Background: Persistently infected cells by herpesvirus (HSV, CMV, EBV) and their dysfunction are associated with different disorders. The immune and endocrine systems are involved in pathogenesis of herpesvirus infection. Changes of IFN-γ, IL-4, DHEAS and cortisol level are a part of the regulatory mechanisms of the immune and endocrine system responses in persistent herpesvirus infection. Obje...

OBJECTIVE The study aimed to assess the possible systemic effects of intratympanic dexamethasone (IT-Dex) on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, inflammation, and bone metabolism. DESIGN A prospective cohort study including 30 adult patients of a tertiary referral ENT clinic treated with 9.6 mg IT-Dex over a period of 10 days was carried out. METHODS Effects on plasma and salivar...

Glucocorticoids have a major role in determining adipose tissue metabolism and distribution. 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11betaHSD1) is a NADPH-dependent enzyme highly expressed in the liver and adipose tissue. In most intact cells and tissues it functions as a reductase (to convert inactive cortisone to active cortisol). It has been hypothesized that tissue-specific deregulatio...

Cognitive impairment and psychiatric symptoms are common in patients with Cushing's disease (CD) owing to elevated levels of glucocorticoids. Molecular neuroimaging methods may help to detect changes in the brain of patients with CD. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of brain metabolism and its association with serum cortisol level in CD. We compared brain metabolism,...

BACKGROUND Hereditary angioedema caused by C1-inhibitor deficiency (C1-INH-HAE) is a rare, autosomal dominant disorder. C1-INH-HAE is characterized by edema-formation, which may occur in response to stress. The individual's response to stress stimuli is partly genetically determined. Activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis results in the release of cortisol. In turn, the secreted ...

To assess the effects of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) beta-naphthoflavone (beta-NF) and benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) on liver intermediary metabolism and plasma steroid hormones, immature female rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were intraperitoneally injected (2 microl g(-1)) with vegetable oil alone (control) or containing beta-NF or BaP (10 mg kg(-1)) and returned to their tanks; 3,...

The plasma concentration of phenylalanine and tyrosine decreases in normal rats during the first few postnatal days; subsequently, the concentration of phenylalanine remains more or less constant, whereas that of tyrosine exhibits a high peak on day 13. The basal concentrations of the two amino acids were not altered by injections of thyroxine or cortisol, except in 13-day-old rats, when an inj...