Volume 38 / No. 2 / 2004
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of entire number 2/2004, clicking here (985 kB).Electronic Library of Scientific Literature - © Academic Electronic Press
Volume 38 / No. 2 / 2004
You can download full-text of entire number 2/2004, clicking here (985 kB).
Original articles
Reviews
Endocrine Regulations (since 1967 to 1990 Endocrinologia Experimentalis) is an international journal on experimental and clinical endocrinology edited quarterly in English by care of the Institute of Experimental Endocrinology, Slovak Academy of Sciences (Bratislava, Slovakia) and published by the Slovak Academic Press (Bratislava, Slovakia).
This journal aims to publish original manuscripts or minireviews on experimental and clinical endocrinology and diabetes.
The submission of a manuscript to Endocrine Regulations implies that it has not been previously published or is not being submitted for publication elsewhere and that the manuscript has been approved by all authors who are ready to take public responsibility for the content.
All materials relating to human investigation will be published upon the understanding that design of the work has been approved by the local Ethical Committee or that it conforms to ethical guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki. The animal experiments should state the conformance to guidelines on animal care.
Manuscripts in triplicate with three sets of illustrations (of which one is an original) should be sent to:
Richard Kvetnansky, Ph.D., Dr.Sc., Chief Editor,
Institute of Experimental Endocrinology,
Vlárska 3, 833 06 Bratislava, Slovakia
All text must be printed on one side of the sheet only with appropriate margins and double spacing to give adequate space for editorial notes. The corresponding author should indicate his/her full mailing address including phone and fax numbers and the e-mail address.
Manuscripts on disc. The submissions of manuscripts prepared on 3.5 inch discs on IBM compatible computers is encouraged, the preferred word processors being Microsoft Word. However, also in this case the disc must be accompanied by three hard copies of the manuscript. The disk should be labelled by the name of the first author, type of word processor, its version and file name and must also accompany the final version of the manuscript.
Types of manuscripts. Standard original papers should contain following sections: * Title, * Abstract (divided into sections Objective, Methods, Results, Conclusions), * Key Words, * Introduction, * Materials and Methods (in clinical papers this section should read * Subjects and Methods), * Results, * Discussion, (* Acknowledgements), * References. There is no length limit for these papers.
Minireviews should give an overview of a defined field preferably of author,s own professional interest and experience. They should not exceed 25 typed pages including complete References and should usually contain * Abstract, * Key Words, * Individual sections and subsections, * References.
Title page should give * the title of the article (main key words should be preferably included into the title to give sufficient information to allow the reader to judge the relevance of a paper to his field), * full names of authors, * institute of origin, * short title (running head), * name and full address of corresponding author including phone and fax numbers and e-mail naddress as well.
Abstract should clearly indicate the purpose of the study (Objective), basic procedures (Methods), main findings (Results) and principal conclusions (Conclusions). New and original findings should be emphasized, clearly defined and defended. The abstract must be easily understood indepenently of the full text of the paper
Key Words. Up to 8 key words (in exceptional cases even more) should be carefully selected to give appropriate information to the users of international information networks.
Introduction should give a brief overview of background informations and clearly define the purpose of the study...
Materials and Methods (in clinical manuscripts Subjects and Methods) should give full informations sufficient to allow others to repeat the work. It is recommended to divide it into subsections. Established and routine methods (if not considerably modified) should be just cited by the appropriate references, the modifications being briefly but clearly described. Statistical methods should be clearly described.
Results should describe concisely and clearly the results in logical sequence. Any interpretations should be avoided and definitely shifted to the Discussion. Do not repeat Materials and Methods, and do not repeat the data presented in tables and figures.
Discussion. Do not simply repeat the data presented in Introduction and Results section. Define and emphasize the new and important aspects of the study and the conclusions that follow. Relate results to other relevant studies, interpret them and explain the differences, if any. Working hypotheses and theories may be briefly outlined.
Acknowledgements. This short section, if necessary, contains acknowledgements of personal and/or financial assistance.
References. Begin this section on a new page. References should be assembled in alphabetical order according to the first author. More than one paper from the same author(s) in the same year must be identified by the letters a, b, c etc. placed after the year of publication. All listed references must be cited in the text by the first author et al. and the year (in a case of two authors only cite both). Following possibilities are recommended: (1) Brown and White (1993) found that ...; (2) ... as observed by Black et al. (1992); (3) ... as previously reported by several authors (Black et al. 1992; Brown and White 1993; Green et al. 1995).
The names of authors in the text and in references should be typed in small letters and underlined (e.g. White and Brown). The volume should be typed in bold.
The style for the list of references is as follows:
A.Journal Articles:
Itoh M, Okugawa T, Shiratori N, Ohashi H: Treatment with triiodothyronine (T3) against multinodular goiter fails to prevent the onset of Graves disease. Endocrine Regul 29, 151-156, 1995B. Book Chapters:
Mornex R, Orgiazzi JJ: Hyperthyroidism. In: The Thyroid Gland (Ed. M de Visscher), pp. 279-362, Raven Press, New York 1980
C. Books:
Podoba J: Endemic goiter in Slovakia. VEDA, Bratislava, 1962
The statement “in press” may be used only for a paper accepted for publication in the indicated journal. Unpublished data or Personal communication may be used in the text, but must not be listed in References.
Tables should be constructed as simply as possible, typed on separate sheets and numbered consecutively with Arabic numeral. There should be a short and descriptive heading and appropriate footnotes. Not more than 4 vertical rows should be used in a table planned to occupy one column and not more than 8-10 rows for that designed for two columns of a page.
Figures should be prepared in proportional way with lettering of appropriate size in order to permit such reduction in size to occupy either one or two columns on the page. Drawings (graphs, charts, diagrams etc.) should be submitted either as original or camera ready glossy photographs. Computer generated graphs must be printed by high quality laser printers on high quality camera ready paper. High quality photographs should be submitted on glossy paper.
Units of Measurement. Results should be expressed in SI units.
Abbreviations. Non-standard abbreviations should be properly defined in the text the first time they are used.
There are no page charges. Reprints order forms are sent to the corresponding author together with galley proofs. Color illustrations may be published for extra charges.
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SARAH KAUFMANN1,2, CORNELIA SCHMUTZLER1,2, LUTZ SCHOMBURG1,2, CARSTEN KÖRBER3, MARKUS LUSTER3, JOHANN RENDL3, CHRISTOPH REINERS3, JOSEF KÖHRLE1,2,*
1 Institut für Experimentelle Endokrinologie, Charité, Universtätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin;
2 Abteilung für Molekulare Innere Medizin und Klinische Forschergruppe der Medizinischen Poliklinik, Universität Würzburg, 97070 Würzburg;
3 Klinik und Poliklinik für Nuklearmedizin, Universität Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany, e-mail: josef.koehrle@charite.de
Summary:
Objective. Thyroglobulin (Tg), measured by immunometric assay, is the most sensitive and widely used clinical marker for thyroid cancer progression and relapse. However, these Tg determinations are of limited sensitivity and susceptible to interference by Tg autoantibodies. As a possible diagnostic alternative, we tested a real time RT-PCR protocol to determine Tg mRNA levels in peripheral blood. Methods. Tg mRNA was determined by real-time RT-PCR using total RNA from peripheral blood. Tg mRNA blood levels were calibrated to the mRNA encoding the housekeeping enzyme glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH); pooled blood from ten healthy subjects served as a RT-PCR positive control.
Results. Tg mRNA and serum Tg were detected in twelve patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) after thyroidectomy and radioiodine therapy, however, there was no correlation with the clinical stage. An increase in Tg mRNA and protein was observed after application of recombinant human thyrotropin (rhTSH) in four patients with DTC stimulated with rhTSH for postoperative follow up. Tg mRNA and protein were also detected in four congenital athyreotic patients. Analysis of Tg mRNA levels using a commercial multiple tissue Northern blot revealed Tg hybridization signals in several extrathyroidal tissues (salivary gland, trachea, kidney, pancreas, adrenal gland, etc.).
Conclusions. Our data suggests that RT-PCR detects Tg mRNA of extrathyroidal origin, from leukocytes or from metastasizing carcinoma cells under basal conditions or after TSH stimulation. However, considering the marked and highly variable individual Tg mRNA backgrounds, interpretation of real time PCR results requires caution. This limits the clinical use of Tg mRNA determination by real time PCR to an individual tumor progression marker in follow-up.
Key words: Tumor progression - Ectopic transcription - Molecular diagnostics - Follow-up
ENDOCRINE REGULATIONS, VOL. 38, 41–49, 2004
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R. DENKOVA, V. BOURNEVA, L. STANEVA-DOBROVSKI1, E. ZVETKOVA, K. BALEVA, E. YANEVA, B. NIKOLOV, I. IVANOV2, K. SIMEONOV2, T. TIMEVA3, M. YANKOV4
Institute of Experimental Morphology and Anthropology BAS 1113 Sofia,
1 1st Department of Anatomy, H.-Heine Univ. of Duesseldorf, Germany;
2 Institute of Experimental Pathology and Parasitology, BAS 1113 Sofia;
3 Institute of Sterility and Assisted Reproductive Technologies;
4 1st Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sofia, e-mail: rdenkova@hotmail.com
Summary:
Objective. To clarify the in vitro effects of inhibin A (I) on apoptotic cell death and its mechanisms in ovarian granulosa cells the immunoexpression patterns of the apoptosis markers caspase- 3 and pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins (Bcl-2, Bcl-xl, Bak) were evaluated in ovarian granulosa cells collected from women with different hormonal status.
Materials and Methods. Granulosa cells were isolated from follicles of women participating in an in vitro fertilization (IVF) program, normally cyclic (NC) and premenopausal women (PrM). The obtained cells were cultured for 72 h with inhibin A (Sigma, USA) – 10 ng/ml. The concentration of estradiol in the culture medium was determined by radioimmunoassay using the Coat-ACount kit (Nippon, Japan), whose intra- and interassay coefficients of variations were 6,8 % and 6,2 % respectively. The expression of caspase-3, Bak, Bcl-2, Bcl-xl was investigated immunohistochemically. The percentages of immunopositive cells were calculated and Student’s t-test was used for statistical analysis.
Results. Addition of inhibin A (10 ng/ml) to granulosa cells cultures resulted in increased estradiol production. Maximal stimulation was observed in granulosa cells collected from women participating in IVF whereas minimal effect of inhibin treatment on estradiol production was demonstrated in premenopausal women. Inhibin A exposition enhanced the immunoexpression of prooncogenes (Bcl-2, Bcl-xl) and reduced the expression of caspase-3 and pro-apoptotic protein Bak in ovarian granulosa cells from the three experimental groups.
Conclusions. Our findings suggest that inhibin A in vitro stimulates the estradiol secretion by granulosa cells dependently of the woman hormonal status, while it inhibits apoptotic process in granulosa cells independently of the hormonal status.
Key words: Human ovarian granulosa cells – Inhibin – Apoptosis – Apoptosis-related proteins H
ENDOCRINE REGULATIONS, VOL. 38, 51–55, 2004
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ZBIGNIEW PASIEKA, 1HENRYK STEPIEN, WOJCIECH CZYZ, LECH POMORSKI, KRZYSZTOF KUZDAK
Clinic of General and Endocrinological Surgery and
1 Department of Experimental Endocrinology, Institute of Endocrinology, Medical University of Lodz, kinga.s@dimex-service.com.pl
Summary:
Objectives. Neoplastic angiogenesis is an essential stage of growth, progression and invasion of solid tumours. The process of basement membrane degradation and remodelling of the extracellular matrix (EMC) involves proteolytic enzymes called metalloproteinases. Among the numerous proteolytic enzymes of this group the key role is played by metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2 (TIMP-2). Tissue expression and concentration of these compounds in body fluids have been used in early diagnostics of tumours development, assessment of tumours advancement and treatment results monitoring. The aim of the study was to evaluate the concentration of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in blood serum of patients with benign and malignant thyroid tumours and the effect of surgical treatment on these parameters in the postoperative period as well as assessment whether to MMP-2 and TIMP-2 serum concentration in patients with thyroid cancer positively correlates with the clinical staging classification of the International Union Against Cancer (UICC).
Patients and methods. The study group consisted of 53 patients with various types of thyroid cancer and 23 patients with benign thyroid tumours, while 26 healthy adults served as controls. According to clinical staging classification of thyroid cancer the 32 patients were classified with stage I, 6 with stage II, 8 with stage III and 7 with stage IV. We have found higher mean concentration of MMP-2 in 53 patients with thyroid cancer as compared to the control group and the group of 23 patients with benign thyroid tumours. All patients were treated operatively. Additionally, a significant effect of radical surgical treatment on mean concentration of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in patients with papillary and follicular thyroid cancer was demonstrated. Conclusions. MMP-2 and its tissue inhibitor TIMP-2 apparently play a significant role in the pathogenesis of thyroid cancer. Evaluation of their concentration in peripheral blood serum may be useful for the differentiation between benign and malignant thyroid tumours. Serum MMP-2 and TIMP-2 concentrations in patients with thyroid cancer did not significantly correlate with the clinical staging of thyroid cancer.
Key words: metalloproteinase 2 - tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2 - thyroid cancer - thyreoidectomy - clinical staging of cancer
ENDOCRINE REGULATIONS, VOL. 38, 57–63, 2004
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LUCIA MEDVEÏOVÁ1, ROBERT FARKAŠ
Institute of Experimental Endocrinology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Vlárska 3, 833 06 Bratislava, Slovakia, e-mail: uuenfark@savba.sk
1 Department of Genetics, Graduate Programme, Faculty of Science, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
Summary:
Glycosylation represents one of the most frequent and certainly the most variable co- and post-translational modification of proteins. Carbohydrate moieties of glycoproteins are known to provide important prerequisites for various biological functions, and their structural diversity can serve as ideal candidate to carry also biological information. Production and/or function of various glycoproteins is under control of steroids and other ligands of nuclear receptors which influence synthesis, glycosylation, storage or usage of target proteins. It appears that among small lipophilic hormonal compounds the steroids are chiefly involved in regulation of protein glycosylation. There is no apparent difference between ability of these hormones to regulate N- or O-glycosylation, but majority of documented cases deals with terminal modifications involving sialylation or fucosylation of N-linked carbohydrate moieties. In spite of the knowledge on glycosylation in general, published results offers only a glimpse of data on the hormonal control of glycosidase activity which is equally required for carbohydrate chain elongation as is the activity of various glycosyltransferases. The significance of this research is daily growing owing to the fact that changes in glycosylation pattern of various intracellular or secretory proteins not only reflect developmental or differentiation stage but also serve as well established markers in invasiveness or regression of numerous cancers responding to hormonal stimuli. Combination of classical methods and more complex approach in genetically well defined model systems can not only increase recent surge of interest in glycosylation but also provide a formidable amount of qualitatively new type of data on the mechanism how hormones control glycosyltransferases and glycosidases and how their activity is interconnected to the synthesis of substrates, posttranslational maturation, and final destination or function of target proteins.
Key words: Hormones - Steroids - Thyroid hormones - Retinoids - N-glycosylation - O-glycosylation - Glycosidases - Glycosyltransferases
ENDOCRINE REGULATIONS, VOL. 38, 65–79, 2004
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Z. JARKOVSKA, M. KRSEK, M. ROSICKA, J. MAREK
Third Department of Internal Medicine, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 128 08 Prague, Czech Republic, e-mail: zuzana.jarkovska@email.cz
Summary:
Ghrelin is a member of the group of growth hormone secretagogues (GHSs). It is a peptide hormone, recently isolated from stomach as an endogenous ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R). Ghrelin is mostly produced by the stomach, although its production has been proved in various tissues. It is a potent releaser of growth hormone (GH) from anterior pituitary cells, but it also stimulates the release of other hypophyseal hormones. Ghrelin stimulates food intake and induces metabolic changes leading to an increase in body weight and body fat mass. This effect seems to be independent of GH action and needs an intact NPY/AGRP (neuropeptide Y/agouti-related protein) system. Plasma ghrelin levels are decreased in obesity, elevated in cachexia and show a diurnal rhythm. Its preprandial elevation suggests, that it might be a signal for meal initiation. Ghrelin further stimulates the release of gastric acid and gastric motility and affects pancreatic functions. It has vasodilatatory, cardioprotective and antiproliferative effects. This article is focused on ghrelin’s endocrine and metabolic functions.
Key words: Ghrelin - Des-acyl ghrelin - Growth hormone GHRH Metabolism - Nutrition
ENDOCRINE REGULATIONS, VOL. 38, 80–86, 2004
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