OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to examine the variables determining hydrocortisone (HC) disposition in patients with adrenal insufficiency and to develop practical protocols for individualized prescribing and monitoring of HC treatment. DESIGN AND PATIENTS Serum cortisol profiles were measured in 20 cortisol-insufficient patients (09.00 h cortisol < 50 nmol/l) given oral HC as eith...

To date, a single report has appeared on the use of salivary cortisol for adrenal function testing with a low dose ACTH, although 1 microg has become preferred as a more physiological stimulus than the commonly used 250 microg ACTH test. Our present study was aimed to obtain physiological data on changes of free salivary cortisol after 1 microg ACTH stimulation. This approach was compared with ...

Maternal serum cortisol has been suggested to be influenced by psychiatric morbidity, and may also influence fetal growth. However, several studies found equal cortisol levels in depressed and healthy pregnant women. Placental 11-β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11β-HSD2) shields the fetus from maternal cortisol by conversion to cortisone, a function that may be compromised by maternal st...

ABCB1, also known as MDR1/P-glycoprotein, can transport cortisol and aldosterone. We examined the effects of ABCB1 polymorphisms on serum levels of cortisol and aldosterone among different phases of the normal menstrual cycle in 51 non-pregnant healthy Japanese female volunteers (22 +/- 1 years old). The menstrual cycle was divided into three phases: premenstrual phase (14 days preceding the on...

PURPOSE To develop an animal model to assess the stress response to open and laparoscopic surgery. Such a model would allow objective physiologic assessment of the putative benefits of laparoscopy and provide a framework in which to compare modifications in operative and anesthetic technique that might decrease the stress of surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS Mongrel dogs underwent laparoscopic (...

OBJECTIVE Corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) test does not reliably distinguish Cushing's disease (CD) from normality or pseudo-Cushing state (PC). We assessed whether this could be achieved with a novel approach while preserving the ability of the test to distinguish CD from ectopic ACTH syndrome (EAS). Design Retrospective/prospective study. SUBJECTS AND METHODS We studied 51 subjects wi...

INTRODUCTION The inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) fluticasone furoate is in development, in combination with the long-acting beta2-agonist vilanterol for the once-daily treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and as a monotherapy treatment for asthma. Corticosteroids, including ICSs, have the potential to induce dose-dependent systemic effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adr...

Aim—In suspected adrenal insuYciency, the ideal test for assessing the hypothalamo–pituitary–adrenal axis is controversial. Therefore, three tests were compared in patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of adrenal insuYciency. Method—Responses to the standard short Synacthen test (SSST), the low dose Synacthen test (LDST), and the 08:00 hour serum cortisol concentration were measured in 3...