Abstract:SummaryThe recent onslaught of mass spectrometry (MS) to measurements of steroid hormones, including demands that they should be the only acceptable method, has confused clinicians and scientists who have relied for more than 40 years on a variety of immunoassay (IA) methods in steroid hormone measurements. There is little doubt that MS methods with their superior specificity will be the future method of choice in many clinical and research applications of steroid hormone measurement. However, the majority of … Show more
“…The accuracy of steroid assays is of major concern in the clinical evaluation of congenital or acquired adrenal disorders associated with over-or under-production of steroids [2]. Such global or partial disorders include different forms of congenital adrenal hyperplasia, adrenal salt wasting or global adrenal insufficiency.…”
“…The accuracy of steroid assays is of major concern in the clinical evaluation of congenital or acquired adrenal disorders associated with over-or under-production of steroids [2]. Such global or partial disorders include different forms of congenital adrenal hyperplasia, adrenal salt wasting or global adrenal insufficiency.…”
“…A good quality immunoassay was used for testosterone measurements; therefore, the hormone data can be considered reliable, although mass spectrometry was not used (28,29). Only total testosterone was measured, because sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels were not available.…”
Objective: The objective of this study was to explore whether circulating testosterone (T) concentration is associated with the occurrence and risk for acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Method: This case-control study included male patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) (nZ174) or unstable angina pectoris (UAP) (nZ90) and healthy controls (nZ238). Patients gave serum samples during the acute (nZ264) and recovery (nZ132) phases after a median of 10.5 months after the incident event. Secondary events (ACS or cardiovascular death) were registered during the following 6 years. Results: During the acute phase, AMI and UAP patients had similar significantly reduced concentrations of serum testosterone in comparison to controls. Testosterone associated inversely with weight, the degree of inflammation (i.e. C-reactive protein concentration) and signs of a chronic infection. In a multiadjusted Cox regression, when compared to testosterone concentrations considered high-normal (14.91-34.0 nmol/l), low-normal testosterone (9.26-14.90 nmol/l) in the acute phase predicted better prognosis for cardiovascular death rate with a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.17 (0.04-0.68, PZ0.012). The increased testosterone concentrations after the recovery period did not associate with future cardiovascular disease events. Conclusion: Low-normal testosterone levels in the acute phase of ACS predicted better survival. The observation may indicate better adaptation to stress in survivors and warrants further study.
“…The methods used to determine circulating testosterone levels also differed between sexes; however, it is important to note that all analyses were performed separately in men and women. Immunoassay was utilized for all male measurements as this method is considered to reliably detect testosterone levels in healthy eugonadal adult males [102]. LC-MS/MS was used for all female measurements due to the lower levels of testosterone present in women and the greater specificity and sensitivity of this technique [83, 84].…”
Lower testosterone levels are associated with greater negative symptoms in men with schizophrenia. Testosterone signals via androgen receptor (AR). A functional variant in the AR gene (CAG trinucleotide repeat polymorphism) is associated with circulating testosterone and mood-related symptoms in healthy people. Raloxifene increases testosterone in healthy males and reduces symptom severity and improves cognition in schizophrenia; however, whether raloxifene increases testosterone in men with schizophrenia is unknown. We assessed the interaction of a functional AR gene variant and adjunctive raloxifene on peripheral testosterone and symptom severity in schizophrenia. Patients with schizophrenia (59 males and 38 females) participated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial of adjunctive raloxifene (120 mg/day). Healthy adults (46 males and 41 females) were used for baseline comparison. Baseline circulating testosterone was decreased in male patients compared to male controls and positively correlated with CAG repeat length in male controls and female patients. Male patients with short, compared to long, CAG repeat length had higher stress scores. Raloxifene treatment increased testosterone in male patients, but was unrelated to AR CAG repeat length, suggesting that raloxifene’s effects may not depend on AR activity. Sex-specific alterations of the relationship between AR CAG repeat length and testosterone suggest that altered AR activity may impact perceived stress in men with schizophrenia.
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