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Biomedical subjects

D A Adamopoulos

Publications and source records attributed to D A Adamopoulos.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

The incidence of positive oestrogen and progesterone receptors in breast cancer of Greek women.

Oestrogen and progesterone receptors were determined in breast tumours of 80 Greek women. Oestrogen-positive receptors were found in 84.6% of the pre (n = 39) and 85.4% of the postmenopausal (n = 41) patients while progesterone-positive receptors were found in 71.8% of these women respectively. In combination, 69.2% of the pre-menopausal had both receptors detectable, 15.4% had oestrogen-positive and progesterone-negative and 2.6% had oestrogen negative and progesterone-positive while 12.8 had no detectable receptors. This incidence in postmenopausal women was 51.2, 34.2, 0.0, 14.6% respectively. The ratio of progesterone to oestradiol receptor concentration was 7.6 in the pre- and 1.7 in the postmenopausal group (p less than 0.05). In conclusion, the incidence of positive receptors in Greek women with breast cancer is similar to that of other Western populations.

Adult↗

Testosterone concentration in different functional compartments of the male reproductive tract.

The concentration of testosterone in testicular tissue (TT), spermatic vein blood (SVB), cubital blood (CB), and seminal fluid (SF) was estimated using a radioimmunoassay technique in a total of 50 normospermic, oligozoospermic, and azoospermic men. Testosterone was also determined in cauda epididymis-vas deferens ductus wash fluid (WF) in 6 normospermic men. In 2 oligozoospermic men the testosterone concentration in TT was 556 and 725 ng/g tissue, respectively. In 9 normospermic men the mean SVB testosterone concentration was 473 ng/ml. CB and SF concentrations of this steroid were 6.8 and 0.4 ng/ml in normospermic, 6.4 and 0.5 ng/ml in oligozoospermic, and 4.9 and 0.4 ng/ml in azoospermic men, respectively; the difference among the three groups was not significant. The SVB:CB and SVB:SF ratios in normospermic men were 71 and 1549, respectively, while the CB:SF ratio was 18 in normospermic, 18 in oligozoospermic, and 16.6 in azoospermic men. Testosterone could not be detected in individual specimens of WF, but after pooling of samples a concentration of 0.08 ng/ml WF was estimated. These results demonstrate the relative concentrations of testosterone in the different functional compartments of the reproductive tract in man and facilitate a better understanding of its function.

Adult↗

Pituitary-testicular interrelationships in mumps orchitis and other viral infections.

Leydig-cell function was assessed in 27 men with acute mumps orchitis by measuring plasma testosterone concentrations before and after the administration of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG). The test was also performed on groups of patients with other febrile viral infections and mumps without orchitis and on healthy euspermic men. The concentrations both before and after HCG were significantly lower in patients in the acute phase of mumps-but not in those with other viral infections and mumps without orchitis-than in the healthy men. Basal concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinising hormone (LH) were significantly increased in patients with acute mumps orchitis, while an exaggerated response to LH-releasing hormone was noted in four patients after the acute phase of the disease. Raised plasma LH concentrations were also found in several patients with viral infections, including mumps without orchitis. There appeared to be no particular merit of any of the treatments used (aspirin, prednisolone, and cold baths). In patients reevaluated three to five and 10 to 12 months after the acute phase of their disease the basal testosterone concentrations were similar to those of the healthy men, but several of the patients showed a severely impaired response to HCG. Mean basal FSH and LH concentrations were significantly increased 10 to 12 months after the acute phase, while the mean LH concentration was also raised at three to five months.It is concluded that mumps orchitis impairs Leydigcell function during the acute phase of the disease but may also have a more permanent damaging effect, similar to that found in the germinal epithelium.

Acute Disease↗

Determinantion of testosterone concentration in semen of men with normal or subnormal sperm counts and after vasectomy.

Semen from 58 male subjects, aged 22 to 50, was assayed on an individual basis to determine whether T was present in it. Of the subjects examined 23 were normospermic, 14 oligospermic and 9 azoospermic; 12 men had undergone vasectomy were also included in the study. In 39 of the subjects plasma testosterone was estimated. A competitive protein binding technique was employed for T assays while dried extracts of semen were examined by combined gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry and mass fragmentography. Measurable amounts of T were detected in all seminal specimens assayed. This was confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry which showed a spectrum suggestive of T. The ratio of unconjugated to conjugated steroid in semen was found to be approximately 1:10. Levels of unconjgated T were similar to those found in plasma of normally menstruating women. The mean seminal concentration of unconjugated T (+/-SD) in the specimens assayed was 0.71 ng/ml+/-0.08 for the normospermic, 0.79+/-0.14 for the ezoospermic, 0.69+/-0.09 for the oligospermic, but only 0.38+/-0.04 for the vasectomized subjects. Plasma levels for this androgen were within the range found in normal men of comparable age. Significant correlation between plasma and seminal T concentration could not be demonstrated and there was no correlation between either of the above parameters and the seminal volume, the number, abnormal form percentage and the motility of spermatozooa in the normo--or oligospermic group. However, when the two groups were pooled into one, significant correlations were found between plasma, (but not seminal T concentration) and the seminal characters examined, perhaps suggesting the number of specimens from the groups should be increased to obtain valid data. Administration of human chorionic gonadotropin produced a marked plasma response as well as a rise of seminal T levels in 3 normospermic subjects whereas cyproterone acetate caused reduction of plasm T levels but had no consistent effect on the seminal concentration of ts steroid although the sensitivity of the seminal method may not have detected smaller changes at this level.

Adult↗

Pattern of CSF glucose concentration after induced hyperglycaemia in patients with acute meningitis and evidence of cerebrospinal canal obstruction.

The pattern of glucose CSF concentration after induced hyperglycaemia was studied in 14 patients suffering from acute meningitis and 10 having meningism, as judged by normal CSF. Four out of the first group of patients had symptoms and signs likely to be due to cerebrospinal canal obstruction after the acute phase of the disease was over. When the patterns of CSF glucose concentration of the two groups were compared it was noted that patients suffering from acute meningitis showed generally a quicker and more profound rise of glucose levels after induced hyperglycaemia than patients with meningism. In four cases CSF glucose levels showed a partial or complete failure to rise, despite adequate increase of blood glucose concentration. Subsequent investigation revealed permanent obstruction of the cerebrospinal canal in three of the cases. The usefulness of serial CSF glucose estimations after induced hyperglycaemia as an early screening test for cases with possible obstruction is discussed.

Acute Disease↗

Endocrine function in male and female homosexuals.

Serial assays of hormones and their metabolites are reported in the urine of three male and four female homosexuals. Urinary testosterone levels were abnormally low in the two men who practised exclusive homosexuality and were within the normal range in the third, who had both homosexual and heterosexual relationships. In the women assays were generally performed throughout one menstrual cycle; in three the pattern of hormone excretion was ovulatory in character, while in the fourth evidence for ovulation was equivocal. Levels of testosterone and luteinizing hormone (L.H.) were raised in the female homosexuals, while those for oestrogens, particularly oestrone, were below the range for normal heterosexual subjects during their reproductive life; readings of follicle-stimulating hormone (F.S.H.) and pregnanediol were normal in three women. The data reported here are in keeping with the view that abnormalities in endocrine function may occur in both male and female homosexuals.

Adult↗