Swiss medical weekly
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Swiss medical weekly · Oct 1976
[Effect of an oral contraceptive (ethinylestradiol/D-norgestrel) on growth hormone and insulin secretion].
The growth hormone, insulin and blood glucose values were measured during a glucose tolerance test in 12 women before and after 3 months' use of a contraceptive of the sequential type (11 pills containing 0.05 mg D-norgestrel and 0.05 mg ethinylestradiol and 10 pills containing 0.125 mg D-norgestrel and 0.05 mg ethinylestradiol). Neither fasting blood glucose nor glucose tolerance are altered during administration of the contraceptive steroids. On the other hand, the reactive insulin level is significantly increased in comparison to the basal value, thus showing the signs of hyperinsulinemia. ⋯ Presumably the hyperinsulinemia is an expression of decreased sensitivity of the peripheral tissue to insulin. The growth hormone, a so-called insulin antagonist, is not responsible for the "insulin resistance" observed. The values measured by us after administration of the contraceptive do not significantly differ from the basal values.
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The cellular and humoral immunity of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis has been evaluated prospectively in 22 PPD-positive and 10 PPD-negative patients by intradermoreaction (IDR), blast transformation (SL) and MIF production in response to PPD, Candida and varidase, peripheral lymphocyte count, and quantitative evaluation of immunoglobulins. There is a very good correlation between the different tests, and anergy is frequently found in elderly patients. Negative results (IDR, SL, MIF) are significantly observed in the presence of a negative PPD-IDR, lymphopenia (less than 1,000/mm3), impaired blast transformation in response to PHA (less than 21,000 cpm), and a cavitary form of tuberculosis. These findings suggest a defect of cellular immunity in these patients.