Endocrinology

The research evaluated the association between plastics and endocrine disruptors, as well as the viable and active ways to mitigate the challenges posed by plastic pollution. Consumption of seafood represents one major pathway for the exposure of human to microplastic. Microplastics may pass up to higher levels in food chain. Three likely toxic effects of plastic particles have been put forward: the release of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) adsorbed to the plastics, leaching of plastic additives, and plastic particles themselves. Chemical additives such as bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), bisphenol S (BPS), etc., used in plastic production pose several health risks to both humans and animals. Due to the use of some chemical additives during production of plastics, plastics have potentially risk and harmful effects that could be carcinogenic or encourage endocrine disruption. Some of the chemical additives are used as phthalate plasticizers (phthalates) and brominated flame retardants. By biomonitoring, chemicals in plastics, such as phthalates and BPA, have been identified in human population. Humans are exposed to the chemicals through the skin, nose, or mouth. Bisphenol A (BPA) can disrupt normal, regular physiological levels of sex hormones. Recent studies suggest that BPS also has endocrine disrupting properties, just like BPA. The presence of a hydroxy group on the benzene ring makes bisphenol S and bisphenol A endocrine disruptors. A widespread concern about phthalate exposure is the possibility that it is the cause of a drop in male fertility. Some recent studies suggest that tetrabromobisphenol A may be an endocrine disruptor and immunotoxicant. As an endocrine disruptor, tetrabromobisphenol A may interfere with both estrogens and androgens. There is also growing concern that PBDEs share the environmental long life and bioaccumulation properties of polychlorinated dibenzodioxins. It is not known if PBDEs can cause cancer in people, although liver tumors developed in rats and mice that ate extremely large amounts of decaBDE throughout their lifetime. The use of biodegradable plastics, policymaking, institutional arrangements, plastic waste collection, promotion of non-usage and lessening usage, incineration, use of the enzyme PETase, and creating awareness, in addition to banning have been the active ways for the management of plastic pollution.

The growth hormone (GH) axis is mainly regulated by the growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) and somatostatin (SS) hypothalamic peptides. Nevertheless, since ghrelin peptide was discovered as the natural ligand for growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R), the mechanism of GH regulation has acquired a new dimension. It was described that ghrelin possesses a relevant effect inducing GH secretion when it is administered peripherally. A role of the vagus nerve mediating ghrelin action has been described although this effect is not understood. Under this context the main objective of this work was to determine the possible involvement of the vagus in the somatotroph axis regulation. The results in this manuscript show that animals with a disruption of the vagus connection presented lower basal IGF-1 and GH levels, a decreased GH response to peripheral GHRH administration and a marked diminution in the GH response to peripheral and central ghrelin treatments. In addition, vagotomized animals showed a down-regulation of GHRH mRNA in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus and a down-regulation in both GHRH and GHS receptors' mRNA at the pituitary level. In conclusion, the present work reveals that the vagus nerve is crucial in growth hormone regulation and essential for the full GH-releasing effect of ghrelin.

Bile acids can function in the postprandial state as circulating signaling molecules in the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism via the transmembrane receptor TGR5 and nuclear receptor FXR. Both receptors are present in the central nervous system, but their function in the brain is unclear. Therefore, we investigated the effects of intracerebroventricular (icv) administration of taurolithocholate (tLCA), a strong TGR5 agonist, and GW4064, a synthetic FXR agonist, on energy metabolism. We determined the effects of chronic icv infusion of tLCA, GW4064, or vehicle on energy expenditure, body weight and composition as well as tissue specific fatty acid uptake in mice equipped with osmotic minipumps. icv administration of tLCA (final concentration in cerebrospinal fluid: 1μM) increased fat oxidation (tLCA group: 0.083±0.006 vs control group: 0.036±0.023 kcal/h, F=5.46, p=0.04) and decreased fat mass (after 9 days of tLCA infusion: 1.35±0.13 vs controls: 1.96±0.23 g, p=0.03). These...

Context: Metformin is widely prescribed to pregnant women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in an attempt to reduce pregnancy complications. Metformin is not approved for this indication, and evidence for this practice is lacking. ... Objectives: Our objective was to ...

Placental blood flow was measured with the aid of radioactive microspheres, in normal (N) and manifest diabetic (MD) rats, and related to fetal body growth and incidence of congenital malformations. The total blood flow in the placentae of the MD rats was decreased to about one-half of the normal flow on gestational days 20 and 22. The placentae of the MD offspring were enlarged, whereas the fetuses in this group were smaller than normal. Thus, the placental blood flow per placental weight was drastically decreased in the MD fetuses on both days 20 and 22. In contrast, the placental blood flow per fetal weight was not different in the N and MD groups on gestational day 20 whereas it was decreased in the MD offspring on gestational day 22. Placental blood flow in the malformed fetuses of the MD group did not differ significantly from that in the nonmalformed MD fetuses.

and also in the other parts of the world. Non-violence has been used severally to solve conflicts in many parts of the world. It has been an effective techniques to deal with social injustices and inequalities among the people. WHAT NON-VIOLENCE IS Non-violence is when people come together to advocate for peace and use techniques which are not violent to others and to themselves. Non-violence is also more effective compared to use of violent means in solving a conflict. When people gather together as a group to focus on one thing which is for mutual benefit of the group than to focus on one individual benefit. The people move together as a group to advocate for equity, justice and also equality to all people. The group focus on gaining a listening ear from the people or the organization involved and they gather and mobilize each other towards their main objective as the group. These groups can match towards a certain area or place where they gather together and air their grievances together and call for participation of the people involved. They can also move around the street carrying banners which are written their demands and also singing songs which are for mobilizing each other and calling for togetherness of the group.

Background. The frequency of erectile dysfunction (ED) complicating diabetes mellitus (DM) is reportedly high. However, its risk factors have not been well studied. Methods. This was a cross-sectional study of 160 male type 2 DM adults, aged 30–70 years, attending a tertiary healthcare clinic. Demographic and relevant clinical information was documented. Erectile function was assessed using an abridged version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5). All subjects were evaluated for central obesity, glycemic control, peripheral arterial disease (PAD), autonomic neuropathy, dyslipidemia, and testosterone deficiency. Results. 152 (95%) patients with a mean age of 60.3 ± 8.8 years completed the study. 71.1% had varying degrees of ED, while 58.3% suffered from a moderate-to-severe form. Independent predictors of ED [presented as adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval)] were longer duration of DM, 1.14 (1.02–1.28), PAD, 3.87 (1.28–11.67), autonomic neuropathy, 3.51 ...

Concerns about a child's growth are one of the most common topics parents voice during general pediatric office visits and are a leading cause for referral to a pediatric endocrinologist. There are a variety of conditions that lead to short stature in children; however, in the absence of true pathology, idiopathic short stature and constitutional delay are the most frequent causes. This article reviews the general approach to evaluating the short child and clinical signs that should prompt further evaluation and referral. We also address the unique psychological issues that these children face and approaches to counseling families with a child with idiopathic short stature.

Men generally have an inherent performance advantage over women due to their average greater height and muscle mass and power, as the result of correspondingly different exposures to androgens. Therefore, it is considered fair that in sports men and women compete in separate categories. The question now emerging is whether reassigned transsexuals can compete in fairness with others of their new sex. The pertinent question is how far the previous effects of testosterone in male-to-female transsexuals (M-F) are reversible upon androgen deprivation so that M-F have no advantage over women, and, vice versa, what the effects are of androgen exposure in female-to-male transsexuals (F-M) on variables relevant to competition in sports. Before puberty, boys and girls do not differ in height, muscle and bone mass. Recent information shows convincingly that actual levels of circulating testosterone determine largely muscle mass and strength, though with considerable interindividual diversity. ...

This research was aimed to investigate the ability of a alpha-mangostin compound derived from mangosteen pericarp to reduce plasma blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine level, and also to ameliorate the damaged renal proximal tubular of the kidneys in diabetic mice. An in-vivo antioxidant test was conducted using male BALB/c mice. The mice were divided into two groups; normal control (KN) and streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. Streptozotocin (STZ) induction was performed using multiple low-doses of 30 mg/kg injected for five consecutive days. The diabetic mice were separated again into three sub-groups; diabetic control (KD), diabetic mice treated with Metformin HCl (KM), and diabetic mice treated with alpha-mangostin. The alpha-mangostin treatment group was categorised based on the dose given; P1 (2 mg/kg body weight), P2 (4 mg/kg body weight) and P3 (8 mg/kg body weight). Before and after STZ injection, the body weight and fasting blood glucose were measured. The body weight...

Physicians and other providers are often confronted with difficult decisions in the area of disclosure. This article examines a hypothetical situation relevant to the practice of pediatric endocrinology. The parents of a child with a disorder of sex development (DSD) wish the physician to treat their child, but without revealing key medical information to the child. Herein, we will explore the legal and ethical responsibilities of a provider to disclose information to an under-age DSD patient and to provide insight on when and how to tell the patient.

Estrogens are structurally related steroids that regulate important physiological processes. 17beta-estradiol (E2) is reversibly oxidized to estrone (E1) and both E2 and E1 can be irreversibly converted to estriol (E3), which also originates directly from androstenedione. The action of E2 has been traditionally explained by the binding to the estrogen receptor (ER) alpha and ER beta, however the G protein-coupled receptor (GPR) 30 has been recently involved in the rapid signaling triggered by estrogens. Although the role of E2 in the development of breast cancer has been largely documented, the contribution of E3 still remains to be completely evaluated. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that E3 acts as a GPR30 antagonist since it was able to inhibit the GPR30-mediated responses such as the rapid ERK activation, the up-regulation of target genes like c-fos and connective tissue growth factor, the proliferative effects observed in ER-negative SkBr3 cells.

Skeletal muscle and adipose tissue play an important role in maintaining metabolic homeostasis and thermogenesis. We aimed to investigate the effects of single and repeated exposure to whole-body cryotherapy in volunteers with different physical fitness levels on 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and myokines. The study included 22 healthy male volunteers (mean age: 21 ± 1.17 years), who underwent 10 consecutive sessions in a cryogenic chamber once daily (3 minutes, −110 °C). Blood samples were collected before and 30 minutes and 24 hours after the first and last cryotherapy sessions. Prior to treatment, body composition and physical fitness levels were measured. After 10 cryotherapy treatments, significant changes were found in myostatin concentrations in the low physical fitness level (LPhL) group. The 25(OH)D levels were increased in the high physical fitness level (HPhL) group and decreased in the LPhL group. The HPhL group had significant changes in the level of high-sensitivity in...

Summary: To initiate an investigation into the biochemistry and mechanism of group B [beta]-hemolytic Streptococcus virulence, bacterial cultures grown in suspension were centrifuged, and the bacteria and media were subjected to extensive fractionation. Each ...

Introduction: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of obesity and some associated factors among boy students, aged 8 to 12 years in Shiraz. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 478 (male) students, 8-12 years old. The subjects were selected via a step wise random sampling. Height and weight of the subjects were measured by standard methods and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Overweight and obesity were defined based on the 85th and 95th percentiles of BMI for age and sex, respectively, as proposed by Center for Disease Control (CDC). Physical fitness level and family conditions were collected by a standard Baecke questionnaire. Results: The prevalence of obesity, overweight and underweight in 8-12 year old students were 7.1%, 11.9% and 14.8% respectively. Results showed that there were inverse relationships between BMI and age and the parent's education (P<0.05). On the other hand, although BMI had positive associations with...