Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P01185 (vasopressin)
 23,126 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Plasma ACTH (normal value: 0.16 plus or minus mU/100 ml) was measured in 116 patients with Cushing's syndrome, using a bioassay including dynamic tests and sequential determinations. In 10 patients with adrenal tumors ACTH levels were nondetectable (ND) or low, and usually nonstimulatable. In 10 patients with ectopic ACTH secretion high levels (0.42 plus or minus 0.07 mU/100 ml) were measured. The extracts of 6 tumors yielded an ACTH-like substance. Forty-three patients with Cushing's disease (without pituitary tumor) had, before treatment, a mean ACTH level of 0.18 plus or minus 0.01 mU/100 ml, accompanied by high levels of plasma cortisol (32.1 plus or minus 1.9 mug/100 ml). Irregular nycthemeral variations occurred. ACTH rose to 0.30 mU/100 ml after incomplete adrenalectomy (20 patients) and to 1.14 mU/100 ml after total adrenalectomy (21 patients). Dexamethasone (8 mg per day) suppressed ACTH levels. Metyrapone induced a normal ACTH rise, but at abnormal times. Lysine-vasopressin (LVP) induced an ACTH mean relative increase of 120% before, and of 140% after adrenalectomy (i.e., within the normal range). Six nonadrenalectomized patients with pituitary tumors showed similar abnormalities of ACTH regulation. However, the ACTH rise after LVP was above 500%. When pituitary tumors occurred after adrenalectomy (12 patients) the mean basal ACTH level was 18 mU/100 ml. Dexamethasone induced a 90% decrease, and LVP a 416% increase in ACTH levels. In 6 patients with nodular adrenal hyperplasia, ACTH was undetectable before treatment. After adrenalectomy, ACTH rose to 0.4 mU/100 ml (11 patients) and the increase after LVP was 90%. Five additional patients developed pituitary tumors. These data confirm the abnormalities of ACTH feedback regulation in Cushing's disease. However, even when pituitary tumors occur, ACTH levels can be altered by metyrapone, dexamethasone and LVP. This last test is of particular interest for the detection of pituitary tumors. The follow-up pattern of treated nodular adrenal hyperplasia appears to be very similar to that of Cushing's disease.
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PMID:Studies of ACTH secretion control in 116 cases of Cushing's syndrome. 16 70

The following examinations, including the estimation of urinary neutral steroid metabolites, plasma cortisol, the percentage of unbound-cortisol, cortisol production rate, plasma adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH), dexamethasone suppression test, ACTH stimulation test, metopirone test, lysine-vasopressin (LVP) test and insulin tolerance test, were conducted in 16 patients with Cushing's syndrome for the presence of hypercoticism and for identifying the cause of this syndrome. Of these tests, the measurements of plasma cortisol late in the day and single dose dexamethasone suppression test were most useful for the diagnosis of hypercorticism because of their reliability and simplicity. Urinary 17-KGS, THF/THE ratio, cortisol production rate and low dose dexamethasone suppression test were also useful, whereas insulin test and LVP test were less valuable for this purpose. For the identification of the causes of this syndrome, lysine vasopressin test and metopirone test were most reliable, and plasma ACTH was also useful for this purpose, whereas insulin test and ACTH stimulation test were less valuable.
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PMID:The diagnostic value of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical function tests in patients with Cushing's syndrome. 16 71

A 45-year-old women had medullary tyroid carcinoma associated with Cushing's syndrome and galactorrhoea. Elevated plasma immunoreactive ACTH and cortisol were partially suppressed by intravenous dexamethasone, appreciably raised by lysine vasopressin, and urinary excretion of 17-oxogenic steroids slightly elevated by metyrapone. A large arterio-venous increase in plasma corticotrophin releasing factor-like activity across the thyroid gland was observed and tumour tissue contained corticotrophin releasing factor-like activity. Biologically active ACTH was not detected in tumour extracts before incubation with trypsin, but after trypsinization a value of 3.2 mU per gram was obtained. Arterial plasma contained biologically active ACTH (1.5 mU/100 ml) prior to trypsinization. Venous effluent from the thyroid gland contained biologically active (9.6 mU/100 ml) and immunoreactive ACTH (970 pg/ml) before trypsinization. Tumour extracts also contained prolactin production-stimulating activity. These findings can explain the Cushing's syndrome and the galactorrhoea both of which disappeared completely after thyroidectomy.
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PMID:Medullary thyroid carcinoma: ectopic production of peptides with ACTH-like, corticotrophin releasing factor-like and prolactin production-stimulating activities. 18 33

The present study shows that in a group of 6 euadrenal patients, previously treated by complete adrenalectomy for pituitary dependent Cushing's syndrome, the stress stimulus of insulin induced hypoglycaemia is followed by a plasma ACTH response which is of similar magnitude as the response obtained with lysin-vasopressin. Both observations indicate that the central nervous system-pituitary axis is basically normal in pituitary dependent Cushing's syndrome as assessed by insulin induced hypoglycaemia. It is concluded that non-responsiveness of the pituitary-adrenocortical system to insulin induced hypoglycaemia in untreated patients with pituitary dependent Cushing's syndrome does not represent a fundamental defect of the stress mechanism, but is due to hypercorticism per se.
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PMID:Insulin stimulation tests in pituitary dependent Cushing's syndrome after complete adrenalectomy. 20 44

The term Cushing's disease is applied to those cases of Cushing's syndrome in which hypercortisolism is secondary to inappropriate secretion of ACTH by the pituitary. Studies on control of ACTH secretion in these patients reveal: (a) that the episodic secretion of ACTH is similar to the normal; however, frequency and amplitude of the secretory episodes lack the normal circadian rhythm; (b) that ACTH release can be stimulated by vasopressin and metyrapone in a normal or above-normal manner; and (c) that it can be suppressed by large doses of corticosteroids. When the dynamic aspects of the ACTH response to corticosteroid administration are studied, it appears that the normally negative differential feedback mechanism is converted into a positive one, whereas the delayed, integral mechanism is undisturbed. Patients with Cushing's disease in the presence of obvious pituitary tumors cannot be distinguished from those without pituitary tumors by studying only the pituitary function. All these and other well-known facts would favor the concept that ACTH secretion in Cushing's disease is under hypothalamic control whether or not a pituitary tumor is present. Moreover, there are observations that suggest that brain centers superior to the hypophysiotropic area of the hypothalamus are involved in the pathophysiology of Cushing's disease. This concept has led to the discovery of neurotropic drugs that are able to induce complete remission of Cushing's syndrome in a cerain percentage of patients. In some patients with severe psychiatric diseases, neuroendocrine abnormalities are present that resemble closely those characteristic for Cushing's disease. With the most refined neuroradiological methods, pituitary microadenomas are demonstrable in approximately 70% of patients with Cushing's disease, and this number compares well with those of earlier autopsy findings (70 to 80%). In a small number of patients (4 to 10%), these tumors are large and can easily be detected by standard roentgenograms of the head. Recent studies on the frequency of these large tumors do not support the hypothesis that adrenalectomy accelerates the progression of these tumors. In this case the term "Nelson's syndrome" would be uncessary. It is established that complete cure of Cushing's disease can be obtained in most patients with selective removal of a microadenoma from the pituitary gland. The current experience with this microsurgical procedure caused a renewed interest in Cushing's original suggestion that the disease is primarily a pituitary disorder. However, there are already a number of enigmatic observations. Possibly, the recent ultrastructural studies using immunocytochemical methods will resolve some of these problems. At this moment it is impossible to decide whether Cushing's disease is primarily a CNS or a pituitary disorder, when all arguments for one or the other hypothesis are taken into account...
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PMID:Pathophysiology of Cushing's disease. 22 10

A variety of effects of alcohol on endocrine function are now well documented. Clinically, the most important of these are alcohol-induced 'pseudo-Cushing's syndrome' and a syndrome of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical unresponsiveness, both of which result from long-term over-indulgence, and impairment of testosterone secretion which may occur following relatively short-term drinking. Evidence indicates that a number of different mechanisms are responsible for mediating the effects of alcohol on endocrine function. In a few instances (e.g. inhibition of vasopressin secretion and impairment of steroidogenesis resulting in a fall in testosterone production rate), alcohol appears to influence directly the release or synthesis of individual hormones. However, the majority of the endocrine effects of alcohol are probably indirect, resulting from either the stress of intoxication (stimulation of cortisol, catecholamines and possibly GH and prolactin), changes in the level of intermediary metabolites (e.g. a fall in circulating FFA stimulating GH secretion) or changes in the metabolism of hormones (e.g. catecholamines, oestrogens, androgens) resulting from alteration in intracellular redox state or tissue damage.
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PMID:Endocrine effects of alcohol. 68 83

In order to know the pituitary reserves of ACTH, GH, LH, FSH, TSH and prolactin in patients with Cushing's syndrome, the responses of these hormones to hydrocortisone, lysine-8 vasopressin (LVP), insulin-induced hypoglycemia, luteinizing hormon-releasing hormone (LH-RH) and thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) were examined before and after treatment. Fourteen patients with Cushing's disease (adrenal hyperplasia), 3 patientswith adrenal adenoma and one patient with adrenal carcinoma were investigated. Before treatment, sufficient response of plasma ACTH to LVP was observed in patients with Cushing's disease, while no response was observed in 3 patients with adrenal adenoma. There was no significant difference in the responses of other pituitary hormones between the patients with Cushing's disease. and the patients with adrenal adenoma. The response of plasma GH to insulin-induced hypoglycemia was impaired in most these patients. The response of plasma TSH to TRH was impaired in 6 of 8 patients tested. The response of plasma LH and FSH to LH-RH were preserved in 6 and 5 of 8 patients, respectively. The response of plasma prolactin to TRH was normal in most patients tested. After treatment, the improvements of the impaired responses of GH, TSH, LH and FSH wereobserved. Therefore, the impaired reserve observed in these patients before treatment seemed to be due to the hypercortisolemia. If the difference of the suppressibility of these pituitary hormones by cortisol may be judged simply from our observation, the orderof the suppressibility is supposed to be ACTH, GH, TSH, LH and FSH, and then prolactin.
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PMID:The pituitary ACTH, GH, LH, FSH, TSH and prolactin reserves in patients with Cushing's syndrome. 80 44

We describe a case of Cushing's syndrome caused by a phaeochromocytoma secreting corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) and corticotrophin (ACTH). A 49-year-old white woman presented with a 1-month history of lower limb oedema, polydipsia and polyuria. Physical examination revealed a patient with plethoric facies, lanugo-type facial hair, central obesity, red abdominal striae, lower limb oedema, and blood pressure of 210/115 mmHg. Laboratory studies showed high plasma ACTH and markedly elevated urinary cortisol excretion that suppressed more than 50% with high-dose dexamethasone administration. Computed tomographic scan of the abdomen showed a 4-cm left adrenal tumour. Catecholamines and metabolites were markedly increased in a 24-hour urine collection. Results of venous catheterization studies showed that CRH and ACTH were secreted by the tumour. In addition, with ovine CRH administration, inferior petrosal sinus sampling showed pituitary secretion of ACTH. Left adrenalectomy resulted in complete remission of Cushing's syndrome. Light microscopic and immunohistochemical studies revealed a phaeochromocytoma that produced CRH, ACTH and vasopressin. RNA studies showed that this tumour, in contrast to normal adrenal and other reported phaeochromocytomas, transcribed a lone pituitary-sized (1200 nucleotide) pro-opiomelanocortin mRNA. This is the second reported case of a CRH-secreting phaeochromocytoma.
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PMID:Cushing's syndrome associated with ectopic production of corticotrophin-releasing hormone, corticotrophin and vasopressin by a phaeochromocytoma. 128 18

Tumors of the female genital tract may be associated with a variety of unusual clinical manifestations. Uncommon endocrine and paraendocrine syndromes include production of human chorionic gonadotropin by tumors other than those of germ cell origin, hyperthyroidism associated with struma ovarii and gestational trophoblastic disease, the carcinoid syndrome, the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, hypercalcemia, Cushing's syndrome, hypoglycemia, hypertension related to renin or aldosterone production, hyperprolactinemia, inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone, and virilization associated with Nelson's syndrome and placental site trophoblastic tumor. Paraneoplastic syndromes associated with gynecological tumors include disorders of the nervous system, connective tissue, and skin, as well as hematologic abnormalities and the nephrotic syndrome. Heritable and other congenital syndromes associated with these tumors are the Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, the nevoid basal-cell carcinoma syndrome, Ollier's disease and Maffucci's syndrome, hereditary leiomyomatosis, ataxia-telangiectasia, von Hippel-Lindau's disease, thyroid abnormalities associated with Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors, and Carney's complex. Other syndromes associated with tumors of the female genital tract include Meigs' syndrome, hyperamylasemia, uveal melanocytic lesions, and pyrexia.
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PMID:Clinical syndromes associated with tumors of the female genital tract. 175 57

To examine the relationship between corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH), arginine vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OXT) we have studied the responses of adenohypophyseal and neurohypophyseal hormones to CRH in eight patients (age 26-64 years, six female) with suspected pituitary-dependent Cushing's syndrome during bilateral, simultaneous inferior petrosal sinus catheterization. Blood samples were taken from both petrosal sinuses and a peripheral vein before, and at 5-min intervals for 15 min after, an intravenous injection of 100 micrograms human CRH1-41. CRH increased sinus AVP concentrations in all eight patients and OXT concentrations in four of five patients studied. Although AVP concentrations often increased in both sinuses, the side of maximal AVP rise was termed side(max-AVP). CRH did not affect peripheral or petrosal sinus mean concentrations of LH, FSH, GH or TSH. While there was no change in mean peripheral concentrations of AVP, OXT, ACTH, ACTH precursors or prolactin after CRH, sinus concentrations of OXT, ACTH and prolactin on side(max-AVP) were markedly elevated over contralateral values. CRH did not increase mean sinus concentrations of ACTH precursors. In seven patients with either no radiological abnormality or the pituitary fossa or a small adenoma the mean ACTH precursor/ACTH ratio in blood sampled from all sites was 2.1 +/- 0.16 (mean +/- SEM, n = 50). In a patient with a large, locally invasive tumour the mean ACTH precursor/ACTH molar ratio was 32.1 +/- 1.3 (n = 12; P less than 0.001), suggesting that alterations in this molar ratio may reflect the biological properties of the tumour. The source of CRH-stimulatable AVP and OXT remains uncertain.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH1-41) stimulates the secretion of adrenocorticotrophin, vasopressin and oxytocin but not adrenocorticotrophin precursors: evidence from petrosal sinus sampling in man. 184 86


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