Corticosteroids have specific effects on cardiac structure and function mediated by mineralocorticoid (MR) and glucocorticoid (GR) receptors. Aldosterone and corticosterone are synthesized in the rat heart. To see whether they might also be synthesized in the human cardiovascular system, we examined the expression of genes for steroidogenic enzymes as well as genes for GR, MR, and 11-hydroxyste...

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is an autosomal recessive disease which is most often caused by a deficiency in steroid 21-hydroxylase. The disease is characterized by a range of impaired adrenal cortisol and aldosterone synthesis combined with an increased androgen synthesis. These metabolic abnormalities lead to an inability to conserve sodium and virilization of females. The most common...

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) are brominated flame retardants that are produced in large quantities and are commonly used in construction materials, textiles, and as polymers in electronic equipment. Environmental and human levels of PBDEs have been increasing in the past 30 years, but the toxicity of PBDEs is not fully understood. Studies on their eff...

CONTEXT Because precocious pubarche (PP) reveals late-onset congenital adrenal hyperplasia (LO-CAH) in 5 to 20% of cases, an adrenal stimulation test is recommended in all patients presenting with it. This test is stressful and expensive, and results are normal in more than 80% of cases. OBJECTIVE Our objective was to identify clinical and plasma predictors of LO-CAH among patients presenting...

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) applies to a family of inherited disorders of steroidogenesis caused by an abnormality in one of the five enzymatic steps necessary in the conversion of cholesterol to cortisol. The enzyme defects are transmitted as an autosomal recessive trait. Patients with a "classical" form of CAH usually present during the neonatal and early infancy period with adrenal ...

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) in sheep, Ovar-Mhc, is poorly characterised, when compared to other domestic animals. However, its basic structure is similar to that of other mammals, comprising class I, II and III regions. Currently, there is evidence for the existence of four class I loci. The class II region is better characterised, with evidence of one DRA, four DRB (one coding a...

plasma) (15 ), of vitamin E (carried in lipoproteins together with cholesterol) and other antioxidants (16 ), and in sepsis, with reduced antioxidant protection by sulfur amino acids (17 ). In sepsis, it is also related to impaired energy and amino acid disposal, which is partly reversed by increasing the amino acid supply (2, 18). Recent studies also suggest that cholesterol becomes an essenti...