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The paper considers various approaches to mathematical modelling of endocrine systems. The functional and operational complexity of hormonal activities turns out to be the result of the cooperation of three factors: global feedback structures on the level of glands, subtle feedback and regulatory mechanisms on the level of single cells and molecules (including messengers, receptors and functional proteins like G-proteins) and finally, coupling to other organs (predominantly to the brain, e.g. via hypothalamus).

To date, it is practically impossible to construct a mathematical model comprising together all these aspects. The paper aims at providing some major building bricks to such an endeavor. In the first part we summarize some of our recent models on the gobal structure of hormonal systems, in the form of nonlinear differential equations containing delay terms; oscillatory input from the brain is taken into account. Solutions of the equations display nearly all kinds of dynamical behaviour as stable limit cycles, phase locking, quasi-periodic and chaotic motions.

Special emphasis is put on developing a mathematical model for the fine-tuned sequence of hormone-induced transmembrane signalling, where agonist couples to some cellular effector via transfer-proteins — this principle is widely spread among the hormone-targeted cells and crucially involved in regulating cells' behaviour towards external stimuli, e.g. their ability to desensitize as a reaction to sustained hormonal input.

This article is about the concepts of modern western medicine and Kampo Medicines and the adequate combination of both medical approaches in practical medical care.

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Amyloids are stable, β-sheet-rich protein/peptides aggregates with 2–15 nm diameter and few micrometers long. It is originally associated with many human diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and prion diseases. Amyloids are resistant to enzyme degradation, temperature changes and wide ranges of pH. Although, amyloids are hard and their stiffness is comparable to steel, a constant recycling of monomer occur inside the amyloid fibrils. It grows in a nucleation dependent polymerization manner by recruiting native soluble protein and by converting them to amyloid. These extraordinary physical properties make amyloids attractive for nanotechnological applications. Some amyloid fibrils have also evolved to perform native biological functions (functional amyloid) of the host organism. Functional amyloids are present in mammals such as amyloids of pMel17 and pituitary hormones, where they help in skin pigmentation and hormone storage, respectively. Here, the progress of utilizing amyloid fibrils for nanobiotechnological applications with particular emphasis on the recent studies that amyloid could be utilized for the formulation of peptide/protein drugs depot and how secretory cells uses amyloid for hormone storage will be reviewed.

Steroids play essential physiological roles in the living systems, including their role as sex hormones, glucocorticoids, and mineralocorticoids. Usually, they engage in interactions with steroid receptors. Target cell nuclei, cytosol and plasma membranes all have steroid hormone receptors. Cytoplasmic or nuclear, intracellular receptors start the signal transduction process for steroid hormones and cause gene expression alterations over the course of several hours to days. Certain steroid hormones bind to cell surface receptors, including ion channels, G protein-coupled receptors and several nuclear receptors. Dihydropyrimidinones are also significant moieties with important physiological roles. The hybrid molecules can offer several potential biological activities. In this work, we have checked the in silico interaction of some novel cholesterol–dihydropyrimidinones interactions with the sex hormones, mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptors to screen their potential use in the regulation of the sexual cycle or the carbohydrate metabolism or the mineral imbalance.

This research evaluates whether a low-power laser modifies the levels of calcitonin, thyroxine, as well as triiodothyronine in female rabbits, and the possibility that it could help explain how this type of radiation affects these animals’ hormone levels. The objective of this study is to determine whether thyroid hormone levels would be affected by laser radiation. We used 25 female rabbits with a 940-nm CW laser. For 3 days, radiation was delivered once daily to the region surrounding the thyroid gland with a 1 W output power and a 300J/cm² energy density at a beam spot area of 1cm². Samples of blood were drawn from the ear vein. Samples were taken on days 1, 7, 14, 21, and 30 following the treatment. The study’s findings demonstrated a steady decline in the thyroid gland-related hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine. However, calcitonin levels increased in tandem with the research, and 30 days later, hormone levels were back to normal. The results suggest that thyroid hormone levels may be significantly impacted by low-power laser use. To learn more about how different laser wavelengths influence glands and perhaps be used therapeutically, more research is required.

The effect of acupuncture on the human endocrine function could have many ways of manifestation, including direct promotion of hormonal release or through the hypothalamic-pituitary-endocrine axis. This might reflects the “holistic concept” of the fundamental theory of Chinese Medicine. Diseases may be caused directly by disorders of the human endocrine system when insufficient or excessive secretions of hormones occur. Diseases may also initiate a relative excess or insufficient endocrine secretion. The adjustment effects of acupuncture on the endocrine function could be an initiation of enhancement or inhibition.