS 2, and TI-RADS 4 nodules in the acromegaly group was higher than the control group (p=0.026, p=0.049, p=0.007, respectively). No difference was found in terms of cytological findings between those who have undergone FNAB in the acromegaly group and control group. Conclusion: In our study, we found that the frequency of thyroid nodules, the number of thyroid nodules, and the number of TI-RADS 1, TI-RADS 2, and TI-RADS 4 nodules increased in patients with acromegaly. There was no significant difference between acromegaly disease activity and thyroid nodule frequency, number of thyroid nodules, and TI-RADS classifications.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1962 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 328-329
Author(s):  
Albert Dorfman

Dr. Illingworth raises an important problem regarding the validity of withholding steroid treatment from patients with acute rheumatic fever but who show no evidence of carditis. The conclusion reached in our paper (Pediatrics, 27:692, 1961) was based on the finding that only 1 of 26 patients not treated with steroids demonstrated a significant murmur at the end of one year. Apparently Illingworth has had a less favorable experience. It is obvious that this decision depends upon the estimated risk of heart disease of such patients as compared with the risks inherent in hormone therapy.


Blood ◽  
1975 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 577-580 ◽  
Author(s):  
JJ Corcino ◽  
G Coll ◽  
FA Klipstein

Abstract Pteroylglutamic acid (PGA) absorption was assessed in ten untreated tropical sprue (TS) and eight control subjects utilizing a marker perfusion technique. Physiologic concentrations of the vitamin (25 ng/ml) dissolved in iso-osmotic solutions containing either mannitol of glucose at a concentration of 55.6 mM were perfused on each subject on two consecutive days. A statistically significant difference in PGA absorption between TS and control subjects was obtained only when glucose was present in the perfusate. Thus, unequivocal malabsorption of PGA is demonstrable in all subjects with TS when more refined techniques than the ones applied heretofore are utilized.


2004 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 28-31
Author(s):  
Sabaheta Hasić ◽  
Emina Kiseljaković ◽  
Radivoj Jadrić ◽  
Belma Zečević ◽  
Nešina Avdagić ◽  
...  

Long term stress exposure results in somatisation symptoms appearance. Cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal and muscle-bone symptoms arise because of intensified activity of autonomic nervous system caused by chronic stress. The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between long term war stress exposure and appearance of somatisation. 40 students of health-care faculties in Sarajevo, of both sexes, were included in investigation and divided in two groups-somatisation and control. Somatisation group subjects (N=20) lived in B&H under war conditions, from 1992-1995. Control subjects (N=20) spent the same period outside B&H. For evaluation of somatisation symptoms we used SCL-90-R test. The obtained data were statistically evaluated using Student’s t-test and χ2 test. Confidence level was set at ρ < 0,05. Our results showed statistically significant difference in somatisation level between somatisation and control subjects group. Different intensity of appearance of certain symptoms in male and female was established. The score of somatisation dimension between somatisation and control group showed statistically significant level (p < 0,0001). Study results confirmed correlation of chronic stress exposure (living in war environment) and somatisation symptom appearance. Individual organic systems had various level of symptom expression. The influence of sex on intensity of individual symptoms of somatisation is possible.


2008 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 223-229
Author(s):  
Mitsuhiro Aoki ◽  
Yuzuru Sakaida ◽  
Hisamitsu Hayashi ◽  
Nansei Yamada ◽  
Keisuke Mizuta ◽  
...  

Objectives: A number of animal studies have confirmed that the otolith organs may contribute to the maintenance of blood pressure during positional change; however, the contribution of such organs remains to be elucidated in humans. Methods: This study investigated whether acute dizzy patients (n = 11) with an abnormal deviation of the subjective visual vertical (SVV) show an abnormality in the orthostatic regulation of blood pressure in comparison to acute dizzy patients with a normal deviation of the SVV (n = 11) and control subjects (n = 11). Results: The average change in the systolic blood pressure (SBP) at 1 minute after active standing in comparison to that at baseline in dizzy patients with an abnormal deviation of the SVV was −6.8 ± 3.0 mmHg. The change was significantly lower than that in the control subjects (2.1 ± 2.6 mmHg, p < 0.05), while the change in dizzy patients with a normal deviation of the SVV (2.6 ± 2.2 mmHg) was not significantly different from that in the control subjects (p > 0.05). Active standing significantly increased the heart rate (HR) in all participants (p < 0.01) and there was no significant difference in the change of the HR among the 3 groups (p > 0.05). Conclusions: These results suggest that dizzy patients in the acute phase of recovery from vestibular dysfunction have an orthostatic dysregulation of the blood pressure, thus resulting in such patients suffering from orthostatic intolerance.


Author(s):  
Anita Chan ◽  
Felix Wong ◽  
Mano Arumanayagam

Serum copper and caeruloplasmin concentrations are elevated in various carcinomas, but it is not known whether the rise in serum copper is due to elevation of caeruloplasmin alone or whether it is also due to the elevation of ‘free’ copper. We therefore determined ultrafiltrable copper to answer this question. Serum ultrafiltrate was prepared using the Amicon micropartition system and ultrafiltrable (free) copper was determined by flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Serum total copper was determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry and caeruloplasmin by rate nephelometry. There was no significant difference in the ultrafiltrable copper concentration between patients with gynaecological tumours and control subjects. However, total copper and caeruloplasmin concentrations were significantly elevated in cancer patients compared with control subjects. In contrast to total copper and caeruloplasmin concentrations, ultrafiltrable copper concentrations showed no significant increase with increase in the stage of the cancer.


2014 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 879-892 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huriye Ozgen ◽  
Birsen Ucar ◽  
Ali Yildirim ◽  
Omer Colak ◽  
Cengiz Bal ◽  
...  

AbstractAim: We aimed to investigate the role of adiponectin in acute rheumatic fever by evaluating correlations with cytokines and acute-phase reactants. Methods: Patients were divided into three groups by clinical findings. Group 1 included 8 patients with only chorea, Group 2 included 13 patients with arthritis and carditis, and Group 3 included 12 patients with only carditis. A total of 54 age- and gender-matched children were enrolled in the control group. Blood samples were drawn for analysing acute-phase reactants, adiponectin, tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and interleukin-8 levels at baseline on Days 2, 5, 10, and 15, and at 8 weeks. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between baseline age, gender, body mass index, serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein levels of the study and control groups (p>0.05). No correlation was found between baseline plasma adiponectin levels, age, body mass index, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinising hormone, oestradiol, total testosterone, and blood lipid levels of the study and control groups (p>0.05). We found that adiponectin and interleukin-6 levels increased, tumour necrosis factor-α levels decreased, and interleukin-8 levels remained unchanged in acute rheumatic fever, which is an inflammatory disease. Moreover, adiponectin level was higher and tumour necrosis factor-α level was lower in the improvement period in comparison with the acute period, particularly in the carditis group. Conclusion: It was considered that, increasing throughout the treatment period, adiponectin may have anti-inflammatory effects in acute rheumatic fever. In addition, adiponectin levels are associated with a decline in inflammatory mediators in rheumatic fever.


1987 ◽  
Vol 150 (6) ◽  
pp. 791-796 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. G. Charlton ◽  
A. Leake ◽  
C. Wright ◽  
H. W. Griffiths ◽  
I. N. Ferrier

The pathophysiology of hypercortisolaemia in major depression was examined. ACTH was measured using a novel immunoradiometric assay of high specificity and sensitivity. Twenty-eight patients with major depression and 18 control subjects were studied. Blood samples for basal hormone concentration were taken at 09:00, 16:00 and 23:00 on day 1, followed by administration of 1 mg dexamethasone at 23:00. Further samples were taken at 09:00 and 16:00 on day 2. Dexamethasone concentration was measured in day 2 samples and no significant difference was found between the depressed group and control subjects. In the depressed group Cortisol concentration was elevated at 23:00 on day 1, and ACTH concentrations were elevated in post-dexamethasone samples. ACTH and Cortisol concentrations were not directly correlated in individual patients. The elevated plasma Cortisol associated with major depression is not solely mediated by changes in ACTH.


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