Urinary insulin-like growth factor-I measurement in an actual sport competition, an additional approach in laboratory antidoping tests

BACKGROUND: The insulin-like growth factor hormone (IGF-I) is an important protein hormone under investigation with physical exercise and for doping detection. Urinary IGF-I level in fact represents a relevant measurement when the postexercise proteinuria is under analysis. To verify the IGF-I level variation in the circulation and in urinary excretion in the occasion of a competition, the plasma and urine IGF-I in athletes before and after an actual competitive event were measured. METHODS: Twenty well-trained cyclists took part in a competition (102 km) and concluded the intense physical exercise in approximately 2(1/2) h. Urine and blood samples were collected from each athlete 10-20 min before and at the end of the competition. Plasma and urine total IGF-I (pIGF, uIGF), total urinary proteins (uPr), and creatinine (uCr) concentrations were measured. RESULTS: The uIGF [from 76.2+/-15.8 to 256.9+/-29.1 ng/l (p<0.001)], uPr [from 29.4+/-6.7 to 325.9+/-95.1 mg/l (p<0.005)], and uCr [from 6.3+/-1.0 to 10.0+/-0.8 mmol/l (p<0.005)] significantly increased. The pIGF was 262.6+/-14.3 and 247.3+/-11.8 microg/l before and end-exercise, respectively. A statistical correlation between uIGF and uPr was demonstrated (p<0.001). The pIGF/uIGF ratio was significantly (p<0.05) decreased comparing the end with before the competition. CONCLUSIONS: The pIGF/uIGF significantly decreased at the end, compared with before the competition, suggesting a changed uIGF excretion. This increment appeared to be increased, although not significantly, considering the ratio with uCr

Regulation of corticosteroid receptors in patients with anorexia nervosa and Cushing's syndrome.

We have studied 16 patients with anorexia nervosa (11 with a stabilised weight loss and 5 in the weight-losing phase), 11 healthy controls, and 10 patients with Cushing's syndrome, by measuring plasma cortisol (by enzyme-immunoassay), ACTH (by RIA), corticosteroid (Type I-mineralocorticoid and Type II-glucocorticoid) receptors in mononuclear leukocytes (by radio-receptor assay), and lymphocyte subpopulations (by cytofluorimetry). In anorexic patients with a stabilised weight loss and in Cushing's syndrome the mean value of both Type I and Type II corticosteroid receptors in mononuclear leukocytes was significantly lower than in controls. The correlation between Type II receptors and plasma cortisol was inverse in stabilised anorexia nervosa and in Cushing's syndrome, and direct in healthy controls. Anorexic patients in the weight-losing phase showed a significant increase in plasma cortisol levels and a normal number of Type II receptors. From these results we hypothesise that in anorexia nervosa there is a progression from an increase in plasma cortisol in the weight-losing phase, to a concomitant decrease in Type II receptors when the disease is stabilised

Effect of licorice on the reduction of body fat mass in healthy subjects

The history of licorice, as a medicinal plant, is very old and has been used in many societies throughout the millennia. The active principle, glycyrrhetinic acid, is responsible for sodium retention and hypertension, which is the most common side-effect. We show an effect of licorice in reducing body fat mass. We studied 15 normalweight subjects (7 males, age 22-26 yr, and 8 females, age 21-26 yr), who consumed for 2 months 3.5 g a day of a commercial preparation of licorice. Body fat mass (BFM, expressed as percentage of total body weight, by skinfold thickness and by bioelectrical impedance analysis, BIA) and extracellular water (ECW, percentage of total body water, by BIA) were measured. Body mass index (BMI) did not change. ECW increased (males: 41.8\ub12.0 before vs 47.0\ub12.3 after, p<0.001; females: 48.2\ub11.4 before vs 49.4\ub12.1 after, p<0.05). BFM was reduced by licorice: (male: before 12.0\ub12.1 vs after 10.8\ub12.9%, p<0.02; female: before 24.9\ub15.1 vs after 22.1\ub15.4, p<0.02); plasma renin activity (PRA) and aldosterone were suppressed. Licorice was able to reduce body fat mass and to suppress aldosterone, without any change in BMI. Since the subjects were consuming the same amount of calories during the study, we suggest that licorice can reduce fat by inhibiting 11\u3b2-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase Type 1 at the level of fat cells. (J. Endocrinol. Invest. 26: 646-650, 2003) \ua92003, Editrice Kurtis milan