The bioactivity of growth hormone releasing hormone 1-29 [GHRH(1-29)NH2] has been compared with that of an agonist analogue [Ac-D-Tyr1,D-Ala2]-GHRH(1-29)NH2, in normal male volunteers. Using a submaximal dose of 3 micrograms/kg administered subcutaneously, peak growth hormone (GH) response and area under the GH curve were similar for the native and agonist analogue. In addition, no significant differences were found in peak GHRH(1-29) immunoreactivity, area under the GHRH(1-29) curves or plasma disappearance rates of the two peptides. The results suggest that, in keeping with the relative activities of other "superactive" analogues tested so far, the greatly enhanced activity of [Ac-D-Tyr1,D-Ala2]-GHRH(1-29)NH2 observed in the rat is not found in humans. It is possible that this species difference is due to differences in the interaction of GHRH peptides with the rat and the human somatotroph GHRH receptor.

Growth Hormone↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Estimating compliance with diuretic therapy: urinary hydrochlorothiazide-creatinine ratios in normal subjects.

We gave 21 healthy young men 100 mg of hydrochlorothiazide daily to determine whether or not urinary detection of the drug was feasible as a measure of compliance on a standard antihypertensive regimen. All subjects took the drug daily for 6 days, after which they were divided into four groups with differing patterns of medication administration. Urine hydrochlorothiazide and creatinine measurements were obtained to validate the urinary hydrochlorothiazide-creatinine ratio (UHCR) as an accurate quantitative index of compliance. The subjects achieved a constant level of UHCR of 13 +/- 3.0 within 48 hours of hydrochlorothiazide administration. The UHCR levels decreased to 5.0 +/- 0.8 48 hours after discontinuation of the drug (p less than 0.001). UHCR values in the range of 13 +/- 6 indicate that the subject has ingested hydrochlorothiazide 24 hours previously. The UHCR is a potentially useful means of assessing compliance in hypertensive patients taking hydrochlorothiazide.

Adult↗