Effects of chronic heroin addiction on pituitary-thyroid function in man

Pituitary-thyroid function has been studied in heroin addicts. Data have been obtained in 10 male addicts, aged 18-24 years, with histories of addiction to heroin alone lasting from 8 months to 4 years, and in 9 controls matched for sex and age. Basal plasma levels of TSH, T4 and T3 were measured. A TRH stimulation test was done, injecting 500 micrograms of TRH iv as a bolus and assaying TSH levels before the injection and at 30 min intervals up to 2 h afterwards. The results revealed no difference between addicts and controls in basal levels of TSH, T4 and T3. The TRH stimulation test induced a blunted TSH rise in 50% of the cases. The possible mechanism of action of heroin on pituitary-thyroid axis is discussed

Effect of flunoxaprofen on human phagocytic cell function

The 'in vitro' effect of flunoxaprofen on human polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) activities has been studied. Preincubation of PMN for 30 minutes at 37\ub0C with flunoxaprofen inhibited their leucoattractant-induced migration in a dose-dependent fashion. The basal level of PMN oxidative metabolism, measured by chemiluminescence, was increased after preincubation with the drug; however, flunoxaprofen, in the same conditions, was able to inhibit the chemiluminescent response of zymosan-stimulated PMN. No significant effect on PMN phagocytic activity was found. These data indicate that the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug flunoxaprofen may have direct effects on neutrophil migration and activation and suggest that the anti-inflammatory effects of the drug may be related, at least in part, to its direct action on neutrophil responses