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IntroductionPCOS is the most common endocrine disorder in women of childbearing age. Insulin resistance is a key component of the pathophysiology of PCOS that can increase the secretion of serum androgens. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between insulin resistance and serum androgens levels in PCOS subgroups.MethodsHormonal and clinical laboratory studies were performed for all research units. Insulin resistance was diagnosed with the HOMA index (Cut off> 2.5). ResultsIn subgroup A, there was a positive relationship between HOMA-IR with FAI (P = 0.014) and negative relationship with SHBG (P 0.05). Also, in all different PCOS phenotypes, no association was found between HOMA-IR and serum TT levels (P> 0.05).ConclusionThere was a relationship between insulin resistance and some serum androgens in PCOS subtypes. Therefore, it is hoped that early detection of these at-risk patients will be done through early biochemical markers to prevent and change lifestyle.

Objectives: This study aimed to narratively summarize the effects of serum androgens on sexual function of postmenopausal women and the impact of administration of various types of androgens in imp...

IntroductionIn female athletes, the interpretation of doping tests is complex due to hormonal variations during the menstrual cycle and hormonal contraceptive use, both influencing the urinary steroid profile. Exercise is suggested to affect circulating steroid hormone levels, and in women, the urinary steroid profile differs between in competition testing and out of competition testing. No previous study has investigated the relationship between amount of exercise and the urinary steroid profile in female elite athletes.PurposeTo compare the urinary steroid profile between female Olympic athletes and age- and BMI-matched untrained controls, and to study the urinary steroid profile in relation to serum hormones and amount of exercise.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study conducted at the Women’s Health Research Unit, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, 94 female elite athletes and 86 untrained controls were included. Serum estrogens and testosterone and the urinary steroid profile were analyzed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, respectively. Exercise hours/week were evaluated by questionnaire.ResultsAlthough serum steroid hormones were comparable between groups, the athletes demonstrated approximately 30% lower urinary steroid metabolites of testosterone, epitestosterone, androsterone, etiocholanolone, 5α-androstan-3α, 17β-diol, and 5β-androstan-3α, 17β-diol compared to the controls. The urinary steroid metabolites correlated positively with serum steroid hormones. In the athletes, urinary steroid metabolites: androsterone (rs = −0.28, p = 0.007), epitestosterone (rs = −0.22, p = 0.034), 5αAdiol (rs = −0.31, p = 0.002) and testosterone (rs = −0.24, p = 0.026), were negatively correlated with amount of training (hours per week).ConclusionThe urinary concentrations of steroid metabolites were lower in elite athletes than in sedentary controls, although serum steroids were comparable between groups. Moreover, exercise time was negatively associated with the urinary concentrations. Our findings suggest alternative excretion routes of androgens in the athletes related to training.

Background: Analytic measurements of a hormone in bodily fluids are a cornerstone of clinical evaluation. However, clinical presentation may be affected also by currently unmeasured modulators of hormonal function. An alternative could be to measure the cumulative effect of all factors present in a bodily fluid on the function of a hormone receptor. Prior studies showed an androgen receptor (AR) BioAssay to accurately measure urine androgens in males undergoing testosterone (T) supplementation (1). The factors integrated by the AR BioAssay include androgens, anti-androgens and, in serum, androgen binding proteins affecting ligand availability. Methods: The AR BioAssay was exposed to male and female serum samples obtained from the CDC’s Hormone Standardization (HoSt) Program, and to female serum samples from the UCSF PCOS Tissue Bank registry. AR activity was quantified against a testosterone standard curve and recorded as ‘T-equivalent’ (‘T-eq’) androgen activity units. Results: In 40 CDC HoSt sera added directly (no extraction) to AR BioAssay cells, androgen activities ranged from 2.57 to 298 ng ‘T-eq’/dl. In the 20 ‘male’ CDC HoSt sera (T>150 ng/dl), the androgen activity measurements were uniformly less (0.35 ± 0.10) that of the T-measurement. By contrast, in the 20 ‘female’ CDC HoSt sera, in which T concentrations are typically lower than the affinity of T for sex hormone binding globulins such that more of the T is available to the AR BioAssay, the measured androgen levels were on average 1.45-fold higher than the T concentration. This androgen to T comparison showed high variability in females with 5 of 20 CDC HoSt samples having androgen concentrations more than double that of T (maximum, 6.1-fold). In female serum samples from the PCOS registry, androgens were higher in patients with a PCOS diagnosis (57.7 +/-17.6 ng ‘T-eq’/dl; n = 23) compared to women not meeting formal PCOS criteria (38.1 +/-10.8 ng ‘T-eq’/dl; n = 4); androgen values again averaged 1.40-fold (maximum, 4.9-fold) that of the T measurements, regardless of PCOS diagnosis. Conclusions: Androgen-binding globulins appear to most influence androgen activity levels in male serum. In females, the lower T concentrations may minimize the impact of androgen-binding proteins and permit the impact of non-T androgens to be more pronounced with possible clinical consequence. Further investigations are needed to determine whether functional androgen measurements may improve clinical diagnosis of certain conditions. Reference: (1) Bailey et al (2016) PLoS One11(3):e0151860

Study Objective This study was designed to evaluate and compare the serum total prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in adolescent girls in with and without polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) to show whether evaluation of PSA levels have a diagnostic benefit over existing diagnostic criteria. Design Case-control study. Setting A territory referral center. Participants A total of 89 (15-19 years) nonobese (body mass index, 18-24.9) adolescents with PCOS (n = 42) and controls without PCOS (n = 47) were enrolled in the study. Interventions Pathophysiological features of PCOS and serum total PSA levels were determined at the time of study enrollment. Main Outcome Measures Determination, comparison, and diagnostic performance of serum total PSA levels in diagnosis of PCOS in adolescent girls were the main outcome measures of the study. Results The serum total PSA levels of adolescents with PCOS were detected to be higher than for control participants (0.63 ± 1.38 ng/mL vs 0.48 ± 0.95 ng/mL) without meeting statistical significance (P = .923). There was a correlation between total PSA levels and indices of insulin resistance like the homeostasis insulin resistance model (r = 0.414; P = .010). The serum total PSA level was not a discriminative parameter for diagnosis of PCOS in adolescent girls (area under the curve, 0.559; P = .476). Conclusion The serum total PSA level was not a predictor of PCOS in adolescent girls. This finding might be related to the extemporal nature of tissues capable of PSA production and lack of sufficient exposure interval to hyperandrogenemia, rather than lack of stimulatory relationship between serum androgens.

Around 80–90% of prostate cancer (PCa) cases are dependent on androgens at initial diagnosis; hence, androgen ablation therapy directed toward a reduction in serum androgens and the inhibition of androgen receptor (AR) is generally the first therapy adopted. However, the patient’s response to androgen ablation therapy is variable, and 20–30% of PCa cases become castration resistant (CRPCa). Several mechanisms can guide treatment resistance to anti-AR molecules. In this regard, AR-dependent and -independent resistance mechanisms can be distinguished within the AR pathway. In this article, we investigate the multitude of AR signaling aspects, encompassing the biological structure of AR, current AR-targeted therapies, mechanisms driving resistance to AR, and AR crosstalk with other pathways, in an attempt to provide a comprehensive review for the PCa research community. We also summarize the new anti-AR drugs approved in non-metastatic castration-resistant PCa, in the castration-sensitive setting, and combination therapies with other drugs.

The aim of the study was to determine if serum testosterone (T) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEAS) levels are a factor in determining increased risk for embryonic aneuploidy in karyotypically normal women undergoing

Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) negatively associates with pre-gestational body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain. The link with other cardio-metabolic risk factors in pregnant women is poorly understood. Our aim was to study the association of SHBG levels with common cardio-metabolic risk parameters in pregnant woman. Serum SHBG was quantified in 291 Caucasian pregnant women (142 with normal weight, 42 with pregestational obesity, 50 with gestational obesity and 57 with pregestational plus gestational obesity) with uncomplicated pregnancies and parturition. Cardio-metabolic [C-reactive protein (CRP), blood pressure (BP), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbAc1), glucose, C-peptide, insulin, triglycerides and high molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin], and endocrine [testosterone and estradiol] parameters were also assessed. SHBG was negatively correlated with BMI, but also with CRP, BP, HbAc1, pre and post-load glucose, C-peptide, HOMA-IR, triglycerides; and positively with HMW adiponectin (all p

Introduction Sex hormones have been implicated in the etiology of a number of diseases. To better understand disease etiology and the mechanisms of disease-risk factor associations, this analysis aimed to investigate the associations of anthropometric, sociodemographic and behavioural factors with a range of circulating sex hormones and sex hormone-binding globulin. Methods Statistical analyses of individual participant data from 12,330 male controls aged 25–85 years from 25 studies involved in the Endogenous Hormones Nutritional Biomarkers and Prostate Cancer Collaborative Group. Analysis of variance was used to estimate geometric means adjusted for study and relevant covariates. Results Older age was associated with higher concentrations of sex hormone-binding globulin and dihydrotestosterone and lower concentrations of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, free testosterone, androstenedione, androstanediol glucuronide and free estradiol. Higher body mass index was associated with higher concentrations of free estradiol, androstanediol glucuronide, estradiol and estrone and lower concentrations of dihydrotestosterone, testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin, free testosterone, androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate. Taller height was associated with lower concentrations of androstenedione, testosterone, free testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin and higher concentrations of androstanediol glucuronide. Current smoking was associated with higher concentrations of androstenedione, sex hormone-binding globulin and testosterone. Alcohol consumption was associated with higher concentrations of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, androstenedione and androstanediol glucuronide. East Asians had lower concentrations of androstanediol glucuronide and African Americans had higher concentrations of estrogens. Education and marital status were modestly associated with a small number of hormones. Conclusion Circulating sex hormones in men are strongly associated with age and body mass index, and to a lesser extent with smoking status and alcohol consumption. This is an open access article, free of all copyright, and may be freely reproduced, distributed, transmitted, modified, built upon, or otherwise used by anyone for any lawful purpose. The work is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication.

Background Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common form of hair loss. It is caused by continuous miniaturization of affected hair follicles. Genetic factors and androgenic factors especially dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is a testosterone tissue metabolite, play major roles in the pathogenesis of AGA. Many studies suggest that AGA may be a marker of increased risk of prostate cancer. Objective The aim of the study was to determine the role of serum androgens and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in men with AGA. Patients and methods The study included 80 participants: 40 men were diagnosed with AGA and 40 age-matched healthy male volunteers served as a control group. The authors also divided patient groups into two subgroups: frontal AGA group and vertical AGA group. All participants were subjected to measurement of serum level of T, DHT, and PSA by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results This study showed that mean serum level of testosterone and DHT in patients with AGA was higher than that in the control group and mean serum level of testosterone in the vertical AGA group was higher than that in the frontal AGA group. There was no significant difference between patients and controls regarding mean serum level of PSA. Conclusion This study showed that serum androgens play an important role in the development of AGA and there is a strong association between serum level of androgens and staging of AGA, whether frontal or vertical.

Introduction A well‐tailored testosterone replacement treatment (TRT) in male hypogonadal athletes plays a pivotal role to restore physiological performances, to reduce health risks, and to guarantee the ethic of competition. Few studies evaluated individual androgens profiles during TRT in trained individuals. Aim The aim of this article was to verify the efficacy in restoring eugonadal serum and urinary androgens profiles after testosterone enanthate (TE) and gel (TG) administration. Methods Ten male Caucasian‐trained volunteers affected by severe hypotestosteronemia ( Main Outcome Measures The main outcome measures of this article were serum total testosterone (TT), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), calculated free and bioavailable testosterone (cFT, cBioT), 17‐β‐estradiol, and urinary glucuronide testosterone metabolites. Results Supraphysiological TT concentrations were observed in 50% of our volunteers until 7 days after TE and in the 4% of total samples after TG. Serum DHT was high both after TE (all volunteers on day 7 and 50% on day 14) and during TG (32% of total samples). A relatively low number of samples showed normal cFT and cBioT both after TE and TG (20–44%, respectively). Urinary metabolites were related to the type of treatment and to serum androgens profile and resulted in the normal ranges from 15% to 60% of total samples. Conclusion Besides well‐known variations of mean serum TT, we showed a high percentage of serum and urinary samples with abnormal androgens, being TG safer than TE. We conclude that monitoring TRT with TT only may be inaccurate because of abnormal fluctuations of other circulating androgens. Further studies to identify the appropriate markers of eugonadism during TRT are highly warranted both in athletes and in non‐athletes. Di Luigi L, Sgro P, Aversa A, Migliaccio S, Bianchini S, Botre F, Romanelli F, and Lenzi A. Concerns about serum androgens monitoring during testosterone replacement treatments in hypogonadal male athletes: a pilot study. J Sex Med 2012;9:873–886.

Despite clinical and experimental evidence that show androgens are important in prostate carcinogenesis, epidemiologic studies of serum androgens have been inconclusive. In this review, we summarize the current state of the literature and provide insights and direction for epidemiologic research on androgens and prostate cancer.To date, data on serum androgens in prostate cancer remain inconclusive. Large studies on variants in some androgen-metabolizing genes [SRD5A2, CYP17A1, and hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD)17B1] do not show a convincing links to prostate cancer, though there are insufficient data to draw conclusions on other genes related to androgen metabolism, including UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGT), sulfotransferases (SULT), CYP3A, and estrogen-related genes. There is some evidence, although controversial, suggesting that select variants may confer risk to certain subtypes of prostate cancer. The most notable finding in 2007 is the highly reproducible link between the chromosome 8q24 risk region and prostate cancer susceptibility.Besides the link between the 8q24 region and prostate cancer risk, population studies do not convincingly show that polymorphisms in androgen metabolism genes are associated with prostate cancer risk. Large epidemiologic studies with comprehensive gene coverage and reliable exposure data are needed to clarify further the role of androgens and their related genes in prostate cancer.

Background: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) develops in elderly males when serum androgens are relatively lower than in healthy younger males, but it is not well understood whether and how sex steroids are altered in prostatic hyperplasia. It is also uncertain whether there is any change in sex steroid levels in males older than 40 years of age. The use of androgens in elderly males is often discouraged because of the probable worsening effect of androgens on prostatism. This study aimed to determine the relationship between prostatic hyperplasia and sex steroid levels and whether there is any significant change in these hormones after the age of 40 years. Subjects and Methods: We studied healthy males of age 240 years with (n=92) or without (n=93) clinical prostatic hyperplasia. Serum testosterone, estradiol, gonadotrophins and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) were compared. The hormones and SHBG were also correlated with age. Results: No significant difference was found in any hormone in cases with prostatic hyperplasia as compared with the controls. There was no significant age-related change in any hormone except estradiol where as a negative correlation (P< .003) with age was found. Conclusions: Serum sex steroids and SHBG remained unchanged in symptomatic prostatic hyperplasia and except for estradiol there was no significant age-related change in serum testosterone, gonadotrophins and SHBG in healthy males after the fourth decade. More studies are needed to confirm the age-related decline of estrogens in males.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S) and total serum testosterone (TST) in women with post-adolescent acne and their relationship to severity of acne and clinical markers of androgenicity.Methods: Two hundred forty women with post-adolescent acne (PAA), 132 women with late- onset acne (LOA) and 108 women with persistent acne (PA) were recruited in this cross-sectional study. All patients were examined clinically and by ultrasound for evidence of polycystic ovaries (PCO), and serum DHEA-S and TST levels were measured.Results: The results showed that there was an excess in androgens (DHEA-S) and TST levels. Serum androgens level were significantly correlated to the severity of PAA. In addition, clinical markers of androgenicity were frequently observed in women with PAA.Conclusion: There is an increased level of circulating androgens in significant proportion of women with PAA and it seems that hyperandrogenism appears to play an important role in the etiopathogenesis of acne. In addition, there was a direct correlation between severity of acne and androgen levels suggesting that both ovarian and adrenal abnormalities are common at this patients group. J Clin Exp Invest 2015; 6 (2): 121-125Key words: Dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, total serum testosterone, post-adolescent acne, Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı adolesan sonrası akne’li kadınlarda dehidroepiandrosteron sulfat (DHEA-S) ve total serum testosteronun (TST) ve bunların akne şiddeti ve androjenikliğin klinik belirteçleri ile ilişkisini değerlendirmektir. Yöntemler: Adolesan sonrası akne’li 240 kadın, 132 tanesi geç başlangıçlı akne ve 108 tanesi sürekli akneli kadın kesitsel çalışmaya alındı. Hastaların tümü klinik olarak ve polikistik over yönünden ultrasonografi ile değerlendirildi ve serum DHEA-S ve TST düzeyleri ölçüldü.Bulgular: Veriler DHEA-S ve TST düzeylerinde fazlalık olduğunu gösterdi. Serum androjen düzeyi akne şiddeti ile anlamlı korelasyon gösterdi. Ayrıca adolesan sonrası akne’li kadınlarda androjenikliğin klinik belirtileri sıklıkla gözlendi.Sonuç: Adolesan sonrası önemli sayıdaki akne’li kadında artmış dolaşan androjen düzeyleri ve öyle görünüyor ki bu akne etyopatogenezinde önemli bir rol oynuyor. Ayrıca akne şiddeti ile androjen düzeyleri arasında doğrudan bir ilişki olması, bu hasta grubunda hem over hem de adrenal anormalliklerin yaygın olduğunu telkin etmektedir

Bermon and Garnier1 summarised their recent findings by stating that in 5 of 21 events, ‘female athletes with high testosterone levels benefit from a 1.8% to 4.5% competitive advantage over other female competitors with normal androgen levels’. As the authors did not divide female athletes into comparison groups based on a value of free testosterone (fT) determined a priori to be ‘high’, the study’s design does not allow for this conclusion. Given the authors contextualise the study using the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s (CAS) suspension of the International Association …

To compare the serum androgens level during the third trimester of pregnancy between normotensive and pre-eclamptic women.A case-control study was performed on 64 pregnant women with the gestational age of 28-34 weeks. 32 women were pre-eclamptic (case group), and 32 women were normotensive till term gestation (control group). The serum level of androgens including sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), total and free testosterone, androstenedione (ADD), and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), were compared between the two groups.The women of the two groups had no statistically significant difference according to age, gestational age, BMI (body mass index), parity and fetal sex. Serum level of SHBG (90.86 ± 9.30 vs. 55.86 ± 8.02 nmol/l, p = 0.02), total testosterone (3.70 ± 0.57 vs. 2.06 ± 0.24 ng/ml, p = 0.01), free testosterone (1.28 ± 0. 17 vs. 0. 74 ± 0.07 pg/ml, p = 0.01), and ADD (2.47 ± 0.10 vs. 2.17 ± 0.10 ng/ml, p = 0.04), was higher in the pre-eclamptic women. However, there was no difference between the two groups for DHEA-S (0.75 ± 0.18 vs. 0.51 ± 0.08 μg/ml, p = 0.19).Serum androgen levels during third trimester of pregnancy are higher in pre-eclamptic women and this may propose an effect of androgens in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia.

5067 Background: Higher baseline androgens have been previously shown to be associated with an improved overall survival (OS) in mCRPC patients treated with the androgen synthesis inhibitors, ketoconazole or abiraterone. The purpose of this analysis was to determine whether baseline serum androgen levels (Testosterone (T), Androstenedione (A) and DHEA (D) are associated with OS in mCRPC patients treated with docetaxel-based chemotherapy. Methods: Data from 1,050 men treated on CALGB 90401 with docetaxel, prednisone and either bevacizumab or placebo were used. Eligibility required progressive mCRPC and no prior chemotherapy. Pre-treatment serum assays for T, A and D were performed via tandem Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) at NMS labs. The proportional hazards model was used to assess the prognostic significance of T, A, and D in predicting OS adjusting for known prognostic factors. Results: Median values for T, A, and, D were 1.00, 13.00 and 8.12, ng/dL respectively.Values above the median were defined as low, above as high. Median OS for low vs high levels was 22.7 and 23.1 month for T, 22.4 and 21.7 month for A and 21.8 and 24.0 month for D, respectively, all NS. In multivariable analysis adjusting for 10 known prognostic values and prior keto use in mCRPC (Halabi JCO 2014), A (p-value = 0.013) levels were associated with OS. The HR for A was = 0.99 (95% CI = 0.98-0.99). Conclusions: In multivariate analysis, baseline androstenedione levels are prognostic factors for OS in mCRPC patients receiving chemotherapy. Low or undetectable levels of other androgens are associated with shorter OS, consistent with prior results in androgen synthesis inhibitor treated pts in both the chemotherapy naive and post chemotherapy settings. This relationship may reflect more aggressive tumor biology that evolves in an extreme androgen deprived milieu. Clinical trial information: NCT00110214.

Prostate cancer presents a major health issue as it is the most common non-skin cancer in American males and the second most common cause of cancer- related death in men. The etiology of the disease appears to be multi-factorial and remains poorly understood. However, it is well established that androgens play an important role in prostate carcinogenesis. The beneficial effects of androgen deprivation on prostate cancer were first realized over 70 years ago. Today, it remains the only successful treatment option for advanced prostate cancer. In contrast, the role of androgens in prostate cancer development and progression remains controversial. Evidence from epidemiologic studies of associations with serum androgens and the risk of prostate cancer is conflicting and inconclusive. Upon closer review, the available evidence does not support the traditional assertion that high testosterone level increase the risk of developing prostate cancer or cause it to progress. This chapter reviews the mechanisms of androgen production and action on the prostate and considers the historical and recent evidence regarding the role of androgens in prostate cancer.

In this study, we investigated whether serum androgen levels and endometrial thickness differed in obese and non-obese women.Thirtytwo non-obese (BMI30) and 48 obese (BMI ≥ 30) women were enrolled. Blood samples were analyzed for testosterone, free testosterone, androstenedione, DHEAS, and SHBG, and transvaginal ultrasonography was performed.Obese women had significantly higher free testosterone and endometrial thickness and significantly lower SHBG. Eight of 17 women with endometrial thickness5 mm had significant pathology.These results suggest that obesity may be a risk factor for endometrial carcinoma and other pathologies in post-menopausal women through an action on androgen concentrations.Bu çalışmamızda, endometrial kalınlık ve serum androjen seviyelerinin obez ve obez olmayan hastalardaki farklılığı araştırılmıştır.32 obez olmayan (BMI30) ve 48 obez (BMI≥30) hasta çalışmaya dahil edildi. Hastaların serum testosteron, serbest testosteron, androstenedion, DHEAS, SHBG seviyeleri ölçüldü ve transvajinal ultrasonoğrafi yapıldı.Obez hastaların serbest testosteron seviyeleri ve endometrial kalınlığı anlamlı olarak yüksek tespit edilirken; SHBG seviyeleri anlamlı olarak düşük bulundu. Endometrial kalınlığı 5mm’den büyük olan 17 hastadan 8 tanesinde endometrial patoloji tespit edildi.Bu sonuçlarla; obezitenin, post-menopozal kadınlarda androjen hormonları üzerinden endometrial karsinoma ve diğer patolojiler için bir risk faktörü oluşturabiliceği akılda bulundurulmalıdır.

Udgivelsesdato: 2009-Aug OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between lifestyle and dietary factors and serum concentrations of androgens in middle-aged healthy men. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the association of lifestyle factors with circulating concentrations of androstenedione (A-dione), 3-alpha-androstanediol glucuronide (A-diol-g), testosterone (T), SHBG (sex hormone-binding globulin), and free testosterone (FT) among 636 men in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition. RESULTS: Compared with the youngest age group (40-49 years), the oldest (70-79 years) had a higher mean concentration of SHBG (by 44%) and lower mean concentrations of A-diol-g (by 29%) FT (19%). Men in the highest BMI group (> or =29.83 kg/m(2)) had a higher mean A-diol-g concentration (by 38%) and lower mean concentration of T (by 20%) SHBG (29%) compared with the lowest (

Objective To determine if among hyperandrogenic women acne may be differentiated from hirsutism by markers of peripheral androgen metabolism. Design Prospective outpatient study of 36 hyperandrogenic women and controls divided into groups based on the presence or absence of significant hirsutism and the presence or absence of moderate to severe acne. Serum levels of adrenal and ovarian derived androgens were elevated but similar in all patient groups. Interventions Measurement of serum androgens including metabolites of 5 α -reductase activity: 3 α -androstanediol glucuronide and sulfate and androsterone (A) glucuronide and sulfate. Results 3 α -androstanediol glucuronide and sulfate were elevated in all groups ( P P P Conclusions Altered peripheral metabolism in acne may favor the formation of A conjugates, which may help differentiate acne from hirsutism among hyperandrogenic women.

Summary A bilateral scrotal hysterocele is described in a male pseudohermaphrodite goat. The surgically removed testes were devoid of spermatogenic cells. Serum androgens showed normal levels before surgery but dropped following removal of the gonads.

CYP17 encodes cytochrome p450c17α, which mediates activities essential for the production of sex steroids. Common germ line variation in the CYP17 gene has been related to inconsistent results in breast and prostate cancer, with most studies focusing on the nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) T27C (rs743572). We comprehensively characterized variation in CYP17 by direct sequencing of exons followed by dense genotyping across the 58 kb region around CYP17 in five racial/ethnic populations. Two blocks of strong linkage disequilibrium were identified and nine haplotype-tagging SNPs, including T27C, were chosen to predict common haplotypes (Rh2 ≥ 0.85). These haplotype-tagging SNPs were genotyped in 8,138 prostate cancer cases and 9,033 controls, and 5,333 breast cancer cases and 7,069 controls from the Breast and Prostate Cancer Cohort Consortium. We observed borderline significant associations with prostate cancer for rs2486758 [TC versus TT, odds ratios (OR), 1.07; 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), 1.00-1.14; CC versus TT, OR, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.95-1.26; P trend = 0.04] and rs6892 (AG versus AA, OR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.00-1.15; GG versus AA, OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.95-1.30; P trend = 0.03). We also observed marginally significant associations with breast cancer for rs4919687 (GA versus GG, OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.97-1.12, AA versus GG, OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.03-1.34; P trend = 0.03) and rs4919682 (CT versus CC, OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.97-1.12; TT versus CC, OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.01-1.33; P trend = 0.04). Common variation at CYP17 was not associated with circulating sex steroid hormones in men or postmenopausal women. Our findings do not support the hypothesis that common germ line variation in CYP17 makes a substantial contribution to postmenopausal breast or prostate cancer susceptibility. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007;16(11):2237–46)

Objective: To compare the changes induced by oral versus transdermal estrogen therapy on the total and free serum concentrations of testosterone (T), thyroxine (T 4 ), and cortisol (C) and the concentrations of their serum binding globulins sex hormone-binding globulin, thyroxine-binding globulin, and cortisol-binding globulin in naturally menopausal women. Design: Randomized, open-label, crossover. Interventions included a 6-week withdrawal from previous hormone therapy (baseline), followed in randomized order by 12 weeks of oral conjugated equine estrogens (CEE) (0.625 mg/d) and 12 weeks of transdermal estradiol (TD E 2 ) (0.05 mg/d), with oral micronized progesterone (100 mg/d) given continuously during both transdermal estrogen therapy regimens. Results: Twenty-seven women were enrolled in the study, and 25 completed both treatment periods. The mean (SD) percentage changes from baseline of sex hormone-binding globulin, total T, and free T with oral CEE were +132.1% (74.5%), +16.4% (43.8%), and -32.7% (25.9%), respectively, versus +12.0% (25.1%), +1.2% (43.7%), and +1.0% (45.0%) with TD E 2 . The mean (SD) percentage changes of thyroxine-binding globulin, total T 4 , and free T 4 with oral CEE were +39.9% (20.1%), +28.4% (29.2%), and -10.4% (22.3%), respectively, versus +0.4% (11.1%), -0.7% (16.5%), and +0.2% (26.6%) with TD E 2 . The mean (SD) percentage changes of cortisol-binding globulin, total C, and free C with oral CEE were +18.0% (19.5%), +29.2% (46.3%), and +50.4% (126.5%), respectively, versus -2.2% (11.3%), -6.7% (30.8%), and +1.8% (77.1%) with TD E 2 . Concentrations of all hormones and binding globulins were significantly different (P < 0.003) during administration of oral versus transdermal estrogen therapy, except for free T 4 and free C. Conclusions: Compared with oral CEE, TD E 2 exerts minimal effects on the total and free concentrations of T, T 4 and C and their binding proteins.

The growth and mineralization of antlers correlate with the seasonal variation of serum androgens. Whereas seasonal levels of testosterone (T) in plasma are well established, steroid concentrations have not yet been determined in the tissues of growing antlers. Therefore, RIA was used to determine T and 17beta estradiol (E2) in serum, and three areas (tip, middle, and base) of the antler bone and the antler skin, called velvet. Blood and antler tissues of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) were collected from May to August. The difference between levels of T and E2 among the sites was calculated using the square root transformation followed by a mixed model analysis with individual deer and an interaction of individual and year (individual(*)year) as a random factor. Concentrations of T in serum (799+/-82 pg/ml) were higher than T values in the velvet (589+/-58 pg/ml, P

Androgens are essential for the development of acne. The object of this study was to elucidate the androgen status of women with adolescent (Tanner's stage IV-V) acne alone and compare them to age-matched normal controls. We measured serum levels of total testosterone (T), free testosterone (FT), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) in 15 women with adolescent acne and 13 age-matched healthy controls. No significant differences were found between the mean levels of T, FT or DHT levels in patients and controls. However, the mean levels of DHEA-S in the patient population (1886 +/- 829 ng/ml) were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than normal controls (1287 +/- 620 ng/ml). There was also no correlation between androgen levels and acne severity. Thus it is unlikely that serum androgens play a principal role in women with adolescent acne.

Three cases of androgen-dependent disease in females with myotonic dystrophy are described. Serum androgens in individuals affected by myotonic dystrophy are known to be lower on average than in normal controls. Despite this these three females developed diseases that are androgen dependent, including acne, hidradenitis suppurativa, androgenetic alopecia and keratosis pilaris. These cases support the hypothesis that the peripheral response to androgens rather than absolute circulating levels of androgens is important in androgen-dependent conditions.

Thirteen women who had endometriosis were treated with danazol (300 to 400 mg/d). Levels of androgens and danazol metabolites in serum and the influences of danazol metabolites on the assays for serum androgen were investigated during danazol therapy. Serum DHEAS significantly increased (P < 0.05), but serum DHEA slightly decreased. Serum T levels, measured by direct assay, were markedly elevated. However, measured after HPLC separation, the T levels in serum were significantly decreased (P < 0.05). There were considerable cross-reactions between danazol metabolites and androgens (T, DHEA, and A) in RIA. Purification of androgens using column chromatography was necessary to measure serum androgens precisely.

A recent study demonstrated that hirsute women with irregular menses had higher levels of serum androgens that hirsute women with regular menses. To investigate this finding, we measured total testosterone, biologically active testosterone, free testosterone, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in 51 hirsute women with regular menses and compared the levels found to those found in 28 hirsute women with oligomenorrhea. There was no significant difference in the degree of facial hirsutism between the two groups. Oligomenorrheic women had significantly higher levels of free testosterone (p less than 0.02) and biologically active testosterone (p less than 0.05). The other androgens did not differ significantly between the two groups. The free fractions of testosterone are the metabolically active forms of the hormone and their levels are a function of the rates of production and clearance of testosterone that are elevated in states of hyperandrogenism. This study confirms that hirsute women with oligomenorrhea have higher levels of free and biologically active testosterone than those with regular menses.

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to determine the relationship between hyperandrogenemia and blood pressure in women with menstrual irregularities seen at an endocrinology clinic. Women with serum testosterone levels (T) ≥ 30 ng/dL were more likely to have general obesity (odds ratio [OR] = 6.8, 95% confidence intervals [CI] = 2.2–27.2) and central obesity (OR = 14.5, 95% CI = 6.1–38.7) than euandrogenemic women. Hyperandrogenemic women (HA) had an OR of 2.4 (95% CI = 1.0–6.2) for elevated SBP and an OR of 2.7 (95% CI = 0.8–8.8) for elevated DBP, independent of age and ovulatory status. Obese HA had an OR of 4.7 (95% CI = 2.3–10.4) for elevated SBP and an OR of 2.9 (95% CI = 1.9–9.9) for elevated DBP. In conclusion, T is associated with an increased risk for obesity and central adiposity. T predicts BP elevation independent of age and ovulatory status. There was a synergistic relationship between obesity and androgens in their affect on BP.

The testosterone biosynthesis defect, 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency, is generally characterized by marked virilization at puberty of children raised as females. We describe an unusual case with a persistent female body habitus presenting with primary amenorrhoea and mild facial hirsutism. Whilst awaiting gonadectomy, serum androgen concentrations were observed to fall spontaneously to within the adult female reference ranges. Location of the gonads was a problem and was finally achieved by magnetic resonance imaging.