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Biomedical subjects

A Balsamo

Publications and source records attributed to A Balsamo.

101 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Italian cross-sectional growth charts for height, weight and BMI (2 to 20 yr).

The aim of this study is to extend to pre-school ages the Italian Society for Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes (SIEDP)-2002 growth charts for height, weight and body mass index (BMI), to obtain charts (SIEDP-2006) that apply to the Italian population from 2 to 20 yr of age, taken as a whole, or separately in two geographical areas (Central-North Italy and South Italy). The charts are based on a sample of about 70,000 subjects attending infant, primary and secondary schools, between 1994 and 2004. The distribution of the sample by gender, age and geographic area was roughly similar to that of Italian school population in the last decade of the 20th century. Height and weight were measured using portable Harpenden stadiometers and properly calibrated scales, respectively. SIEDP-2006 references are presented both as centiles and as LMS curves for the calculation of SD scores, and include the extra-centiles for overweight and obesity. Large differences in BMI growth pattern emerged between the SIEDP-2006, 2000 CDC and UK90 references: in Italy, BMI is higher and its distribution is more skewed during childhood and adolescence. At the end of growth, median values of the three references are similar, but the 97th centile of 2000 CDC charts is much higher and increases more steeply than that of SIEDP-2006 charts, which on the contrary reach a plateau. SIEDP-2006 references intend to supply pediatricians with a tool that avoids the use of charts that are outdated or that refer to other populations, and thus should be suitable for adequately monitoring the growth of their patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Gonadal and adrenal secretion of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in prepubertal and pubertal subjects.

The Authors have evaluated the relationship between the secretion of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHA-S) by the adrenal glands and by the gonads in a group of prepubertal and pubertal subjects ("short normal"), both males and females. In the male subjects of a hCG test and an ACTH test were performed; in the female subjects only the latter test was carried out. The behavior of DHA-S under basal conditions was also assessed in both sexes and related to bone age and chronological age in the prepubertal period and during the early stages of puberty. Plasma levels of DHA-S in both sexes increase progressively with chronological age and bone age. A negative correlation was found between DHA-S and bone delay (expressed in percent relative to chronological age) in prepubertal subjects, both males and females. A significant increase in DHA-S after hCG stimulation was found both in prepubertal and pubertal boys. After ACTH stimulation DHA-S increased significantly in prepubertal and pubertal males and females; throughout the test no difference was found between prepubertal and pubertal subjects nor between male and female subjects. Our data confirm that DHA-S is produced both by the adrenals and by the testes.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Neonatal screening for 21-hydroxylase deficiency: a microfilter paper method for 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone assay.

A micromethod for measuring 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone in blood collected on filter paper has been developed. Our method is rapid, easy and has the specificity, accuracy and precision of the radioimmunoassay in whole blood. The method has been applied for screening patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency. Fifty samples collected on filter paper were assayed by our method, using 125I as tracer, and results were compared with those obtained for the same samples using a tritium tracer. The agreement between the two methods was particularly good in the area ranging from 15 to 100 pg/disc. In one neonate the diagnosis of CAH was made utilizing the microfilter paper method. Our method is a promising screening test for CAH. An indication of the advantages or disadvantages of this type of screening will become available when an adequate number of infants has been examined.

Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital↗
PubMedDate not supplied

McCune-Albright syndrome: a longitudinal clinical study of 32 patients.

We report the diagnostic clinical features and their long term evolution in 32 patients with McCune-Albright syndrome. Patient data are made up of two periods: the first, classified as personal history, is from birth until the time when the diagnosis of McCune-Albright syndrome was made; the second, classified as clinical observation, is from the first observation until the end of follow up. The total duration of these two periods was 9.6+/-2.9 yr; mean age at first observation was 5.7 yr (range 0.7-11 yr). The probability of manifesting main clinical signs according to age was calculated: almost all had skin dysplasia at birth, 50% probability of peripheral precocious puberty in females at 4 years and 50% of bone dysplasia at 8 years of age were found. Other clinical signs had diagnostic relevance when preceding the main signs leading to diagnosis of McCune-Albright syndrome even without specific genetic investigation. The most important clinical manifestations have different evolutions: skin lesions increase in dimensions according to body growth; precocious puberty in females evolves rapidly but periods of regression can be seen in some patients; bone dysplasia in most patients evolves with an increase both in the number of affected bones and in the severity of lesions.

Child↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Neonatal screening for congenital hypothyroidism. Experience at a Regional Center].

We examined 107,670 infants born in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna. Capillary blood samples for contemporary T4 and TSH radioimmunoassay were collected on the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th or between the 7th and the 15th day of life on filter paper. In our method the threshold value for recall for a second assay was calculated taking into account the mean - 2 SD of each session for T4, and fixing between 30 and 50 microU/ml the threshold value for TSH. The re-call percentage was 0.74%. 21 subjects confirmed to be affected by congenital hypothyroidism; this corresponds to a frequency in our region of 1 case every 5,127 infants. 12 subjects had a TBG deficiency, this corresponds to a frequency of 1 case every 8,972 infants. No cases of secondary hypothyroidism were found up to date.

Age Factors↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Short-term comparison of the treatment of precocious puberty with 2 different LHRH antagonists (buserelin and long-acting triptorelin). An endocrinologic and echographic study].

To compare the short term effects of a short (Buserelin, 1800 micrograms/day as nasal spray) and a long acting (Triptorelin Depot, 3.75 mg/every 4 weeks i.m.) LHRH agonist, LH and FSH (LHRH test and 2 hours spontaneous rhythm during the morning and during the evening), estradiol and pelvic ultrasonography were evaluated in 12 children (1 boy, mean age 8.24 +/- 1.39 years, mean bone age 9.39 +/- 1.76 years) with early puberty before and after 1 and 2 months of treatment. Informed consent was obtained in all the cases. 6 patients started with Buserelin and 6 with Triptorelin. The therapeutic regimen was crossed over after 2 months of treatment and 2 more months of treatment withdrawal. The results indicate that while in both groups FSH values decreased significantly already from the last month of treatment, patients treated with Triptorelin showed a later LH decrease (significant only after 2 months of treatment). A decrease of pelvic structures volume was however evident only in patients treated with Triptorelin. After 2 months of treatment estradiol levels lowered (but not significantly) in both group. In conclusion despite a later LH decrement, patients treated with the long acting analogue showed however a more evident reduction of pelvic organs volume.

Buserelin↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Corticosteroid treatment regimes and growth hormone secretion in congenital adrenogenital syndrome].

11 patients with 21-hydroxylase deficiency were treated with three different corticosteroids and two different distributions of therapy during daytime. We found that: 1) a higher dose of steroid in the evening had a markedly inhibitory effect on nocturnal GH secretion; 2) of the steroids we used, dexamethasone caused the greatest reduction in nocturnal GH secretion; 3) in this study adrenal hormones seem less influenced by the different distribution of the corticosteroids during the 24 hours period.

Adolescent↗