Urinary excretion of radioimmunoassayable luteinizing hormone (LH) in normal male children and adults, according to age and stage of sexual development

Six reference-quality genomes reveal evolution of bat adaptations

Bats possess extraordinary adaptations, including flight, echolocation, extreme longevity and unique immunity. High-quality genomes are crucial for understanding the molecular basis and evolution of these traits. Here we incorporated long-read sequencing and state-of-the-art scaffolding protocols1 to generate, to our knowledge, the first reference-quality genomes of six bat species (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, Rousettus aegyptiacus, Phyllostomus discolor, Myotis myotis, Pipistrellus kuhlii and Molossus molossus). We integrated gene projections from our 'Tool to infer Orthologs from Genome Alignments' (TOGA) software with de novo and homology gene predictions as well as short- and long-read transcriptomics to generate highly complete gene annotations. To resolve the phylogenetic position of bats within Laurasiatheria, we applied several phylogenetic methods to comprehensive sets of orthologous protein-coding and noncoding regions of the genome, and identified a basal origin for bats within Scrotifera. Our genome-wide screens revealed positive selection on hearing-related genes in the ancestral branch of bats, which is indicative of laryngeal echolocation being an ancestral trait in this clade. We found selection and loss of immunity-related genes (including pro-inflammatory NF-κB regulators) and expansions of anti-viral APOBEC3 genes, which highlights molecular mechanisms that may contribute to the exceptional immunity of bats. Genomic integrations of diverse viruses provide a genomic record of historical tolerance to viral infection in bats. Finally, we found and experimentally validated bat-specific variation in microRNAs, which may regulate bat-specific gene-expression programs. Our reference-quality bat genomes provide the resources required to uncover and validate the genomic basis of adaptations of bats, and stimulate new avenues of research that are directly relevant to human health and disease1.

Semen characteristics in pubertal boys. IV. Semen quality and hormone profile

The biological quality of semen was contrasted with levels of FSH, LH, and testosterone in plasma. The level of FSH rises significantly from azoospermia/cryptozoospermia (3.87 +/- 1.1 mU/ml) to asthenozoospermia (5.73 +/- 2.11 mU/ml). In normospermia, however (4.63 +/- 1.88 mU/ml), the level of FSH decreases in a statistically significant manner and remains at the standard level. Comparing the level of LH to the quality of semen, it rises in a statistically significant manner from azoospermia/cryptozoospermia (6.46 +/- 1.35 mU/ml) to oligozoospermia (9.03 +/- 3.35 mU/ml). The level decreases in a statistically significant manner in normospermia (7.15 +/- 1.69 mU/ml). The level of testosterone shows a progressive linear growth from azoospermia/cryptozoospermia (6.03 +/- 2.09 micrograms/ml) to normospermia (6.55 +/- 2.12 micrograms/ml). The growth is statistically insignificant.

Ectopic production of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) by neoplasms: the value of measurements of immunoreactive hCG in the urine as a screening procedure

Immunoreactive human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) was measured in serum and urine extracts from patients with malignant disease using a radioimmunoassay that detects efficiently hCG and its betasubunit. Of the 70 patients examined, 12 (17.1%) were positive for hCG in serum and 31 44.3%) in urine. Eleven patients who were positive in serum were also positive in urine; 20 patients (28.6%) were positive only in urine. Sephadex G-100 chromatography of urine from two serum-negative and urine-positive patients showed that the hCG immunoreactive material in the urine of these patients was mostly a molecular species smaller than hCG and hCG-beta. The nature of this molecule(s) is unknown and is called here metabolite(s) "X" of hCG-beta. The urine of 2 patients who where positive for hCG in both serum and urine contained considerable amount of metabolite(s) "X" as well as the native hCG-beta subunit, which was present also in the serum of these 2 patients. The metabolite(s) "X" was also shown by chromatography in the urine of a pregnant woman. It is concluded that the ectopic production of hCG is found more than twice as frequently in urine as compared to when serum alone is examined. The urine of serum-negative tumor patients can be positive for hCG because of the presence in it of the metabolite(s) "X" of hCG-beta or hCG which presumably circulates in the blood of these patients at non-detectable levels.

Use of small samples of urine to monitor gonadotrophins in menopausal women

The increased gonadotrophin secretion which occurs at the menopause was followed by measuring gonadotrophin to creatinine ratios in small samples of urine. For follicle stimulating hormone, values of the ratio corresponded closely with both plasma concentration (correlation coefficients: 0.93, 0.94 and 0.93 for first morning, mid-morning and mid-afternoon urine samples: all results expressed as logarithms) and 24-h urine output (0.98, 0.96 and 0.94). Comparable figures for luteinising hormone (LH) were 0.94, 0.94 and 0.90; and 0.95, 0.95 and 0.90. Multiplication of the gonadotrophin to creatinine ratios (I.U./mmol) by 10 gave a figure close to 24-h gonadotrophin output (I.U.).

Endocrine causes of short stature

The primary clinical characteristic of shortness of stature due to endocrine deficiency is a slow rate of growth (less than 1.5 in., or 4 cm, each year). Dental and skeletal ages are delayed. Specific tests of thyroid and pituitary function must be done to document the deficiency. Replacement therapy with levothyroxine or human growth hormone, or both, should be given as indicated. Short children who do not have hormone deficiency grow about 1.5 in. (4 cm) each year but have normal skeletal and dental ages. Children with Turner syndrome, primordial or genetic short stature, or intrauterine growth retardation do not respond to levothyroxine or human growth hormone replacement therapy. Constitutional delay in sexual development is a common cause of short stature in adolescent males and must be differentiated from hypopituitarism.

Hormonal changes in thalassaemia major

Patients with severe thalassaemia major suffer endocrine and other abnormalities before their eventual death from iron overload due to repeated blood transfusions. The endocrine status of 31 thalassaemic patients aged 2-5 to 23 years was investigated. Exact data were available on the rate and duration of blood transfusion in all of them and in many the liver iron concentration was also known. Although the patients were euthyroid, the mean serum thyroxine level was significantly lower, and the mean thyrotrophic hormone level significantly higher, compared with the values found in normal children. Forty oral glucose tolerance tests with simultaneous insulin levels were performed in 19 children, of whom 5 developed symptomatic diabetes and one had impaired tolerance. Previous tests on all 6 patients were available and some showed raised insulin levels possibly due to insulin resistance. 2 patients had clinical hypoparathyroidism and are described. The parathyroid hormone levels determined by radioimmunoassay in 25 patients were below the mean for the age group in all and outside the reference range in 16. Nonfasting plasma calcium levels were not reduced. Puberty was delayed in some patients. Concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) measured in urine from 7 girls and 5 boys showed considerable variation. In the boys there was an overall tendency for FSH and LH excretion to be low with regard to age, but with respect to puberty rating FSH exretions were normal or low and LH normal or raised. The girls showed a tendency for LH but not FSH excretion to be raised in relation to puberty rating. The severity of the endocrine changes was related to the degree of iron loading and is discussed in relation to previous work in which the iron loading has rarely been accurately indicated nor parathyroid status assessed.

Measurement of the production rate of human luteinizing hormone using the urinary excretion technique

Labeled and/or unlabeled human luteinizing hormone (hLH) was injected into normal and abnormal males and into hypopituitary patients. In two patients, two phases of disappearance (T 1/2) were found to be 1.2 and 2.4 hr. Labeled and unlabeled hormone were excreted in the same proportion. Of the injected hormone, normal males excreted 10.1% plus or minus 0.9%, hypopituitary patients excreted 11.4%- 17.5% and two other patients excreted 10.3% and 5.3% over 48 hr. The urinary excretion of unlabeled hLH in normal males was 22.1 plus or minus 4.9 IU/24 hr. The production rate of hLH in normal males was 224.3 plus or minus 65.3 IU/24 hr and, in the two abnormal males, was five times higher. The advantages of this methodology are discussed.

Studies on the metabolic clearance rate and production rate of human luteinizing hormone and on the initial half-time of its subunits in man

The metabolic clearance rate (MCR) of human luteinizing hormone (hLH) has been determined in 10 normal men, 3 normal women, and in 12 women with ovulatory disorders resulting in oligomenorrhea or amenorrhea. The MCR was determined by the constant infusion technique using either iodinated or unlabeled highly purified hLH, and these results were compared to MCR determined by using crude pituitary preparations containing both follicle-stimulating hormone and hLH. Both preparations produced essentially similar results for the MCR of hLH and virtually identical results were obtained when complete or incomplete immunoprecipitation of the infused material was achieved. The MCR/body surface area of hLH was significantly greater in normal men (25.6 plus or minus 3.6 ml/min-m-2) than in normal premenopausal (19.2 plus or minus 0.9 ml/min-m-2) or postmenopausal women (17.4 plus or minus 1.9 ml/min-m-2). No difference was noted in the MCR of hLH in women with oligomenorrhea or amenorrhea. Production rates (PRs) were calculated by using a pituitary standard, the values being 85.1 plus or minus 21.5 IU/24 h in normal men, 39.9 plus or minus 12.6 IU/24 h in normal premenopausal women, and 294.6 plus or minus 61.9 IU/24 h in normal postmenopausal women. The initial half-times of disappearance of the alpha- and beta-subunits of hLH were measured in two normal men and found to be 15-18 min, respectively. The half-time of intact hLH was twice as great.

The investigation of ovarian function by measurement of urinary oestrogen and pregnanediol excretion

Urinary oestrogen and pregnanediol excretion was measued daily ("daily monitoring") for a complete cycle in 20 normally menstruating women, in one patient with an anovulatory cycle and for 28 days in a patient with secondary amenorrhoea. The measurements were also performed on urine specimens collected at weekly intervals for 4 to 6 weeks ("weekly tracking") from 506 patients with evidence of abnormal ovarian function. These included 9 patients with primary amenorrhoea, 132 patients with secondary amenorrheoa, 138 patients with oligomenorrhoea and 227 patients with evidence of ovarian dysfunction and cycle lengths of 25 to 42 days. The results were subjected to statistical analysis. In the normal cycles, ovulation could be identified on the criteria of a rising pregnanediol value reaching or exceeding 2-0 mg. per 24 hours for a period of 7 days or more. Valid conclusions on the overall mean oestrogen and pregnanediol values for a complete cycle could be made from the results of weekly tracking, irrespective of which day the tracking commenced. Correlations were obtained by comparing the mean and maximum urinary oestrogen values and the variability of the values with the evidence of ovarian function indicated by the clinical classifications of the patients, the duration of the disorders and the subsequent occurrence of uterine bleeding. Mean oestrogen values of 10 mug. per 24 hours or less were associated with lack of ovarian function. For values higher than this a discriminant function based on both the mean oestrogen value and the variability of the oestrogen values was useful in predicting onset of spontaneous menstruation. A single urine specimen collected 4 to 8 days before onset of menstruation showing a raised pregnanediol value of 2-0 mg. per 24 hours or more provided a valid test for ovulation in women with regular cycles, and a single urine specimen giving an oestrogen value of 10 mug per 24 hours or less gave a valid indication of absent ovarian function in women with amenorrhoea for two years or more. In all other circumstances serial sampling at weekly intervals provided a valid assessment of ovarian activity. Application of these principles allows the greatest amount of information on ovarian function to be obtained with the greatest economy of effort.

Functional evaluation of prolactin secretion in patients with hypothalamic-pituitary disorders

Prolactin secretion was assessed in 23 patients with hypothalamic-pituitary disorders using L-Dopa suppression, chlorpromazine (CPZ), and thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation tests. Based on the responses to these tests, three groups of patients were identified: those with panhypopituitarism (group I) and those with partial hypopituitarism either with (group II) or without (group III) evidence of hypothalamic involvement. Panhypopituitary patients (group I) consistently had low serum prolactin values and failed to respond to all tests. Patients with hypothalamic involvement (group II) exhibited (a) elevated basal prolactin values. (b) an increase in serum prolactin after TRH stimulation. (c) blunted response to L-Dopa, and (d) lack of response to chlorpromazine stimulation. Patients with partial hypopituitarism but without hypothalamic involvement (group III) had normal serum prolactin levels and suppressed normally after L-Dopa; although the magnitude of response to both stimulatory agents was significantly lower than normally found the ratio of prolactin levels post-CPZ and TRH (Delta prolactin CPZ/Delta prolactin TRH) was similar to the ratio of normal individuals suggesting that these patients (group III) had a normal hypothalamic-pituitary prolactin axis. In the 23 patients studied, the most consistent disorder of pituitary function proved to be an abnormal response to one or other of the three tests employed for the evaluation of prolactin secretion. Hence these tests have considerable potential as a sensitive screening procedure in the evaluation of patients suspected of having hypothalamic-pituitary disease.