Biomedical subjects

Marek Medraś

Publications and source records attributed to Marek Medraś.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Bone mineral density and turnover in patients with acromegaly in relation to sex, disease activity, and gonadal function.

Acromegaly is a rare disease caused by growth hormone (GH) hypersecretion. GH and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) exert anabolic activity in bones. Nevertheless, bone mineral density (BMD) loss is not uncommon in patients with acromegaly. It is assumed to be due to hypogonadism associated with the acromegaly. The aim of the study was to examine BMD at various skeletal sites and bone turnover and to assess the influence of impaired gonadal function and disease activity on BMD and turnover changes in acromegaly. A total of 62 patients were studied (40 women, 22 men). Among the women, 22 had active disease and 18 were cured; 16 women had normal gonadal function, and 24 were hypogonadal. Altogether, 12 men presented with active acromegaly, and 10 were cured; normal gonadal function was found in 10 men, and hypogonadism was diagnosed in 12 men. Controls were 30 healthy subjects. Densitometry using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry of the lumbar spine, proximal femur, forearm, and total body was carried out. Bone turnover was studied based on serum osteocalcin, C-terminal collagen type 1 crosslinks, and bone alkaline phosphatase concentration. A disadvantageous effect of acromegaly on bone density was associated with hypogonadism in the distal radius (in women), the proximal femur (in men), and the total body (both sexes). An anabolic effect of GH during active acromegaly was present in the proximal femur only in men. We confirmed increased bone turnover in the presence of acromegaly, and these changes were similar regarding the activity of the disease and the gonadal status.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

PubMed2005

Hormonal markers of aging in men with laryngeal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Cancer of the larynx, a frequent neoplasm in older people, occurs several times more often in men than in women. Surprisingly, the highest incidence of the disease is observed in the period in which concentrations of a number of hormones (eg, androgens, growth hormone) decrease. Our objective was to look for differences in hormonal markers of aging between men with laryngeal carcinoma and healthy control subjects. METHODS: Seventy-eight men with cancer of the larynx and 51 healthy age-matched controls were recruited for the study. In each of the examined men, serum concentrations of total testosterone, free testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, steroid-hormone binding globulin, estradiol, and insulin-like growth factor type 1 (IGF-1) were determined. RESULTS: Men with laryngeal carcinoma had lower serum concentrations of IGF-1 (136 +/- 75 vs 318 +/- 141 ng/mL, p < .000001), lower free testosterone (11.95 +/- 5.38 vs 15.48 +/- 4.96 pg/mL, p < .001), and lower dihydrotestosterone/total testosterone ratio (0.07 +/- 0.06 vs 0.09 +/- 0.04, p < .05) than healthy controls had. CONCLUSIONS: Somatopause seems to be more evident in men with laryngeal carcinoma than in age-matched controls. In our observation, low concentration of IGF-1 predicted the presence of laryngeal carcinoma more than low concentration of free testosterone did.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

[Inhibin B--a marker of the function of male gonad].

Inhibin B is one of the growth factors mediating between Sertoli cells and germ cells. Inhibin B plays a role in the negative feedback control of FSH secretion in men. Inhibin B levels are low in the first week after birth in male newborns, then increase up to the 6th month of age and then decline progressively to reach their nadir towards 3-6 years. They become high again during puberty. Studies about influence of inhibin B on concentration and spermatogenic activity confirmed, that inhibin B can be used as a marker to estimate the Sertoli cells function. It has been proven that serum inhibin B levels in adult men correlate positively with sperm concentration. Inhibin B secretion decreases with men age what can be connected with FSH serum level increase. Inhibin B can be also used to diagnose and monitor many disturbances of spermatogenesis like different etiology azoospermia, primary testicular failure, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, Kallman's syndrome, Klinefelter's syndrome, cryptorchidism, precocious puberty and complete or selective loss of subthalamus or pituitary function. Inhibin B is also considered as a good marker of spermatogenesis in population researches (especially together with FSH serum levels).

Adult↗

PubMed2005

[Occupational risk factors and male breast cancer].

Male breast cancer is rare compared to its female counterpart and makes less than 1% of all breast cancer. Its etiology is less known than that of female breast cancer. Numerous experimental and clinical studies indicate the possibility of an increased risk of male breast cancer in workers occupationally exposed to electromagnetic field, light at night, and high temperature. There are also studies, which reveal the increased risk of this disease induced by occupational exposure to pesticides, aromatic hydrocarbons and ionizing radiation. However, irrefutable epidemiologic data from prospective clinical trials have not yet been obtained.

Breast Neoplasms, Male↗

PubMed2005

[The influence of lead on testis function].

The deterioration of male fertility, found in numerous epidemiological studies of past decades, can be connected to growing exposure to environmental toxins. Heavy metals, especially lead is widely spread and extremely toxic. The mechanism by which lead exerts toxic effects on testis is quite complex. It involves spermatogenesis, steroidogenesis, and red-ox system. The chronic lead exposure can induce functional disorder (decrease of testosterone synthesis) or morphological disorder (decrease of testicular weight and seminal vesicle, peritubular fibrosis, seminiferous tubular diameter decrease and decrease in germ cell population related to an apoptotic process). Currently existing environmental and occupational exposure to lead and increasing combined exposure to environmental toxins results in constantly increasing number of diagnosed fertility impairments.

Causality↗

PubMed2004

[Hyperprolactinemia and sexual activity of men--clinical aspect].

Hyperprolactinemia, particularly resulting from microprolactinoma, is known to induce erectile dysfunction. Contemporary published data do not allow to ascertain which prolactin (PRL) levels result in this type of sexual dysfunctions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the extent of hyperprolactinemia and erectile dysfunction in 9 men with microprolactinoma and 8 patients with hyperprolactinemia as side-effects of sulpiride therapy. In all hyperprolactinemic males plasma PRL, LH, FSH and total testosterone levels were measured. The results showed that all patients with iatrogenic hyperprolactinemia were characterised by satisfactory sexual activity, although in 3 men hypotestosteronemia was revealed and in one patient gynecomastia was found. A range of PRL levels was 35-108 ng/ml. Among men with microprolactinoma the capability to lead a satisfactory sexual activity existed, even though in one patient PRL level was 2177 ng/ml, but in 3 other patients importance was observed when PRL concentrations were 281, 195 and 328 ng/ml. After bromocriptine therapy, when PRL levels diminished until 189, 78.3 and 110 ng/ml, the erectile dysfunction disappeared. Authors presume that sexual dysfunctions are not strictly connected with hyperprolactinemia and/or hypotestosterionemia, but probably are conditioned by other unexplicit factors (for example: a heterogeneous structure of PRL complexes).

Adult↗

PubMed2004

[Are age and educational level the determinants of hormonal parameters considered as indices of andropause?].

The involutionary processes in gonadal and adrenal glands are significant for male aging. The dynamics of hormonal changes in aging men seems to be individually differentiated and vary in distinct populations. Currently there are no data on social differences in hormonal parameters in men. The study was carried out in order to evaluate the age-related changes of hormonal parameters considered as indices of andropause and analyze the social gradients in these variables in healthy Polish men. Material comprised the data of 414 healthy men, inhabitants of Wrocław, aged 32-79, examined in 2000 in DOLMED (Wrocław, Lower Silesia). Serum levels of the following hormones were assessed using radioimmunological assays: free testosterone (FT), total testosterone (TT), estradiol (E2), dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS), luteinizing hormone (LH), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). The following indices were calculated: FAI (Free Androgen Index), TT/E2 and TT/LH. Among Polish men there were negative correlations between age and serum levels of FT, DHEAS, IGF-1, E2, and between age and FAI, TT/LH. The correlation between the DHEAS level and age was the strongest among all relationships here. The male aging was accompanied by the serum reduction, during 5 years: FT level of 4.8%, DHEAS--8.6% and IGF-1--5.0%. The reduction in serum DHEAS and IGF-1 levels reached 77.3% and 44.9% (respectively) between men aged 32-34 and the oldest subjects aged 75-79. The decrease in serum FT level between men aged 32-34 and those aged 70-74 was 38.2%. The relationships between age and E2 level and between age and TT/LH were not strong (respectively, beta = -0.10, p < 0.05 and beta = -0. 17, p < 0.001). The male aging was also accompanied by the increase in serum SHBG (11.7%/5 years) and LH levels (13.5%/5 years). Among male there were no age-related changes in the serum TT level and TT/E2. The results of a two-way ANOVA revealed that education significantly differentiated serum IGF-1 levels (independently on age). The highest IGF-1 levels were observed in men who had graduated from university, the lowest--in those who had finished the trade school at the very most. In contrast, there were no social differences in other analysed hormonal parameters.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

[Male breast cancer].

Male breast cancer (MBC) is a rare disease, accounting for less than 1% of all breast cancers. It is an infrequent, but serious clinical problem. This paper discusses epidemiology, potential risk factors, tumor histopathology, clinical features and treatment strategies of the disease. Hormonal, genetic and environmental factors associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in men have been reviewed. Authors suggest that there may be an association between long-term androgen therapy and breast cancer in men. This uncommon malignancy is most commonly seen in men over sixty years. Histologically MBC resembles that seen in women, although lobular cancer is rare in men. Tumors from men are more often estrogen-receptor positive. Treatment strategies draw from experience in women and usually begin with surgery. Modified radical mastectomy is the current treatment of choice for invasive cancer. Additional modalities include hormonal treatment, radio- and chemotherapy. Male breast cancer may be also a problem in the context of androgen replacement therapy during andropause.

Androgens↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Legal basis for ontogenetic sex judgment in sex disapproval syndrome in the form of transsexualism. Comparison of the situation in Poland and in some other countries].

Sex disapproval syndrome in the form of transsexualism is characterized by incompatibility of biological and psychically-emotional sex. This incompatibility leads to a discrepancy between one's social role and his or her biological sex. The aim of this paper is to present and compare the legal basis for ontogenetic sex judgment in the sex disapproval syndrome in the form of transsexualism in Poland and in some other countries. Poland, contrary to some other countries, does not have any appropriate legislation for determining the above issue. So far all judgment has been based on exponential activities, in anticipation for the so called transsexual act. This act may be created on the basis of existing legislation in other European countries, which is briefly presented in the work.

Europe↗