Athletes ; Flavones/administration & dosage* ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone/blood* ; Seasons ; Sports Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Testosterone/blood* ; Whey Proteins/administration & dosage*

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prolactin and cortisol responses to 5-HT 1A receptor activation by buspirone in alcoholics. METHODS: The subjects were twenty two male alcoholic patients meeting the DSM-IV criteria for alcohol dependency and abstaining for more than 3 months. Patients were free from overt anxiety and depressive symptoms. Controls were fifteen male normal volunteers, with no psychiatric and medical illness. Blood samples for the measurement of serum cortisol and prolactin levels were drawn 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 minutes after oral administration of 30mg buspirone hydrochloride at 9:00 a.m. RESULTS: The baseline cortisol levels were not significantly different between alcoholics and controls. Serum cortisol levels of controls after buspirone administration were significantly increased over time(p<0.01), but those of alcoholics did not increased. After 60 minutes following buspirone administration, cortisol levels were significantly lower in alcoholics than in controls(p<0.05). Prolactin responses to buspirone were not significantly different between the two groups. CONCLULSION: Our results suggested that 5-HT 1A receptor function is decreased in alcoholic patients.
Administration, Oral ; Alcoholics ; Alcoholism* ; Anxiety ; Buspirone* ; Depression ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone* ; Male ; Prolactin* ; Serotonin

OBJECTIVETo develop a method for detecting the topical concentration of hydrocortisone (HC) in the subcutaneous adipose of rats using microdialysis sampling technique and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

METHODSTopical samples were collected by applying the probe into the subcutaneous adipose of rats, with alcohol (5%)-ringers solution as the perfusion solution. A LC-MS/MS method was established for detecting the HC concentration in the dialysates.

RESULTSThe protonated precursor to produce ion transitions monitored for HC was m/z 363.2→121.1. The calibration curve was linear over the range of 0.5-1000 ng/ml, with the intra- and inter-day precision and accuracy within ∓15%, and no significant matrix effect was noted. The in vivo recovery of the probe was about 59%.

CONCLUSIONA selective and sensitive method has been successfully established for the on-line HC detection in the subcutaneous adipose of rats.

Administration, Cutaneous ; Animals ; Chromatography, Liquid ; methods ; Hydrocortisone ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Microdialysis ; methods ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Subcutaneous Fat ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; methods

Internal hernia is defined as the herniation of viscera through an anatomic or pathologic opening within the boundaries of peritoneal cavity. Transmesocolic hernia, a subtype of internal hernia, has a herniated sac through the transverse mesocolon. Transmesocolic hernia has been rarely described in the literature, and most of reported cases were associated with a history of operation or congenital anormaly. A 72-year-old female with chronic intermittent abdominal pain and bloating was admitted. Small bowel series showed multiple jejunal loops confined to the left upper quadrant of abdomen. Abdomen spiral computed tomography (CT) showed a cluster of mildly dilated small bowel loops with mesenteries on the same area. On the three-dimensional reconstruction CT scan, a herniated sac through the transverse mesocolon was identified. She was diagnosed as transmesocolic hernia by using the three-dimensional reconstruction CT and small bowel series, without surgical exploration. The symptoms were managed with conservative measures.
Colitis, Ulcerative/*drug therapy ; Cyclosporine/*therapeutic use ; Drug Tolerance ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone/administration & dosage/*therapeutic use ; Injections, Intravenous ; Methylprednisolone/administration & dosage/*therapeutic use

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a topical spray containing 0.0584% hydrocortisone aceponate (HCA) on canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) and to evaluate the skin barrier function during the treatment of CAD. Twenty-one dogs that fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for CAD were included in this study. The HCA spray was applied once a day to the lesions of all dogs for 7 or 14 days. Clinical assessment was performed before (day 0) and after treatment (day 14), and clinical responses were correlated with changes in skin barrier function. CAD severity significantly decreased after 14 days of HCA treatment based on the lesion scores (p < 0.0001), which were determined using the CAD extent and severity index (CADESI-03) and pruritus scores (p < 0.0001) calculated using a pruritus visual analog scale. Transepidermal water loss, a biomarker of skin barrier function, was significantly reduced compared to baseline (day 0) measurements (p = 0.0011). HCA spray was shown to be effective for significantly improving the condition of dogs suffering from CAD. This treatment also significantly improved cutaneous hydration and skin barrier function in the animals.
Administration, Topical ; Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/administration & dosage/*therapeutic use ; Dermatitis, Atopic/drug therapy/pathology/*veterinary ; Dog Diseases/*drug therapy/pathology ; Dogs ; Female ; Hydrocortisone/administration & dosage/*analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; Male

PURPOSE: This study investigated the preemptive analgesic effects of Morphine and Ketorolac on postoperative pain, cortisol, O2 saturation and heart rate for the first 24 hr after abdominal surgery. METHODS: Data collection was performed from April 1 to September 30, 2006. Forty patients undergoing a gastrectomy under general anesthesia were randomly allocated to the experimental or control group. The experimental group (20 patients) was administered Morphine and Ketorolac approximately 1 hr prior to skin incision, but the control group (20 patients) was administered Morphine and Ketorolac at peritoneum closure through a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump. Postoperative pain, blood pressure, heart rate, cortisol, O2 saturation, frequency of the PCA button pressed and doses of additional analgesics were observed through post operative 24 hr. Collected data was analyzed using t-test, chi-square test, repeated measures ANOVA, and Bonferroni methods. RESULTS: Postoperative pain, cortisol, the frequency of PCA button pressed, and dose of additional analgesics of the experimental group were significantly lower than the control group. There were no statistical differences in blood pressure, heart rate and O2 saturation between the experimental group and control group. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that administration of morphine and ketorolac at 1 hr prior to skin incision resulted in decreasing postoperative pain, but it didn't affect blood pressure, heart rate or O2 saturation for 24 hr after abdominal surgery.
Aged ; Analgesics/*administration & dosage ; Blood Pressure ; Female ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone/analysis ; Injections, Intravenous ; Ketorolac/*administration & dosage ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Morphine/*administration & dosage ; Oximetry ; Pain Measurement ; Pain, Postoperative/*prevention & control

Immediate-type hypersensitivity responses to systemic corticosteroids are rare despite their widespread use. It is still controversial whether the responses rarely occur or are underdiagnosed in clinical settings. Many cases probably remain underdiagnosed because the symptoms often mimic symptoms of underlying diseases. This case report describes a 73-year-old man who had immediate hypersensitivity reactions after intravenous administration of hydrocortisone, which was primarily intended to prevent hypersensitivity reactions to contrast media. Whole body rash with pruritus developed shortly after the steroid injection. Since the patient already experienced rash and itching sense after contrast media and antihistamine injection, we conducted skin testing to figure out which drug triggered the hypersensitivity reactions. Intradermal skin tests revealed a positive response to hydrocortisone sodium succinate, which suggested his hypersensitivity reactions were developed by hydrocortisone. Being a common therapy for allergic reaction, corticosteroids themselves are rarely suspected of causing hypersensitivity reactions. Considering there is no typical symptom or standard diagnostic test, awareness of corticosteroid hypersensitivity reactions is of importance to make the diagnosis.
Administration, Intravenous ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Aged ; Contrast Media ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Drug Hypersensitivity ; Exanthema ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone* ; Hypersensitivity* ; Hypersensitivity, Immediate ; Intradermal Tests ; Pruritus ; Skin Tests ; Sodium* ; Succinic Acid*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: When a person is experiencing stress, corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) can modulate gut physiologies, such as visceral sensation or gastrointestinal motility, and its intravenous administration mimics stress-induced physiological changes. However, the influence of CRH on the esophagus is yet unknown. Accordingly, we investigated whether intravenous CRH administration increases esophageal sensitivity to electrical stimulation in healthy Japanese subjects. METHODS: Twenty healthy subjects were recruited. We quantified the initial perception threshold (IPT) every 15 minutes after CRH injection. Venous blood was collected with a cannula, and both plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol were measured at pre-stimulation, 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes. The results from each time point were compared against a baseline IPT obtained before electrical stimulation was initiated. RESULTS: When compared to the baseline IPT value (16.9 ± 4.5), CRH significantly decreased electrical threshold of the esophagus at 30, 45, 60, 75 minutes (14.1 ± 4.2, 13.1 ± 5.0, 12.1 ± 5.7, 14.0 ± 5.8 minutes, P < 0.01, respectively) after CRH injection, suggesting that CRH increased esophageal sensitivity to the electrical stimulus. CRH also significantly increased plasma ACTH levels at 30 minutes (50.3 ± 17.7, P < 0.01), and cortisol levels at 30 minutes (22.0 ± 6.7 minutes, P < 0.01) and 60 minutes (20.3 ± 6.7 minutes, P < 0.01) after CRH injection, when compared to the pre-stimulation ACTH and cortisol values. CONCLUSION: Intravenous CRH administration increased esophageal electrical sensitivity in normal subjects, emphasizing the important role of stress in esophageal sensitivity.
Administration, Intravenous ; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Catheters ; Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone* ; Electric Stimulation ; Esophagus ; Gastrointestinal Motility ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Plasma ; Sensation

This study was undertaken to clarify the effects of glucocorticosteroids on intraocular pressure and the combined effects of acetazolamide and glucocorticosteroid on ocular pressure. Male and female rabbits, weighing 1.7-2.2kg, were divided into 5 groups: 1) saline-treated group, 2) hydrocortisone (0.5 %)-treated group, 3) prednisolone (0.5 %)-treated group, 4) fludrocortisone (0.1% )-treated group, 5) dexamethasone (0.1% )-treated group. Drugs were instilled 4 times a day for 3 weeks, and ocular pressure was checked in each group on second and third week. Following 3 weeks instillation of glucocorticoids, ocular pressure was checked in each animal at 15, 30, 60, and 120 minutes after intravenous administration of acetazolamide (10mg/kg). Under 0.5% tetracaine anesthesia, facility of outflow and flow rate of the aqueous humor were also measured with a tonometer. The results of the experiments were as follows: 1) The mean ocular pressure rose significantly in all glucocorticoid-treated groups, and the rise was especially marked in the dexamethasone-treated group. 2) The mean facility of outflow of the aqueous humor decreased significantly in the dexamethasonetreated group, but it remained with little change in the other glucocorticoidtreated group. 3) The ocular pressure-lowering action of acetazolamide was suppressed significantly at 30 minutes after the treatment with acetazolamide in the hydrocortisone and prednisolonetreated groups, but it was not suppressed in the fludrocortisone and the dexamethasonetreated groups. 4) The flow rate of the aqueous humor was suppressed significantly (36.2 %) at 30 minutes after the treatment with acetazolamide in the control group, but it was not suppressed significantly in g]ucocorticoid-treated groups.
Acetazolamide* ; Administration, Intravenous ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones* ; Anesthesia ; Animals ; Aqueous Humor ; Dexamethasone ; Female ; Fludrocortisone ; Glucocorticoids ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Intraocular Pressure* ; Male ; Prednisolone ; Rabbits ; Tetracaine

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of etodimate infusion on serum cortisol in patients undergoing radical resection of lung cancer operations during the perioperative period.

METHODSForty ASA I-II patients undergoing radical resection of lung cancer were randomly divided into etomidate group (Group E) and propofol group (Group P) (n=20). The serum cortisol was measured at 8:00 am (T(0)) before anesthesia, 4:00 pm (T(1)) on the day of operation and 24 h after the operation (T(2)) by radioimmunoassay.

RESULTSCompared with that at T0, the serum level of cortisol significantly increased at 24 h after the operation in both groups (P<0.01); serum cortisol decreased lightly at T1, which was not statistically significant (P>0.05), and remained higher than the normal level. At each of the time points, serum cortisol levels were comparable between the two groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONEtomidate infusion can not inhibit the synthesis of cortisol in patients undergoing radical resection of lung cancer.

Adult ; Anesthesia, General ; Etomidate ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; blood ; Lung Neoplasms ; blood ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonectomy ; methods ; Postoperative Period ; Young Adult