Growth hormone treatment in adults

Wrth the development of recombinant DNA technology a practically limitless amount of GH became available for clinical use. Against the background of the sizable literature, aims of the work in this thesis were to further investigate: a) optimal dose regimens regarding beneficial and harmful effects of the administration of pharmacological doses of GH in catabolic elderly adults. b) the possible role of GH as a stimulator of cancer growth or in the treatment of cancer induced cachexia in a tumor-bearing rat model. c) body compos~ion of GH deficient adults. d) the effects of chronic GH replacement in GH deficient adults

The in vitro and in vivo effects of human growth hormone administration on tumor growth of rats bearing a transplantable rat pituitary tumor (7315b)

Abstract The direct effects of human GH and IGF-I on PRL secretion and cell proliferation were studied on PRL secreting rat pituitary tumor 7315b cells in vitro, as well as the effects in vivo of human GH administration on body weight, IGF-I levels and tumor size in rats bearing this transplantable tumor. In the in vitro studies IGF-I levels above 5 nM stimulated PRL release in a dose-dependent manner while GH, in concentrations of 0.23–45 nM, did not affect PRL release. Cell proliferation was stimulated by IGF-I in a dose-dependent manner from 0.5 nM onwards, while GH did not have an effect. The in vivo studies showed that 1 mg GH/rat/day prevented tumor-induced cachexia and normalized the suppressed IGF-I levels without stimulating tumor growth. It is concluded that tumor-induced cachexia can be prevented by exogenous GH administration without an increase in tumor mass, even if a tumor model is used whose cultured tumor cells respond to exposure to IGF-I with a mitotic response

The in vitro and in vivo effects of human growth hormone administration on tumor growth of rats bearing a transplantable rat pituitary tumor (7315b)

The direct effects of human GH and IGF-I on PRL secretion and cell proliferation were studied on PRL secreting rat pituitary tumor 7315b cells in vitro, as well as the effects in vivo of human GH administration on body weight, IGF-I levels and tumor size in rats bearing this transplantable tumor. In the in vitro studies IGF-I levels above 5 nM stimulated PRL release in a dose-dependent manner while GH, in concentrations of 0.23-45 nM, did not affect PRL release. Cell proliferation was stimulated by IGF-I in a dose-dependent manner from 0.5 nM onwards, while GH did not have an effect. The in vivo studies showed that 1 mg GH/rat/day prevented tumor-induced cachexia and normalized the suppressed IGF-I levels without stimulating tumor growth. It is concluded that tumor-induced cachexia can be prevented by exogenous GH administration without an increase in tumor mass, even if a tumor model is used whose cultured tumor cells respond to exposure to IGF-I with a mitotic response.</p

Axial, coronal and sagittal PET/CT images showing increased FDG-uptake in the rib (A, red arrow), spine (B, red arrowhead), spleen (B, brown arrowhead) and pelvic bone (C, blue arrow) suggesting lymphoproliferative disease.

<p>This PET/CT diagnosis was histologically confirmed after a bone marrow biopsy was performed.</p

Flowchart retrospective study (ESR = Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate; FUO = Fever of Unknown Origin, PMR = Polymyalgia rheumatica, AML = acute myeloid leukemia, n.a. = not applicable).

<p>*This patient died 1 month after PET/CT, gastric cancer was confirmed pathologically. † Polyarteritis nodosa (diagnosed with angiography).</p

Examinations performed prior to PET/CT scan in patients included in retrospective study.

<p>Examinations performed prior to PET/CT scan in patients included in retrospective study.</p

Axial PET/CT images showing physiological 18-FDG uptake in the bladder (green arrow) and increased peri-rectal 18-FDG uptake (A, red arrow).

<p>Additionally, the presence of air is detected on the low-dose CT (B). This was not present on an abdominal CT-scan that was performed prior to the PET/CT-scan. A diagnosis of peri-rectal abscess was confirmed during explorative surgery.</p