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Biomedical subjects

Judith Rabkin

Publications and source records attributed to Judith Rabkin.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Endocrine effects of oral dehydroepiandrosterone in men with HIV infection: a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is commonly used by HIV-infected men, but its endocrine effects in this population are not well defined. We conducted an 8-week randomized, placebo-controlled trial to determine the effects of escalating doses (100-400 mg/d) of DHEA on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axes, and on a number of metabolic parameters in 69 HIV-positive men (31 in DHEA-treated group, 38 in placebo group). High-dose (250 microg) corticotropin and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone stimulation tests were carried out in all subjects. Fifty-four subjects (26 in the DHEA-treated group and 28 in the placebo group) also underwent optional corticotropin-releasing hormone test, and 67 subjects (31 in DHEA-treated group and 36 in placebo group) underwent optional low-dose (1 microg) corticotropin stimulation test. All tests were performed at baseline and at the end of week 8. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to analyze the data. We observed significant increases in circulating levels of DHEA, DHEA-sulfate, free testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, androstenedione, and estrone, and a decline in the serum concentration of sex hormone-binding globulin in the DHEA-treated group but not in the placebo group (P < .001). There were no differences between the groups in other endocrine or metabolic parameters or in the results of the stimulation tests. In conclusion, oral DHEA therapy in HIV-positive men significantly increases circulating levels of DHEA and DHEA-sulfate, free testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, androstenedione, and estrone and suppresses circulating concentration of sex hormone-binding globulin. Long-term studies are needed to assess the clinical significance of these hormonal changes in subjects with HIV infection receiving oral DHEA therapy.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2005

Dronabinol and marijuana in HIV(+) marijuana smokers: acute effects on caloric intake and mood.

RATIONALE: No studies to date have directly compared the tolerability and efficacy of smoked marijuana and oral dronabinol in HIV(+) marijuana smokers. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare dronabinol (0, 10, 20, 30 mg p.o.) and marijuana [0.0, 1.8, 2.8, 3.9% Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)] in two samples of HIV(+) marijuana smokers: those with (n=15) and those without (n=15) a clinically significant loss of muscle mass (<90% body cell mass/height), which is one component of AIDS wasting. METHODS: Mood, physical symptoms, self-selected food intake, cardiovascular data, and cognitive task performance were measured before and repeatedly after dronabinol and marijuana administration in eight 7-h sessions. Marijuana and dronabinol were administered in randomized order using a within-subject, staggered, double-dummy design. RESULTS: As compared to placebo, (1) marijuana (1.8, 2.8, 3.9% THC) and the lower dronabinol doses (10, 20 mg) were well tolerated (e.g., few physical symptoms, significant increases in ratings of "good drug effect") in both groups of participants; the highest dose of dronabinol (30 mg) was poorly tolerated in a subset of participants; (2) marijuana and dronabinol significantly increased caloric intake in the low bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) group but not in the normal BIA group; and (3) drug effects on cognitive performance were minor. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that for experienced marijuana smokers with clinically significant muscle mass loss, both dronabinol (at acute doses at least four to eight times the current recommendation) and marijuana produce substantial and comparable increases in food intake without producing adverse effects.

Adult↗