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Biomedical subjects

J P Bercovici

Publications and source records attributed to J P Bercovici.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Lipoproteins status in professional football players after period of vacation and one month after a new intensive training program.

Plasmatic lipoproteins were evaluated in a group of 11 professional football-players after a 3-week rest, and one month later, after an intensive training (characterized by a succession of aerobic and anaerobic efforts), for engaging a new competition. At day 0, total cholesterol (TC = 4.4 +/- .04 mmol/l), triglycerides (TG = .6 +/- .04 mmol/l), and LDL-TC (2.54 +/- .18 mmol/l) were significantly decreased versus sex and age matched sedentary subjects (TC = 5.13 +/- .2 mmol/l, P less than .02; TG = .99 +/- . mmol/l, P less than .01; LDL-CT = 3.26 +/- .2 mmol/l, P less than .02). HDL-TC was increased (1.50 +/- .06 vs 1.30 +/- .05 mmol/l, P less than .05). The apoprotein A1 (apoA1) was higher in football-players (1.5 +/- .06 vs 1.16 g/l, P less than .001), while the apoprotein B (apoB) was lower (.6 +/- .03 vs .88 +/- .04 g/l, P less than .001). Even after 3 weeks of rest, the football-players lipoproteins were still identical to aerobic elite-athletes. At day +30, after a daily training involving 2 anaerobic sequences, the maximal aerobic capacity was increased by 21%, without any change in nutritional, plasmatic and hepatic status. Weight was diminished (-0.8 kg, P less than 0.05). TC (4.14 +/- .2 mmol/l), TG less than .64 +/- .08 mmol/l), LDL-TC (3.37 +/- .17 mmol/l), apo B (.64 +/- .05 g/l) were unchanged. HDL-CT fell to controls values while apoA1 increased (1.66 +/- .06 mmol/l, P less than .001). Thus, HDL-CT/apoA1 ratio (indicating the TC content of HDL) was decreased, whereas apoB/apoA1 ratio was unchanged. The decrease of TC content of HDL was not related to dietary change nor to weight decrease. As TG were stable, the lipoprotein lipase activity could not be modified.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Polymorphonuclear cell derangements in type I diabetes.

Polymorphonuclear cell function had been studied in 58 Type I diabetic subjects. Chemotaxis, phagocytosis, adherence, bactericidal activity, NBT reduction capacity were evaluated. We enumerated gamma Fc receptor bearing polymorphonuclear cells and the percentage of immune complexes containing polymorphonuclear cells. These data were studied in accordance with glycemic levels and the presence of infections. All polymorphonuclear functions were decreased compared to non-diabetic subjects with the exception of phagocytosis. The efficiency of the diabetic sera on normal subjects polymorphonuclear cells was decreased (bactericidal activity, chemotactic index and phagocytosis). These abnormalities were independent of the presence of infection. No correlation was found with glycemic level. The percentage of cells bearing an Fc gamma receptor was less in diabetics than in normal (70.1 +/- 17.4 vs 80.2 +/- 7.8%). The percentage of immune complexes containing polymorphonuclear cells was increased (n = 16, 9.06 +/- 4.7 vs 4.75 +/- 2.1% in normals). There again, these data are without correlation with the presence of infections or glycemic level.

Adolescent↗

Gonadal tumor and H-Y antigen in 46,XY pure gonadal dysgenesis.

Six cases of Swyer's syndrome (46,XY pure gonadal dysgenesis) are reported. Three patients, without gonadal tumor, had female H-Y antigen. Three patients, after gonadal tumor ablation, had intermediate H-Y antigen levels. Repeated blood samples were obtained from two siblings. H-Y antigen level in the first sibling, who presented with a gonadoblastoma and underwent a gonadectomy before the H-Y assays, was intermediate, and did not show any significant variation for 21 months. H-Y antigen level in the second sibling showed an increase in the male range, presumably due to the presence of gonadoblastomas. After resection of the tumors, H-Y antigen level became intermediate. These findings suggest a relation between the tumorization potentiality of the gonadal remnants and the H-Y antigen levels in 46,XY pure gonadal dysgenesis.

Adolescent↗

[Adrenal reactivity to prolonged-action ACTH in hirsute women treated with 50 mg of cyproterone acetate combined with percutaneous estradiol].

A prolonged-action Synacthen (R) test (1 mg.i.m. was performed in 14 hirsute women before and 6 months after instituting combined treatment with cyproterone acetate (50 mg/day/21 days) and percutaneous estradiol (3 mg during the last 10 days of cyproterone acetate administration). Determination of blood cortisol and precursors of cortisol--plasma androgens--was carried out to evaluate possible modification of adrenal enzymatic activity. At the used doses, cyproterone acetate failed to influence adrenal reactivity to synthetic ACTH or the enzymatic activities of 21-hydroxylase and 17-beta-reductase in vivo.

Administration, Cutaneous↗

[Autoimmune polyendocrinopathies. Pathogenic hypotheses].

In most of the cases, once a given endocrine gland is involved, the corresponding specific autoantibody may be detected; for example, anti-islet cell antibodies are produced within the first few years, after onset of symptoms in insulin-dependent diabetes (DID). Accompanying autoantibodies are quite frequently found in the patient himself. In Schmidt's syndrome (thyroid and adrenal glands are involved and associated to IDD in 30% of the cases) thyroid microsomal antibodies are found in 38% of the cases, thyroglobulin antibodies in 11% of the cases, islet-cell antibodies in 7% of the cases and steroid cell antibodies in 17% of the cases. Associations are also possible in patient family members. Aberrant expression of HLA-DR molecules at the membrane of follicular thyroid cells (as of any other endocrine gland), following a viral aggression, could well account for the endocrinopathy combinations, but alternative mechanisms should be discussed.

Antibody Specificity↗

Plasma androgens during the luteal phase in a case of true hermaphroditism with bilateral ovotestis.

A true hermaphrodite with a bilateral ovotestis and a 46 XX karyotype was studied. This 14-year old subject developed ambiguous puberty with bilateral gynecomastia and stage IV public hair. Relatively high level of testosterone (T) (2.80 ng/ml), was found. The 5 alpha-reductase activity for T in the pubic skin was similar to that observed in normal adult males. A hemorrhagic corpus luteum in the left ovotestis was observed at laparotomy. The luteal phase immediately after dexamethasone administration (1 mg/day for 7 days) was characterized by a significant decrease of plasma androgens, T and androstenedione (A). The constantly low level of T (0.30 ng/ml) during the luteal phase in this subject did not appear to be due to the previously administered dexamethasone. This decrease of T production in the luteal phase might be secondary either to the increase of the estradiol-17 beta (E2) secreted by the corpus luteum or to the decrease of LH levels. Both mechanisms might act concomitantly.

Adolescent↗

Leydig cell tumor with gynecomastia: further studies--the recovery after unilateral orchidectomy.

The recovery of exocrine and endocrine testicular function was studied in six patients orchidectomized for an estrogen-producing Leydig cell tumor. Gynecomastia disappeared in four patients. The contralateral testis, whose volume was reduced, returned to normal size after 30 days. Sperm density returned to normal in only one of the four patients in whom the preoperative sperm count was reduced. One day after unilateral orchidectomy, plasma estradiol decreased to normal and testosterone (T) fell about 50%. On the 10th postoperative day, plasma T [5.60 +/- 1.20 ng/ml (SD)] was normal. On day 120, T was higher than on day 10 (6.83 +/- 1.20 ng/ml). There was no significant increase of T after a single injection of hCG (5000 IU) on day 10, and the T response was similar to that of normal men on day 120. Plasma FSH and LH were increased on the 10th postoperative day; they then decreased between 60 and 120 days after the operation but were still above the normal values on day 120. The FSH/LH ratio, which was 0.43 +/- 0.17 preoperatively returned to normal (1.60 +/- 0.25) 10 days postoperatively. In conclusion, after hemicastration for an estrogen-secreting tumor, testicular hormonal secretion returns to normal within 120 days but spermatogenesis may still be impaired at this time.

17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone↗

[Pituitary adenoma secreting somatotropic hormone. Gigantism and peripheral neuropathy. A case].

Gigantism, an extremely rare condition, develops before puberty or in subjects in whom puberty is not yet completed. Hypersecretion of somatotropic hormone results in a tremendous surge in growth (our patient was 2.36 m tall). Among other clinical symptoms disabling peripheral neuropathy predominates and changes in nerve conduction velocity are not merely due to the increase in height. The increase in growth hormone concentrations combined with hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism with normal prolactinaemia is associated with peculiar cutaneous symptoms and with low levels of sex hormone-binding protein.

Adenoma↗

Increase of lymphocytic H-Y antigen in female 21-hydroxylase deficiency.

H-Y antigen was found to be increased in lymphocytes from 10 female 21-hydroxylase deficiencies, suggesting a correlation between the degree of virilization of these patients and their H-Y + lymphocytes proportions. Furthermore, these findings demonstrate the ability of a 46,XX female subject to produce, in some circumstances, an excess of H-Y antigen.

Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital↗

Hormonal profile of Leydig cell tumors with gynecomastia.

The hormonal profile of estrogen-secreting Leydig cell tumors was studied in four patients. Plasma testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2) levels varied from day-to-day whereas the T/E2 ratios were decreased (22:85, normal 170 to 440). hCG administration induced a higher estrogen response in the patients than in normal men. The finding in the spermatic venous blood of the tumor-bearing testis of a particular biochemical profile, including a low T/E2 ratio (12:27), associated with high progesterone/17-hydroxyprogesterone ratios (0.13:0.26) and high 17-hydroxyprogesterone-androstenedione ratios (26:44), allowed localization of a small testicular tumor when no testicular abnormality was found clinically. Also, the E2 level was moderately elevated in the spermatic vein of one patient compared with normal men. Spermatic venous blood also was obtained after hCG administration in two patients. Increased estrogen and reduced T responses were found in the tumoral testis in comparison with the contralateral testis. In conclusion, the hormone content of spermatic venous effluent from testes containing an interstitial cell tumor is abnormal in several respects and such abnormalities allow detection of the tumor when it is not recognizable clinically.

Adult↗

[Y-chromosome polysomy and expression of the H-Y antigen].

The sex-differentiation H-Y antigen was studied in 5 males subjects with Y-chromosome polysomy. All had gonadal deficiency and significant decrease of H-Y antigen as compared with 77 normal 46, XY male controls. Men with additional Y-gonosomes may be hypogonadic or, more often, fertile, as was probably the case with the 3 patients with very high H-Y antigen titers previously described by other research workers. The phenotypic polymorphism of these subjects therefore seems to be parallel with their H-Y antigen polymorphism and there may be, in our 5 subjects, a relationship between abnormal spermatogenesis and H-Y antigen deficiency.

Adult↗